Feta Stuffed Chicken & Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta
by Vintage Cookery

• 2-3 chicken breast
• 6 oz Feta Cheese, crumbled
• 2  cups collard greens, chiffonade (rolled and cut into ribbons)
• olive oil
• black pepper, fresh cracked
• Sea Salt
• Bruschetta (recipe below)

Saute your chiffonade collard greens in some olive oil, it will be done when they have turned bright green and are tender. Season with salt and set aside.

With a sharp knife  make a long slit in the side of the chicken breast to make a pocket for stuffing. Stuff in the feta, as much as you want, and then stuff in as much sauteed collard greens as you can. Take a toothpick or 2 and poke through the top of the slits to seal off the stuffing. Drizzle olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill on med-high heat until chicken is seared and internal temperature is 165 (no pink, juices run clear). Top with heirloom tomato brushetta topping and enjoy!

What dose “saute” mean?
To saute is to cook in a pan over high heat quickly. You would heat a pan that can handle high heat (stainless steel, all clad, never a non stick pan) and once it is hot, add a fat (cooking oil, olive oil/butter) then quickly add your food that you would be sauteing, stirring frequently until the food is quickly cooked. The high heat cooks the food quickly, the oil/fat prevents the food from sticking. Most veggies can be sauteed and served immediately. 

• 2 large heirloom tomatoes, diced
• 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
• 1 shallot, minced (or 1/4 or a small onion, minced)
• 2 sprigs of fresh basil, stemmed, chiffonade (rolled and cut into ribbons)
• 2 springs of fresh oregano, stemmed, and chiffonade
• extra virgin olive oil
• balsamic vinegar
• black pepper, fresh cracked
• Sea Salt

Combine tomatoes, garlic, shallots, basil, and oregano into a mixing bowl and toss. Let sit for a few minutes and and drain excess tomato water that may pool up. Drizzle with a few tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar and toss. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Use this for topping for omelets, chicken, or toasted french baguette slices as an appetizer.

What dose “to taste” mean?
The term to taste is never an exact amount. It means to add a small amount of salt, which brings out the natural flavors or your food, a little bit at a time and then tasting it. This usually is at then end of the cooking processes before it is served. You keep adding and then tasting until your food taste “foody”. Try to taste your food without any salt, then notice the difference each addition of salt makes. You want to stop when your food taste flavorful and not bland. Salt will make your tomatoes taste more tomatoey, potatoes taste more potatoey, and meat taste more meaty. Salt does not make food taste salty UNLESS you add TOO MUCH salt. It is trial and error, but it a necessary skill of cooking.

Boil or grill potatoes the night before and cook till it is a little difficult to get in a fork.  Cool down and keep in cooler or fridge over night.  Whisk 1-2 eggs in a large bowl.  Add 1-2 tbl melted butter and sour cream.   With an every day cheese grater, grate potatoes and onion into the large bowl.  Add some sea salt and cracked pepper and mix with your hands.  Add to waffle maker and enjoy the show!  

By Chef Paul Allen