Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook (78 page)

1 small onion, chopped

1 tsp. black pepper

1 Tbsp. whole cloves,
optional

1 Tbsp. garlic salt

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh oregano

1 tsp. dried rosemary

½ cup lemon juice,
or
chicken broth

1. Layer potatoes, sliced onions, and carrots in bottom of slow cooker.

2. Rinse and pat chicken dry. In shallow dish with sides mix together chopped onions, pepper, cloves, and garlic salt.

3. Dredge chicken in seasonings. Place in cooker over vegetables. Spoon any remaining seasonings over chicken.

4. Sprinkle with oregano and rosemary. Pour lemon juice around chicken.

5. Cover. Cook on Low 6 hours.

Note:

This is a lifesaver when the grandchildren come for a weekend. I get to play with them, and dinner is timed and ready when we are.

Chicken Cacciatore with Spaghetti

Phyllis Pellman Good
, Lancaster, PA

Makes 4-5 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes • Cooking Time: 4 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4- to 5-qt.

2 onions, sliced

2½-3 lbs. chicken legs and thighs, skin removed

2 garlic cloves, minced

16-oz. can stewed tomatoes

8-oz. can tomato sauce

1 tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

1-2 tsp. dried oregano

½ tsp. dried basil

1 bay leaf

¼ cup white wine

1. Place onions in bottom of slow cooker.

2. Lay chicken over onions.

3. Combine remaining ingredients in a good-sized bowl. Pour over chicken.

4. Cover. Cook on Low 4 hours, or until chicken is tender but not dry.

5. Remove bay leaf before serving.

Serving suggestion: Serve over hot
buttered spaghetti
,
linguini
, or
fettuccini
.

Chicken Cacciatore

Eleanor J. Ferreira

North Chelmsford, MA

Makes 8 servings

Prep. Time: 40 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-5 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 6- to 6½-qt., or 2 4-qt. cookers

2 chickens, cut into pieces

1 cup flour

2 tsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper

olive oil

2 4-oz. cans sliced mushrooms, drained

3 medium onions, sliced

2 celery ribs, chopped

4 large green bell peppers, cut into 1” strips

28-oz. can tomatoes

28-oz. can tomato purée

½ tsp. dried basil

½ tsp. dried oregano

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

½ tsp. dried parsley

1. Shake chicken pieces, one at a time, in bag with flour, salt, and pepper. When well coated, brown chicken pieces on both sides in skillet in oil.

2. Place chicken in large slow cooker, or in two medium-sized cookers, reserving drippings.

3. Sauté mushrooms, onions, celery, and peppers in drippings from chicken. Spread over chicken in cooker.

4. Mix remaining ingredients together in bowl and pour over chicken and vegetables.

5. Cover. Cook on Low 4-5 hours.

Serving suggestion: Serve over hot
spaghetti
.

Chicken and Sausage Cacciatore

Joyce Kaut

Rochester, NY

Makes 4-6 servings

Prep. Time: 25-35 minutes

Cooking Time: 3-4 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5-qt.

1 lb. Italian sausage, cut in ½”-thick slices

1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1” pieces

oil

1 large green bell pepper, sliced in 1” strips

1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

1 medium onion, sliced in rings

½ tsp. dried oregano

½ tsp. dried basil

1½ cups Italian-style tomato sauce

1. Lightly brown sausage and chicken breast pieces in skillet, in oil if needed. Drain off drippings.

2. Layer vegetables into slow cooker.

3. Top with meat.

4. Sprinkle with oregano and basil.

5. Top with tomato sauce.

6. Cover. Cook on Low 3-4 hours.

7. Remove cover during last 30 minutes of cooking time to allow sauce to cook off and thicken.

Serving suggestion: Serve over cooked
spiral pasta
.

Basil Chicken

Sarah Niessen
, Akron, PA

Makes 4-6 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes • Cooking Time: 7-10 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5-qt.

1 lb. baby carrots

2 medium onions, sliced

1-2 cups celery slices and leaves

3-lb. chicken, cut-up

½ cup chicken broth,
or
white cooking wine

2 tsp. salt

½ tsp. black pepper

1 tsp. dried basil

1. Place carrots, onions, and celery in bottom of slow cooker.

2. Add chicken.

3. Pour broth over chicken.

4. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and basil.

5. Cover. Cook on Low 7-10 hours, or until chicken and vegetables are tender.

Con Pollo

Dorothy Van Deest

Memphis, TN

Makes 4-6 servings

Prep. Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 3-5 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5-qt.