It all started when I found this original recipe a while back on http://foodgawker.com/. You can see it here on my "Where's the Kitchen" - Pinterest board. Check it out, I have some great recipes and they are all fun and easy.
This is the original picture. Originally the recipe says parsley but I decided to use spinach instead.
Ingredients:
Boneless/Skinless breast of chicken - approximately 1 per person.
Package of cream cheese - Soften
2 cups of spinach - chopped fine to medium fine
6 strips of bacon - finely chopped
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
Puff pastry or 2 boxes of Pillsbury pie crust.
1 large egg
Directions:
Preheat oven for 400 degrees..
In a large bowl mix up the soften cream cheese, chopped spinach, chopped bacon, and the Parmesan cheese all together until nice and smooth.
This is what it should look like:
Next, wash and pat dry the chicken breast.
All ready to be wrapped in their blankets. LOL
Whatever kind of pastry you choose to use you're going to need to roll it out fairly thin. If it's on the thin side it will make it nice and flaky. Cut squares big enough to cover each chicken breast,
This is where your egg comes into play. Just crack it in a small bowl and mix it up like you're going to cook a scrambled egg. On each pastry square brush the edges with the egg mixture and pinch closed with a fork. The egg really helps in keeping the edges glued down.
Aren't they so cute!
I did not cut any vent holes in the top. My mom was worried about this but I did not and when all was said and done there was no need. Everything cooked so well and the pastry cracked if it was needed to vent itself.
Use the rest of the egg and brush the top of each, this make it really golden brown.
Put in the oven (400 degrees) for 30 - 35 minutes.
Sorry for such a horrible, yellow picture. They're golden but not that golden. LOL!
Better picture.. see how golden brown they come out.
Now to the best part of this post. My guinea pigs and what they had to say. Who were the guinea pigs for this one. Of course my mom & I, my cousin I'll call "H" and her boyfriend we'll call "G". H has been my guinea pig before and I always know she will be honest. G had never had the pleasure and given that he is a pretty nice guy I didn't know if he was going to be polite and say nothing or really tell me the truth. Well no worries with this family, everyone spoke their mind and the truth. It was unanimous! Awesome dinner and loved the Crazy Chicken in a Blanket. G had his portion and 1/2 of another he also wanted me to make sure that I put in my blog that he thought this was the bomb! H, who is rail thin and doesn't eat a lot, ate it all. In fact I caught her eying G's plate and he left a little piece of the pastry on his plate and she scarfed it up. I know she has no idea I saw that! Mom and I both loved it.
As we chatted about it we all agreed that the chicken was very moist. We really didn't taste much of the bacon but we also said that it didn't matter. We didn't think it took away from it. I mentioned to everyone that I was worried how "hot" cream cheese would taste but everyone said noooo it was perfect. It has a wonderful flavor.
I have a feeling that H might be making this for G in the future, if he gets his way.
Three things I will add when I make it again.
#1 - I will add 1 cup of mozzarella cheese to the cream cheese mixture. We love cheese in this family.
#2 - I will wrap a slice of bacon around each chicken breast after I stuff it. Then wrap in their blanket.
#3 - I will add a 1/2 can of cream of mushroom soup in the cream cheese mixture. I just don't think you can go wrong with cream of mushroom soup. It's the best thing Mr. Campbell invented.
In summary: MAKE THIS CUZ IT'S DAMN GOOD! You will be a hit with the family.
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