Easy and Elegant

   Sometimes I get these mega bursts of energy that fills my head with crazy ideas...

you know the ones where you decide you are going to run a massive company, run for president, run the world,

or just run the kitchen....wait, I already do that.

Anyways, sometimes during these mega burst of energy (what I like to call drinking 5 cups of coffee) I also decide things like "I want to make a 10 course meal"....at 5 PM.

This was one of those days.

Luckily, I came to my senses and only made 3 courses.

And lucky for you I decided to be nice and share.

Because it looks so pretty and tastes so yummy and it only took 40 minutes to make, it would be plain wrong to keep this to myself.

Brie Stuffed Chicken

4 chicken breasts, pounded out

4 slices of Brie cheese

2 tsps. of Dijon mustard

Spinach

Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper

1/2 c. sliced onions

On a foil lined baking sheet lay out chicken breasts. Spread each breast with 1/2 tsp. of mustard. Layer on a handful of spinach and then top with a piece of cheese on one end of the chicken. Fold over the other side of the chicken and hold down by inserting a toothpick. Sprinkle the top with olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes, or until meat is no longer pink on the inside. While the chicken is baking, saute the onions in olive oil with a little salt and pepper. Serve the chicken with the onions placed on top.

*The great thing with this recipe is that it can easily be adjusted for as few or as many people as you would like*

Baked Tomato Gratin

5 plum tomatoes

2 tbsp. dried basil

1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 c. bread crumbs

Salt and Pepper

Olive oil spray

Slice the tomatoes. Spray the bottom of a 9" pie pan or square baking dish and layer the tomatoes. Sprinkle with the breadcrumbs first, next the Parmesan cheese, then finally the basil and salt and pepper. Bake at 400 degrees about 20 minutes, or until tomatoes start to start crinkle and the cheese is melted.

**To go along with these dishes I made Baked Rice Pilaf. It was so delicious and so easy! This really is the perfect easy entertaining meal, as everything can be prepped ahead and then all baked around the same time.**