Chicken in an Apricot Glaze

Who doesn't love their chicken in some sort of sauce?  I have seen quite a few recipes for some sort of glazed chicken, and I decided to do apricot tonight.  I know; I'm a trendsetter. 

You really just cube up some chicken, cook it, and then toss in a heated sauce and cook it together.

Ingredients:

1-1 1/4 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed into about 3/4" pieces
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt & Pepper
1 C apricot preserves
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 garlic clove, smashed
1/4 C water
1 1/2 tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp cold water

In a non-stick skillet, heat the oil on medium-high heat.  Add the chicken pieces and salt & pepper, to taste.  Saute for about 10-12 minutes, stirring about every 2 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.

While the chicken is cooking, combine the apricot preserves, red pepper flakes, garlic clove, water and salt & pepper (to taste) in a small saucepan and stir together.  Heat the sauce on medium for about 10 minutes until it is hot and the consistency of a glaze.

Once the chicken is done cooking (break open a piece to test), drain out any liquid that may be with the chicken.  Remove the garlic clove from the glaze and add it to the chicken and stir.  Add the cornstarch & water mixture and stir some more.  It should thicken as you stir and let it sit to cook some more.  Let it cook for an additional 2-3 minutes on medium. 

Serve with some brown rice & garlicky broccoli!  (Reference blog entry on 1/25/11 - "Lemon Chicken, Garlicky Broccoli and Brown Rice").  I drizzled some of the glaze on the rice for some added flavor.  :)

Enjoy!!!