6^th May 2014

Be thankful for nights that turn into mornings and dreams that turn into reality.

Did you keep it together this weekend? Bank holiday weekends can be dangerous for the weight loss efforts because for some there’s a change to routine, an extra day off and down time to enjoy. Bearing in mind this is our second Bank holiday in the last few weeks and there’s another one on the way at the end of the month, if not careful they can completely stop any chances of any weight loss in May!

Bank Holidays aren’t any different to any other weekend for me as I don’t go out to work on Mondays, they’re my official day off, although I usually do a bit of work at home if we don’t have plans. Actually that’s not true, bank holiday weekends are quieter for me as I’m unlikely to venture out because everyone else is off work!

This weekend was no different, I enjoyed a staycation in my own home, it was lovely we both chilled out so much this weekend, I did manage a little bit of productiveness but not a great deal, I even worked from my laptop which is something I only usually do if I’m away ;)

We had a delicious dinner yesterday and it was so easy to make too, I popped salmon and vegetables in the oven to roast then cooked wholewheat spaghetti. I used a knorr garlic flavour pot for the spaghetti and had ginger soy sauce on the salmon – delicious. I always enjoy good food when I bother to cook it – lesson there I thinks.

I’m sleeping so well at the moment, still not drinking wine so guessing that might be helping, I’ve always had that glass of wine to chill out once my day stops, I really don’t need it at the moment, I couldn’t be any more chilled I’m sure.

On today’s menu is pork, I’ve defrosted two packs that I bought when they were reduced, I’m going to do one in a mix for sausages but I will use the pork and the other is a Spanish pork packet. I’ve really not got the ‘making the effort’ in the kitchen in me on a work day so this is a compromise, quick easy meals that are ‘new recipes’ in a way, well I haven’t used these packet mixes before! I will make sure whatever I eat for my main meal this week is has something I haven’t cooked/tried before in it.

I did the 3 for £10 meat deal’s in Sainsbury’s yesterday, bought a cooked chicken as one of them, so I might try something new with that, maybe cook it in the slow cooker, at least that’s quick and can be left, it’s also something I’ve never tried and keep saying I will! At the end of blog are a few options to choose from.

Right I’m off, things to do, places to be, have a great day and remember to Eat Gorgeous BeYOUtiful, go try something new.

Tender fall off the bone chicken

Note: Skip the overnight refrigeration if you are in a hurry.

4 teaspoons salt (per recipe reviews, 2 tsp is better)
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 large roasting chicken (with pop-up timer if possible)
1 cup chopped onion (optional)

Directions:
1 In a small bowl, combine the spices.
2 Remove any giblets from chicken and clean chicken.
3 Rub spice mixture onto the chicken.
4 Place in resealable plastic bag and refrigerate overnight.
5 When ready to cook, put chopped onion in bottom of crock pot.
6 Add chicken. No liquid is needed, the chicken will make it's own juices.
7 Cook on low 4-8 hours.

Slow cooked garlic and parsley chicken

1.5kg whole chicken

4 to 6 garlic cloves

1 stock cube OR

1 to 2 teaspoons chicken seasoning

1 to 2 teaspoons dried parsley

prep:10min › Cook:7hr › Ready in:7hr10min

1. Wash and pat dry the chicken, then place in the slow cooker.

2. Crush 2 of the cloves of garlic and spread over the top of the chicken breast and legs, then crush the stock cube or sprinkle the chicken seasoning over the the chicken.

3. Finally sprinkle over the parsley, place the lid on, switch onto the low or medium heat setting and leave for 6 to 7 hours.

4. Carefully remove the chicken, draining the juices back into the pot. Place the chicken on a rack to stand.

5. You can make gravy out of the juices and the water from your veg if you so wish, just add a teaspoon of cornflour mixed into a little cold water then heat through.

6. You can crisp the skin if you wish by taking it off the meat and leaving it in a hot oven for a few minutes.

Tip - DO NOT be tempted to take the lid off during the cooking as it will cool the temperature down and will need extra cooking time as a result! :)

Whole Chicken in a Slow Cooker Recipe

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 10 min

Cook Time: 8 hours

Total Time: 8 hours 10 min

It's incredibly simple and the chicken goes into the crockpot in minutes.

Rub Ingredients for the Chicken

4 tsp salt
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp black pepper

For the Slow Cooker

1 cup chopped onion, approx 1 medium to large onion
4 to 5 carrots, scrubbed, no need to peel, chopped in halves or thirds
4 celery stalks, cut in thirds
2 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
1 whole lemon quartered
3 1/2 to 4 1/2 lbs roasting or fryer chicken

Directions:

Combine rub ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. Prep the vegetables and place inside the slow cooker (I use a 7 quart oval one like this one.
Remove chicken from packaging and remove neck and pouch with organs. Discard or reserve for later use in another recipe. Rinse chicken with water and pat dry with paper towels.
Rub garlic all over outside of the chicken. Put garlic inside the chicken. Put the rub all over the outside and inside the chicken. Add quartered lemon to the inside of the chicken.
Place chicken on top of the vegetables. Cover slow cooker and cook chicken on low for 4-8 hours. (When I used a 4 lb chicken, it took about 6 hours. The time will depend on the size of the chicken and your slow cooker.) Cook until the internal temperature of the leg is at 160 degrees F or use a pop-up thermometer as the original recipe calls for.
Remove chicken and place in a 9x13 glass or ceramic baking dish. Place baking dish in the oven under the broiler for about 4-5 minutes. Allow chicken to rest after removing it from the broiler for 5-10 minutes.

Frequently asked questions:

Do I need to add water to the Slow Cooker?
Nope no water needed. This recipe actually makes broth while it's cooking the chicken. You can strain it and use it for a later recipe if you want!

How do I get the skin crispy?
After it's done in the Slow Cooker, see the instructions in the recipe to crisp up the skin in your oven broiler.

Can I cook this recipe skinless?
I have never tried it but I have seen other bloggers post a recipe where they did it. If you want to, definitely try it! I can't guarantee it will turn out the same as with the skin (moist and tender) since I haven't tried it myself.

This recipe was found at http://www.thelittlekitchen.net/whole-chicken-in-a-slow-cooker/#wrPlMZUS3RU9CYHz.99 the other two at http://allrecipes.co.uk and http://www.food.com/recipe/crock-pot-whole-chicken-33671