Chicken Breasts with Herbs De Provence and Mushrooms

Well, I found another one! Yes, another very old clip from my original blog that hasn't been posted here yet. This recipe is very similar in technique to the Chicken Marsala video recipe that was posted last month. Regarding that recipe, I received several emails from viewers who either couldn't have, or didn't want to, use the Marsala wine. This one is wine-free, and just as delicious. One quick note; I used a non-stick pan in the clip since I was using skinless chicken breasts. I always try to film these using the techniques and tools I think will be most successful for the home cook. If I had used a stainless steel skillet (as I would have in the restaurant setting), many people trying this at home, would have had problems with the skinless chicken sticking to the bottom of the pan. I won't bore you with the details about why in this post, but for most of us a high-quality, non-stick pan would be the safest choice.

This simple dish combines a rich mushroom pan sauce, with moist chicken breasts scented with "Herbs De Provence." Herbs De Provence is a mixture of dried herbs from the South of France, and usually includes Basil, Thyme, Savory, Rosemary, Tarragon, Lavender, Fennel, Marjoram and Chervil. You should be able to find it in the dried spice/herb section of any major grocery store. Be sure to look carefully before you buy it, it should be a nice fresh green color. If it's brown and faded, it's probably old and not flavorful. This herb mixture is a staple in my kitchen and should be found in any serious cook's pantry. And yes, before you ask, of course you can make the same dish without the mushrooms. Enjoy.

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 cups chicken stock/broth
• 2 cups sliced mushrooms
• 1 tbl herbs de Provence (so not optional)
• 2 cloves garlic
• black pepper and salt to taste
• 3 tbl olive oil
• 3 tbl unsalted butter
• flour
• fresh herbs to garnish (optional)