Fresh Chicken Bruschetta

So, I went to the store on Monday and all I knew was that I wanted something with tomatoes and basil, thanks to Pinterest!  I just pinned the Cheesecake Factory Bruschetta and it was all I could think about!  So, I busted into the pantry and let my imagination run wild.  And OH-MY-GAHHH!! 

I wish I could tell you exactly how much of everything I put in the bruschetta, but in all honesty, it was all to taste and on the light side of everything!!  I will do my best to guestimate how much I used, but really, I just began to lightly add seasonings here and there just to make it perfect!!  If you don’t trust your hand, there is no way you could go wrong with the CF recipe up above!  This Bruschetta is just so sweet and mouthwatering! 

Chicken:

4 chicken breasts, pounded to ¼ of an inch

Sea salt

Pepper

Garlic Powder

Dab of minced garlic on each chicken breast

2 tbsp Olive Oil

2 tbsp Kraft Sweet Balsamic Dressing 

Bruschetta (guestimated):

8 – 10 small vine ripe tomatoes

1/8 cup purple onion

2 tbsp chopped basil

2 tbsp minced garlic

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp Balsamic Reduction

Juice of 1 Lemon

1 tbsp sugar

To make the Bruschetta, use a slap chop to chop the tomatoes and onions evenly then chop the basil with a knife, being careful to not bruise the leaves.  In a large bowl, mix with remaining ingredients, adding more to taste when necessary.  Place in the fridge so all the players can get nice and cozy while you season the chicken. 

 

Then rub the chicken with S&P, Garlic Powder and a drop of minced garlic.   

Heat the pan and add 2 tbsp olive oil!  Brown the chicken.  Just before the chicken is complete, deglaze pan with the balsamic dressing and finish cooking the chicken in the balsamic sauce.  Remove the chicken from the pan and pour the pan yummies all over the chicken!  Top with the Bruschetta and serve! 

 

Just to make it even yummier; drizzle with Balsamic Reduction

 

And here are the major players!!

 

 

 

You can find this bad boy in the Cooking Connection of HEB!  I substituted vinegar with this reduction to help sweeten up the Bruschetta because I was afraid to add too much vinegar and ruin my veggies!  This lovely bottle is every bit of the bruschetta flavor you are dying for!  Finish the Bruschetta with fresh lemon.  The lemon is a MUST!!  Do.Not.forget this step!

 

 

Deglaze the pan with this dressing from Kraft.  Toss the chicken in the sauce and allow it to coat in a dark brown glaze!  Flip at least two times to finish cooking the chicken in this sweet sauce!

 

 

The chicken gets nice and happy in this yumminess!

 

 

Really, it can't get any better than this!

First Day of 2 Year Old Pre-School

The first day of pre-school has come and gone with just a few tears, from both Mommy and Alexis!  Luckily I was able to go into work an hour late last Tuesday so I could get her dressed!  GiGi actually took her to school because Daddy had to go to Austin.  But, I was so grateful that I was able to get her dressed and give her lots of extra hugs and kisses!  She cried for about two minutes after GiGi left and then had a great time!  She even managed to take a short twenty minute nap, on the floor, on her nap sack!  She still cries every time she is dropped off, but it only lasts for a minute!  Her favorite thing to do at preschool is paint her hands!  I am so excited to see all the great things she learns this year!