A romantic breakfast is a great way to start Valentine’s Day, and if you’re a lover of everything bagels, I’ve found the perfect gourmet topping blend to spice up your Valentine’s Day breakfast (or lunch or dinner for that matter)!  A good friend of mine sent me a bottle of an incredibly aromatic, spice-packed accompaniment to a variety of savory dishes; it’s called Bagel Spice.  Use of this flavorful spice is only limited by your imagination. 

• You can sprinkle it on cream cheese, hummus or other bread spreads for a taste bud explosion.
• Shake it over fried eggs, lox and tuna for a delectable flavor boost. 
• Mix it with mashed potatoes for a delightful flavor. 
• Add it to salad dressings and vinaigrettes for extra zing in your salads. 
• Blend it with marinades and sauces for an aromatic kick, or combine it with your favorite dry rub mixture for delicious meat dishes.

The possibilities are endless for distinctive, mouth-watering dishes with Bagel Spice.  Just last night, I added it to my chicken paillard with lemon butter sauce.  The results were amazing.  Check out my recipe below and lots of others on the Bagel Spice website.

Two chicken breasts, sliced in half and pounded flat

Salt & Pepper

Bagel Spice

1/4 cup sliced or minced shallots

Fresh spinach

Juice of two lemons and lemon segments

2 tablespoons olive oil

5 tablespoons butter

3/4 cup chicken stock

Season the chicken breast with salt, pepper and Bagel Spice.  Sautee the chicken breasts in one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and one tablespoon of butter (heated until butter foams).  Flip the breasts when golden brown and heat through.  Move the sauteed breasts to a plate.  Add the remaining olive oil and butter to the pan and sautee the shallots until transparent.  Add the lemon juice, lemon segments and chicken broth.  Reduce by half and gradually add 2-3 additional tablespoons of butter.  To serve, place a handful of spinach on the plate.  Place one chicken breast on top of the spinach and then spoon the lemon butter sauce over the chicken and spinach so that the spinach slightly wilts.  Enjoy!