No Excuses

Marilyn (one of our crazy weights members) made this low fat chicken recipe this week and said it was delicious! This from a woman that never used to cook from recipes and now she is an "old" pro! There are no excuses....cook yourself a well-balanced dinner. Pair this recipe with brown rice and steamed broccoli. Happy cooking!!!!

Cajun Chicken Stuffed with Pepper Jack Cheese and Spinach 

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts

4 oz pepper jack cheese, shredded (you can use up to 6 oz)

1 c frozen spinach, thawed and drained (you can also use fresh cooked spinach)

2 tbsp olive oil

4 tbsp Cajun seasoning - click here for my homemade Cajun spice recipe

2 tbsp breadcrumbs (I use Italian style)

Sea salt, to taste

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Lots of toothpicks   

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Flatten the chicken to 1/4-inch thickness.

In a medium bowl, combine the pepper jack cheese, spinach, salt and pepper.

Combine the Cajun seasoning and breadcrumbs together in a small bowl. 

Spoon about 1/4 c of the spinach mixture onto each chicken breast. Roll each chicken breast tightly and fasten the seams with several toothpicks.  This part requires a tiny bit of skill and I typically use about 8 toothpicks in each roll to ensure none of the filling seeps out.  Be sure to count how many total toothpicks were used!

Brush each chicken breast with the olive oil. Sprinkle the Cajun seasoning mixture evenly over all. Sprinkle any remaining spinach and cheese on top of chicken (optional).

Place the chicken seam-side up onto a tin foil-lined baking sheet (for easy cleanup).  Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.

Remove the toothpicks before serving.  Count to make sure you have removed every last toothpick.  Serve whole or slice into medallions.

Recipe by: http://cuckooking.blogspot.com