Here is another ATTEMPT-to-eat healthy recipe that just went wrong. Well, at least I tried. . . but I just couldn’t resist jazzing the flavors up just a bit. I am quickly realizing how fast the metabolism slows down as you age. I don’t mind getting older; in fact, I’m looking forward to looking “distinguished” and “mature” (as long as I can actually pull that off). I am finding myself in a constant battle against of going bald and becoming overweight. I have, jokingly, told friends and family, “I can let myself go now. I have a beautiful wife already; why do I need to do anything?” Deep down, or maybe a little closer to the surface, I know I really need to get it under control now, because it’s only going to be more difficult from here.

A lot of times, I start my cooking out with good intentions, but, as my mind begins to buzz with eat step of the meal preparation, the flavors I love seem to take over. Take for instance this dinner. I started to make a simple chicken salad using healthier ingredients and this wonderful olive oil from the Grapevine Olive Oil Company, which is a new establishment located on Main Street in downtown Grapevine. What a brilliant place! They have been open for less than a month, and their website is still in development, but the place is well worth a visit in person. They have an olive oil tasting room, and, just like a wine tasting room, this is a place you simply can not pass by. Back to my attempted healthy recipe. . . I began to pull out all the healthy stuff, like the mixed lettuce, tomatoes, and onions and then IT just happened. . . while opening one of my refrigerator doors, I saw a bacon package. This unopened bacon, with all it’s delicious potential, began to call my name!  I knew at that moment, my healthy recipe was in trouble. Right next to the bacon, the creamy, thick-sliced Havarti cheese joined in the seduction. It was over from there, right like a scene out of Ratatouille, the pictures and colors were swirling in my head, and Smothered Chicken Salad was born! The good thing about this recipe is I was ate salad; the bad thing about it was that it ended up covered in bacon and cheese.

Smothered Chicken Salad

Serves 2

Ingredients

2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

Olive Oil for cooking

Salt & Pepper

1/4 Red Onion

1 Tomato, thinly sliced

4 Slices Thick-Cut Bacon

1/2 Cup Sliced Button Mushrooms

2 Slices Thick-Cut Havarti Cheese

Spring Mix Salad Leaves

Mushroom & Sage Olive Oil (we used oil from Grapevine Olive Oil Company) for Dressing

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken breasts with salt & pepper.
3. Cook bacon in microwave, oven, or skillet until crispy.
4. In a skillet sear both sides of the chicken breast (about 3 minutes both sides).
5. Place skillet into preheated oven for 10 minutes or until juices run clear.
6. Remove chicken from oven and top with in this order bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions & cheese.
7. Place topped chicken back in the oven for 2 minutes or until cheese is melted.

To Serve

1. Place a handful of lettuce on both serving plates.
2. Sprinkle mushroom & sage olive oil over lettuce.
3. Top with smothered chicken stack.
4. Enjoy!

This meal is a lot healthier than most of my dishes. My wife told me that this was simply one of her favorite things I’ve made.