Dear Customers,
As the calendar approaches mid-August this weekend, I was surprised to notice there were only a little more than 2 weeks of summer vacation left! Kids go back to school, at least in the Smethport School District on Thursday, August 27th which is actually a bit later than in recent years.
Next week is the McKean County Fair and then the emphasis switches to back to school activities for the remainder of the month. You’ll undoubtedly be busy this month tying up loose ends like back-to-school preparations, clothes or supply shopping and the like. Sometimes regular family meals get lost by the wayside, particularly if you have kids involved in fall sports! It’s tough to put a meal on the table for the whole family when schedules are so varied.
Here’s a recipe I’ve made over and over because it’s simple and always a hit around our house. We love chicken – fried, grilled, baked – you name it. And considering that it’s one of the most economical ways to feed a hungry family it should probably be a staple in your family’s diet.
Take a full boneless chicken breast and slice it lengthwise into two or three sections – depending upon how big they are. Season them liberally with salt, pepper and any poultry rub that you prefer. Next lay a thick slice of Swiss cheese on top of the breast. Of course you can use cheddar, pepper jack, Muenster or any other favorite variety.
Lastly wrap a full slice of bacon around the whole thing and secure it with a toothpick. I like the thick cut bacon because, well because it’s bacon! Grill on aluminum foil over medium heat until the internal temperature of the chicken breast reaches 160°F and then set it aside to rest. The chicken will continue to cook reaching the optimum temperature of 165°F.
Particularly when using thick sliced bacon, you may want to pre-cook the bacon for ten minutes or so in an air fryer or the oven to ensure it’s finished cooking at the same time as the chicken. It’ll still be pliable enough to wrap around the chicken. Serve with a nice, leafy green Romaine salad with olive oil and red wine vinegar! Easy-peasy, lemon-squeezy!