An Italian Style Birthday Dinner

Today is my husband's birthday and if any of you reading this know my husband, you would agree that he is quite spoiled.  I had the day off from work today so I decided to cook up a new recipe and a classic that both Paul and I love.  

Garlic Pull Apart

I made my dough in my food processor but you could easily make the dough for these pull apart in your stand mixer or bread machine.  Just adjust how you add the ingredients depending on what method you use.  

Dough: 

In a measuring cup, measure 1/2 c warm water, add 1 tsp sugar and 1 tbsp active dry yeast.  Allow to sit for 8 minutes until foamy, stir to dissolve.  

In food processor, add flour (2 c bread flour, 1 c white wheat flour, 2 tbsp wheat germ), 2 tbsp honey and 1 tsp salt.  

Pour dissolved yeast mixture over flour mixture and process on dough cycle for 15 seconds, while machine is running add oil (1/4 c canola oil), eggs (1 whole egg, 6 tbsp liquid egg whites).  Process until blended approx 10 seconds.  Add 1/4 c luke warm water  through feed tube, drizzling it into flour mixture, process until dough forms around center and blades, if needed add additional flour a tablespoon at at time if machine starts to slow down.  Process for an additional 45 seconds.  Dough will be sticky when you remove it to a lightly floured surface.  Kneed dough for 2 minutes.  Transfer dough to a large oiled glass bowl.  Allow dough to rise for an hour and a half or until doubled in a warm location.  

Peel 10 garlic cloves, process in food process with steel blade until minced by dropping into feed tube while machine is running.  In a small fry pan, heat 1/4 c olive oil, add minced garlic and saute for 2 minutes.  Remove from heat and allow to cool.  

Remove dough from glass bowl onto a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to a rectangle approx 12 x 20.

Spread garlic and oil mixture over dough.  Sprinkle with 3 tbsp dried parsley, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1/4 c grated or shredded Parmesan cheese evenly.  

Roll dough as tightly as possible and then cut into approx 1" pieces with a serrated knife trying to get 20 equal pieces of dough.  Place into a greased 9x13 glass baking pan.  Place in a warm place to rise for 45min to an hour.  

Whisk together 1 egg yolk and a tsp of water.  Brush on the top of rolls before putting in the oven and sprinkle with kosher salt.  

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and bake for 25-30 minutes until the top is golden brown.  

Chicken Parmesan 

Marinara Sauce: 

In a medium sauce pan, pour 1 -15 oz can of crushed tomatoes.  

Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a fry pan.  Chop 1 shallot and put into fry pan, mince 3 cloves garlic and add to shallot.  

Saute for 2 minutes until softened.  Add to saucepan with tomatoes.  

Add 1/4 tsp black pepper, a pinch of kosher salt and 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper to sauce.  Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.  

Set sauce aside while you prepare the chicken.  

Chicken: 

Take 4 chicken cutlets or pound out 4 equal pieces of boneless chicken breasts.  

Prepare your breading bowls ( 1/2 c skim milk,  1/2 c flour, 3 eggs, whisked, 1 c plain breadcrumbs).  Add 1/4 tsp black pepper to your flour and mix.  Add 1 1/2 tbsp dried Italian seasoning to breadcrumbs and mix.  

Take your first piece of chicken and dip in skim milk, allow excess to drip off, then coat with flour.  Dunk chicken in egg to coat, allow excess to drip off and coat with breadcrumb mixture.  Deep fat fry chicken for 2 minutes to crisp (I use a Cuisinart mini counter deep fryer) and remove to pan lined with paper towel.  Repeat with other 3 pieces of chicken.  

Grease a casserole dish and cover the bottom with 3/4 of the marinara sauce.  Arrange piece of chicken in casserole dish on top of the marinara sauce so they aren't overlapping.  

Spoon remaining marinara sauce on top of pieces of chicken.  

Cover each piece of chicken with 1 slice of provolone cheese and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  

Bake in oven 350 degrees for 25 minutes.  

Serve with your favorite pasta.  We like to have our Chicken Parm with linguine and Alfredo sauce.  It is a delicious combination.  The perfect comfort food.  

Happy Birthday, Babe!  You're officially the same age as me ;)