Prescription Bacon and Bacon Dryer Sheets (Herbed Chicken and Tomatoes with Bacon)

This has been a crazy week.  Long hours at work, and not enough hours at home.  I'm tired, and cranky.  But you know what?... Bacon helps with that!  Bacon is a natural mood enhancer that helps encourage positive mental states. The umami, or savory taste in bacon is an addictive substance that can have a neurological effect on the brain.  A piece of bacon can help enhance mood and reduce stress levels within a short period of time.  I guess I just haven't had enough bacon this week...

Want your laundry to smell like Bacon?  Mine usually smells like bacon BEFORE I wash it... Sure it's a gag gift, but the joke's on them, I'd actually give it a whirl...Check it out here.

This weeks' recipe I found in a magazine devoted to Bacon, but a las, the recipe didn't have bacon in it...what's a girl to do?  Add Bacon, of course.

Herbed Chicken with Tomatoes and Bacon
Ingredients
4-6 slices of Bacon
8 ounces pasta, I used Rigatoni
1 1/2 teaspoons Basil Leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon Rosemary
3 tablespoons flour, divided 
1 1/2 pounds thin-sliced boneless skinless chicken breasts 
2 to 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided 
1 small onion, finely chopped 
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) petite diced tomatoes, drained 
1 1/2 cups Chicken stock or broth
2 tablespoons fat free half-and-half or Milk

Directions
For the Bacon: Turn on oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and immediately place bacon on a broiling pan or cooling rack over a cookie sheet and bake until bacon is done and crispy.  Approx 25 minutes.  Remove from oven and cool on a paper towel-lined plate. Crumble. 

Cook pasta as directed on package. Drain well. Meanwhile, mix seasonings in shallow dish. Reserve 2 teaspoons. Stir 2 tablespoons of the flour into remaining seasoning mixture in dish. Coat chicken in seasoned flour. Discard any remaining seasoned flour. 

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add chicken in batches; cook 2 minutes per side or until golden brown and cooked through. Add additional 1 tablespoon oil as needed. Remove chicken from skillet; keep warm. 

Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in skillet. Add onion; cook and stir 3 minutes or until softened. Stir in remaining 1 tablespoon flour. Add tomatoes, stock and reserved seasoning mixture; bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 5 minutes. Stir in half-and –half or milk. Return chicken to skillet and add crumbled bacon; cook until heated through. Serve with pasta.