Crock Pot Maple Apple Chicken

I tried this recipe back on the weekend when daylight savings time changed. I, however, forgot about changing my clocks and ended up at church an hour earlier than our normally early 8:30am start time! Fortunately, with a crock pot I didn't have to worry about burning anything--it just ended up falling apart and becoming a shredded chicken dish.

2 lbs boneless chicken breasts cut into 4 pieces each

3 apples, sliced

1 onion, sliced thin

1/2 cup Italian dressing

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup dried cranberries

Put chicken pieces, apples, cranberries, and onions in the slow cooker.

Stir the dressing and syrup together and pour over the other ingredients.

Cook on low 5-6 hours.

Serve over rice or mashed potatoes.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

I went to a cooking demonstration at Sprouts (a grocery store in AZ, CA & TX) a few years ago, led by a woman named Dee McCaffrey, CDC.  She is an advocate for processed-free whole food eating.  This is one of my favorite recipes from her cookbook Plan-D.  The only part that I can't find at regular grocery stores yet is the unsweetened or naturally sweetened ketchup.  Polaner and St. Dalfour are the brands that are readily available at stores in AZ and TX.  The recipe is fast and easy.  It's great over white or brown rice and quinoa.  I've even made it in the crock pot on low for 7-8 hrs.  It's also good with ground chicken or beef.  Ground Turkey Breast is the leanest and lowest in calories. 

Pulled Pork with Root Beer BBQ Sauce

Blaine and Laney came up recently and were my guinea pigs for several recipes. This one worked out well because I could leave it in the crock pot while I was at work. I was a little nervous about the sauce, but it passed the test—Blaine said that it was NOT a waste of perfectly good root beer.

I couldn’t find a 3 pound shoulder roast, so I did a 6-lb roast and used it for several meals. I think that worked better for me anyway because I have a 6-qt crock pot. Just double the salt and pepper; the oil, onion and root beer stay the same.

For the sauce, I found the “bottled chili sauce” in the condiment aisle by the ketchup. I only saw a store brand labeled “Chili Sauce-‘ketchup with a kick’”. The bottle said 12 oz, but it barely filled up my 1 cup measuring cup, so I used it all.

Pulled Pork with Root Beer BBQ Sauce

For the pork:

1 2.5-3 pound pork shoulder roast (or 6 pound-see above)
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
1 Tbsp cooking oil
2 medium onions, cut into thin wedges
1 cup root beer
2 Tbsp minced garlic

Trim fat from meat. If necessary, cut roast to fit into crock pot. Sprinkle meat with the salt and pepper. In a large skillet brown roast on all sides in hot oil. Drain. Transfer meat to a 3 ½-, 4-, or 5- quart electric crockery cooker. (Or a 6-qt like me if you have a bigger roast.) Add onions, the 1 cup root beer ,and garlic. Cover; cook on LOW 8-10 hours or HIGH 4-5 hours.

Transfer roast to a cutting board or serving platter. Let rest 10-15 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove onions from juices and place on serving platter. Discard juices. Using two forks (or your fingers once it cools a little) pull meat apart into shreds. Serve with Root Beer BBQ Sauce. Makes 8-10 servings.

For the sauce:

3 cups root beer (two 12-oz cans or bottles)
1 cup bottled chili sauce (see above)
¼ tsp root beer concentrate (optional)
6-8 dashes Tabasco (optional)

In a medium saucepan combine the 2 cans or bottles of root beer and bottled chili sauce. Bring to boiling; reduce heat.

Boil gently, uncovered, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes or until the mixture is reduced to 2 cups. Add root beer concentrate and Tabasco, if desired.

NOTE: Make ahead—Transfer pork mixture to covered container and chill up to 24 hours. Or transfer to 1-, 2-, or 4-serving freeze containers; seal, label and freeze up to 1 month. Thaw overnight before serving. To reheat, transfer to saucepan; cover and heat over medium-low heat until heated through, stirring occasionally. If necessary, add 2-4 Tbsp water to keep mixture from sticking.
Recipe from www.bhg.com