Crock Pot Sticky Chicken

I was looking for a new crock pot recipe and ran across this one on Pinterest.  I don't know what I would do without Pinterest.  I guess we would eat the same things every week.  This recipe was really good and very easy to throw together.  It would be easy to add additional chicken to make a larger batch.

Four ingredients!  Doesn't get much better than that.  You can use what ever kind of BBQ sauce that you have on hand.

Spray your crock pot with non stick spray.  I probably could have used the smaller crock pot.

1cup apricot jam or preserves.  The recipe didn't say if you were to mix it or not so I did just to make it easier.

1 cup BBQ sauce

Mix well.

Pour over chicken.  This is where I think a smaller crock pot would have been better.

Make sure the chicken is covered well with the mixture.

The recipe called for 1 pkg of the Lipton Onion Soup mix.  I had one that I had used part of already and used it.  I was afraid if I used the whole pkg it would be too salty since I was using only two pieces of chicken.

Add 2 Tablespoons water.  Cover and let cook for about 6-8 hours.  I walked by and basted the chicken a couple of times during the day.  You wouldn't have to but I just did.  Again if the crock pot was full it wouldn't be a problem.

Chicken is nice and crusted with the BBQ sauce mixture and fork tender.  Serve over rice.  I spooned some sauce over the rice too.  I was told it was a keeper.

Crock Pot Sticky Chicken Recipe

4-5 skinless boneless chicken breast

1 cup BBQ sauce

1 cup apricot jam or preserves

1 pkg dry onion soup mix

2 Tablespoons water

Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Cheesy Vegetable Chowder

With all the cold weather we have been having soups, stews and chowders are the way to go for the nightly meal.  Nothing warms you up after a very cold day like a hearty bowl of soup.

Don't let all the ingredients scare you off, this soup is worth it.

Melt 2 Tablespoons of butter in a large pot.

Cook 1/2 cup chopped onions until they are tender.

Chop up at least one stalk of celery.  I used the inner core of the celery with the leaves.  According to the Deen Brothers the leaves add a lot of flavor to the soup. So don't throw them away.

Add 1 cup finely chopped carrot.  I grated mine.

Put it all in the pot and let them cook for a few minutes.

Add 1 Tablespoon minced garlic.  I didn't use quite that much.

Add 4 cups chicken broth.  I didn't have chicken broth, I thought I did but when I looked for it it was vegetable broth.  So I used that broth and added some chicken bouillon to the mix.

Chop up about 2 large baking potatoes.

Measure 1/2 cup water

Measure out 1 Tablespoon flour

Mix the water and the flour together to make a slurry.  Add this to the soup to help thicken it.

Chop 2 cups of broccoli in small pieces.

Add 2/3 cup milk to the soup

Add the broccoli

Stir and let cook for a few minutes so the broccoli will cook.

Then add 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese.

Stir to let the cheese mix and melt.  When the cheese is melted it is ready to eat.

Add a little extra cheese on top and dig in.

Cheesy Vegetable Chowder Recipe

2 Tablespoons butter

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 cup finely chopped carrot

1 celery stick finely chopped

1 Tablespoon minced garlic

4 cups chicken broth

2 large baking potatoes peeled and chopped

1 Tablespoon flour

1/2 cup water

2/3 cup milk

2 cups chopped broccoli

2 heaping cups shredded cheddar cheese.

Gingerbread Granola

Well you know how much I like my gingerbread cookies during the holidays, well this granola smells a lot like my cookies when they are baking.  This is the newest batch of granola that I have tried out for my dad.  I really like sampling it when it come right out of the oven.  I find that when it is warm it taste really good, but when it gets cold I find it is too hard for me.  But he likes it.  I mentioned in the last recipe that there are lots of uses for granola besides just eating it for breakfast.  It can be used on top of yogurt or ice cream, sprinkle it on top of apples before baking the apples for an apple crisp.  I bet you could also do peaches the same way.  So give it a try.

Don't let all the ingredients scare you off, most are just seasonings. This recipe uses many of the same ones I use in my cookies.

Start with 3 cups of old fashioned rolled oats in a large bowl.

Add 1 cup coconut flakes.  The recipe calls for unsweetened.  In the past I would not have used sweetened but I have used it in another recipe and it turns out okay and doesn't burn.

1/2 cup rough chopped pecans.  I like leaving them in bigger pieces but not in halves.

In a saucepan add 1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup honey

2 Tablespoons molasses

2 Tablespoons coconut oil

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon cloves

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/8 teaspoon cardamom

Heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring constantly until it comes to a boil.  Remove from heat.

Pour the liquid over the oats, coconut, pecan mixture.

Mix well to coat all the oats.

Once all of the oats are coated.  Pour into a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Spread out in a thin layer.  Place in a preheated 300 oven.  Bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool completely before storing.  Be sure and break up any large pieces.

Gingerbread Granola Recipe

3 cups old fashioned rolled oats

1 cup coconut flakes

1/2 cup pecan pieces

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup honey

2 Tablespoons molasses

2 Tablespoons coconut oil

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon cloves

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/8 teaspoon cardamom

1/8 teaspoon finely ground white pepper (optional)  I didn't use this.

1/4-1/2 cup diced candied ginger ( I didn't use this either)

Preheat oven to 300 Bake for 30 minutes stirring every 10 minutes.