Goat Cheese And Olive Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Pit and thinly slice olives. In a small bowl stir together olives, goat cheese, thyme, and salt and pepper to taste till combined well. Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper.
2. To create a pocket in chicken for filling: Put a chicken breast half on a cutting board and, beginning in middle of 1 side of breast half, horizontally insert a sharp thin knife three fourths of the way through center, moving knife in a fanning motion to create a pocket. Form pocket in remaining breast half in same manner. Divide filling between pockets and spread proportionately with a finger.
3. Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. In a small heavy ovenproof skillet heat oil over moderately-high heat till warm but not smoking and brown chicken, skin-sides down, about 2 min. Turn chicken over and brown about 2 min more. Transfer skillet to middle of oven and bake chicken till cooked through, about 15 min.
4. This recipe yields 4 servings.