Sunday, January 16, 2011

SLOW COOKING IS THE LIFE FOR ME !!!

In an effort to eat healthier this year, I've been attempting to make more meals at home. One of the things that is super handy is a slow cooker. Oh, my friend Sarah found one for me at her local Goodwill store for just $5.99. It works like a dream.  I'll be sharing about that soon, because there were some other seriously good yard sale finds that I'm just dying to tell you all about ;) :) Oh, I've posted a few photos at the very end of my post today...of the sandwiches I made from the leftovers!!! I forgot to take photos of the actual slow cooker process.

Also, I've been having problems with the font size on blogger today. I hope you can still read what I wrote. For some reason, I couldn't enlarge the font today...Boo :( :( :(

Heres the recipe for "Lemonade Chicken". I found on page 66 of Taste of Home magazine's winter edition of "Busy Family Recipes". Recipe submitted by Jenny cook, Eau Claire, Wisconsin (NOTE: make sure to read my notes at the end, because I did make a couple of changes to the recipe)

YIELD: 6 servings

*6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (4 oz each)
* 3/4 cup thawed lemonade concentrate
* 3 Tablespoons ketchup
* 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
* 1 Tablespoon cider vinegar
* 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
* 2 Tablespoons cold water


1) Place chicken in a 5-quart slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine the lemonade concentrate, ketchup, brown sugar and vinegar; pour over chicken. cover and cook on low for 2 1/2 hours or until c hicken is tender.


2) Remove chicken and keep warm. For gravy, combine cornstarch and water until smooth; gradually stir into cooking juices. cover and cook on high for 30 m inutes or until thickened. Return chicken to the slow cooker: heat through.


So in place of cornstarch, you can actually use pumpkin puree...Yes, I said pumpkin puree. I'd read somewhere that it was a good substitute if you didn't want to use cornstarch. I used it in a chili recipe and it did a good job of thickening the chili. No, it does not taste like pumpkin. It seemed to work just fine ;) :)


I also used raw boneless, skinless chicken tenderloins....instead of chicken breast halves. It worked GREAT!!! Since I'm relatively "new" to cooking stuff from scratch, I thought chicken breast halves would be too large. As it turns out, it would have been just fine :)

I used apple cider vinegar. Not sure if there's any other kind of cider vinegar.


Even after letting the "gravy" thicken, it's still a little bit runny. Mine turned out just the like the picture of the recipe in  the magazine. Having said that...it tastes GREAT!!!! It was very moist and tender...and tasted like sweet tangy lemon. You could easily substitute a different citrus fruit concentrate like orange or pineapple, whatever you think will taste good.


Okay....try it out. Enjoy...!! Since I had leftovers, I made what I call seriously delicious "lemonade chicken blues bun" sandwiches. My daddy asked for seconds. Here's a few photos :) :) :)


This is a little toaster oven I bought at a yard sale for $5. The lady had purchased it from QVC. It's great for a single person or two people. However, since her family was growing, it was no longer practical. Plus the last time I toasted these buns in my toaster oven, they burned on the outsides..so I used this. It worked  GREAT!!!!
I began by reheating the lemonade chicken in a small saucepan on medium-low on the stovetop. Make sure to stir occasionally. I'm convinced that help spreads the heat around, so the chicken will warm up a little faster. While that was happening, I took some "Blues Buns" (aka seriously delicious hamburger buns) from Dave's Killer Bread and toasted them here. Take a look at their website. The story behind this company is truly inspirational. There is a real "Dave" behind the face of this company and when you read his story...well, it's just wonderful :) :) Plus, it's the best store-bought organic bread EVER!!!

While the buns were in the toaster, I did take out some butter to soften. Here is my chicken sandwich about half-way to being eaten :) :)
So  once the buns have been toasted, add some butter. It's whatever you prefer. I like butter today, because that is what I had in my refrigerator. Attempt to pull apart the chicken and pile it on the bun. Take a spoon and gently drape some of the "lemonade" gravy over the top. Place top half of bun on top of the chicken.

Here is my simple, but very tasty sandwich.
So here it is. It's simple and that's okay. You could easily load it up with other goodies, too. It tasted GREAT. My father even asked for seconds. He was a little "sad" when I told him there wasn't anymore. So next time, I'll have to make more, so there's be extra sandwiches ;) :)

That's about it for the moment.  If you try this recipe, let me know how it turns out. That's the news from Oregon today. Love and hugs, Heather :)

 



22 comments:

Kim B said...

That sounds good and that toaster oven is so very cool. My hubbie says if i could cook every meal in a crockpot that I would...
Have a happy day. Hugs. Kim

Nancy said...

