Dukan Diet

Good morning! Its the first day of school in our house, and Im typing super quick to get this recipe out to you so I can bask in the fact that the baby is napping, the sun is shining, and the HOUSE IS QUIET.

1 1/2 to 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (4 or one thigh per family member)
3 garlic cloves, smashed and chopped
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 cup  soy sauce (La Choy or Tamari wheat-free are gluten free)
1/2 cup ketchup
1/3 cup honey


The Directions.

Use a 4-quart slow cooker (if using a 6-quart, this will cook faster. Check after 3 hours on high, 5 hours on low).
Put the chicken into your cooker. In a small bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients, then pour evenly over the top.
Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3-4 (Id go with low---).
Serve with basmati rice and steamed or roasted vegetables.

The Verdict.

My kids adore this chicken. The ketchup and honey taste a bit like barbecue sauce, but slightly more tart. The basil gives it a different, herby flavor which I like a lot. If you are into freezer meals, this is a great candidate--- load all the ingredients into a freezer bag (raw chicken, the sauce ingredients) and then freeze. Thaw the bag overnight in the fridge, then plop the ingredients into your cooker for a fast morning plug-in.

Enjoy!

Ive been doing a GiveAway a Day for the whole month of September. Today Im giving away 5 copies of my new book, Totally Together: Shortcuts to an Organized Life. Click on over for your chance to win!

Day 276.

I made an interesting soup yesterday. The base was cauliflower and broth, and it had both curry and honey---two flavors I have not had together before. I liked it. I got the recipe directly from Sunday Nite Dinner. Chuck and Hungry Bear made it last year, and Im so glad that I bookmarked it to try in the crockpot.

The Ingredients.
adapted from Sunday Nite Dinner

--1 head cauliflower
--3 T olive oil
--1 tsp kosher salt
--1/2 tsp black pepper
--2 cups broth (chicken or vegetable)
--2 cups water
--1/4 to 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (1/4 was enough for me)
--1 yellow onion, chopped in chunks
--2 1/2 tsp curry
--honey

The Directions.

Cut the cauliflower into florets, toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roast in a 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes, or until the cauliflower has begun to brown and turn crispy. You can also roast in the crockpot.

While the cauliflower is roasting, plug in your crockpot and turn to high. Use a 4 quart or larger size. Add the chicken broth and water. Chop the onion and add it along with the cayenne pepper and curry powder.

When the vegetables are finished, add them to the broth.

Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours, or on high for 3-4. This is finished when the onion and cauliflower are fully tender.

Carefully use an immersible blender to blend the cauliflower and onion. If you are going to use a traditional blender, go slow and blend small batches at a time.

Drizzle honey over the top before serving.

The Verdict.

I could not get the kids anywhere near this. They had bean burritos on brown rice tortillas.

It took Adam a few bites to get used to, but then he liked it. I found the flavor to be mysterious. It was not like anything I had ever had before. This would be fun to serve at a fancy dinner, where guests can squeeze on their own honey. I really like how rich and velvety it tastes without a drop of cream. I have no idea how Chuck and Hungry Bear got the picture they did at Sunday Nite Dinner----my honey sunk right away.

(note: if you are reading through a feed, youll notice a different picture. I accidentally put up a finished picture of corned beef. That recipe is on its way! Thank you so much to Emma for pointing this out to me.)
Happy Almost-Easter! Do you have a ham in the fridge you dont know what to do with? Throw it in the crockpot. Itll be delicious.

The Ingredients.
serves 6-8.

5-7 pound bone-in ham
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon gluten free Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground thyme

The Directions.

Use a 6-quart slow cooker. Unwrap ham, and discard flavor packet. Put ham into slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine vinegar, honey, butter, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, and thyme. Pour mixture evenly over the ham. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, or until heated through.
The Verdict.
Oh yum. Slow-cooked ham is so super easy and always comes out fantastic. The meat stays perfectly moist without needing to baste, and tastes wonderful. My family really likes this glaze--its sweet but not over the top.

Now that I can eat pork again, Im thinking of declaring every Wednesday a holiday just so I can eat ham.


maple ham from last year (this is really good, too! Im having a hard time deciding which I like better. I should make both.)

and more crockpot holiday food.

Have a wonderful Easter!