Lemon Chicken Piccata, Onion Bites, and Good Day Bars

What is one trick to make meal time easy?  Make sure all foods bake at the same temperature.  Tonight I make Lemon Chicken Piccata, Onion Bites, and Good Day Bars – all in the oven at the same time at 350 degrees.  By making sure all the food bakes at the same temperature, you can avoid the “oven temperature shuffle” – turning the oven heat up and down to accommodate each dish. 

The Lemon Chicken Piccata has a light refreshing taste.  This chicken recipe is fried in only 2 tablespoons of olive oil and then baked allowing it to remain on the lighter side but still searing in all of the flavor. 

Our youngest daughter’s reaction to the Onion Bites surprised me.  Onions are typically not a food you think of as a toddler finger food.  But when our daughter ate her first Onion Bite, she asked (signed) for more.  Hmmm, maybe I should add these to her 2^nd birthday party menu!

What would healthful eating be without a little indulgence here and there.  Good Day Bars turns any day into a good day – if you like chocolate.  A combination of brownies, Oreo cookies, and chocolate chip cookies, this definitely is not something you want to eat every day.  So instead: make it, try it, and share it!

Lemon Chicken Piccata

Serves 4

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1 cup low sodium chicken broth

1 lemon, thinly sliced

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons capers, drained

3 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons minced flat-leaf parsley

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.  Set aside. 

Put the flour in a shallow dish.  Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and dredge in the flour. Shake off excess flour. Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet.  Cook the chicken over medium heat until golden brown on both sides.  Place the chicken on the baking sheet and bake until cooked through (175 degrees internally), approximately 15 minutes. 

In the same nonstick skillet (do not wash), cook the minced garlic for 20 seconds over medium heat.  Add the chicken broth and lemon slices.  Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce to a simmer.  Let simmer 5-8 minutes until the mixture reduces to about 2/3 cup.

Add the lemon juice and capers.  Continue to simmer until the sauce is slightly thickened. Add the butter.  Stir until it is melted.   Add the parsley; stir and remove from heat and set aside.

Place a chicken breast on a serving plate and spoon the lemon sauce over the top.  Repeat with the remaining chicken and sauce. 

Onion Bites

Serves 8

1⁄2 yellow onion, peeled and finely chopped

1⁄2 cup plain Greek yogurt or light mayonnaise

3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

8 slices whole wheat bread

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a small bowl, mix the onion, yogurt (or mayonnaise), Parmesan, and parsley.  Season with salt and pepper.  Set aside. 

Remove the bread from the oven and scoop about 1 teaspoon of onion mixture onto each round.  Return to the oven and bake an additional 10 minutes or until the onion mixture is hot and lightly golden. 

Good Day Bars

Serves 24

1 package brownie mix, prepared according to package directions (do not bake)

1 package Oreo cookies

1 tube refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough

           

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly coat a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

Layer the cookie dough on the bottom of the pan.  Using your fingers to spread the dough to cover the entire bottom of the pan. 

Next, lay Oreos side by side covering the cookie dough.  Do not overlap the cookies.  If any cookies remain, save them for another use.

Pour the brownie batter on top of the Oreo layer.  Use a knife or spreader to smooth the top to ensure the Oreos are covered.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the brownie layer is done.  Let cool before serving.