That looks and sounds so good! My husband and I were just admiring your toaster oven! We would LOVE to find one like that! Have a great night!
Hugs,
Nancy :D

Beautifully Veiled said...

That is just about the cutest little oven I've ever seen! I couldn't wait to read your post just to see WHAT that was!!! And the chicken looked yummy! We love crockpots around here too. It fits in well with homeschooling and milking cows!
Blessings!!!
Linda

Linda Stubbs said...

Looks nummy Heather..........you are becoming a "sweet little cook"! Thank you for the recipe!

Hugs for you day!
Linda

Junibears said...

I've never seen a toaster oven like that. Looks good. I use my slow cooker a lot but can't use the sweet things as hubby is diabetic. Hugs xx

Sue said...

I really enjoy my slow cooker Heather, and use it a lot. I also enjoy Taste of Home recipes. your lemonade chicken sounds great.
The toaster oven looks great too. I love the fact that you find so many great deals!! Thank you for sharing, enjoy your week.
Hugs, Sue

This Life of Mine... said...

That recipe sounds so nice! I want a big slow cooker for my family/ I have 7 people to cook for so it would have to big!LOL!

Jill said...

Heather,
this looks so yummy! I have to try it! You know how much I love my slow cooker and chicken is one of my favorites. Thanks for sharing!!
Have a great night!
Blessings,
Jill

aimee said...

Hi, Heather!
Did you get a visit from Mr Sun today? :)
I absolutely love your new to you toaster oven--it is SO cute! As for Dave's Killer Bread--I LOVE it but haven't tried his Blues Buns yet; if they are as good as his bread I will be looking for them!
Slow cooking sounds good--maybe later this week I will dust mine off; if I am not on the road somewhere that is:)
Blessings,
Aimee
PS: Did you ever use your Goro Iron? Just wondering...I thought that was a wonderful find and I am eager to see you use it:)

Annesphamily said...

Heather! Happy New Year friend! You found some amazing bargains! I love it. I am not off to a good start eating healthy! A gal I work with made these Kopy Kat CInnabon's~~ Yummy! I need ot get busy walking but my house is coming together. I will be posting pictures soon! Hugs to you and your dad! Enjoy the week! Anne

Yolanda said...

I love my slow cooker. I too am tring to eat better this year. Where do you live in Oregon? I live in Mcminnville. I l loved seeing the sun today.

Camille said...

Yaay for slow cookers Heather! Your recipe sounds yummy...I may just have to give it a try! :) Thanks for sharing.

And...what great finds you have come across for such great deals! Isn't it wonderful to see the LORD's provision in things like that. :)

Many blessings,
Camille

Beth Herring said...

I don't have a slow cooker, but can see that I need to get one! I also love that toaster oven!

Carolyn said...

Hi Heather,
I need to dig out my slow cooker and give this a try! What a great deal you got on your oven.
Thank you for the recipe for homemade laundry soap too-that is something I have been wanting to make as I am sure it is a lot more enviromentally friendly.
Thank you for all your kind comments on my blog and to answer your question today the pic is
my husbands baby photo.
Take care,
Carolyn

A Primitive Homestead said...

I have not had my slower cooker a real long time but it is a lifesaver. I use it many times a week. Sometimes another meat is going into it as soon as one comes out & it has been washed. My kitchen never closes here at the homestead. You will just love cooking in yours. Neat toaster oven. I will have to try your chicken recipe. Blessings!

A Primitive Homestead said...

Neat toaster oven. You will really like your slow cooker. I do mine. It is used much. Many nights no sooner than I take meat out more is being put in to cook after it has been washed. It is a life saver for me. Your chicken sandwhich looks yummy. Blessings!

THE VERANDA HOUSE said...

HI IT IS A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU,I LIKE YOUR SLOW COOKER,I COOK BEANS IN MY COOKER SOUP IT IS A LIFE SAVER,I DO NOT LIKE FAST FOODS,THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR RECIPE LEMONADE CHICKEN.TILL NEXT TIME...BLESSINGS

Carol Mae said...

Hi Heather, your recipe looks great, I'll have to try it. If you go to my blog Karen Valentine's Wigget is on the right side of my blog, just click on it. Thanks for visiting my blog again. Smiles, Carol Mae

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Hi Heather,
This recipe sounds good and I'll have to try it in my slow cooker! I love anything with chicken in it! It sounds like it would be a bit tangy which would be right up my alley. The sandwich looks good too. Have a wonderful weekend.

Blessings,
Sandi

Cindy Adkins said...

What a great idea, Heather and it looks delicious! Plus, when it's cold, it's nice have the smell of home cookin', don't you think? I bet your dad is excited too...tell him I said "hi!"
XO

Beth said...

The chicken looks and sounds great, and your white plates are lovely!
Hugs, Beth

Single ovens said...

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