Chicken with Spinach, Tomato, and Bacon

Ok, maybe I've been a little soup and stew happy....but it's finally cold! For those of you who like a little more robust fare, here's a dish that you can really sink your teeth into. The bacon is optional, I guess, but why ruin a good thing?

Chicken with Spinach, Tomato, and Bacon
Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 2 largish, 4 small

- 1lb of chicken breast (either 2 large, thick pieces or 4 small,thin pieces)
- 1/4 cup Italian season bread crumbs (or plain crumbs with a shake of italian seasoning)
- 2-3 tablespoons parmesan cheese
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
- one, 9-10 oz package of fresh spinach
- 2 plum tomatoes, roughly chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 6 strips of bacon
- salt
- pepper

In a large skillet, fry bacon to whatever crispness you like. If you want to save time, start the chicken in a second skillet. If you want to save dishes, go do something else while the bacon is cooking and then do each step in the same pan.

If you have large pieces of chicken, flatten to about 1/4 inch thickness. Many grocery stores sell thinner, pre-flattened or sliced chicken breast (usually labeled 'for Milanesa' at HEB). Mix about a quarter cup bread crumbs with the parmesan cheese. You can change the proportions if you prefer. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper (as much as you like) and then coat both sides of the chicken with the breadcrumb mixture. The mix should stick pretty well without eggs. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and saute chicken for about 4 minutes per side (it's done when it's no longer pink inside). Remove chicken to a plate.

Now, if you want to keep things lighter, saute the spinach and tomatoes in the chicken pan after adding another tablespoon of oil. If you really love bacon, pour out all but about 2 teaspoons of bacon grease and cook the veggies in the bacon pan. Turn the heat to medium and add the garlic and then add the spinach a little at a time because it won't fit in the pan until it starts to wilt. Stir and keep adding handfuls of spinach as the leaves cook down. Once all the spinach is in the pan, add the tomatoes and cook for about 3 minutes longer. Pile the veggies evenly on top of the pieces of chicken. Top with an even amount of bacon slices.