I hate exams!

Always have always will…

Now before you jump to the conclusion that  I was some lazy student back in my day I assure you that I was a straight A student in school and I finished my master degree with honors..but still I HATE exams.. I hated every single exam and believe me they were plenty through out 12 years of school, 5 years in undergrad and 2 years in the master ..

No matter how prepared I am the mere mention of exams is enough for me to declare a state of emergency and stand on the brink of a panic attack .

So what brought this up now? years and years after finishing school in all its forms?…

My daughter has exams next week..before you laugh your head off (because if you follow this blog or if you know me you’d know that my daughter is only 6 years old) let me say in my defence that I can’t help it..I really can’t..

like today when my daughter came home with the exam schedule for the next 10 days.. the minute I saw it my mind started racing..making time tables,planning the weekend and thinking how to manage my appointments next week around her schedule.

I know it may sound crazy to do all that for a first grader but I believe that laying the right foundation means a lot to kids. If your child starts his school life being one of the top students in his or her class that helps them develop self confidence and a sense of self. Besides education is one of those things that are really cumulative, you can’t get to the next level if you haven’t mastered the one you’re at first.

So were does that leave us?

It leaves me with a panic attack and you with a delicious chicken Kiev recipe 🙂 but before I get to the recipe  for those of you who may not share my love for chicken in all its shapes and forms I promise you a delicious sweet  recipe tomorrow. I’ll give you a hint.. it is delicious dark brown with a yummy sauce paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

This was my first time ever trying chicken Kiev but I can tell you this it won’t be the last time. Crunchy crusted juicy chicken that once you cut into it oozes melted butter.. I mean what’s not to love?!

 The recipe is Alton Brown’s with two minor alterations.I used bread crumbs with italian seasoning and romano cheese  instead of panko and I omitted the salt that was added to the butter because the bread crumbs already have salt.

Chicken Kiev adapted from Alton Brown

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 teaspoon dried parsley

1 teaspoon dried marjoram

1/4 teaspoon all spice

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 large whole eggs, beaten with 1 teaspoon vinegar

2 cups  bread crumbs with italian seasoning , plus 1/4 cup for filling

Vegetable oil

1 tablespoon butter

 

Combine butter, parsley, marjoram,  and 1/4 teaspoon all spice  in the bowl.

 Place mixture on plastic wrap or waxed paper and roll into small log; place in freezer. 

Pound your chicken untill it is of uniform thickness about  

Lay 1 chicken breast on a new piece of plastic wrap and place 1/4 of the compound butter and 1 tablespoon bread crumbs in the center of each breast.

Using the plastic wrap to assist, fold in ends of breast and roll breast into a log, completely enclosing the butter; roll very tightly.

Repeat with each breast. (you can find a detailed step by step explanation here)

Place chicken in refrigerator for 2 hours, or up to overnight.

Heat vegetable oil in a  saute pan over medium-high heat.

Dip each breast in the egg mixture and then roll in the bread crumbs.

Gently place each breast in oil, sealed-side down, and cook until golden brown, approximately 4 to 5 minutes on each side.

Remove to a cooling rack set in sheet pan and allow to drain for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

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