Chicken Schnitzel with Mushroom Gravy

On March 7, 2018 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Germany, Recipes8 Comments

We definitely had a variety of schnitzels while we were living in Germany. One of the first ones that we had was considered a Hunter’s Schnitzel, so we decided to do a version of that for ourselves. Generally speaking, schnitzel is very easy to make and can be done with pork, chicken, or veal. The most important thing for making a good schnitzel is to pound the meat out to be about one-quarter inches thick and ensuring that the entire meat cutlet is the same thickness. Although you can buy a mallet to pound out the meat, we have found that if you wrap the meat in plastic wrap and the hit it with the flat side of a heavy skillet, it works even better to get it to a consistent thickness. The real flavor comes from the sauce, so we decided to make a hearty gravy to accompany the schnitzel. Although we used button mushrooms, you could certainly do a variety of your favorite mushrooms.

INGREDIENTS

4 Chicken Breasts
2 eggs
1/4 cup Whole Milk
1 cup + 4 tbsp All-Purpose Flour
1 cup Breadcrumbs
8 tbsp Unsalted Butter
1 tsp Paprika
4 cups Beef Stock
1 lb Mushrooms – sliced
1 small Shallot – chopped
1 tbsp Garlic Powder
4 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat and then add the mushrooms and shallot. Cook until the mushrooms are slightly browned and the onion is soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and remove the mushrooms and onions to drain on a paper towel. Leave any remaining butter in the skillet. In a large sauce pan, melt the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat and whisk in 4 tablespoons of flour in order to create a roux. Do not let the flour start to brown. Heat the beef stock in another pan or in a microwave until luke warm. Slowly add the beef stock to the sauce pan stirring constantly. Heat over medium-high heat, continuing to stir. Add the mushrooms, onion, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Once the gravy has thickened, reduce the heat to low and continue to simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. In three separate bowls or shallow plates you will place the ingredients for dredging the chicken, which has already been pounded to about a 1/4 inch thickness. In the first bowl, mix the cup of flour with salt, pepper, and paprika. In the second bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk. In the third bowl, add the breadcrumbs. Add the olive oil to the large skillet and heat to medium-high. Using one hand, dredge both sides of the chicken through the flour and then dredge through the eggs, and finally place in the breadcrumbs. Using your other hand, dredge the chicken until well-coated with breadcrumbs and place in the skillet. Using separate hands will keep the breadcrumbs from getting too messy from the eggs and flour. Cook the chicken in the skillet for about 5 minutes per side until evenly browned. Since the chicken is so thin, it doesn’t take long to cook and over-cooking will make the chicken dry and tough. Place the chicken on a plate to serve and then cover with the mushroom gravy.

Our Finished Chicken Schnitzel with Mushroom Gravy

Florence, Italy

On March 2, 2018 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Italy24 Comments

There are only a few cities in the world that leave an impression on your soul that will remain with you forever. Florence is definitely one of those cities. There is something uniquely special about the way you feel when walking the streets of this historic city with all of its art and medieval architecture. It isn’t just that it retains its old world charm, there is something very romantic about Florence that is hard to explain. It is a place where time seems to stand still and you feel as if you can just truly relax and absorb the culture and history while sharing some pasta and wine.

View of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo

It is clear why so many of the great artists spent time in Florence, the city as well as the countryside of Tuscany are incredibly beautiful. One of the places that you must visit while in Florence is the Piazzale Michelangelo. The views from this hillside plaza are simply amazing as you gaze over the city. The Duomo dominates the skyline as it towers above the buildings that line the narrow streets of the city. As you turn away from the city, you can see the ancient wall that surrounded the city and the lush green hillsides of the Tuscan countryside. Of course, the replica of the statue of David is worth seeing, but the original marble statue in the Accademia Gallery is definitely even more stunning.

Replica of David in the Piazzale Michelangelo

Certainly, Ponte Vecchio is something that you must visit during your time in Florence. As you cross this historic bridge, you have the opportunity to buy jewelry and other souvenirs in stores that have been there throughout its history. In the past, these store fronts were obviously not for tourists as they are today and were used by butchers and other more common merchants. Amazingly, the bridge survived World War II and not destroyed like all of the other bridges in Florence. If you do decide to visit the narrow pedestrian bridge, be prepared for heavy traffic as it is definitely a tourist hot spot. We would recommend having dinner at one of the restaurants that overlook the Arno River next to the bridge as the views at night are well worth the hefty price tag.

As you walk the streets of Florence, you will undoubtedly eventually end up at the Duomo or Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower). Having seen many different cathedrals all across Europe, this is definitely one of the most unique and most stunning cathedrals to gaze upon. The architecture, artwork, and white façade have so many details that you could spend hours just enjoying the views from various angles. There are plenty of restaurant options available around the Duomo, so it is a perfect place to enjoy a pizza at one of the many pizzerias on the surrounding streets.

Although you could spend a couple of days in Florence and probably see all of the major sights, if you really want to enjoy everything that the city has to offer, you should probably consider a minimum of four days or possibly a full week. Florence is truly a magical city with beauty around every corner and will forever hold a special place in our hearts.

Piazza Navona in Rome, Italy

On February 12, 2018 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Italy4 Comments

The Piazza Navona is a famous square in Rome that was built on the site of an ancient, open space stadium from the 1st century. Today it is busy with local artists, restaurants and cafes, local residents, and tourists. With its large Egyptian obelisk, the Fountain of the Four Rivers demands attention in the center of piazza. The square was defined as a public space in the 15th century where it hosted the city market. Later, during the reign of the pontificate of Innocent X, the square became significant for its Baroque architecture with the focal point being his family palace, the Palazzo Pamphili.

Fountain of the Four Rivers and the Palace

There are two other fountains in the square, one on the southern end of the square being the Fontana del Moro, which has four Tritons sculpted by Giacomo della Porta, and on the northern end is Fountain of Neptune. Even at night, the Fountain of the Four Rivers is beautiful to see as the basin is lit up to highlight the statues at the base of the obelisk. Crowds remain in the piazza well into the evening, especially on warmer nights. We stayed at a boutique hotel that was situated on the square, so we had wonderful views of the people enjoying the beautiful area.

If you enjoy people watching, then the piazza, with its outdoor cafes, is a perfect location for you. At one point, we even watched as a marching band of children marched passed the fountains. There are also street artists playing music and a variety of painters offering unique paintings of famous sites in Rome. During our time there, we always saw people sitting on the benches and eating a meal, however we chose to have a glass of wine at several of the locally owned restaurants.

Perhaps this square is not as well known as some other locations in Rome, but it is certainly a top place to visit when coming to the city. It was featured in Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons and several scenes from the film adaptation were filmed in the piazza. With all of the local restaurants in the surrounding streets as well as the square itself, it is a great place to spend a few hours and relax in the bustling city.