A Simple Yet Delicious Chicken and Rice Casserole

Grease a 2-quart baking dish. Heat the oven to 375 F. Put the uncooked rice in the baking dish. Combine the condensed soup, water, and onion soup mix; pour over the rice and stir to blend ingredients. Place the chicken in the rice mixture and sprinkle lightly with pepper. Cover tightly with foil and bake in the preheated oven for about 1 hour, or until rice is tender and chicken is cooked through. Remove the foil and top with the toasted almonds, if desired. To toast almonds for garnish, spread them out in a dry skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. When they start to brown and smell toasty, remove them to a plate to cool.