Slow Cooker Chicken and Apples

6 oz. can frozen orange concentrate, thawed
1/2 tsp dried marjoram leaves
dash ground nutmeg
dash garlic powder (I used 2 fresh cloves)
1 onion, chopped
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
3 Granny Smith apples, cored and sliced
1/4 cup water
2 Tbsp. cornstarch

1. In a small bowl, combine orange juice concentrate, marjoram, nutmeg, and garlic.
2. Place onions in bottom of slow cooker ( I use the slow cooker bags)
3. Dip each chicken breast into the orange mixture to coat.  Then place in slow cooker over onions.
4. Pour any remaining orange juice concentrate mixture over the chicken.
5. Cover. Cook on low 6-7 hours.
6. Add apples and cook on low 1 hour.
7. Remove chicken, apples, and onions to a serving platter (pyrex worked great)
8. Pour the sauce that remains into a medium saucepan.
9. Mix together water and cornstarch.  Stir into the juices.
10. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sauce is thick and bubbly.
11. Serve the sauce over the chicken.

This was pretty easy to put together the night before.  We put the ingredients in the crockpot bowl the night before and put in the fridge.  Then just popped it in the slow cooker in the morning and set the time.

This was GREAT!!  We really loved it.  And guess what....it is Gluten Free!!  Which is really important at our house.  

Apples and Marmelade.

This Summer I put up lots of apples which is great for a quick side with Dinner. Last night I wanted to try something different than brown sugar and butter since it's not my husbands favorite. So I put the apples (about 5) in a small dish and added about 2 pats of butter, a little sugar over the top and about 2 tablespoons of Orange Marmelade over the top. Then I cooked them about 30 mins on 350. They were a huge hit. I had a small helping and Matt ate the rest. It was a nice change to the normal baked apple we ate used to and Super easy!!!

Healthy Chicken

Ok so today I decided to start doing more crockpot cooking due to our bust schedules. Here was the first recipe.

Healthy Chicken. I altered the recipe some and will note the differences

3 1/2 lbs chicken. (I used boneless skinless chicken breasts.

2 cups skim milk. ( I used coconut milk vanilla flavored because my daughter has a dairy allergy). I do think this added to the flavor

5 cups rice or corn cereal finely crushed. (I used rice chex because they are gluten free and I had them)

1tsp salt (I used garlic salt)

1/2 tap black pepper

1. Remove skin from chicken. Dip in milk

2. Put crumbs in a plastic bag (I also added the garlic salt and pepper here). Drop chicken into bag to coat with cereal. Shake well.

3. Place chicken pieces in slow cooker. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. (again I added to cereal so I didn't duplicate)

4. Cover. Cook 3 1/2-4 hours

I tried this because I thought it would be quick and easy. It was. But it dried out. If I ever try again I will make sure it comes out right at 3.5 hours. I turned to warm after 3 1/2 hours and this I'm sure is where I went wrong. The flavor was OK but not stellar. I doubt I try again as I would rather try the thousands of other recipes out there.

Below pics after I put in the crockpot and a pic of the book it came from

Dan's Favorite Meatloaf

Dan's Favorite Meatloaf

1 1/2 pounds ground chuck
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 egg
4 Tbls ketchup
Salt and Pepper to taste ( I added a little garlic salt because we like it)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine meat, bread crumbs, milk, eggs, onion, ketchup, salt & peppe.  Placed in greased loaf pan.

Topping

4 Tbls vinegar
4 Tbls brown sugar
2 Tbls Worstershire
1/2 cup ketchup

Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan and bring to a boil (very important...do not skip this step or do in microwave....it will not taste right)
Pour over the meatloaf and bake 1 1/2 hours
I poke holes in the meat so the sauce will go down in the meatloaf. 

A good friend of mine gave me this recipe recently.  I know at least 4 people that have made it and it is wonderful.  We all really like it.  Enjoy and let me know what you think!!!!

Chocolate chip cookie brownies

Take any brownie mix. Mix as directed. Put in greased pan. Make chocolate chip cookie dough. Do not use pre-made dough. You can get a packet in the baking aisle and use that. Works perfect. After mixing cookie dough as directed. Drop it on top of the brownie mix. Bake until brownies and cookie dough done. Enjoy!!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Doctored Brownies

Make any brownie mix you like. Add chocolate chips and Hershey's syrup. Bake as directed. Walaaa!!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Watergate Salad

Watergate salad is a refreshing treat.  I love to take this to church suppers because I can prepare it the night before instead of in the morning before church.

1 cup mini marshmellows
1 pkg (3.4oz) Jello Pistachio Flavor Instant Pudding
1 can Dole crushed Pinnapple in juice - undrained
1/2 cup chopped Planters Pecans
1 1/2 cups thawed cool whip

Combine marshmellows, dry pudding mix, pinnapple, and nuts in a large bowl.

Stir in cool whip

Refrigerate 1 hour before serving.

This is a super easy and quick dish.

Let me know how it goes!!