what's for supper?: Oven-Fried Chicken

Southern Living, Apr 2004 by Harrington, Shirley

We take a few shortcuts but don't scrimp on flavor.

Here's a schedule to help you get each dish in this menu on the table at the same time. Once the chicken is in the oven, you have about 10 minutes to clean up those prep dishes before you start the mashed potatoes. We used frozen mashed potatoes and cooked them in the microwave. Before you stir in the cheese and seasoning, get the sugar snap peas cooking in the microwave, and then add the extra ingredients to the potatoes. (Cover with foil, and keep warm if you're ahead of schedule.) When the timer rings on the chicken, you're ready to serve plates and enjoy. SHIRLEY HARRINGTON

OVEN-FRIED CHICKEN CUTLETS

MAKES 4 SERVINGS

PREP: 15 MIN., BAKE: 30 MIN.

Chicken cutlets are skinned and boned chicken breasts that have been sliced to a thin, even thickness, and then packaged for sale. This convenience saves you the time of pounding chicken breasts to flatten, but will cost more. For a crispy coating, do not crowd chicken on baking sheet.

1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

1 cup round buttery cracker crumbs (about 44 crackers)

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

4 chicken breast cutlets (about 1 ¼ pounds)

Garnish: chopped fresh parsley

STIR together first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl. Combine cracker crumbs and cheese in a shallow bowl.

DIP chicken in butter mixture; dredge in cracker crumb mixture. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet.

BAKE at 400° for 25 to 30 minutes or until chicken is brown and done. Garnish, if desired.

MELANIE WINTERNHEIMER

SANFORD, FLORIDA

SPEEDY GARLIC

MASHED POTATOES

MAKES 4 TO 6 SERVINGS

PREP: 5 MIN., COOK: 13 MIN.

1 (22-ounce) package frozen mashed potatoes

1 ¾ cups milk

1 (4-ounce) container garlic-and-herb spreadable cheese*

½ to 1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

STIR together mashed potatoes and milk in a large glass bowl.

MICROWAVE, uncovered, at HIGH 11 to 13 minutes. Add remaining ingredients, stirring until cheese is melted.

JULIA MITCHELL

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY

*1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened and cubed; 3 tablespoons butter; and 1 minced garlic clove may be substituted.

NOTE: For testing purposes only, we used Alouette Garlic & Herbs Spreadable Cheese.