One recipe, two options

Balsamic Garlic-and-Herb Chicken Thighs
Southern Living Annual Recipes 2005

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
8 skinned and boned chicken thighs I used about 4 and cut them into small pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained
1 (1.6-ounce) envelope garlic-and-herb sauce mix (Knorr's)
1/2 cup sliced green onions (about 4)
Hot cooked egg noodles

Combine flour, salt, and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour mixture.

Brown half of chicken in 1 tablespoon hot oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat 4 minutes on each side. Remove chicken from skillet. Repeat procedure with remaining chicken and oil, reserving drippings in skillet.

Add wine and vinegar to skillet, stirring to loosen particles from bottom of skillet; cook 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and green chiles and garlic-and-herb sauce mix until combined. Return chicken to skillet. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat 5 minutes or until done. Stir in 1/4 cup green onions. Serve over hot cooked egg noodles; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup green onions.
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All it took was going back to work one day and I seem to be settling into the same old routine. My appetite is back to normal too.

I made this recipe on Sunday for Monday evening. I decided to go back to posting the week's menu on the refrigerator (something I stopped doing at some point) and when I started writing 'balsamic', I stopped dead in my tracks. I had forgotten to add it! That was a dilemma because I thought it looked and tasted great without the balsamic. I decided to add it when I reheated it.

Then I almost forgot to add the green onion. I plated this before I realized that so I only threw some on top of my plate.

The tomatoes and chiles (Ro-Tel) add a lot of bite to this recipe. The vinegar added even more. It's not for the meek. I'm honestly not sure which way I preferred it, with or without the balsamic. It was really good both ways. If you aren't into balsamic, by all means, try this recipe without it.

I have to say this - my older son ate this and asked for more and he has been so picky lately. For whatever reason he was hot for this from the moment he smelled it cooking on Sunday. There were no leftovers. Of course, I only used about 4 thighs cut up (about one pouch from Costco). I'm trying to stretch our food budget out a bit.

Smart Taste makes egg noodles now! I've used the whole wheat ones but often they have a stale taste to them. I'm so happy to have another healthier alternative now. Although I don't see these listed on their site. Please tell me this product hasn't come and gone already.

I almost forgot that I will add this to my boneless, skinless chicken thigh recipe round-up.

Question of the Day: Is balsamic vinegar a staple in your house?