Crock Pot Cranberry Chicken

Seriously,  I cannot believe I haven't blogged this before.  This is an easy mid-week meal; put it in the crock pot and forget about it.

This recipe has a back-story.  When I was pregnant with Riley, I found iVillage.com, a message board site for women.  I joined the September '06 Expecting Club.  We, eventually found our name:  The September '06 Gingersnaps.  Aww, that was a life-time ago.  When the kiddos were about 6 months old, we all decided to have a recipe swap.  This recipe was submitted by one of the mommies.  I made it almost immediately and all fell in love with it. Those babies, are now turning 8!   Sadly, our little board was gobbled up by Facebook.  I lost touch with all the ladies from that board, but I am still Facebook friends with some ladies from a Photoshop board from there.  Now, iVillage, once the go-to site for women, is basically a ghost-town and that is so sad to me.

So, here it is:

Crock-pot Cranberry Chicken

Ingredients:

1# chicken thighs

1 can cranberry sauce

1 bottle of barbecue sauce

1 onion, ringed

1 rib celery, diced

salt and pepper 

Directions:

Salt and pepper the chicken.  Place chicken in the crock-pot.  Cover the chicken with the onion and celery.  Dump the cranberry sauce and onions.  Place the lid on the pot, cook of low for 6-8 hours.  

This chicken comes out of the crock-pot and almost falls off the bone.  We usually have this with mashed potatoes, green beans and some pull-apart bread (also from that recipe exchange).  

I hope you and your family tries it and likes it as much as we do. 

Crock Pot Ribs

I have been pretty lonely this week.  It's amazing how quiet {and clean} a house can become when all the other people are gone.  Oh, and when you're not forced to watch Nick, Nick Jr or Disney all day...there is absolutely nothing on TV either.

le sigh

The boys are adjusting well to school.  They even rode the bus home yesterday! {a milestone quickly overturned, then stepped on}  They decided this morning, they did not want to ride the bus anymore.

So, not only am I trekking to 2 different schools in the morning for drop-off, I'm adventuring to both schools for pick-up as well.  Drop off goes without a hitch, for the most part.  Pick-up in another story.  The middle school line is so confusing. Okay, maybe it's only confusing to me. I'm hoping to make it through this afternoon without a hitch.  I'll let y'all know how it goes.

Wow!  I almost forgot the most important milestone of the week!  Riley walked into the school alone.  WAH!  He let the 'helper' open the door, he got out and Mama drove off.  Alone.  Without him. He walked in to the school. Alone. Without Mama. I will not cry. I will not cry.

Okay, enough of that! On to the recipe of the day.  I had some ribs in the freezer and I wanted to have them in the crock pot.  I have made ribs in the crock pot before and we loved them, so why not try again.

Crock Pot Ribs

Ingredients:

5# Country Style Pork Ribs

1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon pepper
1 tablespoon season-all
1 tablespoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons celery salt
2 teaspoons chili powder
brown sugar
1 bottle barbecue sauce (I used Kraft Original)
onion, diced

Directions:

Mix the seasonings together and place in gallon baggie. Place ribs in bag, one at a time, and shake.   

Place ribs in crock pot

Cover with barbecue sauce and onion

Sprinkle brown sugar over the top until coated

Cook low and slow for about 7 hours

I know, I know, I will get slammed by all the barbecue aficionados out there for shaking my ribs and not rubbing them.  But, y'all should know by now, I'm a bit of a rebel. 

It turned my hungry bunch into a very happy family.  Even hubby, and I quote: "You have outdone yourself this time".  

My head has just now returned to original size.

Sharing with these wonderful parties: Weekend Potluck, Foodie Friday, Full Plate Thursday,Marvelous Mondays,This Week's Cravings,

Easy Crock Pot Barbecue Chicken

You know I love {lurve} my crock pot, right.  This meal was, by far, the easiest and the quickest.

Let me go back to the beginning of my day, Thursday.  I went to the Elementary School yesterday for meet the teacher.  It's inevitable...my Riri is going to Kindergarten.  I was reading through the ABC's of Kindergarten when we got home, and started crying.  I'm going to be the mess Monday morning.

Q was quick goodbyes leave drier eyes.  WAAAHHH!!! For child or Mom?

But, I was sitting on the couch reminiscing about Riley's 5 years and {just occasionally} staring lovingly at him and realized that I had NOTHING planned for dinner.  It was 3:15.


 I found a great, easy chicken recipe on Six Sister's Stuff and I went for it.

Easy Crock Pot Barbecue Chicken

Ingredients

4-6 chicken breasts

1 medium onion, quartered

1 lemon, quartered

1 bottle of barbecue sauce (I used Great Value honey flavored)

1 can cola

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Salt and pepper chicken breasts and place in bottom of crock pot.  Top with onion and lemon quarters. Pour entire bottle of sauce and entire can of cola over the chicken.  Cook on high for 3-4 hours. {or low 6-7 hours if you're not like me and do things in the morning} 

Don't be like me.  

I also threw my breasts in partially frozen. 

Again, don't be like me. 

Plan. Be prepared.  

I honestly cannot believe that Maintenance Man hasn't started thinking we're on a health kick again with all this chicken and pork we've been having.  He's more of a steak and potatoes kind of guy.

Sharing with: Weekend Potluck,Marvelous Mondays, This Week's Cravings,