DIP FOR ARTICHOKE LEAVES RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• In 12-inch skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add spinach; cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until spinach is wilted. Remove from heat; transfer to colander. Press with spoon to drain. Chop spinach finely.
• In medium bowl, mix spinach, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese and garlic. Reserve 1 1/4 cups mixture. Add artichoke hearts and mozzarella cheese to remaining cream cheese mixture.
• Season chicken breasts with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. In thick side of each chicken breast, cut 3-inch-long pocket to within 1/4 inch of opposite side of breast. Spoon about 1/4 cup artichoke mixture into pocket in each chicken breast. Secure with toothpicks.
• In shallow dish, stir together flour, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. In another shallow dish, beat eggs with whisk. Place bread crumbs on sheet of waxed paper. Dip chicken into flour mixture, coating well; shake off excess. Dip into egg mixture, then coat with bread crumbs.
• In 12-inch skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in oil 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Transfer to ungreased rimmed pan; bake 20 to 25 minutes or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F). Remove toothpicks.
• In 1-quart saucepan, heat broth to boiling over medium heat; add reserved 1 1/4 cup cream cheese mixture. Reduce heat to low; cook until smooth and hot, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in lemon juice.
• Serve chicken with sauce.

Steps:

• Heat the butter and olive oil together in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper, then add them to the skillet. Cook until nicely browned and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Remove to a plate.
• Add the onion and garlic to the skillet and stir until slightly softened, about 30 seconds, then add the artichokes and cook, stirring, until the artichokes are hot and the onions are translucent, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in the wine and stir, then add the cream and more black pepper, if desired, then stir again. Let the sauce come to a simmer, then add the Parmesan and cook for a minute to thicken.
• Add the pimientos, spinach and lemon juice, then stir until the spinach has wilted, for a minute or so. Nestle the chicken back into the skillet, spooning a little sauce over the top. Garnish with torn basil leaves and serve with warm bread.