Frantically looking for recipes to impress your loved ones this festive season? Perfect Italiano Food Fixes in 15 shares a 5-Course menu from appetiser to dessert, featuring appropriate Perfect Italiano cheeses to match each dish.
Each of the 5 dishes featured on the website (http://perfectitaliano.com.sg/foodfixesin15) comes with a 15-seconds video to demonstrate just how simple the recipes are.
Chicken Cordon Bleu
Serves 4
I’ve always wanted to learn how to cook Chicken Cordon Bleu, but it has always come across to me as complex and intimidating. I had it with my loved one during one of our travels, and this dish is particularly memorable. I made a mental note that I have to cook this for him one day.
Thanks to Perfect Italiano for sharing the recipe, I’ve come to realisation that this dish is as difficult as I thought –in fact it is really easy!
Following the recipe here: http://perfectitaliano.com.sg/foodfixesin15-recipe/chicken-cordon-bleu/
Watching this 15-seconds video helps a lot in grasping the whole context. It’s like watching a live demonstration –except much more expeditious.
What you’ll need:
- 100g Perfect Italiano Mozzarella Cheese
- 100g Perfect Italiano Parmesan Cheese
- 4 pieces of Chicken Breasts
- 4 slices of Honey Baked Ham
- 300g breadcrumbs
- 200g flour
- 2 eggs, beaten
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cooking oil for frying
- Toothpicks
Method:
1) Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper all over. (I used spiced seasoning. This recipe is very versatile and you can season with anything that tickles your taste buds)
2) Create an incision in the centre of each chicken breast. (Watch the video for better understanding)
3) Place ham in the incision and top with Perfect Italiano Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
4) Enclose and secure with toothpicks.
5) In this order: dredge chicken in flour, coat in beaten eggs followed by breadcrumbs.
6) Deep-fry in 170°C cooking oil for about 15 mins, until chicken is cooked through. (I fried them individually so it took about 12 minutes for each piece)
7) Slice chicken in half and see cheese ooze out from the centre!
As for sides, I made a creamy mashed potato.
Creamy Parmesan and Parsley Mashed Potato
Ingredients:
- 6 potatoes, boiled
- A handful of parsley
- Half cup of Perfect Italiano Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup – 1 cup milk (add to your desired consistency and thickness)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Method:
Add all the ingredients in a food processor except milk and blend. Add milk in stages till it reaches your desired thickness and consistency.
This is by far one of the most successful and delicious chicken dishes I’ve ever made! The chicken breast is perfectly moist and tender when eaten warm and freshly cooked.
Parmesan Pancakes
Serves 4
Following the recipe here: http://perfectitaliano.com.sg/foodfixesin15-recipe/parmesan-pancakes-with-berries
If baking frightens you, pancakes are the next best dessert you can make without needing an oven. Highly versatile and you can add any ingredients your palate fancies. Pancakes can be served savoury or sweet, with fruits or with eggs, as a dessert or as a main.
I never knew pancakes could taste this good savoury, until Perfect Italiano Parmesan cheese came into the picture! I had it without the fruits, merely with maple syrup for a touch of contrasting sweetness, and it was plain satisfaction.
What you’ll need:
- 100g Perfect Italiano Parmesan Cheese
- 300ml ready-made pancake batter
- Sliced fresh strawberries
- Fresh blueberries
- Maple syrup
For the Pancake Batter:
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1¼ – 1½ cups milk
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Mix all the dry ingredients, and then add milk in stages while whisking lightly till it reaches desired thickness. You don’t have to mix thoroughly; it’s okay to be slightly clumpy.
Making the Parmesan Pancakes:
1) Mix pancake batter with Perfect Italiano Parmesan cheese.
2) Heat up a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. (I did not oil my pan as I’m using a really competent non-stick pan from Tefal)
3) Pour the batter onto the griddle to desired size. Flip and ensure both sides are brown.
4) Stack up the pancakes.
5) Drizzle with maple syrup and serve with strawberries and blueberries.
6) Lastly, sprinkle the stack with more grated Perfect Italiano Parmesan cheese!
On a side note, worth mentioning is the newly-introduced Perfect Italiano Perfect Bakes –a full-flavoured Cheddar blend combined with a little Mozzarella for stretch and Parmesan for bite. Perfect for baked pasta, baked vegetables or lasagne, it bakes to a golden brown crust, and does not feel greasy on the palate. I would attempt to use Perfect Bakes for baked rice and macaroni and cheese.
Follow the Perfect Italiano account to get cooking inspirations, and hashtag your own Perfect Italiano food creations with #perfectitalianosg and #foodfixesin15.