Grandma's Chicken

If you ever had the chance to meet my Grandma Kleber, you will never forget her.  She was all of 5 feet (on a good day) and one of the most loving, caring & doting women.  Her parents migrated from Syria to Detroit before she was born & they struggled to survive - 10 kids in a 2 bedroom apartment.  They have an amazing story.  But one of the things that defined my grandmother was that she LOVED to cook.  It was her love language - she cooked for you because she loved you.  As much as she tried to cook American food, it always had a little Syrian flavor to it.  I don't believe she ever made a single recipe that did not include olive oil, garlic & lemon.  Last week we had my parents over to our house for my dad's birthday.  He requested "Grandma's Chicken" for dinner.  Here is the recipe.  Its pretty simple, but very delicious. 

INGREDIENTS:
+ 2 lbs thin cut chicken breast (or pound out thick breast)
+ 2 eggs
+ 3 cups breadcrumbs (Italian or plain)
+ 3 medium cloves of garlic
+1 whole lemon
+ olive oil (for cooking)
+ 1 red bell pepper
+ 1 green bell pepper
+ 1/2 package mushrooms (any kind you like - I prefer the baby portabella)
+ 1/2 yellow onion

Ok, let's do our cooking dance.  Now you're ready. 

1. Beat the 2 eggs in a bowl.  On a separate plate, pour the 3 cups of breadcrumbs. 
2. Coat each piece of chicken in the egg (let the excess drip off).  Dredge each piece of chicken in the breadcrumbs.  Do this for all of the chicken & set aside.
3. Roughly chop the garlic cloves.  Slice the onion & peppers in 1/2 inch strips.  Slice the mushrooms.
4.  Add 3 tablespoons of olive oil to a large frying pan or griddle.  Add the garlic, onions, peppers, & mushrooms to the olive oil.  Cook for about 3 minutes
5.  Add a little more olive oil if necessary & then add the chicken breast to the frying pan/griddle.
6.  Cut a lemon in half & squeeze 1/2 of the lemon all over the chicken & veggies.
7. Cook the chicken until brown on one side.  Flip to the other side & squeeze other 1/2 of lemon all over the chicken & veggies.  (Make sure you continue to move the veggies around so they don't burn.
8.  Add more olive oil if the pan becomes "dry."  Cook chicken until no longer pink in the center.

Enjoy! 
                                                                                                       

Ready!

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