Almond Stuffed Chicken with Couscous and Green Beans with Bacon and Toasted Almonds

I love to cook, but I also work full time, so a lot of week nights when I come home, I don't really feel like spending hours in the kitchen. Crazy, I know. This is the perfect weeknight meal. Easy, quick to prepare, delicious, and healthy. Well, sort of. I did saute the green beans in the bacon fat after I cooked the bacon......but you could drain the pan and just use a teaspoon or two of olive oil if you are watching your diet. This meal also uses relatively few ingredients. You might already have these in your kitchen now!

Almond Stuffed Chicken

adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 4 wedges of Laughing Cow Garlic and Herbs cheese
• 3 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
• 1/8 cup slivered almonds
• salt and pepper
  

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Prepare the filling by combining the cheese, parsley, and almonds in a small bowl. Set aside.

2. Next, prepare your chicken. If your chicken breasts are thick, you can butterfly them (cut them in half horizontally, but not all the way through) and stuff them that way. If they are thin cut like mine, you can make roll ups by spreading the filling on top of the chicken breast and fold it over. Either way, lay each chicken breast out on a cutting board.

3. Stuff the chicken by spreading it over the top of the chicken (if using thin chicken breasts) or stuffing it in the middle (if using butterflied chicken breasts). Fold the chicken over and secure with toothpicks. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

4. Transfer to a foil lined baking sheet. Cover the chicken with foil (to prevent the toothpicks from burning) and bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the chicken is completely cooked through.


Meanwhile, prepare:

Green Beans with Bacon & Toasted Almonds

• 1 lb fresh or frozen steam in the bag green beans
• 2 slices center cut bacon
• 1/8 cup slivered almonds
  

1. Cook the green beans in the microwave according to the package directions, but make sure you cook them at the minimum time given since you will later saute them.

2. Next, cook the bacon in a large pan until crispy. Remove to a plate covered in paper towels to cool and drain. Do not drain the pan. If there is a lot of fat in your pan, remove some but leave a tablespoon or two for sauteeing the green beans.

3. Lower the heat to medium low and add the almonds, and toast them for a couple of minutes. Once they are toasted, add in the green beans and toss to coat. Add salt and pepper to taste.




As for the couscous, just use your favorite brand and prepare according to package directions. I used Marrakesh Express chicken and vegetable flavor.

Enjoy!