It was a week after Perry was born. My friends put together the obligatory meal-making schedule that is required of all friends of a new mom. A woman I didn't know very well generously offered to be a part of the schedule and called me one afternoon...
Her: "Hi. I'm making you guys dinner tonight. What's your favorite meal?"
Me: "Hi. Oh...umm...hmm...I don't think I have one."
Her: "Come on, what is it?"
Me: "Umm...(I was thinking Chicken Cordon Bleu)...well, I don't think it's possible to make it from scratch. I think it's only possible to get it at a restaurant or something."
Her: "Shut up. What is it?"
Me: "No, seriously. It's too hard to make."
Her: "Oh my god, just tell me what it is!"
Me: "Okay! Chicken Cordon Bleu."
Her: "Done. What else?"
Me: "Done?"
Her: "Yep. Done. What else?"
Me: "Okay...umm...twice-baked potatoes?" (This will push her over the edge.)
Her: "Done. How about a salad?"
Me: "A salad on top of all that? Wow. Sure."
Her: "Uh-huh. And for dessert?"
Me: "Dessert? That's enough, really, we don't need dessert."
Her: "Shut up. How about cherry pie?"
Me: "You're my new best friend."
Needless to say, the Chicken Cordon Bleu and the twice-baked potatoes and the salad and the cherry pie were completely awesome. It was one of the best meals I've ever had in my whole life. And she seemed to think nothing of it. As I was scrolling through the Internet looking for something to make for dinner last night, I happened upon this recipe from skinnytaste and I was like, I'm totally making this tonight because it totally reminds me of that time my friend made me Chicken Cordon Bleu after I had Perry.
Chicken Rollatini Stuffed with Zucchini and Mozzarella isn't exactly Chicken Cordon Bleu but it's no slacker either. It's rolled-up chicken yumminess and sometimes that's all you need. Just some minor tweaks to the recipe: I made my own breadcrumbs by toasting spelt bread and grinding it up in my little mini-food processor, then adding about 3/4 tsp. of Italian seasoning. And, I salted things to taste as I went. And, I didn't use chicken cutlets but used two large chicken breasts and split them through the middle for four flat pieces. And, I baked them in the lower half of the oven so the breadcrumbs didn't burn.
And, it's now one of my favorite meals.
