Chicken, apples make a tasty treat

Nashville Tennessean

Pie isn't the only thing you can make with apples. Here's a main dish and a cake you can serve at breakfast or as a dessert.

Smoked Gouda-stuffed Chicken with Apples

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 4 ounces smoked Gouda cheese, grated
• 1 cup apple cider
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 2 apples (any variety), peeled, cored, cut into slices
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
• Rosemary sprigs for garnish

Cut a two-inch slit in the sides of each chicken breast and stuff with the grated cheese.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Coat with cooking spray and add the chicken. Cook about four minutes per side or until done. Remove to a platter and place in a 200-degree oven to keep warm.

Add the cider and broth to the skillet, bring to a boil and cook until reduced by half and somewhat syrupy. Add apples, garlic and rosemary and cook five minutes longer or until apples just start to get soft.

Place chicken on serving plates and top with the sauce.

Serves four.

Nutritional analysis per serving: 331 cal., 26 g protein, 28 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, 13 g fat, 84 mg cholesterol, 404 mg sodium.

'Smells So Good' Apple Cake

• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 cups sifted unbleached flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups apples (4 to 5 large apples)
• 1 cup chopped nuts

Beat the eggs until light. Add sugar, oil and vanilla and blend well. Sift the dry ingredients together. Add to egg mixture and blend well. Peel, core and coarsely chop the apples. Add apples and nuts to the batter. Pour into a greased tube or Bundt pan and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

It might look like it is not enough batter, but the cake will turn out right in the end.