Chicken Cherries Flambe

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 4 tablespoons margarine, divided
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds (optional)
• 1/4 cup scallion, sliced
• 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 8 bone-in chicken breast halves
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 16 ounces pitted dark sweet cherries, drained, liquid reserved
• 1/4 teaspoon grated orange peel
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch, dissolved in 2 tablespoons cold water
• 1/4 cup brandy

Recipe

• 1 melt 2 tablespoons of the margarine in a medium-size frying pan. add almonds and scallions and cook about 3 minutes, until scallions are soft and nuts are lightly browned. remove to a small bowl; add cream cheese, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; mix until well blended.
• 2 slit a pocket in each chicken breast. stuff each with a portion of cream cheese mixture and secure with wooden toothpicks. season with additional salt and pepper.
• 3 in a large frying pan, heat remaining 2 tablespoons margarine in the oil. brown chicken on all sides over medium-high heat, about 8 minutes. add cherries with juice and orange peel to chicken and cook, covered, for 10-15 minutes, until cooked through. arrange chicken and cherries on a serving dish and cover with foil to keep warm.
• 4 bring liquid in pan to a boil and boil until reduced to about 2/3 cup. stir dissolved cornstarch into juices in pan. cook, stirring constantly, until sauce boils and thickens. season with salt and pepper to taste. pour half the sauce over chicken.
• 5 warm brandy in a large ladle or small saucepan, but do not boil. ignite carefully and pour flaming brandy over chicken. pass remaining cherry sauce separately.