If It's Friday, It Must Be Chicken?

"The chicken came first - God would look silly sitting on an egg"
                                                                        ~author unknown


Today is Friday!  Supposed to be cooler today and much cooler for the weekend.  It's actually supposed to be in the mid to low 80's.  I can't wait.  But it is only a three day tease as it is going to warm back up into the mid 90's by the middle of the week. 


Here's is my picture for the day:

This is a Rose of Sharon just off of my front porch

The name Rose of Sharon first appears in English in 1611 the Kings James Version of the Bible.  The bushes can get 6 to 8 feet tall and have a spread of 4 to 6 feet.  It actually isn't a rose but the large flat blossoms attract hummingbirds and tiny insects that hummers eat.  It's leaves don't come out until late spring, causing false alarms in gardeners who think their plants have died.  Native to East Asia and India, it is the national flower of Korea. 

                             

How would you like a super simple, super tasty chicken recipe?  Well, I'm here to provide.  The chicken is glazed with mustard and honey, then baked with bacon and cheese.

Easy Honey Mustard Mozzarella Chicken

Ingredients:

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

3/4 cup honey

1/2 cup Dijon mustard

lemon pepper to taste

4 slices bacon, cut in half

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

                         

Here's what I used

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

2.  Place the chicken breast halves in a baking dish, and drizzle evenly with honey and mustard.  Sprinkle with lemon pepper.

3.  Bake chicken 25 minutes in the preheated oven. Top each breast half with 2 bacon slice halves, and sprinkle evenly with cheese. Continue baking 10 minutes, or until chicken juices run clear, bacon is crisp, and cheese is bubbly.

                          

Chicken dotted with mustard and Dijon mustard.  Sprinkled with lemon pepper.

Cooked chicken with bacon and cheese on top - ready for the last 10 - 15 minutes

Completely cooked.  I guess I was really hungry because I forgot to take a picture of this served on a plate with the summer squash we had that night :)

Personal Notes:

1.  Recipe called for regular yellow prepared mustard - I substituted with Dijon mustard

2.  I used buckwheat honey that I bought at the farmer's market - mmmmmm - so much better than the store bought stuff

3.  I didn't measure the honey or the mustard.  I just dribbled it on until I thought there was enough

4.  After adding the bacon and cheese, I continued cooking for 15 minutes - bacon was nowhere near crispy.  If you want really crisp bacon, I would suggest partially frying the bacon before placing on chicken, or use the precooked kind.  The bacon stayed rather fatty (which we like) even after 15 minutes of cooking.

5.  It warms up in the microwave okay, but the cheese sort of melts away.  I would add more cheese after mostly reheating it and then heat again just long enough to melt the cheese.

6.  Delicious and so easy!

GIVEAWAYS

A great new giveaway is happening over at Canton Village Quilt Works. She is giving away a new book by Barbara Cline and Jackie is also giving away a $20 gift certificate to her shop!

LAST REMINDER! Don't forget to enter my giveaway.  The winner will be announced on Monday!

If you or someone you know is having a giveaway, drop me a line and I will include it in future postings

FINAL THOUGHTS

Do you have big plans for the weekend?  We will be attending a 40th Anniversary celebration for my brother-in-law and his wife.  First a gathering at the church where they were originally married followed by a lunch at an Italian restaurant.  Lots of family and friends - should make for a good time. 

Have a great Friday and a super weekend!