Chicken stuffed w/Tomato Basil Feta in Marinara

I recently had some friends over for lunch and when I told them I was making Chicken stuffed with Tomato Basil Feta in a Marinara Sauce, I impressed them to the point of getting this reply "wow, you must be a chef!" Well no, I'm not, but I am a mastermind at discovering stupid simple recipes that make me seem like a chef. So I pass the magic on to you with this one:

8 chicken thighs, bone in, skin on
1 brick of tomato basil feta (or substitute)
1 jar Paul Newman's Marinara sauce
1 package of pasta or rice

Directions:

1. preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. cut the feta brick into 8 slices
3. put chicken in a casserole dish and raise the skin and stuff the feta brick in each chicken thigh. Wash hands thoroughly!!
4. pour the marinara sauce on top of all the chicken
5. bake in the oven for about 50-55 mins

Make pasta and serve it alongside - EASY!!!

Waste Not, Want Not

If you want to get more out of this meal for another meal, try this:

1. save one chicken thigh for this next meal
2. pour the cooking juices from the casserole dish in a container (including sauce chunks) and store in the fridge over night

Next day:

1. scoop off the fat from the chicken juices and discard - what is left is a flavourful tomatoey chicken stock
2. peel off the skin (discard) and pull off pieces of the chicken for a soup

Chicken & Vegetable Soup in V8 Juice
1 bottle of V8 juice
2 carrots
1 stalk of celery
1 onion
leftover pieces of chicken
leftover chicken stock

Sautee chopped onions, then add chopped carrots and chopped celery and cook until lightly tender(optional: add cooked chick peas or beans or be creative!). Add leftover chicken stock and let it "melt" as well as the chicken pieces. Add V8 juice (or other brand) and salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and voila!

Let me know what you think!