Friday, February 17, 2012

Clubhouse Chicken (Bacon & Cheddar)



So, this was going to be our dinner on Tuesday, but that plan was put in place before (what will in future be known as) the St. Valentine's Day Migraine Massacre, swooped in and took me hostage for a couple of days. It is most definitely my favorite chicken dish and Hubbs seems to agree. I don't make it too frequently, because there's something about the combination of ingredients that makes me want to have it not only for dinner but then again for breakfast and lunch the next day. (I don't really do that. Well... not for breakfast anyway. Yet.)

It's super easy to prepare and even more simple if you do your prep ahead of time. I generally chop my onions, fry off my bacon and sort out the rest of the goodies in the right measurements and when dinner time rolls around, I just have to throw it together. In one pan.

Clubhouse Chicken
  • 4 to 6 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, trimmed
  • 1 Medium Onion, chopped
  • 1/2 Lb Bacon, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 Cup Dry Vermouth or Dry White Wine (no "cooking" wine, please)
  • 1 28 oz Can Crushed Tomatoes
  • 2 Cups Sharp Cheddar, shredded
  • Kosher Salt & Fresh Ground Black Pepper, to taste
Trim up the chicken, (if needed) chop the onion, fry up the bacon in a large heavy skillet (reserve the bacon drippings) and shred the cheddar cheese.





 
Season the chicken liberally with salt & pepper and using about 1 Tbls of the bacon drippings, saute and brown the chicken over medium heat, turning occasionally, until lightly browned and cooked through. (about 7 minutes total per side) Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside, covered loosely with a little foil.


I always put a bit of Kosher Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper in a small ramekin when working with raw meat or chicken. This way, I'm not cross-contaminating the salt in my cellar or the pepper grinder as I season things.




Add another teaspoon or two of the bacon drippings to the pan and add the onions, scraping up any browned bits from the chicken. Season with a little more salt. Cook them until they just begin to soften and turn a light golden brown.


Add the vermouth/wine to the pan and turn up the heat to medium-high and let it reduce by about 3/4 or until it gets slightly thickened and syrupy. Please don't leave the vermouth/wine out of this dish. It really is part of the total flavor profile and if you're concerned about the kiddies, not to worry. The alcohol will cook off completely and just leave the yumminess behind. Wine and tomatoes just seem to complement each other.


Add the crushed tomatoes and stir to combine. Season again with a bit more salt & pepper and simmer over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes.


Add the chicken back to the pan and spoon some of the sauce over each piece. Divide the cooked and crumbled bacon, leaving about 1/4 of it aside. Sprinkle the larger amount evenly over each piece of chicken, add a generous handful of cheddar on top of each piece and then add the rest of the bacon on top of it all.


Cover the pan and simmer for about 5 more minutes to allow the cheese to melt and the chicken to heat through completely.


Serve this with something that you can ladle the sauce over because it's just too darned good to leave behind in the pan. I almost always serve mine with hot buttered Jasmati rice and a veggie or green salad. Once in a while, I'll serve egg noodles or another type of pasta with it, but the rice is our favorite.





Yup. I totally finished this after I took the picture. :~)


Enjoy!


~Mary




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22 comments:

  1. Blog Hopping--I've followed you via Linky Followers. Would love if you followed me back.

    Thanks,
    Jeneen @ Suzie HomeCaker
    suziehc.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hiya Mary- it's Tracy...I started a new blog and I didnt want you to think I was a stalker, lol.

    Man that chicken looks Yumm-ee delish! Might have to runa na extra mile and make some this weekend:)

    Been a little busy in Savannah0 we finally have our trip planned...after all that, we are taking Seanie to Sea World for his B-day in April. Mr. Wilson and I get a little "alone" time this summer, so we are planning on taking off on the bike then -JUST US.

    Have a WONDERFUL weekend!

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  3. Remind me to have a good breakfast before I read your blog. I didn't today, and now I'm starving!

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  4. Oh, that looks sumptuous. I started to salivate just looking at the picture. I'm wondering now if I can cook it. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  5. I am always looking for another way to cook chicken God knows. This looks delicious!
    I have been poking around your blog, enjoying your fine recipes.
    I hope you will join my 4th Annual Blog Crawl on the 13th. Recipes, etc, anything Irish. With a name like Mary Sullivan I know you will have something!
    So glad you stopped in so I could come over and meet you!
    Your neighbor at the east end of LI
    Kathleen
    I don't see a place to follow?

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  6. Found it, my resolution needed to be adjusted, the side of your blog was cut off! :)

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  7. Well, that sure looks like a winning recipe. I think this is a great thing for me to try. Such a great tutorial, thanks so much!
    Blessings,
    Susie

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  8. Hi I am now following you and found you on the linky follower hop! I invite you to follow me over at Hibiscus House, I would love to have you. I can tell I am going to enjoy your posts. This looks delicious!
    Sincerely,
    Dolly
    http://hibiscushouse1.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  9. These looks so good the top picture is making me so hungry,Thanks for linking up to Creative Mondays :)

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  10. Hi, I found you through the Linky Blog Hop. Love this chicken recipe - it would make an awesome weeknight meal. Glad to have found your blog; am now a happy follower via GFC and Linky.

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  11. Mary, I just dropped in to welcome you to It's All Connected. Then, I couldn't take my eyes off those chicken pics! What time's dinner? lol I've joined you on the Linky so I don't miss anything!

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  12. You got some pretty yummy recipes on here. Following you via linky followers. Would love for you to stop by and follow back :)
    http://fitcraftystylishandhappy.blogspot.com/

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  13. I tagged you here: http://mamatinkstinkerings.blogspot.com/2012/02/tag-youre-it.html. I hope you have time to play along!

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  14. Thanks for sharing this succulent dish with us at Inspire Me Monday - I look forward to more of your fabulous dishes!

    Have a wonderful week & I hope you'll join us for Friendship Friday!

    Ramona
    http://create-with-joy.com

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  15. That looks soooooooo good Mary! I'm drooling...LOL! I'm going to have to give this a try ;o) Thank you for sharing it! Hugs Jennifer

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  16. Thanks so much for finding me and following! I am now following you as well :) Angie

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  17. Mary, your chicken has left me salivating all week!

    Thanks so much for sharing this at Inspire Me Monday. You are one of my featured bloggers this week! Congratulations and I can't wait to see what you bring for an encore!

    Ramona
    http://create-with-joy.com

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  18. I love chicken recipes and this one looks really good!
    Thanks so much for sharing!

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  19. This looks so good Mary. I'm going to try it. Thanks for linking up.

    Anne xx

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  20. Saw this on Thriving on Thursdays and wanted to eat the photo right there and then. So of course I had to come over to see how to make this fabulous recipe. It looks and sounds SO good. Can hardly wait to make it!!

    Nann

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  21. My goodness Mary, it is lunch time and I sure hope that awesome plate of Chicken is for me. This is a great recipe! Hope you are having a great week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

    ReplyDelete

I love comments! I read every one and they truly make my day! I no longer allow anonymous comments due to increases in spam, etc. SUBSCRIBE to the COMMENTS on this post (below) to get a notice of my reply via email! Thanks for stopping by and for absolutely making my day! XOXO Mary

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