Oven-baked chicken breasts stuffed full with spicy pepperoni, marinara sauce, and ooey-gooey melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. This one-pan dish makes eating low carb a simply scrumptious endeavor.

What Do You Want on Your Tombstone?

Pepperoni and cheese. Remember that commercial for Tombstone pizza? To my recollection, there were several different iterations. But the one I remember most was the one set in an old Western town (Tombstone, I presume..?) That ad campaign aired at least 25 years ago, so I guess you can say, it worked. (On me, at least.) So much so in fact, that I modeled some of my Halloween decor after this particular tagline; creating tombstones that read: “Pepperoni and Cheese.” I have included photographic evidence below (as if you needed it).

I used to love a Tombstone pizza. Or, a Dippin’ Pizza. (Does anyone else remember Dippin’ Pizza?) As latchkey 90s-00s kids, my little sister & I lived on frozen pizza of all varieties, later graduating to “higher end,” frozen pizzas: DiGiorno, Freschetta, & the like. Nowadays, I’m relatively certain that pizza deals from Little Caesars, Domino’s, & Pizza Hut ensure that you get them even cheaper than the frozen pizzas in the grocery aisle.

All of that being said, this Pepperoni Pizza Stuffed Chicken recipe is a delicious, satisfying & healthier low carb substitute for the frozen pizzas of my youth. (I write, as if I don’t to this day, readily throw down on a Tombstone, or even a Totino’s Party Pizza, if the situation calls for it. And let’s be honest, I’d consider doing some very questionable things for a Dippin’ Pizza right now.)

But, as they say, everything in moderation. As such, Pepperoni Pizza Stuffed Chicken is an excellent compromise between the adult in me, who knows I need to eat better, and the kid in me, who still wants to spend the afternoon binging TV as a dig into another slice of something bad for me.

Somebody’s Got a Case of the Monday’s

It’s Monday, as I write this. And boy, has it been a Monday. One of those days where I’m just counting down the hours, marking the minutes, until … until what, exactly? The end of the workday, I suppose. When I can go home to my dog, my husband, my wine, my leftovers (I always try to cook or order enough on Sunday to ensure that I won’t have to cook on Monday), and in this case, my blog. Where I can find some semblance of joy, some “me” time, before I have to wake up and do it all over again.

Am I the Only One (Who’s Ever Felt This Way)

“God help me, am I the only one who’s ever feel this way?” As much (or as little) as I engage on social media, I can’t help but wonder how many other people out there can relate. I truly try to find happiness and satisfaction in even the most mundane occurrences, to appreciate all the small things. But sometimes it’s a struggle to do anything but just go through the motions, do the things that need to be done until the next sun rises, and you do it all over again.

My thoughts turn to movie quotes and song lyrics (as they so often do), which brings to mind the song: “Am I the Only One (Who’s Ever Felt This Way),” by the Dixie Chicks.

Despite the later political faux pas of lead singer, Natalie (which shall go unmentioned, for the sake of brevity), the Dixie Chicks made an important impact on me in the 90s-00s. Their inaugural albums: “Wide Open Spaces,” and “Fly,” were filled with hits that dominated the radio airwaves.

But these albums also contained lesser-known, beautifully-written songs that I loved then, and which mean even more to me now. They remind me of my mom and little sister, as we’d spend many a night listening to & singing along, in a simpler time, in our home in Northern IL. That’s why the first song on tonight’s Sauced Kitchen Playlist is the aforementioned: “Am I the Only One (Who’s Ever Felt This Way),” by the Dixie Chicks.

Animal Crackers and Cocoa to Drink

My mom and I had a late night conversation in her kitchen the last time I visited: One of my favorite things. Warmed by the red wine in our bellies, the soft glow of the stove light wrapped around us like a comforting, familiar blanket. The kitchen was dim enough to allow secrets to be spilled, and deep thoughts to be shared. Wistful wishes for who we were, who we thought we’d be, and who we might become.

The moment reminded me of the page in a book that my mom used to read to us, I can still see the illustration in my mind’s eye. It started with the words: “Animal crackers, and cocoa to drink…” That’s all I remember off-hand. But I do remember that the page in our book was a bit torn (in the bottom left-hand corner, I think..?). Isn’t it strange what memories we hold onto?

