Dump and Go Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy

It only takes 5 Ingredients and a Slow Cooker to make this hearty comfort meal!

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It's New Year's Eve!  I'm kissing 2019 goodbye and looking forward to a strong, positive and forward moving 2020.  How about you?

We don't really make resolutions for the New Year as resolutions tend to be specific and goal oriented and let's be honest, we never really stick to them for very long.  Instead we do something we call New Year's "intentions".  I heard about these several years ago and they really resonated with me.  

Deepak Chopra said, “intentions are the starting point of every dream—the seed of creation.”  Don't you just love that?  Intentions are statements and declarations of what you both desire and consciously intend to be, learn, do, have, feel or experience in a coming period of time, like the coming year.  Instead of saying, "I want to lose 10 pounds" say "I would love to have a better relationship with food."

Some of my intentions deal with taking charge of my life and job.  Not to allow circumstances control me.  Just getting my strength back and creating my destiny.  Another has to do with food.  Such as, not stressing over creating the most perfect dish each night, and not worrying about repeat dishes.  As a blogger I cook a new dish most days with little repeats.  This is tiring!  So my intention is to ease up on cooking new meals constantly and to create a base of EASY dishes I can count on in a pinch.  In comes today's recipe.

DUMP AND GO SLOW COOKER CHICKEN AND GRAVY

Comfort food galore....and easy to boot!  This is a simple version of my mom's chicken and gravy she served while I was growing up...but easier.  All you need is a slow cooker and 5 ingredients.  Dump and go recipes are just that.  You literally dump everything in the slow cooker and turn it on.  4 hours later you will have the most wonderful chicken and mushrooms with gravy.  

Use whatever chicken pieces you enjoy.  I used boneless skinless chicken breast since that's what I had on hand.  Serve this with mashed potatoes or rice and a vegetable and a dinner roll and you are set.  But what about leftovers???  Yes! leftovers are fabulous too!  Just shred up that chicken and put it in a toasted french roll, and don't forget to drizzle on the mushrooms and some gravy. Ah Mazing!  

Go ahead and take a cooking break!  You deserve it, and this fabulous meal.
Enjoy!





Dump and Go Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy


serves 4-6

2 pounds chicken pieces - I used boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 (1-ounce) packet dried onion soup mix
2 (.75 to 1-ounce) packets brown gravy mix
3 cups water
8 oz sliced baby bella mushrooms

Mix the onion soup mix, gravy mixes and water together in the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the chicken, making sure it is covered with liquid.  Add the mushrooms and then cover.  Cook on low for 4 hours.

Note: if you prefer a thicker sauce mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water. Pour this in the slow cooker and stir. Turn the heat to high and cook for 20 minutes.

Slow Cooker Lighter King Ranch Chicken Soup

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I'm back with another soup recipe today!

Work has been a bear these past two weeks.  I'm working on an enormous 2 month project and yesterday was the deadline.  I don't have time to even get up from my desk, which causes me to sit for long periods of time, eating lunch in front of the computer and not doing much else other that pushing this project through to completion.

Needless to say I come home after long, long work hours and I am too tired to cook.  As you can see from my lack of posts I'm too tired to blog as well!  The only cooking I'm actually doing is on the weekends, and then I'm still tired so the cooking has to be easy.

Today's soup recipe is just that...easy.  This is a slow cooker soup recipe that is to die for! It may take one additional step to make a roux, and some chopping of veggies, but it's pretty easy to throw together.  

SLOW COOKER LIGHTER KING RANCH CHICKEN SOUP

I'm sure you've heard of King Ranch Chicken Casserole right?  Well I came across a recipe that is a riff off of that infamous casserole in soup form.  You know I love a good soup, and with this long winter that just won't let go, a hot hearty bowl of soup hits the spot.  I was also drawn to this soup because of the word..."lighter".   King Ranch Chicken Casserole is filled with cheese and cream of chicken soup.  Two items that load up the calories in a dish.  This soup is lighter on the cheese and there isn't a can of cream of anything in sight!

With just 4-6 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high this slow cooker soup is ready when you are.  We typically go for a drive or over to Barnes and Noble's book store to relax on  Sunday's so making this before we leave is a great idea, because dinner is ready when we get home.

