Have you met my husband?

~Sometimes I wonder if men and women really suit each other. Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then. ~

-Katherine Hepburn

Sunday Night Dinner--a tradition carnivore and I have started in our home.  We rotate cooking week to week, and the meal remains a mystery to the other until it is served.  We love this little highlight at the painful end of a weekend/beginning of a new work week.  The first time carnivore cooked, I sat in the other room perseverating about chicken hands touching my foods, shared spoons, shared knives, shared counters. Eek!  It wasn't until I was finished eating the meal that I saw the kitchen-- everything was exactly as I had hoped--nothing shared, nothing touching, and lots and lots of dirty dishes--perfect!  He can take a hint! (otherwise known as color coded cutting boards, separate sponges, and lots of verbal reminders!)

Well, it's my week... and I'm trying to decide what to make! I love new recipes.  I also love checking out blogs, like my own, to gain ideas and inspiration.  So, I ventured upon a website promising yummy animal-free foods to make for my family. The headline was "Spiced Rice and Lentil Squares."  Enough said.  Have you met my husband?

I am all about introducing carnivore to new foods, however that dish will get me nowhere (except possibly an eye roll and reminder of who I voted for, since apparently there is a correlation between "hippie vegans" and democrats in his thought process?!?).  So, the quest continues... 

Flavor is key.  If something tastes good, you'll keep eating it.  That's nothing new.  However, candy bars taste really good.  So do potato chips.  In order to eat healthy, and enjoy it, there has to be flavor.  A good cookbook to check out is Deceptively Delicious.  I'm not on here to plug anyone (but myself, ha!) however this cookbook does a good job sneaking some veggies into dishes like mac and cheese, brownies, etc... Sneaky, Sneaky... The book may be geared towards children, but, again... Have you met my husband?

Here is a new recipe to try... I took this carnivore version from Food Network, put a few of my own touches on it, and created a veg-carn happy plate. The chicken is not deep-fried, as it typically is in Chicken Parm. Rather, it is covered with flavorful herbs and baked. Carnivore is in love with this dish. Flavor is key.

Chicken Parmesan

Vegan Version: Use Italian Herb Tofu, cut lengthwise, and prepare in separate skillet, using directions below.  Brush your tofu first, so you don't have to dirty two brushes. Use Follow Your Heart mozzarella and Earth Balance butter (or a tiny bit of EVOO). Prepare pasta for both of you that is egg-free.

Ingredients

*3 tablespoons olive oil
*1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
*1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
*1 teaspoon chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
*Salt and freshly ground black pepper
*Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast (3-4 average sized)
*1 1/2 cups Marinara Sauce (my favorite is Emeril’s Roasted Garlic)
*At least 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
*16 teaspoons grated Parmesan
*2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
*Spaghetti or pasta of choice


Directions

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Bring pot of water to a boil for pasta.

Stir the oil and herbs in a small bowl to blend. Season with salt and pepper. Brush both sides of the chicken with the herb oil. Heat a heavy large oven-proof skillet over high heat. Add the chicken and cook just until brown, and cooked throughout, about 4-5 minutes per side. Remove the skillet from the heat.

Spoon the marinara sauce over and around the chicken. Sprinkle 3-4 tablespoon (or more, depending on preference) of mozzarella over each breast, then sprinkle 2 teaspoons of Parmesan over each. Sprinkle the butter pieces atop the chicken.

Drop the spaghetti into the boiling water.

Bake the chicken until the cheese melts and the chicken is cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes. Serve over pasta.