Simple Supper: Cranberry, Crusted Chèvre & Crisp Chicken on Maché with a Lemon Basil Vinaigrette

Oft over looked, the salad is one of my favorite meals, both to eat & to prepare. Honesty to the ingredients is somehow soothing to me & a salad is the perfect platform for quality ingredients. Choose from proteins, grains, fruits, legumes, vegetables .. pick you favorites .. you can't

go wrong. Just make sure they're the best you can find!

Experimenting with different lettuces brings new life to ordinary salads. Maché or Lamb's Lettuce has soft, buttery little leaves that make a hearty base. It's perfect with avocados, creamy cheeses, and chicken. So give the mixed greens a break. Next time you make a salad give radicchio, endives, dandelion greens, or baby spinach (to name just a few) a try.

This little maché salad is savory, a bit sweet, & absolutely delicious. Bright, clean flavors from the basil & cranberries act as a foil to the rich, buttery flavors from the maché, chèvre, & chicken.

Cranberry, Crusted Chèvre & Crisp Chicken on Maché
with a Lemon Basil Vinaigrette
2 chicken breasts, boneless & skinless
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. garlic salt
2 tsp. Greek seasoning
2 c. maché (a.k.a. Lamb's Lettuce)
1/4 c. dried cranberries
2 slices chèvre, crusted in bread crumbs

Lemon Basil Vinaigrette

2 tsp. fresh basil, minced
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp. dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Bring 2 tbsp. of olive oil up to heat. Meanwhile, rub the chicken breasts with the Greek seasoning, thyme, & garlic salt. Sauté over medium heat until the outside is golden (about 5 minutes on each side). Set aside and slice 1" thick diagonal slices once cool.

While the pan is still warm put the chèvre rounds & cranberries. Cook until the rounds until the crust has hardened just a tad & the cheese begins to melt.

Make a bed of maché & top with chicken slices, chèvre rounds, & cranberries.

To make the dressing:

In a small jar combine the dijon, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, & basil. Shake well until combined.