Cheesecake Factory's Chicken Costolleta

I found this recipe while roaming around food blogs and sites. I’ve never actually had this dish as the closest Cheesecake Factory is an hour and a half away. The only thing I’ve ever had from there is my wedding cakes. (Yep, we did multiple tiers of cheesecake for our wedding.) So I can not guarantee the authenticity of this recipe. Having said that, it is darn good! I’m definitely adding this to the rotation. I’m In LOVE with the lightly flavored dipping sauce for a hot crispy piece of chicken. You HAVE to try this.

Chicken Costolleta (and I still think that looks/sounds like Cost-a-lotta)
Ingredients:
4 large skinless boneless chicken breasts cut into large strips and pounded to ½ inch thick
3 tbs flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 eggs
Splash of water
Zest of 1 lemon
1 ½ cups plain breadcrumbs
2 tbs grated parmesan
Vegetable oil

Directions:
Heat vegetable oil over medium high (about ¼ inch of it in a deep cast iron pan- I used a dutch oven). In three dishes put the following ingredients:
Dish 1: flour, pepper and salt. Mix.
Dish 2: Eggs and water. Whisk.
Dish 3: Lemon zest, bread crumbs and parmesan.

Place each chicken strip in the flour, then egg, then breadcrumb mixture. Make sure in each stage it is thoroughly coated. Place in heated oil for about 4 minutes per side or until Golden brown and done in the center. Try to only flip once. If your oil is smoking, its too hot. You want it just below smoking point.

Lemon Cream Dipping Sauce:
Ingredients:
1 tbs olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups heavy cream
1 tbs Dijon mustard
The juice from two lemons
Zest from One lemon
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 tbs butter, cold

Directions:
Over medium heat in saucepan, heat olive oil. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant. Add cream and boil until reduced and slightly thick. Add mustard, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Simmer about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter until melted.

You can serve the cream sauce OVER the chicken or use it is a dipping sauce which is how I preferred it.

My Nod to FastFood

I try really hard not to eat Fast Food. My husband is a Fast Food junkie and for a long time I followed in his footsteps because it was convenient.

You know what though? The more I cook the less taste I have for it. I gave up on Pizza years ago. I'm not a pizza fan. I'm good with a gourmet pizza now and again or a home made concoction of gooey cheese but I am not a pizza person.

I did love Hardees but the past few times, I've noticed they have no flavor, just salt. I make a mean hamburger and Hardees just can not compare.

The one Fast Food that still holds my heart though? Subway. I know that I can always go in Subway and get a Grilled Chicken breast on Wheat with all the veggies my little heart desires and I don't even feel guilty!

Plus I watch them make it RIGHT there so I can truly get it my way.

I may be a little snotty about my cooking skills but I don't think I will ever go completely NO FAST FOOD...as long as there is Subway.

Eat This Not That

Yesterday, two of my girlfriends and I drove to Charlotte/Concord area to surprise another friend for her birthday. We truly had a girl's day out. No husbands or kids. We vented, we caught up, we had a lunch, icecream and walked the big mall. It was so much fun.

On the way down, T brought out the Eat This Not That book. We looked up the resteraunt to see what would be better menu choices. I was ASTOUNDED at what was the worst choice: Veggie and Turkey burgers. They load them with such horrible fillers to get the taste that those items are the highest calorie and fat options on the menu!

This sparked a whole rampage through this book glaring at our favorite places and menu options. I am going to have to completely re-think the way I eat. (which I knew this but was too lazy until it slapped me in the face how truly horrible it was). I did refuse to look at Starbucks because, well, I just don't want to know. LOL

I did look up the entire menu/allergen/nutrition info for Ruby Tuesdays for those of you who love this place. I was a little shocked that the resteraunt so famous for "THE GARDEN BAR" would be one of the worst score recievers. Be careful what you eat. If you aren't making it home made you have NO CLUE what they put into their foods. For people like my friend Sarah who can't have gluten, or Tonya who has to relearn to eat because of her DH's type 2 diabetes, or Brandi who is vegetarian, its very important to know WHAT is in your food. For me, I need to know healthier options to control my weight. WE ALL need to watch what we eat and I highly recommend this book for a quick reference to healthier options and hidden sins in our food.

Ruby Tuesday can still be a good place to eat for your family but I recommend the peppercorn steak with a side of smashed cauliflour and sweet potato (leave off the butter and sugar). Be careful of Salad Bars and go for the fresh veggies and fruits, stay away from the creamed dressings (which I failed miserably at yesterday).