Being a parent to three young kids leaves very little room to have a date night with your hubby. I am not sure if that’s an excuse or the fact that I feel bad for anyone who must watch three kids, maybe two, but three is overwhelming. So instead of a date night out, my husband and I would rather stay home and cook a meal that is outside of our norm, fancy and delicious!

Below are some of our favorite chicken recipes that are simple, flavorful and beautiful. Garnish with fresh herbs and add a glass of wine and you’ll feel like you’re sitting at a five-star restaurant, but at the comfort of your own home. You can’t go wrong with either of these meals. Make it fun and have your entire family dress up for a family date night.

‘Butter me up Chicken with Mashed Potatoes’

Butter Me Up Chicken

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless chicken breasts
• 1 teaspoon of onion powder
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of cracked black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon of fresh thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon of fresh rosemary
• 1/4 fresh parsley
• 4 tablespoon of olive oil
• 4 tablespoons of butter
• 1 cup of sliced button mushrooms
• 2 teaspoons of minced garlic
• 3 tablespoons of lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Tenderize the chicken breast with a meat mallet so it’s not so thick.
2. Combine all the herbs into a small bowl and coat both sides of the chicken breasts evenly.
3. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a large saucepan on medium high heat until hot.
4. Add the chicken breast into the sauce pan and cook until it is no longer pink. Set chicken aside on plate.
5. In the same pan, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 4 tablespoons of butter. Stir until well blended as this will become your sauce.
6. Add mushrooms to the saucepan and cook until mushroom is soft and light brown.
7. Reduce heat to low; add in rest of herbs (garlic, thyme, parsley, salt and pepper) to pan.
8. Add cooked chicken breast to the sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
9. Add in 3 tablespoons of lemon juice to the pan and blend to taste.
10. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately with mashed potatoes.

Note: if you like a punch to your buttered chicken, add more lemon juice (my husband loves this).

Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients:

• 3 Russet potatoes (peeled and quartered)
• half cup of milk
• 3 tablespoons of butter
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a medium pot, add potatoes and fill pot with water – enough to cover the potatoes.
2. Cook potatoes in medium heat until potatoes are tender (about 15-20 minutes)
3. Drain water from pot.
4. Add in the milk and butter to pot.
5. Mash potatoes inside pot with a mixer on medium speed until smooth consistency.
6. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

‘Stuffed Chicken with Prosciutto and Cream Cheese’

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless chicken breasts
• 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of cracked black pepper
• 4 tablespoon of olive oil
• 4 tablespoons of butter
• 2 tablespoons of Garlic and Chives Cream Cheese
• 6 slices of prosciutto
• 6 fresh basil leaves
• toothpicks

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit (177° Celsius).
2. Slice the chicken breast in half – horizontally but keep one side uncut.
3. Combine the salt and pepper into a small bowl and coat the outside of the chicken breasts evenly.
4. Spread each chicken breast apart and top one side with 1 tablespoon of cream cheese.
5. layer in the 3 pieces of fresh basil leaves and prosciutto slices.
6. Close the chicken breasts by inserting toothpicks through the top and bottom of the chicken to hold the pieces together.
7. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a large saucepan on medium high heat until hot.
8. Add the chicken breast into the sauce pan and cook until it is no longer pink. Set chicken aside on plate.
9. In the same pan, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 4 tablespoons of butter. Stir until well blended as this will become your sauce.
10. Place chicken into a baking pan and drizzle sauce over chicken evenly.
11. Bake chicken for 15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165° Fahrenheit (75° Celsius).
12. Remove toothpicks from chicken.
13. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately with your favorite side dish.

~Villy

PS. If you make this recipe, snap a pic and hashtag it #villypooblog— I would love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter!