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Or well, my version of Mom’s Chicken Florentine.
Because I couldn’t possibly NOT mess with a recipe.
Like I clearly do not know how to do that.
But I only made it easier, and added some polenta, other than that, all the ingredients and flavors are 100% the same!
Growing up, this was my favorite dish that my mom made. Granted my mom didn’t make a whole lot of dinners, desserts were more her thing, dinner was my dad’s. Anyway, Chicken Florentine was my mom’s specialty dish. She only made it every so often, but when she did, it was the best. Everyone loved it. Well, actually now that I think of it, my brothers never ate it, you know, the whole spinach thing, didn’t work for them. So I guess that really just leaves mom, dad and me. Ok, so the three of us loved it.
That works too.
The original recipe made you do all this extra work, like baking the chicken in the oven first, then making the cream sauce and then layering the chicken, spinach and sauce. Basically, it was three pans and too much work for such a simple dish.
So, what I did was sear the chicken in an oven safe skillet, make the sauce in the very same skillet and then add the chicken right back into the sauce. Then I stirred in the spinach and called it a day. This way only uses one pan and takes about twenty minutes. Then just bake it in the oven for another twenty or so minutes and done! Same awesome flavors, creamy-ness and taste, just um…simpler! Which I kind of love.
I don’t really remember my mom serving the Chicken Florentine over anything, but to me, there needs to be something there to soak up all the delicious cream sauce. Normally I just go for pasta, but then it’s kind of like fettuccine (but better), but then when I was out hiking (which always gets me thinking), the idea popped into my head to serve the Chicken Florentine over some creamy Italian polenta.
I feel like polenta is good with just about anything, so I went with it. AND I added some roasted garlic because of all the health benefits (right)…Duh.
And then that’s kind of it. Pretty simple, but so perfect for these cold winter days and even into spring when you get those rainy, cold days. Which if you ask me, well, I’d rather have the snow than rain.
My lucky younger brother is spending the next two weeks in Monmouth, CA for a snowboard competitions. He says it sunny and 50 degrees there. Can you say, livin’ the life? Ya, I think so.
Totally jealous.
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Ok, but let’s be serious. That’s a dreamy plate of food right there.
Thanks for the great recipe
Your welcome (:
I made this and it was so good! Staple recipe for sure! I added a little garlic and onion powder to the sauce. I also used fresh spinach.
Thanks for the great recipe!
I am so thrilled you loved it Amanda! Thank you!!
This looks absolutely beautiful. I’d love to give it a try. I always want my life to be more polenta-filled.
So I’ve had this recipe hanging out on Safari on my phone since the day you posted it, just waiting to go to the grocery store and pick up some chicken. And just now I was browsing through Pinterest and saw that Emeril frickin Lagasse pinned your recipe! If that isn’t a sign that you are killin it hard and this recipe is top notch, nothing is 🙂 just wanted to give you the heads up!
What it does is leverage the wildly popular social media frenzy that’s sweeping the nation with sites like Twitter, Facebook, You Tube and more.
There’s going to be great food, Squatters, and a raffle of some amazing prizes that you don’t want
to miss out on. Your prospect must see you as someone that can lead them to financial
freedom.
I basically need to eat this ALL now! Thanks so much for making it simpler and not take a bajillion dishes! My husband also thanks you since he usually does the dishes.
Thanks Sophia! Hope you guys love it!
how come you decided to use frozen spinach instead of fresh?
Thats just what my mom always used, feel free to use fresh spinach if you want! 🙂
I absolutely love creamy polenta, this is dinner perfection!
Nothing beats creamy polenta! 🙂
Thank you so much, Laura!
Love family recipes. This looks like such a winter warmer. The texture of that polenta as well….oh my!
Thank you so much! 🙂 Hope this warms you up this winter!!
Wow, this is a show stopper dish. Something a little out of the ordinary. I like it!
Thanks Carol! Hope you have a great week!
Honestly, never had polenta. One day, I will give this a try. Because you know, I love roasted garlic!
What?!? No way! You have to try polenta, it is amazing!!
I love polenta, but usually stick with a store-bought version. I can’t wait to try this out! Looks amazing!
Homemade is SO much better! 🙂
Thank you!
Comfort food at its finest!!
🙂 Right?!
Thanks Todd! Hope all is good!!
Chicken, polenta, spinach, roasted garlic . . . this looks like a perfect combination of a few of my favorite things. Planning on putting this on our meal plan next week 🙂
Thanks Alexa! Hope you love this!
I love that you made this so simple. Anytime a step can be skipped or a dish stay clean I’m a much happier person! This looks delish, Tieghan! Pinning!
Thanks Tina!
UGH!! So sorry Tori!! I was reading the wrong comment when I responded to yours by accident.
Thanks for all the kind words, Tori!