Baked Chicken Breast With Honey Mustard Sauce (George Mateljan)

This special honey-mustard sauce enhances the flavor of the chicken breast, while serving with spinach adds even more nutrition to this great-tasting recipe.

Prep and Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, chicken breasts with skin
• 2+1 TBS fresh lemon juice
• 1 ½ cups chicken broth
• 2 ½ TBS honey
• 2 TBS Dijon mustard
• ¼ cup sliced dried apricots
• 2 TBS coarsely chopped walnuts
• 1 TBS chopped parsley
• 4 bunches fresh spinach, stems removed and rinsed thoroughly
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Quick Broiled Chicken

1. Preheat the broiler on high and place an all stainless steel skillet (be sure the handle is also stainless steel) or cast iron pan about 6 inches from the heat for about 10 minutes to get it very hot.
2. While the pan is heating, rinse and pat the chicken dry and season with 2TBS lemon juice, salt and pepper.
3. Leaving the skin on, place the breast (skin side up) on the hot pan. It is not necessary to turn the breast because it is cooking on both sides at once. Depending on the size, it should be cooked in about 7 minutes. Begin preparing the sauce.
4. The breast is done when it is moist, yet its liquid runs clear when pierced. The inside temperature needs to reach 165 degrees farenheit or 74 degrees celcius. Remove the skin before serving; it is left on to keep it moist while broiling.

Honey-Mustard Sauce and Spinach

1. For honey-mustard sauce, combine broth, 1TBS lemon juice, honey, and mustard in a small saucepan. Whisk together and bring to a boil on high heat. Once it comes to a boil, simmer for about 20 minutes. You want it to be reduced to a little less than half the volume you start with. This will thicken and intensify the flavor.
2. Add apricots and cook on high for another 5 minutes. When sauce is done add chopped walnuts, parsley, salt and pepper.
3. Bring large pot of water to boil
4. Cook spinach for only 1 minute. Drain and press dry.
5. Season with a little salt and pepper.
6. Divide spinach onto 4 plates.
7. Slice chicken breast and place over beds of spinach. Spoon sauce over chicken and spinach.
   Serves 4