An Elegant and Simple Dinner Featuring Barber Foods

An Elegant and Simple Dinner Featuring Barber Foods shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SimplySpecialMeals #CollectiveBias

When we were engaged, I included 12 place settings of china, crystal glassware and stainless steel utensils on our registry. I had dreams of elegant dinners served on those dishes with beverages glistening in the crystal and the utensils reflecting the candle light. Sometimes it might be just my husband sitting with me at the table, while other times we would be hosting dinner parties. Those dreams embodied the epitome of sophistication with beautiful surroundings and stimulating conversation.

We did end up with most of the 12 place settings as gifts and were able to purchase the remaining pieces over time. Our first home had a dining room where I housed all of my “fancy” items in a hand me down buffet table. What I didn’t consider is that living busy lives would keep us from indulging in those types of dinners.  Or, that my husband is not one for all the fuss. I quickly realized that the dishes only came out for holidays when someone came to visit, like Easter dinner with several friends from church.

Then we became parents to boys. Somehow boisterous boys and expensive dishes just do not work well together. My precious china and glassware stayed stored safely out of reach for their little hands. It is only in the past few years that I began to pull them out for major holiday dinners with the mandate that only my husband or I carry the dishes from the table.

Along with the setting aside of the finer dinnerware, I found that making time to be a couple dropped on the priority list. Seeing our relationship suffer, we embraced the idea of date nights to connect without the boys in tow.  We had been improving upon that in the past few years, but a string of work trips and our cross country RV trip this summer means it has been a long time since we had a date night.

As much fun as it can be to have someone else do the cooking, I often relish the ability to have meaningful conversations in our home without having to talk about the din of other conversations.  Thinking about date night ideas again had me considering not just a meal for two after the boys went down to their ‘cave’ for the evening, but to make it more special by pulling out my china. The question then became what to serve for our meal.

While walking through the freezer section of our local Fred Meyer store, I noticed the Barber Foods Stuffed Chicken Breasts on the shelf where I had been browsing. I’ve always enjoyed a good Chicken Cordon Blue when eating out, but never made it at home. Purchasing the ready to bake ones from Barber Foods meant I could have a tasty main entree at the ready. Plus, I heard that they had changed up the recipe improving upon a product I already liked.

I have to admit that the kitchen smelled wonderful while these were baking in the oven.   The downside of that is my boys started crawling out of the woodwork asking what it was and why I wasn’t making each of them one.  (Good thing I picked up some of the Broccoli and Cheese ones for a family meal later this month!)

To go alongside the Barber Foods Stuffed Chicken Breasts and fit with the ‘fancy’ dishes, I elected to make  Apple Cranberry Wild Rice pilaf as well as a medley of vegetables. Staying with the elegant and simple dinner theme, I used a boxed long grain and wild rice mix for the base.  The vegetables were cooked in the microwave while I prepared the rice and the Barber Foods Stuffed Chicken Breasts cooked in the oven.

Following the instructions, I made sure to check that the internal temperature had reached 165 degrees. I knew when I saw the cheese oozing out of the side that it probably was past there and my quick check verified that.

I couldn’t be more pleased with how my meal came together.  I wasn’t stressed about needing hours in the kitchen and everything went together well. The Cordon Bleu from Barber Foods delivered as promised, tasting even better than I remember from past experiences.

Now that I’ve seen how I can pull together and  elegant and simple dinner featuring Barber Foods Stuffed Chicken Breasts, I am thinking we could host a couples dinner at the house.  I will relish the opportunity to plate it onto my china to enjoy.

Now that I’ve shared how Barber Foods Stuffed Chicken Breasts make a great meal, share how you would enjoy them!

Do you have a special set of dishes in the house for special occasions?

Do you ever pull them out for a special date night?

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