Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Taco Meat

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I love my slow cooker, I really do. 

I think I've mentioned a few times that I got the Breville Risotto Plus last year for Christmas, which is an excellent multi cooker that sauté's, make risotto, steams veggies and rice and is a slow cooker to boot!  I certainly have put this baby to good use over the last year and since the weather has finally turned cold it's definitely slow cooker weather!

Plus, since my marathon cooking fest for Thanksgiving, I've got to admit that I'm a little tired of cooking (still)...and the slow cooker totally helps me out by doing everything for me.  I love coming home to a meal that is ready, don't you?

Today, we are doing a riff on my Easy Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken recipe, but with a Mexican twist.  Same concept by adding chicken breasts to the slow cooker, but with some added taco seasoning and some diced tomatoes.  Oh boy, this is one of my favorite base recipes because you can make sooooo many different dishes with this one chicken.  I'll be sharing several of those with you over the next several posts to give you some inspiration. 

SLOW COOKER SHREDDED CHICKEN TACO MEAT

This is another dump and go recipe.  Just add your ingredients and then you can leave for the day.  Cook this on low for 6-8 hours or 3-4 on high and you'll have cooked chicken flavored perfectly for tacos, enchiladas, taco salad, nachos, tostadas, or whatever your heart desires!

Be sure to try this one, you don't want to miss out on something that tastes this great, and is so easy to make.  It takes Taco Tuesday to a whole new level.

Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Taco Meat

1 1/2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 packet taco seasoning
14.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes

Place chicken, taco seasoning, and tomatoes into a slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.  Remove chicken from the cooker to a cutting board.  Shred with 2 forks and place the chicken back into the cooker and stir to mix all the ingredients.  Use the shredded meat in your favorite dishes.

Slow Cooker Turkey Tortilla Soup

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It's Sunday, it's raining, and I'm so done with the Turkey!

Today's recipe, Slow Cooker Turkey Tortilla Soup, is the perfect dish for using up your leftover turkey meat from Thanksgiving.  I'm getting a little tired of it so I decided that today was the day to use up all the rest of in a fantastic soup. 

You must be saying that tortilla soup is usually made with chicken, but both chicken and turkey are mild enough in flavors that you can substitute either.  And why not?  Turkey is a great protein in a hot bowl of soup.  So if you don't feel like making my Turkey and Wild Rice Soup, this spicy and hearty Latin flavored soup might tickle your fancy!

SLOW COOKER TURKEY TORTILLA SOUP

Most of the ingredients are pantry items which I pretty much keep on stock all the time.  It's as simple as chopping some onion, and then dumping all the ingredients (except the cooked turkey) in the slow cooker and turn it on.  You add the turkey about 45 minutes prior to eating to warm it through. 

There you have it!  A warming soup for a cold day.  One's that's easy to make and has great flavor.

Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Turkey Tortilla Soup

Serves 4

3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes, with juice
1 15 oz can sweet corn, drained
1 4 oz can diced green chiles
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp ancho chili powder
1/2 yellow onion, diced
3 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

3 cups of chopped cooked turkey

1 1/2 Tbls Wondra (for thickening)

Toppings:  Crumbled tortilla chips, sour cream, avocados, cotija cheese

Add all ingredients to a slow cooker with the exception of the turkey and Wondra. Cook on low 6-7 hours or on high 3-4. 45 minutes prior to serving add the chopped turkey and the Wondra. Stir to combine and turn the heat to high. Cook on high 45 minutes. Serve in bowls with added toppings if desired. 

Thanksgiving Tablescapes and Helping Tips Cheat Sheets

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Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I wanted to bring you some Thanksgiving inspiration for your table this year. Along with a couple of Cheat Sheets that I created.

First up is the tablescape.  I'm all about a well dressed table.  I just love decorating and changing up the table to create a theme or just enhance a mood.  MGG can attest to that as I have a spare closet full of various, dishes, tablecloths, napkins, and serving pieces!  It's a problem.  Along with cookbooks.  But that's a story for another day!

Each year I change the mood of my Thanksgiving table.  Last year I went with a frosty winter theme filled with the colors of silver, greys, and mercury glass with touches of orange pumpkins. 

The focal point was a beautiful mercury glass apothecary jar I used as a vase to hold off white hydrangeas, surrounded by silver candlesticks which held white tapers.  Orange pumpkins that hold side dishes are displayed.  I also found a wonderful glass pumpkin that I picked up which added more sparkle.  Add in some smoky grey wine glasses and the table is ready for the food.

The place settings started with silver chargers, followed by white dinner plates, and then a favorite salad plate that have deep oranges and rusts with a pumpkin motif.  Add in some southern styled silverware and a fluffy white napkin and you are set for a simple yet elegant dinner.

This year I changed the mood by going will deep fall colors such as copper, rust, deep oranges, creams, and silver/mercury glass. I also added a pop of green to bring in the outdoor feeling inside.  The textures are different as well, with silk, glass, wood, and ceramics.

I used the same mercury glass apothecary jar as a vase.  This time I found some muted green hydrangeas which gave the table a pop of color.  Surrounded by silver candlesticks with cream tapers and cream mini pumpkins.  The runner is copper silk with a nice sequin accent. 

For the place setting I used wood chargers to give the table an earthy feel.  Cream dinner plates topped with a salad plate that displays fall leaves in deep reds and rusts.  Top that with a lidded cream colored pumpkin bowl.  Gold crinkle glasses frame each plate along with clear wine glass goblets to give a more substantial feeling.

Dinner is served!

I hope you enjoyed the tablescapes and found some inspiration for your own table.  Now I've would like to share with you 2 cheat sheets that I created for Thanksgiving, and beyond.

TURKEY ROASTING TIMES

PUMPKIN PIE SPICE

Have a wonderful, peaceful Thanksgiving!