Week #11Pistachio Chicken with Couscous & Greens

Chicken breasts are on sale this week all over town   sooooo......
here is another one of our very favorites! I plucked this recipe out of a Woman's Day magazine....
...........did u know..........????

1.  Spinach, Swiss chard and kale are packed with magnesium, which can help improve your body's response to stress.  The folic acid in the greens helps reduce depression!  That's why Spinach always makes me smile!  lol
2.  Yogurt is a super food.....the live active cultures in yogurt can help keep your digestive and immune systems healthy.  Yogurt also contains bone-building calcium.

Soooooo.......for your health.......use this recipe.

 Pistachio Chicken with Couscous & Greens 

1/2 C unsalted pistachios, finely chopped 

1/2 C panko bread crumbs *

3 Tbsp olive oil *

4  6oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Kosher salt and pepper *

1/4 C fat-free Greek yogurt (I just use regular)

1 large onion, finely chopped *

1 tsp ground cumin *

1 C couscous

1 small bunch Swiss chard or spinach (about 6 C coarsely chopped)

1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.  In a shallow bowl or pie plate, combine the pistachios, panko and 1 Tbsp oil.

2.  Season the chicken with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper.  Brush the chicken with the yogurt and coat with the pistachio mixture, pressing gently to help it adhere.  Place the chicken on the prepared baking sheet and bake until golden brown and cooked through, 20 to 25 min.

3.  Meanwhile, heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the onion and 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 6 to 8 min.  Stir in the cumin and cook for 1 min.  Transfer the onion to a medium bowl.  Add the couscous and toss to combine.  Add 1 C water, (I use chicken broth instead of the water and add 1 Tbsp butter) cover and let sit for 20 min.

4.  Heat the remaining Tbsp oil in the skillet (no need to wipe it out) over medium heat.  Add the chard and 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper and cook, tossing occasionally, until tender, 3 to 5 min.  Fluff the couscous with a fork and fold in the chard.  Serve with the chicken.

Serves 4

Notes:

Pistachios (all nuts) store in freezer for a long long time

If you haven't used "Panko" bread crumbs.....you should try them....you won't look back

Olive Oil is why the Mediterranean people live so long

Yogurt can be stored in the freezer. It will not kill the live cultures, just will stop the growth of new ones.  It is also very easy to make (watch for a link on how to make yogurt....)

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Shopping list

Pistachio Chicken with Couscous & Greens

2 1/2 C pistachios 

1 1/4 C yogurt

5 C couscous (or 5 small boxes)

5 bunches Swiss Chard/Spinach  (I use a bag of frozen spinach if I can't get to the store so you can choose that option......or you can dehydrate the Swiss Chard or Spinach....it's easy)

*any pantry items you do not have on hand

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 Pistachio Chicken with Couscous & Greens

box/bag  label

you will need:

Chicken Breasts & yogurt from freezer 

box couscous

Swiss Chard/Spinach from wherever you store it....frozen, dehydrated, fresh on hand 

Meals in a bag are the hot thing now......don't have a box.....use the old grocery bags and label the bag.

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