Microwave Bacon-Garlic Chicken Breasts

by | Feb 25, 2009 | Entrees

I read cookbooks like some people read novels. Over the years I have collected several hundred, so now I’m in the process of weeding through those that I can part with (not easy for me to do). Some can be tossed because I either didn’t really enjoy them or they just plain weren’t very useful. Others I have given away to friends who wanted them or donated them to our local library or Habitat Restore. (One that I gave away like that I recently saw used in a magazine display as an “antique.” Leave it to me to give away the valuables!)
This Microwave Cooking from Litton came with the first microwave that we owned. The copyright date is 1981, so we probably got the microwave around that same time. I haven’t parted with the book simply because it contains a few recipes that I still use today, plus it has some sentimental value as well. I resisted getting a microwave – just thought I really would never use one. I didn’t buy stock in Apple or WalMart either. About the time hubby convinced me that I really should think about getting one (He tried to pass it off as a birthday present, but of course came to his senses VERY soon with some insight from me.), I decided that it was our turn to host the annual family Thanksgiving dinner. I liked to cook. I liked to entertain. I wanted our own traditions and tablescapes. Plus, I was tired of trekking over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house – this was OUR year and every in-law, aunt, uncle, and cousin on both sides of the family had better show up! Not one to panic after realizing this would amount to about forty or so, I divvied up the menu responsibilities among the first cousins, told the grandmas to have a rest, and set to work. I’m pretty sure I was having an out-of-my-mind Betty Crocker hallucination about this time. If you could look back over some of the new , never-before-tried (of course) recipes I chose to include for the occasion, you would definitely know that it was my alter ego Julia Child planning the menu.
Thanksgiving morning all was going well until it came time to remove two (yes, two) turkeys from the oven. I had primed, basted and timed…we were headed for a Norman Rockwell turkey day. Except….about an hour before the turkeys should be finishing up, my regular oven decided to call it quits. Unfortunately, it took me awhile to notice that it was no longer heating; fortunately, I my neighbors across the street had left town and left me their keys! Forward march with turkeys in tow. Except…Anne had a wall oven that would not accommodate my two turkeys, so on to Plan C. One turkey in the neighbors’ oven and one in the microwave. Remember, this is a brand new device. I think I had practiced boiling water in it at this point, but what was a girl to do? To make this long story a bit shorter, both turkeys actually turned out well. Granted, the microwave bird wasn’t pretty and brown, but it tasted just fine. By the time all the relatives rolled in, we had more food than we could possibly consume anyway (we are known for our gluttony). I was pooped but definitely full.
We scaled back to only the in-laws and sister’s family the next year. By then I had fully mastered the Litton, but hubby fried the turkey outside.

This easy chicken recipe came from that Litton cookbook. My daughter used to always ask for it, so it became a regular at our house while she was still home. You will, of course, need to adjust the cooking times to fit your microwave. Enjoy!

4 servings

1/4 cup butter or margarine (I usually use at least 1/2 cup.)
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes (Rub this around in the palm of your hand first.)
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind (I just use lemon juice.)
1/3 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspooon hot pepper sauce (I use Tabasco.)
4 chicken skin-on chicken breasts (You can remove the breasts before eating if you prefer.)
4 bacon slices, cut in half

Place butter and garlic in 2-quart (12 x 7) glass baking dish. Microwave for about 1 minute on high, or until garlic is partly cooked. (I just get the butter melted.) Add remaining ingredients except chicken breasts and bacon; mix well. Roll chicken breasts in seasoned butter, arrange skin-side-up and thick edges toward outside in the baking dish. Lay 2 half slices of bacon on each chicken breast. Microwave for 14 – 18 minutes on high or until meat cut near bone is no longer pink. Let stand 5 minutes before servings.