quick and easy party recipes

For the next several days I will be giving you quick and easy party food ideas. Finger food or individual serving-size portions of what would normally be a larger dish.

These six-ingredient spirals are an example of that. You may think of chicken cordon bleu as an elegant dinner entrée, but with this preparation, it becomes a fun bite-size treat.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Spirals

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Salt, freshly ground black pepper, and garlic powder for seasoning
4 thin slices of deli ham
4 thin slices of provolone cheese
1/2 cup flour
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup panko breadcrumbs

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with Pam. Place one chicken breast between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound to 1/4-inch thickness, repeat with remaining breasts.

One at a time, place pounded breasts on a large sheet of wax paper.  Sprinkle both sides of each piece of chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

Place a piece of deli ham on the chicken, trimming to fit, if needed.  Place a piece of Provolone on top of the ham, trimming to fit.  Starting with a short end, tightly roll up each piece of chicken jellyroll style.

Set up three shallow bowls or dishes; place flour in the first one, egg in the next, and panko breadcrumbs in the last.  Dredge each chicken roll in flour, then in egg, and finally, in the panko. Use toothpicks to close the ends so that the cheese does not leak out when it bakes. Place each chicken roll, seam side down, on a prepared baking sheet.

Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 3 to 5 minutes before removing toothpicks and slicing into 1-inch thick spirals.  Arrange on a platter and serve.

Makes about 20 spirals