Cinnamon Chicken

a few weeks ago i asked my husband what he wanted for dinner and he commented that he really liked this "cinnamon chicken dish" called "arna chicken" from a greek diner he used to go to. i searched the web but found no such greek dish. so-- i decided to make my own up based on a loose description. it ended up tasting really great, and went along with things that i have been reading recently on the health benefits of cinnamon. these include (but are not limited to): lowering LDL, regulating blood sugar, a natural preservative, reducing cancer cells, and improving cognition and memory.

anyways, here is my recipe... i tried hard to write it down so i could recreate it later, but we know how that goes. my recommendation if you want to make it is to use your cooking intuition :)

Cinnamon Chicken

1 lb chicken breast (2 large pieces), cut into 1 inch strips
1 small yellow onion
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1-2 tbsp Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil (or your favorite oil)
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp cinnamon
3 cinnamon sticks (i broke mine in halves)
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp tahini
2 dried red chiles broken up (or less if you don't want it as spicy)
3/4 cup broth (veggie or chicken)
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 can-1 can rinsed chickpeas
1/4 cup pine nuts
4 medjool dates, chopped
chopped cilantro
sea salt to taste (approximately 1/2 tbsp)


-heat oil in skillet, then add chopped or sliced onions. allow to soften and turn slightly golden
-add garlic and stir for a minute or so, careful not to burn garlic
-add sliced chicken, and add salt, pepper, cinnamon, cumin, and cinnamon sticks to the chicken while it is cooking
-when chicken has almost cooked through, add broth, chickpeas, pine nuts, tahini, and chiles.
-let simmer for about five minutes on medium heat, then lower the heat and add chopped dates. -simmer another ten minutes or so, and add more broth if the water runs low.
-garnish (generously) with cilantro and serve