I did some digging, and although at times, I long for the simplicity of my 90s-00s childhood, I have to say that Google is a pretty amazing thing. (I know, I sound like an old lady, but please, don’t, “Okay, Boomer,” me. I’m a millennial, after all.)

After a relatively brief search, I actually found the image of that very same poem in the very same book that my mom read to me as a child. It’s featured on a blog entry shared by The Old Wolf, entitled: “Children’s Poetry I have Loved, Part 5.”

What an amazing thing, for someone else to share a memory of this same poem, in this same book, with the same illustration from my past. For it to stay with them, after all of these years; enough for them to post a blog entry about it. And what a thing, for me to stumble upon it, and see an image that I’ve only seen in my memory, faded by time, threadbare and diluted, over the course of 30+ years. For any who may be interested, I am sharing the illustration from that childhood book in this post. I hope that it sparks a warm memory in some of your hearts, as it did in mine.

Oh, how I wanted to be in that darkened kitchen, steam from the kettle and cocoa warming the kitchen in which I sat. Yet another memory that lends to the reason that I see the kitchen as the epicenter of comfort, in both my mind and heart.

Don’t Waste Your Heart

During our late night dialogue, my mom told me that long ago, I said that the song: “Don’t Waste Your Heart,” by the Dixie Chicks, was “my song.” In my preadolescent mind, I had subscribed to the notion that I was far too independent, too wild to be tamed, by someone else; let alone the drudgery of day-to-day life. But life doesn’t always turn out the way you think it will. A simple statement, and yet, a basic truth we all have to come to terms with.

It’s an interesting thing, to grow up and not feel like a grownup. To be older, but still feel the same as you have for so many years. To not live up to your own potential, or at least how you saw yourself as a kid. To get older and just do the things you have to do, so that (hopefully) you can eventually do the things you’ve always wanted to do.

Thus, in honor of a younger me, I am adding a second song to tonight’s Sauced Kitchen Playlist: “Don’t Waste Your Heart,” by the Dixie Chicks. In the event that you do not know this particular tune, some of the lyrics are as follows:

“… Don’t waste your heart on a wild thing
She’s got a soul that won’t settle on one thing
Whoa, this bird can’t sing when you’ve tied its wings
Don’t waste your heart on me
And I’m here to apologize
My heart can’t compromise
Don’t waste your heart on me.”

(Credit: Lyrics written by Natalie Maines & Emily Robison. © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.)

Get Sauced

The old rules of wine pairing typically state that red wine pairs with red sauce, while white wine pairs with chicken. So, in this recipe that features both, what shall we do? The way I see it, certain rules — especially the archaic ones that pertain to wine and food pairings, can be dismissed. Just drink the wine you like. Plus, with the number of wine varietals out there now, you could make an argument for several different wine choices for each and every dish.

For example, Pinot Noir is a lighter red wine with relatively high levels of acidity and lower tannins, making it a perfect pairing for the savory pepperoni, and the garlicky goodness of the marinara in this Pepperoni Pizza Stuffed Chicken.

If white wines are your thing, try a Chardonnay (I’ll pass on that, but to each his/her own), or Sauvignon Blanc. The bright acidity in these two wines will help to balance out the savory, cheesiness of this dish.

If you can’t decide, sip on a medium-dry rosé. These blush wines are perfect on the palate when paired with the spicy pepperoni and Italian herbs of this low-carb casserole.

Get More Sauced

Make it a meal by preparing my Garlic Butter Parmesan Spaghetti Squash alongside this Pepperoni Cheesy Chicken. The direct link is included below.

Want more delicious and healthy recipes? Sure, you do. That’s why I’m including the direct links to some of my favorite low-carb recipes in this post. Check out my blog posts for Marry Me Chicken, Pepperoni Pizza Stuffed Bell Peppers, and Chicken Bacon Wine Skillet by clicking the image links below.

You can always choose the Blog option on Sauced to search with keywords such as “low carb,” “chicken,” and more. Or, click the Menu option on Sauced for a complete listing of posted recipes.

Be sure to follow Sauced on Facebook and Instagram for Sauced Quickies (quick & easy recipes shared solely on my socials), & cocktail recipes on Mixology Mondays, Sauced Saturdays, and more! As always, feel free to like, comment, & share. Stay Sauced out there! Cheers!