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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.
Good heavens, lady! This is just perfect for the winter blues…and I love using something other than pasta to soak up the creamy goodness! And super jealous of your brother…
Thanks so much, Mallory!! 🙂
JUST made polenta myself for the first time and it is SO good, I wish I had this recipe before I did it! looks amazing, Mom should be proud 😉
For the first time? what?!? 🙂
Thanks Christine!
Is the Polenta what u make yourself from cornmeal or Polenta u buy a tube Thanks for your help This looks so good Love spinach and love Polenta
Hey Nancy,
it’s polenta that you make from dry polenta, not the tube. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Tieghan!
Tieghan, oh my goodness. This IS seriously a dreamy plate of goodness! I LOVE polenta with chicken and seriously cannot wait to try this! and love that you put your spin on your mom’s recipe! very cool!
Thanks so much, Alice!! 🙂
Hope you are having a great week!
Mmm…this looks amazing! In my opinion, everything gets 100% more delicious when served over polenta. It really does look like a perfect meal for a cold wintry day – and I completely agree that snow is way better than rain (especially freezing rain)!
Right?!? I could not agree with that more! 🙂
Thanks!
If I didn’t have chicken last night for dinner I would be making this for sure. I LOVE everything going on here Tieghan!
Haha! Thanks Kathy!! 🙂
I’m looking forward to making this!
Thanks Sue! Hope you love it!!
This recipe is so up my alley! All that creamy goodness looks divine!
Wow, thanks so much!!
Girl this is my kinda meal! Roasted garlic makes anything better and the creamy chicken florentine is pure perfection. Definitely adding to our dinner menu ASAP!
I’ve never actually had chicken florentine! But, I want this version to start with! There’s a whole lotta creamy goodness going on here that would make the perfect comfort food dinnah! Pinned!
No way, really? You have to try it, you’d love it! Thanks Taylor!!
I’d rather have snow than rain too! Yes, even here in Buffalo =) Rain is so dreary. My husband and I went out to a restaurant that was serving chicken florentine and it was terrible! Worse, our tab was over 60 bucks! The meal was $26 a piece and the portions were tiny. Live and learn, I will stay home, snuggle with my dogs and cat by the fire and make this instead!
Rain is the WORST!! Hope this is way better, thanks so much!!
Roasted garlic is a favorite flavor of mine! Makes the food it goes with comfort food 🙂
Thank you so much!!
Its 20 below here and this dish looks like it would be perfect to warm everyone up…definitely adding it to my to do list.
20 below!!?! Oh my gosh, stay warm!!
Thanks Lisa! 🙂
I am so making this…looks so warm & comforting.
Thanks Debbie! Hope you love it!
This just looks so creamy and wonderful.
Just perfect for a comfort food on a cold day.
Could eat this for breakfast right now.
Thank you, Nancy! It’s perfect cold weather comfort for sure! 🙂