100th recipe post! Orange-Soy Glazed Chicken Thighs

So excited to be writing my 100th recipe entry!  And such a good one, too--one of my very favorite recipes.  Very easy and extra tasty, could eat this far too often.  Since I'm the only one that likes green onions in my house, I end of leaving them out every time I make this (I didn't the first time and really enjoyed them, so I do recommend).  Being a mushroom lover, I must admit that the shiitakes are my favorite part--I could make a meal of those alone in this delectable sauce!  The original recipe for this came from Fine Cooking, for which a website no longer exists.

Link to my YouTube video of preparation: https://youtu.be/qybta6I_M_g

Ingredients:

nonstick cooking spray
8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
kosher salt and coarse ground black pepper
16 (or 24, if you love them like I do) shiitake mushrooms, stems removed
1/2 c. soy sauce
1/3 c. sugar
2 T. mirin
1/2 tsp. finely grated orange zest
2 T. orange juice
1 1/4 tsp. cornstarch
toasted sesame seeds

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F.  Coat broiler pan with nonstick spray.

2. Season chicken all over with salt and pepper.  Arrange the shiitake caps gill side up on broiler pan in clusters of 2 (or 3, if you are using 24).  Season with salt and pepper.

3. Place chicken on top of each cluster of mushrooms.

4. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until thermometer inserted in thickest part of a thigh reaches 165°F (took 25 for mine).  Change heat to broiler on hi and broil for 5 minutes to brown thighs on top.

5. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine soy sauce, sugar, mirin, and orange zest.  Cook over medium heat and bring to a simmer, stirring to dissolve sugar.  **note: watch this closely--it will boil over if you don't (yes, personal experience speaking!)**

6. In a small bowl, whisk together the orange juice and cornstarch.  Add this mixture to the saucepan and return to a simmer.  Cook for 1 minute after reaching simmer.

7. Pour sauce over chicken and sprinkle some sesame seeds on top to garnish.  Enjoy with your favorite side (I chose Basmati rice)!