Good Food Hunting

I just wanted to cook something, anything for dinner tonight. Something easy and fast. We are in desperate need of a fridge clean-out so I just grabbed a few things I knew weren’t very old.

Ingredients

Directions

Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large pan. Season thighs with garlic seasoning mix or mix of your choice.  Brown thighs on both sides then remove to a plate.  Add onion and mushrooms to pan and saute for 3-5 minutes, until starting to soften.  Add 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar to pan and use wooden spoon to scrape any bits up off the bottom.  Add tomato sauce and another 1 tsp garlic seasoning plus 1/2 tsp rosemary then return chicken to pan. Reduce heat to medium-low and cover. Let cook until chicken is cooked through and sauce thickens slightly.

While chicken with sauce is cooking, prepare pasta of your choice. When ready, serve chicken and sauce over pasta, garnish with fresh basil and shredded cheese. This made two servings for dinner plus one for leftovers.

It was quick. Since we have nice bright 100 watt lights in our house, versus the lantern and firelight I used on Saturday night, I was able to see these chicken thighs a little better. And I was appalled at how fatty they were. Fat on all sides plus some gristle on one. I tried to trim it off but this was seriously cutting in to my time limit. I almost gave up and used the chicken breasts we have instead. And I didn’t want to waste food just because I felt ripped off. I HATE paying for fat on chicken. Which is why I normally buy Miller Farms Amish Chicken. It is consistently the best looking pre-packaged chicken in any store that carries it. And you don’t get the fatty surprise when you open the package at home. I have purchased other brands (one that may or may not be named after a squeaky voiced boxer in particular) and ended up throwing out 1/4 pound or more in fat. Really, if I am buying boneless skinless chicken breasts, what makes you think I’d want it covered in fat?

I told Chris that next week I’m buying some chicken from the City Market. And otherwise, no more major mega-brands.

The garlic seasoning mix I used is from Garlic Festival Foods. We picked up the all-purpose seasoning plus some salsa at the Michigan Renaissance Festival on Sunday.