Chicken Piccata – Fresh, Easy, Comfort Food

Raise your hand if you have trouble finding something your entire family loves to eat? I have three picky daughters who are always complaining about what I make for dinner. One of them might like it but the other two don’t. I have one child who hates shrimp, another who hates mushrooms, and my oldest only likes pasta when SHE makes it. It’s been a lot of trial and error, but my chicken piccata recipe is one everyone likes… and everyone asks for seconds. It’s our first choice in comfort food when we’re all stressed out and just want a really tasty, healthy, homemade meal.

Chicken piccata is one of those dishes that looks complicated, but it really is quite easy to make. I serve mine over baby spinach and it’s a great combination of healthy and comforting.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. Foster Farms Simply Raised fresh chicken, boneless, skinless breasts
• Olive oil
• Butter (optional)
• Flour
• 2 large lemons
• 1/8 cup of capers
• fresh baby spinach

Description:

Heat a little olive oil in a large skillet. I also use a small pat of butter along with it just to add a little extra browning, but you don’t have to use the butter if you don’t want to.

Dredge each piece of chicken lightly in the flour. You don’t want a ton of flour… just a light coating. Place each piece in the skillet of oil and let sit until the side is golden brown. Turn over and let the other side brown. Once the chicken is cooked mostly through, squeeze the juice of one large lemon all over the chicken. Turn the heat down to simmer and let all the flavors blend together. Add the capers on top of the chicken and cook until the capers are warmed.

While the chicken is cooking, you can start the spinach. I use a large deep dish pot since I like to make a lot of spinach and I hate when it all falls out of a low sided skillet. Add a little olive oil to the pot and heat. Add the spinach in bunches. With tongs, gently toss the spinach so it all gets wilted evenly. I also add the juice of another lemon and a touch of salt and pepper to taste. You can forego the lemon if you choose, or you can add garlic or other spices.

When the spinach is ready, place a bunch on a plate and top with a piece of your chicken piccata. I like to serve with a small slice of lemon… just because it looks really pretty.

Since we’ve been trying to make healthier choices, I really like the Foster Farms Simply Raised fresh chicken, especially since it’s locally grown in California and the Pacific Northwest. Your comfort food doesn’t have to be full of fat and calories.

What is your favorite comfort food meal?