CHICKEN MARINARA
I came up with this recipe one night when I had the craving for something Italian with a hearty marinara sauce.

6 large chicken breasts (about 2½ pounds)
salt & pepper to taste
10 ounces of a soft or fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 hot Italian sausage
1 mild Italian sausage

MARINARA:
1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
1 15-oz can diced tomatoes
3 ounces tomato paste
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 scallions, chopped
5 large green olives (or 10 small olives), sliced
1 6-ounce can of mushrooms
1 bay leaf

Preheat oven to 500º. Grease an 9½" x 13½" baking dish. Place chicken breasts in baking dish, season with salt and pepper, and bake at 500º for 23-25 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Squeeze sausage out of casings and brown in skillet.

In a medium sauce pan, combine all marinara ingredients, as well as browned sausage, cooking over a medium heat for about 15 minutes. Discard the bay leaf.

Pour sauce over chicken in the baking dish. Top with sliced mozarella. Return to oven and cook just until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.