Crock Pot Balsamic Chicken

Crock Pot Balsamic Chicken adapted from Crock Pot Girls
4-6 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts
2 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
1 onion thinly sliced (Not chopped)
4 garlic cloves
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
2 T olive oil
1 tsp each: dried oregano, basil, and rosemary
1/2 tsp thyme
ground black pepper and salt to taste
Directions:  Pour the olive oil on bottom of the crock pot.  Place chicken breasts in, salt and pepper each breast.  Put sliced onion on top of chicken.  Then put in all the dried herbs and garlic cloves
Pour in vinegar and top with tomatoes.
Cook on high 4 hours, serve over angel hair pasta.

Here's what you'll need:

Slice up an onion. (I left mine in rings)

Chop up the garlic cloves.

Put the seasoned (salt and pepper) chicken down in the crockpot.  Cover with onion and garlic.

Add the herbs.

Add the balsamic vinegar.

Add the diced tomatoes.

Cook for 4-6 hours. 

I took my chicken out and diced it up in to chunks and then returned it to the crock pot.

Serve over angel hair pasta.

Here's what you'll end up with:

Our Thoughts:
Once again, here is another easy crock pot meal.  I've seen this meal floating around the internet for a couple of weeks and thought I'd give it a try.

To be honest, it wasn't my favorite.  I really just thought it was OK.  The reason I'm posting it, though, because all three of my kids ate this dish and, as I've said before, that is always a success!  Caleb and Gracie even ate it again today for lunch . . . that never happens!

Scott and I actually thought the dish was a little bland with a tinge of tanginess from the vinegar.  I would definitely recommend serving it over pasta as the sauce of the vinegar and tomatoes really got soaked up by the angel hair pasta. 

Hope you enjoy!
April

Honey Garlic Chicken

Honey Garlic Chicken adapted from A Year of Slow Cooking
1 1/2 to 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (4 or one thigh per family member)
3 garlic cloves, smashed and chopped
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 cup soy sauce (La Choy or Tamari wheat-free are gluten free)
1/2 cup ketchup
1/3 cup honey

Directions:  Use a 4-quart slow cooker (if using a 6-quart, this will cook faster. Check after 3 hours on high, 5 hours on low).  Put the chicken into your cooker. In a small bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients, then pour evenly over the top.  Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3-4 (I'd go with low---).
Serve with basmati rice and steamed or roasted vegetables.

Modifications:
-I chopped up an onion.

Here's what you will need:

Dice up an onion.

Dice up the garlic.

Put the chicken in the crockpot with the onions and the garlic.

Combine the ketchup, honey, and soy sauce.

Pour the mixture over the chicken.

Cook for 4-6 hours on low.

Here's what you'll end up with:

Our Thoughts:

I've been a bit under the weather the last couple of days and needed something easy for dinner.  I had all of these ingredients in the pantry and it was probably one of the easiest recipes that I've ever made.

The one thing that I would do differently in this dish, and it is just a personal preference, but I would have taken back the soy sauce a bit.  Instead of 1/3 cup of soy I would have probably gone down to 1/4 or even 1/8 of a cup.  My family, though, really liked it.  Even Kanin.  I served it over a brown rice and bulgur wheat mixture.

I served this with Roasted potatoes and apples.

Hope you enjoy!

April

Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup adapted from Pink Lady
1 large Onion -- sliced
2 Carrot -- sliced
2 Celery stalks -- sliced
4 ounces Mushrooms
2 teaspoons Salt
1/2 teaspoon Pepper
1/4 teaspoon Thyme
1 tablespoon Parsley
10 ounces Peas -- frozen
3 Chicken breasts
5 cups - Water
3 cups Noodles

Directions:  Place all ingredients in crockpot, except noodles, in order listed. Cover and cook on LOW 8 hours (HIGH 4 hours). Add noodles. Cook on HIGH another 1/2 to one hour until noodles are cooked

Modifications:
-I used chicken broth.
-I did not add mushrooms.
-I used whole grain egg noodles.

