Smoked Apple-Hazelnut Stuffed Chicken

Serves 4

4 chicken breast halves, with bone and skin
2 tsp. butter or margarine, melted
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 cup hazelnuts
1 cup apple, chopped
1 3-oz package cream cheese, softened

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9 x 9 x 2 inch square pan. Mix the hazelnuts, apple and cream cheese. Loosen the skin from the chicken by inserting your fingers between the skin and meat. Gently separate in the center but leave skin attached to the sides. Spread one-fourth of the apple stuffing evenly between the skin and meat of each chicken breast. Smooth the skin over the meat, making sure to tuck in any loose areas. Place the chicken with sides up in the pan. Brush with the butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes until chicken juice is no longer pink when you test-cut the thickest part of the meat.