Artichoke dip smothered asparagus over spinach couscous (with chicken)

 For this recipe it can be made many different ways depending on the tolerance of the individual eating it.  Again this is a recipe that can be made so that everyone in the family is able to eat foods that look rather similar and you don’t need to feel like a short order cook.

Note: in the photo my daughter wanted the asparagus cut and mixed in so that is what we did. If you want to make it look more like the regular version don’t cut it up.

Ingredients:

6 oz jar marinated artichokes

Small bunch of asparagus

5 oz spinach

1 1/2 lbs chicken breasts

16 oz chicken or vegetable broth

8 oz cream cheese

8 oz mozarella cheese

1 cup couscous (one serving low protein anellini or low protein rice cooked)

Italian seasoning

Cooking oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450º
2. Coat a pan with cooking oil
3. Chop half the spinach and set the other half on the side (for the low protein version I just set aside some chopped spinach to add later)
4. Drain and chop the artichokes (again I set aside some chopped artichokes for later)
5. Add chopped spinach and chopped artichokes in a bowl (add the spinach and artichokes you put on the side in a separate bowl).
6. Cut cream cheese into cubes and place in a separate bowl with Italian spice (depending on the tolerance will determine how much cream cheese you add to the low protein bowl....I used 3 T)
7. Use spatula to smash and mix. Combine with spinach/artichoke mixture.
8. Cut chicken in half horizontally. Place in baking dish and add salt and pepper.
9. Spread dip over chicken.
10. Place asparagus on top of the chicken (set some aside for the low protein version - you will steam this portion) and top with mozzarella cheese.
11. Bake 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked thoroughly. 
12. In a saucepan bring broth to a boil. Remove from heat and add couscous and stir. Cover and let stand 10 minutes. 
13. For the low protein version combine the cream cheese/artichoke/spinach mixture with the noodles or rice and top with low protein mozzarella cheese (serve with the asparagus spears you steamed).....unless there is enough wiggle room in the diet for the couscous).
14. For the regular version uncover the couscous and add the rest of the spinach.  Serve chicken/asparagus from the oven over the couscous.

Photo of the high protein version