Cinful Yet Delicate Paillards

Paillards (pie-yards)

*easier to eat than to say
*easier to cook than to find a word with which it rhymes (but I guess that's not saying much)

prepare this meal for 2

INGREDIENTS FOR SAUCE:
1/4 cup orange juice
1 generous Tablespoon honey
1 (3 inch) cinnamon stick
1/4 teaspoon dried hot pepper flakes
1 Tablespoon butter

INGREDIENTS FOR PAILLARDS:
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts pounded to 1/4 inch thickness
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
chopped mint for garnish

DIRECTIONS:
1. Simmer all sauce ingredients except for butter in a 1 quart saucepan, uncovered for about 2 minutes. Set aside while cooking the chicken breasts.
2. Cook cumin, paprika, and pepper in oil in a small skillet over low moderately low heat. Stir occasionally for 2 minutes and the spices should become aromatic. Transfer to a small bowl and leave any remaining oil in the skillet - do not clean!.
3. Brush spiced oil onto the paillards and sprinkle each side with salt. Arrange the paillards in the skillet and pour remaining oil into the skillet.
4. Grill the paillards over moderately low heat for about 7 minutes then turn over and cook until juices run clear - about 6 more minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and tent with foil while finishing the sauce.
5. Pour the sauce through a fine sieve into the skillet and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add butter and swirl the skillet until the butter melts into the sauce. Season the sauce with extra salt or pepper if desired. Pour the sauce over the paillards, sprinkle with mint, and consume with gustatory glory.

*Although the origin of paillards is unknown, they are generally thinly-sliced or pounded, quick-cooking cuts of beef or chicken. Paillards are nice for the summer because their cook-time is quick which means less heat in the kitchen and more time to soak up some vitamin D from my favorite star - the Sun. Because paillards have got a lot of surface area they appear to be larger than they actually are which means you can keep your girly or burly figure and still be satisfied.
**This chicken would be lovely with couscous (also a quickie)

cooked by Cristina