Vanilla Balsamic Chicken

Ingredients

• 0.5 cup balsamic vinegar 
• 0.5 teaspoon pepper black freshly ground
• 0.3 cup brown sugar packed
• 0.5 cup less-sodium chicken broth fat-free
• 0.3 cup orange juice fresh
• 0.3 teaspoon orange rind grated
• 0.8 teaspoon salt divided
• 0.3 cup shallots finely chopped
• 2 pounds chicken thighs boneless skinless
• 2 inch vanilla pod split

Equipment

• sauce pan
• oven
• roasting pan
• kitchen thermometer

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 45
2. Combine first 6 ingredients in a small saucepan. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean; stir seeds into broth mixture, reserving the bean for another use. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer until reduced to 1/2 cup (about 20 minutes). Stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt.
3. Arrange chicken in a single layer in the bottom of a roasting pan coated with cooking spray.
4. Sprinkle chicken evenly with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper.
5. Bake at 450 for 10 minutes.
6. Brush half of broth mixture over chicken; bake 5 minutes.
7. Brush remaining broth mixture over chicken; bake 15 minutes or until a thermometer registers 18
8. Garnish with orange rind, if desired.