I have to say, I think this soup is my new favorite soup!  Imagine a bowl of steaming hot and hearty soup that is filled with shredded chicken, peppers, tomatoes, and southwestern flavors that pack a huge punch! Man! I'm getting hungry right now.....

Enjoy!





Slow Cooker Lighter King Ranch Chicken Soup

serves 4

3 Tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cloves garlic (minced)
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
3 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 Tablespoon cumin
1/2 Tablespoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper (to taste)
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chiles
1 jalapeno pepper (minced and seeded)
1 red bell pepper (diced)
1 yellow onion (diced)
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Tortilla chips

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add in the garlic and stir for about 1 minute. Whisk in the flour (whisking continually for 1 minute so that it does not burn).

Slowly pour in the chicken broth, whisking as your pour it in, and stir for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened up.

Remove the saucepan from the heat, and stir in the seasonings (chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper). Set the sauce aside for a minute.

Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker. Top them with the diced tomatoes, jalapeño, bell peppers, and onion. Pour the sauce over the top.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours (or high for 2-3 hours), making sure to not overcook the chicken.

Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and stir the cheese into the slow cooker.

Using 2 forks, shred the chicken and add it back into the slow cooker, stirring everything together. Let the slow cooker cook on low heat for 15 minutes, allowing the cheese to melt.

Serve topped with crushed tortilla chips if desired.

slightly adapted from Six Sister's Stuff

Slow Cooker Adobo Chicken with Bok Choy

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How often do you use your slow cooker?  I tend to use mine once or twice a week.   I find myself using it for weeknight meals, putting the ingredients in the cooker in the morning and then letting that cook all day so dinner is ready when we come home.  That sometimes takes a little pre-preparation the night before so I don't spend all morning chopping the ingredients when I'm rushed to get to work.

I also find that I'm using it more and more on the weekends so that I free up some of my time to run around and not worry about "what to make for dinner"!  Soups such as this one and this one are great for the weekend.  

About a month ago I bought this great cookbook, Stock the Crock, by Phyllis Good.  She is the creator of the Fix-It and Forget-It series, which I'm sure you've heard of.  Well let me tell you, this book is amazing!  I did a quick read through it and marked so many recipes that I have to try it's unreal.   The one that really caught my eye was: 

ADOBO CHICKEN WITH BOK CHOY

This is not your average slow cooker meal.  You've seen thousands of recipes for typical Mexican dishes, copycat Asian dishes (ala Panda Express) and all the comfort food you can handle, but this Asian dish is different.  Chicken cooked in a tangy sweet sticky sauce low and slow and then shredded and mixed with the flavorful crunch of bok choy.  Deliscious! 

This dish is a flavor bomb for your taste buds!  It's really that good.  The sauce is popular in Filipino cooking and is basically vinegar, soy, sugar, and some aromatics.  You are gonna love this recipe.

It' soooo good I suggest you go out and make this over the weekend.  It cooks in the slow cooker on low for 4 1/2 to 5 hours.  You don't want to overcook the chicken so I suggest you don't make this during the week unless you are home to start the dish later in the day.  I made this on a Sunday afternoon while we had a little fun at the bookstore, and when we got home, dinner was ready.

Let me know how you liked this dish.  We thought it was a keeper!
Enjoy!






Slow Cooker Adobo Chicken with Bok Choy

source:  Stock the Crock
serves 4

1 red onion, thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced
2/3 c apple cider vinegar
1/3 c low sodium soy sauce
1 Tbls brown sugar
1 bay leaf
1- 1 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tsp paprika
2 heads baby bok choy, cut into strips
cooked rice

Spray the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray.  Places the onions, garlic, vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, and bay leaf in the slow cooker.  Place the chicken on top and sprinkle with paprika.

Cover.  Cook on low 4 1/2 to 5 hours.  Shred the chicken in the cooker.  Turn the cooker to high and add the bok choy.  Cover and cook 10 minutes.  Discard the bay leaf.  Serve over rice.

11 Healthy Soups to Eat This Winter

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Happy New Year!  

Are you off to a good start this year!  I've been trying to get out of the holiday goody mode myself.  We've been eating a lot of good food with all the treats thrown in as well.  Time to cut back and start back on a healthy eating track.

One way to do that is to eat healthy soups.  Winter time is the perfect time for soups.  They are comforting and warm and just soothe your soul.  Don't you crave a bowl of hot soup in the winter?