Here's what you will need:

Cut up the veggies.

 Place the frozen veggies in the bottom of the crockpot.

Lay the chicken on top of the frozen veggies. 

Add the chicken broth.

After it has cooked for 4-5 hours, shred the chicken up.

Add the noodles and cook about 30 minutes or until noodles are cooked.

Here's what you'll end up with: 

Our Thoughts:
This dish is super easy to make and great for a cold fall/winter day.  I liked the use of the chicken broth instead of just water as it gave it a salty, deeper flavor.  You could add virtually any vegetable to this dish and it would still be great.

I did end up adding about 1 cup of water and an extra chicken bouillon to the dish.  I also seasoned with garlic salt.

Hope you enjoy!
April

Italian Chicken and Potatoes

Italian Chicken and Potatoes adapted from The Driveway of Life
chicken breast tenders (enough for your family)
3-4 potatoes, rinsed and diced
2-3 Tbsp Italian seasoning
1 cup Fat Free Italian dressing
1/2 onion, diced
Parmesan cheese
Carrots

Directions:  Spray the crockpot with cooking spray.  Lay the chicken breasts tenders in the bottom of the crockpot.  Sprinkle with half the Italian dressing, half of the Italian seasoning, and half of the Parmesan cheese.

Place potatoes on top of that layer.  Add the remaining seasoning, dressing, and cheese.  Turn the crockpot on low for 6-8 hours.

Here's what you'll need:

Spray the crockpot and put the chicken in the bottom.

Put some of the Italian dressing on the chicken.

Add some Italian dressing and Parmesan cheese.

Add the potatoes.

Add the onions.

Add the carrots and the rest of the dressing, seasoning, and cheese.

I forgot to take an "after" picture.

Our Thoughts:

This was an easy, delicious crockpot meal.  I used about 1/2 cup of regular Italian dressing and the rest was "Tuscan Italian dressing".  You could use any type of Italian dressing that you have on hand.  Instead of Italian seasoning you could also use those Italian dressing seasoning packets or a combination of oregano, parsley, and basil.

Other things you could also add:  diced tomatoes, green peppers, mushrooms, etc.  Pretty much anything that you love.

This meal was gobbled up and the only thing left was some of the gravy/juice.

Hope you enjoy!

April



Turkey Macaroni Casserole

Turkey Macaroni Casserole adapted from Mr. Food
1 pound ground turkey
1 medium-sized green bell pepper, chopped
1 cup sliced onion rings
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
8 ounces (2 cups) elbow macaroni
1/2 cup milk
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 to 1 cup (2 to 4 ounces) shredded mozzarella
Instructions
1.In a medium skillet, combine turkey, green pepper, and onion rings; cook until turkey is no longer pink and green pepper is tender.

2.Add tomato sauce, salt, Italian seasoning, oregano, black pepper, and garlic powder. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 20 minutes.

3.Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling water, cook macaroni to desired doneness; drain.

4.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Blend milk and egg in a medium bowl. Add macaroni and meat mixture; mix well.

5.Place mixture in a greased 2-quart casserole, top with mozzarella cheese, and bake until heated through, about 20 minutes. Let stand for about 5 minutes for easier serving.

Here's what you'll need:

Chop up a green pepper.

Slice up an onion into rings.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

 Put the ground turkey on to brown.

Put the pasta on to cook.

 

Add the green peppers and onions to the turkey.

Once the turkey is brown, add the tomato sauce and the herbs.

Drain the pasta.

Mix an egg and the milk together.

Add the pasta.

Add the meat mixture.

Put the mixture into a greased baking dish.

Spread cheese over the top.

Put into the oven for 20 minutes or so.

Here's what you'll end up with:

 Our Thoughts:
This was an easy meal that would be great in a pinch or if you just haven't quite made it the grocery store this week!  You could add any vegetable that you have available such as shredding up some carrots or zucchini, any type of cheese, and any herbs that you wish.

I used ground turkey but, of course, you could use ground turkey or pork, as well.


Hope you enjoy!
April