Crockpot Lemon Chicken

I may be having to take our youngest in to the Urgent Care today as we're not sure whether or not he broke his wrist last night. The Urgent Care is about two hours each way, then of course the hours we will wait there for Xrays and possible treatment. I didn't want to be worrying about dinner when we get home, so I tossed this recipe together in the crockpot early this morning. It is another I got years ago from Taste of Home Magazine.

Crockpot Lemon Chicken

6 chicken breast halves(I use boneless skinless)

1-2 tsp dried oregano

2 tsp seasoned salt

1 tsp pepper

2 tbl butter or margarine

put herbs on chicken and brown in butter. Place browned chicken in crockpot.

1/4 cup water

3 tbl lemon juice

2-3 garlic cloves, pressed

1 tsp chicken bullion

place the above ingredients in pan you browned the chicken in loosening the browned chicken pieces. Bring to a boil and pour all over chicken in crockpot. Cook on low 5-6 hours.

If you wish you can thicken juices and serve over rice or noodles.

Lemon Chicken

Here is a yummy chicken recipe. While not a huge fan of meat, this is one way I do like it quite a bit!

4-6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

2 tsp margarine

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup lemon juice

1/2 tsp salt

2 tbs corn starch

1 cup chicken broth

brown chicken in skillet sprayed with cooking spray. Remove chicken and melt margarine. Stir in brown sugar and salt. Add lemon juice. Return chicken to pan and cover and cook for 10 or so minutes turning every few minutes. Move chicken to a plate.

Combine cornstarch and broth add to pan. Cook stirring constantly until sauce is thickened. Spoon over chicken and spoon extra sauce over brown rice.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Pancakes

I tried these this morning for a change of pace and all I can say is YUM!! They are good. A bit sweet, so syrup is optional. Actually they were almost too sweet even with agave nectar.

1 1/4 cup flour

1 T sugar

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1 T baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 C milk

4 T melted butter

3/4 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup chocolate chips

Enjoy!

Holy Guacamole!

I got this recipe from an old Marlboro Country Cook book I got for free for sending in so many cigarette wrappers. No, I don't smoke anymore, haven't in about 12 years, but I still love this cookbook and this recipe in particular.

Yesterday, my neighbor whom I hardly know...as a matter of fact I don't even know their names, blessed us with a huge bag of avocados. So guess what I'm making today?

Of course this is great with chips, but it is also a great topping for your veggie burger or other burger of choice.

Cowboy Guacamole

1 1/2 cups mashed ripe avocados

2 tbs minced onion

1 tbsp lemon juice

1-2 tbsp finely chopped green chili pepper

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce(there's a great veggie one on the market!)

4 drops Tabasco sauce

1 clove garlic, minced

1 large ripe tomato, peeled, seeded and chopped

combine avocado, onion, lemon juice, chili peppers, salt, Worcestershire, Tabasco sauce and garlic. Cook tomato in a dry skillet until moisture is absorbed and tomato pieces turn light brown; cool before adding to avocado mixture. Enjoy!

Amish Chicken Broccoli Casserole

Here it is; the first ever recipe posted here that has meat! Enjoy! This one is a crowd pleaser and I am almost always asked for the recipe after serving it. I got this one from a little booklet called Cook Books by Good Books, Casseroles.

1 1/4 lb fresh broccoli chopped and cooked

4-6 cups cooked chicken, coarsely diced

6 tbls butter or margarine

6 tbsp flour

2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

3 cups milk

1/2 cup mayo

1 tsp lemon juice

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

2 tbs butter or margarine

1/2 cup bread crumbs

1. Layer broccoli on bottom of greased 9x13 baking dish. Layer chicken over broccoli.

2. In a sauce pan melt the 6 tbs butter, stir in flour, salt and pepper. Gradually stir in mild and continue stirring until the white sauce is smooth and comes to a boil. Remove from heat.

3. combine may and lemon juice with white sauce and pour over chicken and broccoli. Sprinkle with cheese.

4. melt 2 tbsp butter. Stir in bread crumbs and sprinkle over casserole.

5. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.

Note: I have made this with veggie chicken or with only the broccoli with good results.

A Shocking Confession!

After being a strict vegetarian for over three years, I have recently begun to have rather strong cravings for chicken! And bacon if I am to be honest, but I can't bring myself to eat it. I have sampled a little chicken recently. My youngest and I are the only vegetarians here, and the other three guys call themselves "forced vegetarians." They deal, but aren't happy. This most often shows up when we are at church potlucks and they load up their plates full of meat!

I try to cook in a way that pleases us all, and feel like most of the time I do accomplish just that. But it does put limits on what and how I cook. There just aren't as many tasty veggie crock pot dishes.

Lately it has become apparent that a couple of my guys really do feel deprived. And after trying to up my protein thinking perhaps that was the reason for my bizarre cravings(the thought of meat typically sickens me literally) I have caved in and ate and rather enjoyed chicken.

I don't know whether this will be a short lived phase or if it will result in me consuming meat beyond poultry or what will come of it....I haven't really formed any deep convictions one way or the other. For now I will listen to my body and follow it's leading.

So, in the days to follow you will see a first here.....recipes that involve chicken! I have been told that for not eating meat I sure do cook it well, so you will have to try a few and let me know if that is true.

Garlic Bubble Loaf Bread!

I can't believe I never posted this before. In my last post I said this was posted under breads, then I realized I never posted it! This in my opinion has to be the bestest bread recipe ever!! Even my brothers girlfriend who typically doesn't like the drive out to the boonies where I live will come if this bread is served. It is THAT good, I promise! I got the recipe from an old Taste of Home magazine some years back.

Garlic Bubble Loaf

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup sour cream

2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened

3 tablespoons sugar

1 1/2 tsp salt

3 cups bread flour

2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast

GARLIC HERB BUTTER

1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 tsp each of dried oregano, thyme and rosemary

In bread machine place first seven ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer. Select dough setting(check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1-2 tablespoons water or flour if needed) When cycle is completed, divide dough into 36 pieces. Shape each into a ball. In a bowl, combine butter, garlic and herbs. Dip each ball in mixture; place in an ungreased loaf pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. Bake at 375 for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

It's Getting To Be Soup Weather!

I love being able to cook soup in the crockpot all day long and letting it make the whole house smell good! Then just add some crusty bread, maybe a salad and you have a yummy meal with little effort.

Last night I just threw a few things in the crock and it came out yummy! Here's what I did:

4 cups veggie broth

2 cups water

1 onion diced

3-4 carrots sliced

2 zucchini diced

3 stalks celery sliced

4 garlic cloves pressed

1 can diced tomatoes with juice

1 can white kidney beans drained

1 can red kidney beans drained

2 tsp oregano

1 tsp salt

1 tbl sugar

thinly sliced cabbage

1-2 cups cooked noodles(I used macaroni shaped)

fresh Parmesan cheese

a dab pesto sauce

First I sauteed the onion, garlic, carrots and celery in a little olive oil until the onions were clear then added to the crock pot with the broth, water, tomatoes, seasonings and beans. I cooked on low most of the day(6-7 hours) then I turned to high and added the zucchini, cabbage and cooked noodles and cooked for about another hour. To serve I added just a dab of pesto sauce and some fresh Parmesan cheese to each bowl(the fresh Parmesan is really a must in my opinion!)

My oldest and youngest did turn their noses up to it, but my middle son couldn't get enough, he even ate it for breakfast this morning!

I served with some garlic bubble loaf bread(search archives under bread for recipe)