We just love hearty filling soups in our house.  We eat soup and salad for lunch or dinner quite a bit throughout the week.  
Today I've brought you 11 Healthy Soups you can eat all winter long.  Some are made on the stove, and some in the slow cooker, but all are hearty, healthy, delicious, and easy to make.

Enjoy a steaming hot bowl of soup!







Greek Style Lemony Chicken and Orzo Soup




Slow Cooker Turkey Tortilla Soup




Italian Style Roasted Chicken and Orzo Soup



Slow Cooker: Mexican Vegetable and Quinoa Soup



Chicken and Wild Rice Soup



Tuscan White Bean Soup 





Quick Taco Soup




Chicken Enchilada Soup




Romanian Lentil Soup




Easy Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons 




Italian Chicken and Bean Soup

11 Best Dishes of 2018

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Happy New Year!

2018 was a year full of highs and lows but it seems that it went so fast that it was a blur.  The food we made was a full of variety.  The most popular dishes seem to have a comfort food theme with a little bit of restaurant flair thrown in.   

I've gathered the eleven most popular dishes (there was a tie for 10th place that I couldn't break) from 2018 in one spot for you to reference and enjoy!

Enjoy all the precious moments that 2019 will bring.  We only live once!

11 TOP RECIPES OF 2018

In no particular order...

Cajun Roasted Potatoes

Chili Lime Salmon with Roasted Vegetables

Baked Honey Soy Chicken Legs

Spicy Turkey Chili 

Garlic and Parmesan Crispy Oven Fried Chicken

Grilled Balsamic Chicken with Mediterranean Rice

Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Stew

Middle Eastern Chickpea Salad

Lemon Blueberry Muffins

Easy Cinnamon Peach Cobbler - Family Sized

Sheet Pan Beef Fajitas

There are plenty of dishes to come in 2019.  Lots of comfort food, weeknight meals, stir frys, southern dishes, and easy restaurant style meals.  Enjoy a prosperous holiday and I am so grateful for all of my followers.  I wish you the best to come in 2019 and will be talking to you in the new year!

Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Stew

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Whenever the weather change to fall then toward winter I love, love, love making soups.  

There's something about a comforting homey meal when you get home from work after a long day that gets me right there. (Pointing toward heart)  It soothes the soul, if you know what I mean.  

So to make these wonderfully tasting soups and stews during the week I turn to my slow cooker for help.  It gives you that cooked all day flavor without the effort.  So what to make?  I'm feeling like a comforting chicken stew is in order.  I have a French chicken stew that I make but I'm actually in the mood for Italian flavors.  Something with a tomato base.  So a Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Stew was in order.

Wonderfully simple ingredients such as onion, celery, and carrots are the base of the recipes as with many soups and stews.  What makes this special are the addition of Italian ingredients such as tomatoes and Cannellini beans along with Italian spices such as basil, oregano, add the zest this Italian stew deserves.  

What equipment do I need to make this?  I have several slow cookers but my favorite is this one.  It has a sauté feature that I love along with it being a multi-functional cooker.  Another standard slow cooker I have is this one.  It has a good price point but doesn't have timer functions.  Other items you might like are some wonderful spices such as this one, or this one. Staples such as these long lasting measuring spoons and this necessary ladle for soups and stews are great to have as well.

Warm and inviting, this thick and hearty stew will have you rubbing your tummy and going back for more!  The spices blend together beautifully throughout the day and give this a wonderful flavor. This is a stew that you will want on rotation throughout the winter this year.

Enjoy! 





Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Stew

2 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts about 1 - 1 1/2 lbs.
28 oz crushed tomatoes
15 oz tomato sauce
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 yellow onion, diced
2 14.5 oz cans of Cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 cups celery, sliced
1 1/2 cups carrots, sliced
4 Tbls. Italian seasoning

2 tsp garlic, minced

1/4 parsley, chopped

1 tsp. kosher salt 

1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Add all of the ingredients to a 6 quart slow cooker placing the chicken on the bottom with the other ingredients over the chicken.  Stir to combine seasonings. 

Cook on low 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Remove the chicken to a cutting board and shred or chop chicken.  Place the chicken back in the slow cooker.  Stir to combine.  Serve immediately.

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