Time: 1 hour

Sometimes during the day, I get a little text from hubby asking how my day is going…. I know he is really just texting to say “I love you”. Recently, I started a new job and have been super busy. Hubby has been holding everything together at home – making amazing meals (and taking pictures so I can blog them) to help get through the crazy, busy days…. This week he made a dish he is famous for at our house – Chicken Parmesan. His secret ingredient: garlic croutons that he grinds up! When he makes this, he gets a ton of recognition and hugs — cause we love it and him “from the bottom of our hearts”.

Music Selection: Stevie Wonder – I Just Called To Say I Love You

Ingredients:

6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

Salt/pepper to taste

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups finely ground casesar salad (or garlic) croutons or panko

¾ cup parmesan cheese

½ cup flour

½ cup olive oil for frying

1 jar (650 mL) favorite tomato-based pasta sauce (tomato & pesto; wine & herb; arrabbiata; marinara, etc)

¼ cup chopped fresh basil

1 cup grated mozzarella or 6 slices of mozzarella or provolone

½ cup grated parmesan

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 deg F.

Grind up garlic croutons, if not already done. Mix the crouton crumbs and ¾ cup parmesan cheese. Mix well. In a separate flat bowl, mix the eggs well. In a third flat bowl, place flour and mix in salt/pepper.

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Heat half of the oil in a large skillet. Take a chicken breast (you can slice them in half if you want to cook them faster). Roll the breast in the flour, then dip in the egg and then roll in the crouton/cheese mixture. Set on a plate.

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When all of the chicken is coated, then fry until crispy in the skillet.

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In a large casserole dish (9 x 13 pan), pour ½ cup of the tomato pasta sauce and spread over bottom of pan. Then place the crispy chicken on top. Pour remaining sauce over the chicken breasts. The breasts should be single layer. Then put the mozzarella or provolone on each breast. Bake in the oven for another 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked thoroughly. Serve with fresh basil and the extra parmesan cheese. We like to serve this over hot spaghetti noodles! Enjoy with a glass of great red wine!

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