17 Quick Chicken with Bacon+Vinegar Sauce

We just had one of those weeks that is jammedpacked with life.  I feel like we're in a tipping point of change... our lives are being redirected in the most fabulous way.  My husband was accepted into his first choice Masters program, I started my long-time dream of yoga teacher training, I'm doing the best volunteer work(I have an awesome story about that coming soon), and the list goes on... all in just two days!

I recently had a tough decision to make, in the midst of all of that growth, I was also offered a great job.  It was a bigger paycheck, some experience, possibly more opportunity, but it was in a completely different direction.  The 8-5pm pace would ask me to give up a few of the things I had fallen in love with (maybe even blogging!).  When you've just come home glowing from a volunteer job that was the most rewarding thing you had done in years...how do you turn around and give that up for a bigger paycheck?  I felt a little like I was being tested...what do I really want?  Do I want to continue to follow my heart or fall into a position that is easier?  I thought about it all day, but the pros and cons didn't convince me either way.  

I chose to turn the job down.  It wasn't easy walking away from that.

But even as I sit here writing this I'm surrounded by all the reasons I did, a great blue heron is standing out back, the sun is rising over the bridge, Watson threw up 3 times already so I need to take him to the Vet as soon as they open, a friend of mine sent me the most inspiring email on how yoga helps those with PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress (a direction I'm hoping to take), I have 3 recipe ideas, I get to go back and volunteer as much as I like, I can continue working on a side project I have going on, and more.

It's harder to work for yourself.  It's up to me (and only me) to get these things done, and not avoid the important pieces that intimidate me.  I kind of like to think this was a fork in the road given to me (by god,angels,universe, whatever)  to say hey you can go do this job, or you can further embrace the path you are already on, but you have to work harder at it.

Challenge accepted.

This chicken is the answer to a quick weeknight dinner, ready in about 30 minutes and it's pretty darn healthy.  Yes, bacon fat can be healthy.  Pounding the chicken flat helps it cook quickly, and the sauce is to die for - make extra you'll be spooning it over everything.

Quick Chicken with Bacon+Vinegar Sauce

(adapted from Cooking Light)

Ingredients:

2-3 slices of bacon
1-2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, thawed
salt + pepper to taste
3-4 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 cup chicken stock (more as needed)
rice

1.  Get your rice cooking first so that you aren't waiting around for it to finish.  Follow the directions on the package.

2.  Place each thawed chicken breast between 2 layers of plastic wrap.  Don't wrap it up, just lay it out flat.  Then place that on a kitchen towel.  Flatten the chicken out using a mallet or if you don't have one get creative...maybe a rolling pin?  Until the chicken is about 1/4 inch thick.  It's easier than you think.  Season each breast with a dash of salt and pepper and set aside on a plate.

3.  In a large skillet heat the bacon strips over medium-high heat and cook about 3-5 minutes until crisp and most of the fat has melted away.  Remove the cooked back from the pan and set aside on a clean plate.  In the same pan, cook each chicken breast (1 at a time) about 6 minutes on each side.  When done, set aside on the plate with the bacon.  If you have a lot of chicken (I had about 1.77 pounds) use 3 strips of bacon - if your chicken is smaller you might only need 2.

4.  Once the chicken is all cooked, add the onions to the pan, cook 1-2 minutes.  Then pour the apple cider vinegar and chicken broth into the same pan and stir scraping all the yummy flavor bits off the bottom.  Turn the heat to about medium and let it reduce for about 4-5 minutes (if it starts to dry out add more chicken stock).  Add the cooked rice to your plate, the chicken, pour the sauce over it and then finally crumble the cooked bacon on top.  Just add a veggie for a complete meal.

Enjoy!