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In honor of the release of Stephanie’s Make it Fast Cook it Slow Cookbook, I thought it only fitting to make a recipe from her site tonight! I found this recipe in the book…and knew the boys would love it. So I made it.
And they loved it. Not only did they ask for more chicken, they asked for more squash too! Even had 3rds on the squash!!!
Oh. And I try to make meals that have some “color” in them…doesn’t always happen. And I don’t usually notice until I go to take a photograph. Tonight’s meal might not be terribly colorful, but it does contain something from each of the 4 food groups and is quite “balanced”. My high school nutrition teacher would be proud!
Applesauce (natural). Acorn Sqush. Brown Rice. Chicken.
This was delicious. Thanks Steph!!!
Ingredients
2 large chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs.) ($2.28) On sale for $1.49/lb at a local grocer this week!!!
Salt and pepper, sprinkled over chicken
1 tsp garlic powder ($.05)
1 1/2 cup applesauce ($.50)
1 Tbsp apple cidar vinegar ($.05)
1 tsp cinnamon ($.05)
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
1 medium acorn squash (about 2 lbs.) ($1.02) Unadvertised sale of $.49/lb!
Butter or margarine ($.20)
3-4 Tbsp brown sugar, maple syrup or honey ($.25)
1 cup brown rice ($.40)
1/2 cup apple juice ($.20)
**Note: Use split breast chicken, chicken thighs or drumsticks to make this meal even cheaper!!!
Directions
1. Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. Place chicken breasts into base of slow cooker. Sprinkle chicken breasts with salt and pepper and garlic powder.
2. In small bowl, combine applesauce, cidar vinegar and cinnamon. Pour over the chicken breasts. Set slow cooker on high and cook for 6 hours, or low for 8 hours.
3. Cook acorn squash, same method as you cook butternut squash. Takes about 45 minutes to bake, so start at the same time as you start the rice to get them both on the table at the same time!
4. In medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add 1 cup of brown rice and 1/2 cup of apple juice. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and cover. Simmer for 45-50 minutes, or until brown rice is fluffy.
5. Serve Slow Cooker Applesauce Chicken with Sweetened Acorn Sqaush and Brown Rice
Cost $5.00
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
That sounds really good! I might have to add that to a menu soon:-)
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it looks really good! I just need the apple juice. Do I need to have the slow cooker? or can I use something else?
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Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom Reply:
October 14th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
@Karen</a
I imagine you could bake this in a glass baking dish at 350 for 45-55 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink in the middle. I haven't tried it. The chicken won't be as tender as if it were slow cooked. But will still taste great!
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I do have a pot that I used for a pot roast so that might work.
I love tender chicken…yum! I plan on also making fried chicken with biscuits this week or next…just need to figure out the coating.
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Beth in Ohio Reply:
October 15th, 2009 at 11:24 am
@Karen, I just printed some recipes this morning, from youvegotsupper.com. I saw 2 yummy-sounding coatings for fried (or oven fried) chicken, and maybe one of them looks good to you too!
Idea 1: Chicken Dijon; use 1/4 cup melted butter, 1/4 cup olive oil, 3 Tbs Dijon mustard, 1/4 tsp basil, 1/2 tsp salt & 1/2 tsp pepper all mixed together. Coat your chicken pieces in that, then in 2 cups fine breadcrumbs. Fry or bake.
Idea 2: Ritzy Cracker Chicken; marinate chicken pieces in 2 cups Italian dressing (reg or lite) for 3-4 hours. Remove chicken from marinade, and shake in ziploc bag with 1 cup grated/shredded parmesan & 1 1/4 cups crushed ritz crackers. Fry or bake.
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I just happen to have an acorn squash and homemade applesauce in my fridge! I am making the exact dinner (brown rice,too!) and it smells wonderful in here! Made Apple Crisp this morning so will have that with vanilla ice cream. LOVE your site! Found it by accident a couple weeks ago and have been back daily. Thanks for all the great recipes and info!
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This recipe sounds so great! I’ve printed it, and will make it this weekend. Apple juice is on my shopping list, and I have the rest of the ingredients already. Yeah!
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I’m in Michigan and apple cider is very popular here this time of year. I wonder how cider would do replacing the apple juice?
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Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 11:47 am
@Frank Weir,
Would work just the same! Let us know how it turns out!
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Frank Weir Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
@Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom,
Erin…thanks for your reply! This is a great site! I hope to make some of the recipes. I’m not much of a cook but I’d like to learn. Our kids are grown and my wife is more than burned out on cooking. I’m not so worried about the cost, but I like how easy your dinners are! That’s a big plus for an inexperienced cook like me. And the shopping lists are a big help too for sure.
frank weir
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Hi Erin,
I just discovered your site today through a Facebook post by Mary Hunt (Debt Proof Living). I’ve become a fan of yours on Facebook too!
Anyway, maybe a silly question but if I were to substitute bone-in chicken would you recommend removing the skin first or would it cook okay with it? I don’t cook in the crockpot very often, and even less often chicken that is not boneless/skinless (unless roasting a whole chicken). However, there was a great sale on chicken legs/thighs a while ago and they are just sitting in my freezer waiting to be part of a delicious recipe. I think this would be quite tasty to use up that chicken! LOL
Thanks!
Tina
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Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
@Tina Chase,
You could certainly use the bone-in chicken with the skin! Would add some flavor to the meal. And save those bones and boil them to make homemade chicken stock too!
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I ended up not making the Slow Cooker Applesauce Chicken over the weekend, but it is on my list to make this week. I am substituting pork country-style ribs for the chicken, and am anticipating delicious success. I love that you can do that with chicken & pork recipes: substitute chicken for pork & vice versa!
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