Fast Family Meal – Chicken and Rice L’Orange

7 Comments | Written on March 29, 2012 at 5:00 am , by Kristina Vanni

This weekend, while covering the Pillsbury Bake-Off, I had the pleasure of attending a food news seminar conducted by Smucker’s, one of the contest sponsors. Kelsey Nixon hosted the seminar, where she discussed the importance of family meals.

Today’s busy lifestyles and complicated schedules are making the simple act of sitting down as a family to eat a meal together as an increasingly rare activity. Research continues to show that the benefits of eating together go beyond food and conversation and reach into areas that make us stronger individuals, families and communities.

Kelsey’s presentation reminded me of a favorite family meal we enjoyed growing up. It is a quick and easy take on a classic French dish, Duck L’Orange. We swapped duck for chicken and the secret to the orange sauce is 1/4 cup of Smucker’s Orange Marmalade.

With 10 simple ingredients and less than 30 minutes, this fantastic family meal is served!

Chicken and Rice L’Orange (click here to view and print recipe)

1 cup uncooked rice

1 cup orange juice

1 cup water

1 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup golden raisins

3 tablespoons butter, divided

1/4 cup sliced almonds

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

1/4 cup orange marmalade

1/4 cup sliced green onions

Combine rice, orange juice, water and salt in a 2- to 3-quart saucepan. Heat to boiling; stir once or twice. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 15 minutes. When rice is done, stir in the raisins.

While rice is cooking, melt 1 tablespoon butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add almonds and cook and stir until golden, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove almonds and set aside.

Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in skillet. Add chicken; cook until brown on both sides. Add orange marmalade to skillet and stir to coat chicken. To serve, spoon rice onto plate, top with chicken. Sprinkle with toasted almonds and green onions.

Nutrition Facts: Calories 524, Total Fat 17 g, Cholesterol 99 mg, Sodium 774 mg, Total Carbohydrate 59 g, Dietary Fiber 2 g, Protein 33 g