Crispy Chicken and Basil Lemon Pasta

     So again my wife was in and out of the hospital some more. They finally have her diagnosed, her pancreas is actually calcifying. Sounds scary, and it is. So now more than ever her diet is more important than ever. Looks like you guys will be getting lots more tasty recipes.

     Today we are going over to my Mom's to do some laundry and visit for the day. The hard part is now not many people know how to cook for her. So, I did everyone the favor and made her some food to take with.


     Crispy Chicken: I took a single chicken breast and cut it up raw into bite sized pieces. I made an egg wash and soaked them in it while I heated the pan and made the breading. Cook them for just a few minutes until chicken is done through and the outside crispy.

     Egg Wash: 1 Egg, table spoon milk, and a teaspoon lemon juice. (If you use buttermilk, omit the lemon juice)
 
     Breading: Teaspoon salt, teaspoon pepper, teaspoon minced onion (powder will work as well) and a dash of cumin. I also crushed up about a handful (maybe 1/4 cup) of almonds but you can use any nut you prefer, pecans work great in this one! Add 2 tablespoons of flour and a half cup of bread crumbs. This will make a bit more than you need for the one breast so double at will, and add in any other flavors you like.

   
     Basil Lemon Pasta: Spaghetti noodles cook up real quick and make this super simple and cheep! I cooked up a serving and set it aside to cool. I tossed some onions and bell peppers in a pan and cooked until they were tender. Tossed those on the pasta to cool. Wilted some spinach in garlic and lemon juice. (wilting- high heat and cooked for just a few moments until the levees look "not raw") I put those on the "cooling" pile. The in the pan added a bit more garlic, basil, butter, lemon juice and a touch of corn starch. I then put all the "cooling" ingredients into the sauce and mixed it well.

     Sauce: A good heaping tablespoon of basil. Teaspoon of lemon juice. Teaspoon of garlic. 2 Tablespoons of butter. The small bit of cornstarch helps thicken it up just a bit, but be careful too much will make it a paste. If that does happen, don't worry. add some more butter and lemon juice until it thins down.


     The chicken is so tender and crispy, I'm snacking on some of the leftovers now. The pasta is light and full of flavor. Give it a try and put your own twist on it. I'd love to hear what you do!

~Skadia, the crispy chicken queen Panther.