Chicken Piccata

I don't have a picture. I'm sure I could find one. But oh-well. I made this for dinner tonight. It was dang good. Even Brian loved it. When he got home from work and saw it, he asked if he could have regular pasta sauce instead, but I made him try it and he was pleasantly surprised and didn't ask for it again after that. He even commented after dinner was over that he wouldn't mind if I made it again! I served it with angel hair pasta and green salad.

Chicken Piccata (from Food Network)

• 2 skinless and boneless chicken breasts
  
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• All-purpose flour, for dredging
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (I halved this)
  
• 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup chicken stock
• 1/4 cup brined capers, rinsed
• 1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• dash of white cooking wine (optional, but I think it adds great flavor)
  
• approximately 1/4 cup cream (optional, but you know me and of course I added it)
  

Directions

Ingredients:

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess.

In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 3 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add 2 pieces of chicken and cook for 3 minutes. When chicken is browned, flip and cook other side for 3 minutes. Remove and transfer to plate. Melt 2 more tablespoons butter and add another 2 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add the other 2 pieces of chicken and brown both sides in same manner. Remove pan from heat and add chicken to the plate.
Into the pan add the lemon juice, wine, stock and capers. Return to stove and bring to boil, scraping up brown bits from the pan for extra flavor. Check for seasoning. If the sauce reduces too much (which mine did), add more chicken stock. Return all the chicken to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove chicken to platter. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to sauce (and cream, if desired) and whisk vigorously. Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with parsley.