Chicken Piccata

From "The Dinner Doctor" by Anne Byrn. Tiny chicken tenders are true to their name—tender. And they cook up fast. Doctor them with garlic, lemon juice, bread crumbs, and fresh parsley for a quick weekday piccata that's got a special weekend dinner feel to it. Slicing the tenders into strips before sautéing them will make them cook even faster. Serve this classic but simple recipe with rice or risotto.

To Prep: 8 Minutes
To Cook: 9–12 Minutes

Serves 4


1 cup toasted bread crumbs
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1 clove garlic, crushed in a garlic press
1 pound chicken tenders (about 12), rinsed and patted dry
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon drained capers




1. Place the bread crumbs in a shallow bowl. Season them with salt and pepper and add the garlic. (If you are making your own bread crumbs by pulsing a toasted bun in a food processor, just add the salt, pepper, and a whole clove of garlic to the processor along with the bun.) Dredge the chicken tenders in the bread crumb mixture and set them aside.

2. Place 2 tablespoons of the oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat. When the butter has melted, add half of the chicken tenders and cook until they are well browned and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer the cooked tenders to a platter. Add the remaining tablespoon each of oil and butter to the skillet and, when the butter has melted, add the remaining tenders and cook them until they are well browned and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer these tenders to the platter.

3. Add the chicken broth and lemon juice to the skillet. Scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet and cook until the juices reduce to a glaze, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour the hot glaze over the chicken tenders and garnish with the parsley and capers. Serve at once.

Moo Shu Chicken Lettuce Wraps

From "The Great American Eat-Right Cookbook" by Colleen Doyle and Jeanne Besser. Making moo shu at home is a breeze and more healthful when you use lettuce leaves as wrappers instead of the traditional Chinese flour pancakes. Just spoon the chicken mixture into the lettuce "cups."

This dish can also be made with beef, shrimp, or pork. Shiitake or other wild mushrooms can be added as well.

Prep time: 15 minutes or less
Total time: 30 minutes or less

Serves 4


1 tablespoon canola oil
3/4 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into very thin strips
3 cups shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix
1/2 cup matchstick-cut carrots
1/2 cup thinly sliced red bell pepper
2 scallions, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons hoisin sauce, or to taste
1 small head Boston or Bibb lettuce, leaves separated and core discarded




In a wok or large skillet over high heat, add oil. Add chicken, cabbage, carrots, bell pepper, and scallions and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes, or until tender.

Add hoisin sauce and stir to combine. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until vegetables and chicken are cooked through. If sauce is too thick, add 1 tablespoon water.

Spoon moo shu into lettuce leaves. Top with a small dollop of hoisin, if desired.

Nutrition Information Per Serving
Calories 185, Calories from Fat 55, Total Fat 6.0 g, Saturated Fat 0.9 g, Trans Fat 0.0 g, Polyunsaturated Fat 1.8 g, Monounsaturated Fat 2.9 g, Cholesterol 50 mg, Sodium 230 mg, Total Carbohydrate 12 g, Dietary Fiber 3 g, Sugars 7 g, Protein 21 g