"Cereal" Chicken

This has been a staple in our house for awhile, and even though it isn't a slow cooker meal it was worth posting

Ingredients
favorite cut of chicken, we use chicken breast tenderloins
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1 cup corn flakes (crushed)
1 packet Italian dressing mix
2 tbsp melted butter


Preheat oven to 350
Mix cheese, Italian dressing mix, and corn flakes together in a deep bowl
use mixture to coat chicken, place chicken into pan
dump the remaining mixture of cheese, Italian dressing mix, and corn flakes on top
pour melted butter over top and pop into oven

for tenderloins cook approx 25 mins
for whole breasts cook approx 45 mins

Garlic & Brown Sugar Chicken

This was another really good one, the first time we made it I was a bit heavy handed on the red pepper flakes, and it had a good kick to it.  The second time I left them out and it was even more delicious. 

Slow Cooker Garlic and Brown Sugar Chicken
Ingredients:
4-6 chicken breasts (or thighs would work great too!)
1 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup vinegar
1/4 cup lemon-lime soda
2-3 Tablespoons minced garlic
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
2 Tablespoons corn starch
2 Tablespoons water
Rice or noodles, cooked
Red pepper flakes (optional)

Directions:
Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. Place chicken (I used frozen chicken, thawed chicken works great too) inside slow cooker. Mix together brown sugar, vinegar, soda, garlic, soy sauce, and pepper together. Pour over chicken. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours. Take chicken pieces out of slow cooker (mine basically fell apart) and pour remaining sauce into saucepan. Place saucepan over high heat. Mix together corn starch and water, pour into saucepan, and mix well. Let sauce come to a boil and boil for 2-3 minutes, or until it starts to thicken and turns into a glaze. Remove from heat and let sit for a minute or two (it will continue to thicken as it cools down).
Serve chicken over rice or noodles and top with glaze. Sprinkle red pepper flakes on top if desired.

So easy a 5 year old can do it

This is one my 5 year old made the other night.  He did everything except handle the raw meat. 

He made the biscuits too, but that's another story

Slow Cooker Pork Chops

4 thick-cut pork chops, bone in or boneless

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 pkg. dry ranch dressing mix

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 c. chicken broth

pepper

Combine soup, dressing mix, garlic, and broth.  Sprinkle chops with pepper (do not salt).  Place chops in slow cooker and pour soup mixture over top.  Cover and cook on high 4 hours or low 6-7 hours.  Serve over rice.

Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken

I tried this one for dinner tonight.  I doubled the sauce recipe and it was really good, and very filling.  I used low sodium rice vinegar, and unsalted cashews, as well as low sodium soy sauce.

 

Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken
Ingredients:
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thigh tenders or chicken breast tenders*
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp canola oil
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 Tbsp rice wine vinegar

2 Tbsp ketchup
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp grated fresh ginger
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 cup cashews

Directions:
Combine flour and pepper in large Ziploc bag. Add chicken. Shake to coat with flour mixture. Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Brown chicken about 2 minutes on each side. Place chicken in slow cooker. Combine soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup, sugar, garlic, ginger, and pepper flakes in small bowl; pour over chicken. Cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours. Add cashews and stir. Serve over rice. Makes 4-6 servings.
If you want sauce and want to have some to pour over the chicken and the rice, double the sauce ingredients.

An introduction

In my house there is always something going on, my son has school, soccer, visits with his dad, play dates or some other thing demanding my attention and it always seems to steal my time and attention away from making dinner.  Recently I have rediscovered the joy of using my slow cooker (or crockpot).  Since I began posting my yummy dinners on my facebook page I get requests for recipes so often that a friend suggested a blog might be a good way to keep up. 

So here it goes. I'm not the best blogger, and not the best photographer, but I'm not a bad chef ;)  Enjoy, share, and come back for more.  Please let me know if you have any recipes you think I should try.