Chicken with Pear, Sage, & Cheese

Something about fruit and meat together was off putting to me until very recently.  I can’t really say why, but it wasn’t until the past year that I was willing to give it a try.  It’s been hit or miss.  Sometimes I absolutely love the combo, and other times I think it is awful.  I seem to be more okay with it when it is chicken and fruit, so when I found this dish in the front of one of my cookbooks I decided to give it a try.

Sidenote: If you don’t own the Better Homes & Garden Red Plaid Cookbook Bridal Edition go get it.  Even if you aren’t married.  The front has tons of great info: recipes for two, party ideas, a wine glossary, and full menus…as well as tips on flower arrangements and place settings.  So seriously, go buy it.  No I wasn’t paid to say this.  I’ve had this cookbook for 2 years, and I use it constantly.

Chicken with Pear, Sage, & Cheese {Better Homes & Garden Red Plaid Cookbook: Bridal Edition}

Ingredients:

• 2 large skinless chicken breasts
• salt
• pepper
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 2 thin slices of Gruyere cheese {mine weren’t so thin…}
• 1 small pear
• 1/2 cup apple juice
• 1 tbs shredded sage

Directions:

1. Place chicken between 2 pieces of plastic wrap.  Pound with the flat side of a meat mallet.  Remove the plastic wrap and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
2. In a medium nonstick skillet heat oil over medium heat.  Add chicken; cook for 4 to 6 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink.  Turn once.
3. Meanwhile, slice the pear and cheese.
4. Once the chicken is done, top the chicken with the cheese.  Cover and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.  Then put on the dinner plates.
5. In the same skillet, cook the pear slices for 2 to 3 minutes until slightly brown.  Add the apple juice and sage and cook for another 2 minutes on medium.  Spoon over chicken.

Grade: A-

Comments: DELICIOUS.  First, I have to admit that I think Gruyere cheese makes everything delicious.  However, this was really a great blend of flavors.  The pear cooked in apple juice was great, and it added a lot to the chicken and cheese.  I served it with a blend of summer veggies {just frozen that needed to be heated up}, and it was the perfect summer meal.  The only thing I can think of that would make it better would be to grill the chicken and pears!  YUM.

Tagged as: Better Homes and Garden, Better Homes and Garden New Cookbook Bridal Edition, chicken recipes, dinners for two, fruit, main dishes, recipes