I do not count down the minutes until Wednesday morning arrives thus bringing me the latest grocery store circulars.  There is no skipping up and down the isle, relishing in the idea of what to feed the 4 other hungry mouths at home.  I do enjoy the intriguing items at the stores, question there freshness, their importance to my life and impact to my environment. But let's face it, grocery shopping is a necessity.  Sometimes the best I can do is get in and out again without losing my good nature. 

 

This week it was a complete pleasure to shop!  I spent $58.83 almost "breaking the bank" in my terms, but still close to my norm.  So why am I so giddy with excitement?  It has everything to do with saving $40.69!  Let's get this clear; I walked out of Albertsons with $99.52 worth of groceries for $58.83.  I am used to saving quite a bit, but I still rejoice when the savings are this great.  

Chicken with Bacon
This is a sweet and spicy super easy dish. 
 
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
6 slices of bacon
1 cup brown sugar (don't pack it)
2-3 Tablespoons chili powder (use your favorite or a combination)
 
1 Tablespoon flour
½ cup chicken broth or white wine
 
Filet the chicken breast so it is not as thick which will encourage even cooking.  Snip the bacon into 2 inch pieces. Combine the brown sugar and chili powder in a medium sized bowl.  Dredge the chicken breast filets in the mixture. 
 
Heat a 12" good quality fry pan* or a 3 Qt. sauté pan* over medium heat.  Add the bacon pieces to the pan.  When a bit of the fat has coated the pan, add the chicken breasts.  Brown and cook the chicken on each side for about 5 minutes.  Once the chicken is cooked remove all the meat from the pan.  Lower the temperature to low and add the flour.  You are now making a roux with the bacon fat.   Cook the roux for about 2 minutes then add the liquid.  This will give you a sweet/spicy sauce for over the meat. 
 
Variation:
Want to impress?  Change up the presentation and add just one ingredient. 
 
Once you have split the chicken breast pound the chicken with a meat pounder until it is ¼ inch thick.  Add 2 teaspoons of blue cheese (cream cheese if you are not a fan of blue cheese) to the offset center of the chicken.  Roll the chicken around the cheese, then take 2 strips of bacon and wrap them around the chicken.  Secure with 2 toothpicks.  Dredge in the sugar chili mixture.  Add to the heated pan (at medium-low) and cook until done- roughly 20 minutes.  Continue with making the sauce.  Serve with rice. 
 
*A good quality pan will let you brown the chicken without burning it.  Good quality is not a bonded bottom pan with single ply edge.  Good quality is solid workmanship of a consistent thickness throughout the whole pan.  

 

 

Tip #2:  Do not take children or even spouse/ significant others with you when you shop.  Claim it as your time to focus on taking care of your family.  When you shop with "others" the tendency to overspend will increase.  Notice the usage of the word WILL compared to "could."