In the era of DVDs, DVRs, and On-Demand TV, going to the movies is becoming an infrequent event! I guess this has its pluses. After all, watching a good flick at home, can be more comfortable and quiet! However, before the technology takeover, movie night was special. And, going to the drive-in movies had yet a more unique flair!
There was a certain amount of preparation for the drive-in experience...at least when Mama Melisi was involved! Our family of five wouldn't head off empty-handed! I vaguely remember first packing our most comfortable pillows, and cozy blankets! When it came to food...let's just say dinner would be eaten in the car!
Drive-In movie food, for us, wasn't popcorn or sweet tarts! Mama Melisi would make her famous chicken cutlet sandwiches! And there was never any variation to this! We would pack-up, head out, and feast on breaded chicken cutlet sandwiches while we were watching the latest movie in our roomy Chevrolet!
And that wasn't all! The secret for my dad to have a really relaxing movie night, was to also pack a mason jar of Manhattan Cocktails! Family...good food...classic movie great...cocktails...if you ask me, we should revive the drive-in movie experience now!
Truthfully, my last recollection of a night at the drive-in was the debut of the 1968 movie, "Planet of the Apes"! I remember that scratchy speaker hooked onto the window of our car. And I also vaguely recall hearing, "Take your hands off me, you damn, dirty ape!" NO...that wasn't Mama Melisi talking to my dad...it was Charlton Heston yelling at his ape captors! (I still want to know...was that really Planet Earth???)
In memory of all the secrets at the drive-in movies, we offer you Mama Melisi's Chicken Cutlet Sandwich recipe...and the formula for a Classic Manhattan Cocktail! Once again, we offer it to you with love...
From Mama Melisi and Me
Breaded Chicken Cutlets
Ingredients:
6 slices thinly sliced chicken cutlets (use a kitchen mallet to pound cutlets - it tenderizes them)
1 cup skim milk or milk of your choice
1 cup Italian flavored bread crumbs
Extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons Italian grating cheese (optional)
Cooking Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray with pam
Take the cutlets which have been soaking in milk and dip them into bread crumbs
(If you're using cheese, add the cheese to the bread crumbs first)
Place cutlets on cookie sheet and drizzle olive oil over each cutlet
Place on an oven rack which is in the middle of the oven
Bake for 15 minutes, then turn and bake for another 15 minutes (or until crumbs are golden)
Serve on a heated platter with fresh lemon slices
*For Drive-In Movie Sandwiches, place finished cutlets on the bread of your choice!
Manhattan Cocktail
Ingredients:
2 oz rye whiskey
1/2 oz sweet (Italian) vermouth
maraschino cherry for garnish
Preparation:
Pour ingredients into a mixing glass with ice
Stir well
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass (mason jar)
Garnish with a cherry
REMEMBER - BE SAFE - DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE!
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Chicken cutlets can be enhanced. There are a few versions I use:
ReplyDeletel. Chicken Parmigiana
Add marinara sauce to a baking casserole - place cooked chicken cutlets in the dish - cover with the sauce - sprinkle with parmesan cheese and fresh mozzarella or grated dry mozzarella.
2. Saute a sliced onion in olive oil till golden in color. Add roasted peppers which you have sliced and a small jar of marinated artichoke hearts. Heat the 3 ingredients. Spray a casserole dish with pam - place the cooked chicken cutlets in the pan- top with the onion combination - pour a little white wine over this and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes
I forgot to post the amount of time needed to bake the chicken parm. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven Enjoy!!!
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