Cashew Apple Chicken

I love weekends at home for many reasons.  It is awesome spending some extra time with my family.  During the week typically I do most of the cooking do to everyone’s schedule being a more crazy, however, on the weekends many times my husband will cook our family meal.  He comes up with some of the most amazing and delicious dishes.  It is so neat to watch him look in the fridge to see what we have or what needs used up then whipped together a new and tasty meal.

Our family enjoys chicken, apples, and cashews so this meal was a hit.  I am so thankful for a husband who cooks.  He has widen my recipe collections with the variety of dishes he pulls together.  Yes, I am blessed!

Cashew Apple Chicken Recipe:

• 4 Chicken Breasts (boneless and skinless)
• 1/2 tablespoon Olive Oil
• 2 Apples, cut up in equal size pieces (we used granny smith because we had them in the fridge)
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1/4 teaspoon Pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon Maple Syrup
• 1 tablespoon Italian Dressing
• 1/4 cup Cashews

1.  Mix together the salt, pepper,  and cinnamon into a small bowl.  Sprinkle the chicken breasts for a pinch of this mixture and set the remaining spice mixture aside.

2.  Add the olive oil to a frying pan and allow to heat up using medium heat for about 1 minute. Add the chicken breasts to the pan and cook.  Cook for 10 minutes on one side and turn to cook for an additional 10 minutes on the remaining side.  The chicken should be a light brown on all sides.  While the chicken is cooking on each side do steps 3 to 5.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

4.  Grease a baking dish.

5.  Dice up the apples and set aside.

6.  Once the chicken is brown on all sides (see step 2) remove the chicken breasts from the pan and place them into the baking dish.

7.  Add the Maple Syrup, Italian Seasoning, and spice mixture to the pan of oil and chicken juices.  Heat over medium for about 1 minute.  Add the diced apples and cashews.  Continue to cook for 3 minutes stirring gently.  Remove from heat and spoon the apple and cashew mixture equally over the chicken breasts.

8.  Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.