A cordon bleu is a dish of meat wrapped around cheese. Traditionally, Chicken Cordon Bleu is breaded and deep-fried. In this recipe, we pound the chicken breast thin, wrap around a slice of honey ham and a slice of Swiss cheese, breaded, and then baked to perfection. Delicious and healthy!

• 4 chicken breast halves, boneless and skinless

• lemon or orange slices

• 1 TBSN garlic powder

• 1 TBSN onion powder

• 8 slices Swiss cheese

• 1/2 lb honey ham, sliced

• 2 sheets puff pastry, thawed if frozen

• 1/4 cup English mustard

• 1 egg, beaten

• 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs

• 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs

Medium mixing bowl, meat mallet, mixing spoon, cutting board, measuring spoons, aluminum foil, measuring cups, sharp carving knife Prep: 40 minutes prep Cook: 20-25 minutes Ready: 65 minutes Serves: 4

Before you handle any food, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Clean your kitchen work area and pull back your hair or wear a cap. You want to avoid contaminating your meal with harmful bacteria that could cause food illness.

To make Baked Chicken Cordon Bleu: 1. Brine chicken with lemon or orange slices. Click here for directions for brining chicken.

2. Sprinkle the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder, tossing to coat evenly.

3. On a cutting board, place a chicken breast between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound until about ½-inch thick with a meat mallet.

4. Remove the plastic wrap and place a layer of Swiss cheese, then a layer of ham, then another layer of Swiss cheese.

5. Evenly roll the chicken, and place onto a sheet of aluminum foil.

6. Wrap the chicken in the foil, twist the excess foil, and roll the chicken while twisting the sides in to tighten and firm up the roll of chicken cordon bleu.

7. Chill in the refrigerator to set for 30 minutes.

8. Preheat oven to 450°F.

9. in a mixing bowl, add the Panko and Italian breadcrumbs and mix to combine. Set aside.

10. Cut the puff pastry sheets in half and gently roll out width-wise.

11. Brush the pastry with mustard and place the chicken on to the bottom edge of the pastry.

12. Tightly roll the chicken in the puff pastry, pinching the seams together to close and folding the sides under the bottom.

13. Remove the foil from the chicken rolls. Place the chicken rolls on a greased baking sheet and brush all sides with egg wash.

14. Dip into breadcrumb mixture to thoroughly coast all sides of the chicken rolls.

15. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165°F .

16. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and rest 5-10 minutes.

17. Slice into 1/2 inch slices and serve.

• Calories: 471

• Total Fat: 24.9 g

• Saturated Fat: 9.0 g

• Cholesterol: 187 mg

• Sodium: 840 mg

• Potassium: 389 mg

• Total Carbohydrates: 24.8 g

• Dietary Fiber: 0.6 g

• Protein: 42.1 g

• Sugars: 2 g

Chicken carries plentiful amounts of protein and a variety of beneficial vitamins and nutrients. Chicken is a great source of vitamin B, which consumed regularly can prevent stress, anxiety, memory-loss syndrome, and can balance cortisol hormones in your body. Moreover, it can improve concentration in children and adults alike. Many studies have revealed that vitamin B also maintains psychological health. Chicken has a high content of vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin K which contribute to producing red blood cells. When your body obtains the required amount of iron and vitamins, it can produce and balance red blood cells that will eventually deal with anemia. They also help to protect your eyes from weak vision as it is a powerhouse of, retinol, lycopene, alpha, and beta-carotene. The nutrients are essential to maintaining the overall health of your eyes. They regularly promote the growth of damaged cells and tissues effectively because they have a high content of riboflavin which is essential for normal healing of skin tissue. Your immune system requires adequate levels of protein; iron, magnesium, and potassium to function properly that are abundant in Chicken. These nutrients strengthen cells in your immune system, as well as your teeth and gums due to the high content of phosphorus. When you consume phosphorus regularly, it can alleviate factors that weaken your teeth and prevent gums bleeding as well. Chicken is a powerhouse of magnesium and phosphorus which are known to maintain cardiovascular health. They also contain plenty of nutrients that help relieve common cold and other illnesses associated with it such as a sore throat and congested nose.

White wines like Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay, while dark meat like duck and other game go well with medium bodied red wines such as Pinot Noir or Zinfandel.

More variations coming soon.