The Range "Free" Chicken Roll



So it's been a while since I have blogged. My apologies for that, but it's just that I haven't been eating anything that great, and I haven't even really been cooking. Why you ask? Well that dreaded four letter word... DIET!
Yup. We've been dieting. Well, P2 has  been dieting. I have been trying to be healthy. It's sort of the same thing, but I fall off the wagon a lot. P2 has been super strict and has taken his diet from a "diet" to a lifestyle change. I am very proud of him, and if you have seen him in the past month you can tell why. He has given up soy, dairy, gluten, wheat, and processed sugar. He says he has never felt so amazing in his whole life.
I am sure he does, but I am personally not quite ready to go there just yet. I can't handle the thought of no pasta or cheese. Maybe one day, but not yet.
That being said, ordering out, as a proper New Yorker does, has been our best bet. We can each get what we want. But all that ordering out left me feeling sad and a bit of a failure. How can I be letting this happen in my own home! I needed to cook something! Anything really. But it had to be something to make us both happy. The result was this. The Range "Free" Chicken Roll. This dish runs the whole range of things people are "free" of. Hence the name; Range "Free" Chicken. Get it? Free Range - Range "Free".. ? OK. sorry...
Anyway. Here is what you will need;
3 boneless/ skinless Chicken breasts
1 box of organic frozen chopped Spinach
1 large Shallot
3-4 cloves of chopped garlic
About a quarter of a cup of Pepitas (or any seed you like)
One large can of Organic diced Tomatoes
A bit of chopped Basil
4 Zucchinis
6 Toothpicks
Salt and Pepper
Oil. I used grape seed, but you can use Olive if you prefer.
First start by slicing and sauteing the shallots in a bit of your preferred oil. Once they are tender add about half of your chopped garlic. After a couple of minutes add your Spinach and Pepitas. Salt and pepper it to taste and remove the Spinach from the pan to cool off.
Next take your Chicken breasts and slice them each long ways so that you end up with 2 thin cutlets from each breast. Salt and Pepper both sides of the chicken cutlets. With the cutlets laying flat, place a thin layer of your Spinach on top of each and then roll them up. Use your toothpicks to secure that the roll stays together while cooking.


Once you have all the cutlets rolled with their Spinach filling place them aside and heat the pan you cooked the spinach in back up on high. Add a little more oil. You are are going to want to sear the Chicken so there is a nice brown color on each side. You don't want to cook the Chicken all the way through though. Just brown them.
  
Once the Chicken is all nicely browned on each side take them all out of the pan to rest. Lower the heat to medium and add to it the rest of your chopped garlic, and a little more oil if you need it. After the garlic has cooked a little, but not browned, add your can of tomatoes to the pan. Don't worry about all the little bits of Spinach and chicken that will be left in the pan. It will all make the sauce taste better! Once that starts to simmer, add the chicken back into the pan and cover. Set the Pan to low and let it side for about an hour. 


After about an hour the chicken should be tender and cooked all the way through. Take the rolls out of the sauce and add your Basil. Then add all the zucchini in and stir it around for a few minutes until they all get soft or "al dente" like pasta. Add salt and papper to taste. You can also add a little crushed red pepper for a little kick of heat too. Thats what I did!
Then you are ready to plate! I put the Zucchini on the plate first and them 2 of the chicken rolls on top.

Since this is dairy free there was no cheese involved, but it you feel like living on the edge, now would be a great time to add a little grated Romano!

I was sans vino last night, but a light red would be wonderful to serve with this. And aside from it being Gluten free, Soy free, Wheat free, Nut free, and Dairy free, so you can make it for almost anyone, It also cost just under $30 to make. That is awesome for so much food!

Let me know what you think. I would love to hear from everyone. Especially Paleo people. I want to see if this fits into your lifestyle!.

Enjoy, and don't forget to add the love. They really can taste it!
XOXO
-P

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