Baked Chicken Breasts with Parmesan-Garlic Crust

Ingredients
1 cup bread crumbs, preferably fresh (see hint)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt
Pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (6-7 oz each), trimmed
1/4 cup minced fresh basil
1/4 cup mayo
Lemon wedges for serving (optional)

Directions
- Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees.
- Combine bread crumbs, Parmesan, garlic, oil, salt, and pepper to taste in a bowl.
- Pat chicken dry with paper towels and transfer to 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Combine basil and mayonnaise in small bowl and spread mixture evenly over chicken.
- Sprinkle bread crumb mixture over mayonnaise, pressing lightly to adhere.
- Bake until crumbs are golden brown and instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of chicken registers 160 degrees, 18-22 minutes.
- Serve with lemon wedges.

Hint
- To make fresh bread crumbs, process 2 slices of hearty white sandwich bread in a food processor until coarsely ground.

Submitted by Kelly

Savory Parmesan Bites

Ingredients
1 8oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1 cup 100% grated Parmesan cheese, divided
2 8oz cans refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
1 cup chopped red pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix cream cheese and 3/4 cup of Parmesan cheese with and electric mixer on medium speed until will blended
- Separate crescent rolls into 8 rectangles; press perforations together to seal.
- Spread 3 tbsp of cream cheese mixture onto each rectangle; top with red pepper and parsley.
- Fold long end of dough up over filling to center; fold up opposite side to enclose filling.
- Press lightly to seal.
- Cut each into 6 bite-sized squares
- Place seam sides down on baking sheet.
- Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese.
- Bake 13-15 minutes or until golden brown.

Submitted by Erin