Chicken Pate: Easy, simple, wonderful!

Tip: You can use your Thanksgiving leftover turkey instead of chicken and get a wonderful result.

• 1 1/2 cups chicken breasts, cooked,minced
• 8 ounces fat free cream cheese, softened
• 6 tablespoons onions, Chopped
• 2 tablespoons dry sherry or chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (olive oil mayo is wonderful!)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 10 drops hot sauce
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, ground
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning
• a pinch of salt to taste

1. Process all in a food processor or electric blender until very smooth.
2. Line a 2 cup mold or bowl (or 2 one cup molds or bowls) with plastic wrap. Fill mold(s) with pate.
3. Cover and chill overnight.
4. Unmold onto a serving plate.
5. Sprinkle with paprika.
6. Garnish with parsley sprigs, if desired.
7. Serve with unsalted crackers, Melba toast rounds or crunchy vegetables such as carrots and celery sticks

Believe it or not, this recipe has only 148 calories per 1/4 cup serving. Even a large cracker can be amply spread with 1 teaspoon of pate - that's just 18 calories worth of pate!

Kinda makes you want to sing, doesn't it?

I recently served this pate at my birthday party. One guest love it so much I offer to send some home with him. He went home with a dish and a smile.

The theme of the party was "Paris" (see pictures of decor below). The song I have included is "Surrender" by Michael Buble. The very French sound of his arrangement inspired my theme.

Party Decor Pictures: (11.14.10)

Savory Chicken Parcels

Better late than never!

I developed this recipe over a year ago. It has been recreated in my kitchen many times and practice really does make perfect. The blend of spices and a bit of onion in mouthwatering cream cheese is nothing short of outstanding! The chicken can be cut with a fork and the slight crunchy exterior is a perfect contract to the creamy, melted filling. I always serve this chicken dish with slices of pear, from a can I admit, but they are none the less wonderful. The slightly sweet fruit enhances the flavor of the basil and cream cheese, much like a good wine when paired well with food. Feel free to add a slightly fruity white wine to this meal if you desire.

I would live to develop this recipe for the grill, but have not yet figured out how. Foil wrap perhaps. Ideas welcome!

Savory Chicken Parcels

4 small chicken breasts (4 oz) pounded flat
4 oz fat free cream cheese
½ t. garlic powder
½ t. dried minced onion
¼ t. basil
½ t. parsley
Salt and pepper
¼ c. flour
Cooking spray

15 minutes prep.

Set oven to 400 degrees. Mix cream cheese and spices (not flour) together and spread over the chicken breasts. Roll up chicken breasts and roll lightly in flour. Heat skillet, spray with cooking spray and lightly brown chicken rolls. Set in baking dish (also sprayed with cooking spray) with edge down. Cover with foil. Bake for 40 minutes.

170 cal
1 g fat
1 sat
6 carb
3 pts.