Sunday Dinner: Chicken with Olives and Lemon

Ahhhh 3 day weekends, gotta love 'em. For some reason this weekend all I've wanted to do is cook, bake and straighten up the apartment. Basically, I'm feeling domestic.

So for dinner tonight I wanted to go with something delicious, quick, easy and healthy. Enter: chicken with olives and lemon. This is the first time I've made this recipe, but I think Vlady and I both agree that it's a keeper (although the olives were left off of his half of the dish, seeing as he doesn't care for them)! I served this yummy dish over orzo that I seasoned with salt, pepper, a drizzle of olive oil and a tiny bit of lemon zest. Also, I sprinkled a little bit of parmesan cheese on mine and I really loved the extra salty, cheesy bite.. but Vlady left it off of his and loved it just as much.

This recipe is originally from Cooking Light, but I've made a couple of modifications (re: measurement changes in ingredients). For the original recipe, go here.

Chicken with Olives and Lemon
Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients

• 3 teaspoons grated lemon rind
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh garlic
• 4 (6 oz) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, halved crosswise
• Cooking spray
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano (or about 3/4 teaspoon dried)
• 2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary (or about 3/4 teaspoon dried)
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 15 oil-cured olives, pitted and sliced (I used green Spanish olives and they worked great)
• 1 medium shallot, sliced
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced

Directions

1. 1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. 2. Combine first 4 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic bag. Add chicken to bag; seal. Shake to coat chicken. Marinate 15 minutes at room temperature. Arrange chicken mixture in a broiler-safe 11 x 7–inch glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle chicken evenly with oregano and the next 4 ingredients (through shallot); top with lemon slices. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes.
3. 3. Remove chicken from oven. Preheat broiler to HIGH.
4. 4. Place chicken 3 inches from broiler element; broil on HIGH for 3 minutes or until chicken is browned and done.

Before going in to the oven

Finished product

Be on the lookout for the recipe that I served for dessert (hint, it's one of my favorites)!