***** Rotisserie Style Chicken in the Slow Cooker *****

Rotisserie style chicken in the slow cooker is a 5 star meal here. Various herbs & spices rubbed all over the whole chicken and then set on a bed of aluminum foil and cooked on High for 5-6 hours. The meat literally falls off the bones and tastes SO good. Who needs to spend $8-10 on a store bought rotisserie chicken when you can make your own at home?

Slow Cooker Rotisserie Style Chicken

1 whole chicken (4-7lbs)
3 Tbsp. oil
Herbs/spices (dried) of your choice
2-3 pieces of aluminum foil, balled up

Rub chicken with oil. Rub chicken with herbs/spices, inside & out. Place on bed of aluminum foil balls and cook on high for 5-6 hours.


Cook's Notes:

I generally use canola oil, but olive oil would be awesome too. I also lift the skin on the breast side and rub oil & herbs underneath for even better flavor.

I use a mixture of the following herbs/spices - about 2-3 Tbsp total when all mixed together:
salt & pepper
oregano
granulated garlic
onion powder
rosemary
basil
thyme
sage
crushed red pepper flakes


The best part of this dish for me is that it is relatively easy and I end up getting two meals out of it because I cook two chickens at a time (2 slow cookers). I generally use the left over chicken to make a lovely chicken salad for the next night.

Sloppy Joes on potato rolls & Ranger cookies

The Sloppy Joe recipe is originally from Cooking Light and oddly enough, I haven't changed really anything in it except that I don't use ground beef. If you are a sloppy joes fan, I will guarantee you this will be the only recipe you'll ever want to use again. This is definitely a family favorite especially when served on fresh potato rolls.

Most of the time I make it on the stove top, but I've also done it in the slow cooker and that is how it's being made this time. Substitutions for the slow cooker are noted in the Cook's Notes area.

Sloppy Joes

1 lb ground turkey
3/4 minced fresh onion
1/2 c. diced green bell pepper
1/4 c. diced celery
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 c. water
1/2 c. ketchup
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 Tbsp. vinegar
1/4 tsp. dry mustard
1/4 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. black pepper

1 package of hamburger buns (or 6-8 homemade)

Combine the first 5 ingredients in a large nonstick skillet. Cook over medium heat until turkey is cooked through, stirring to crumble. Drain well.

Combine turkey mixture, water and next 7 ingredients in skillet and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer mixture 15 mins., stirring occasionally.

Serve on buns.

Cook's Notes:
Since I am not using beef and just lean ground turkey, I rarely drain the meat mixture and instead cut down the water I add to 1/4 c. or so and because I always double to feed the whole clan, I use a whole 6oz. can of tomato paste. I don't bother measuring out 4 Tbsp.

When making this recipe in the slow cooker, I generally used dehydrated minced onions (about 2 Tbsp.) and dehydrated minced garlic (about 1 tsp.) I also add in all the water the recipe calls for. Cook on low for approx. 6-8 hours. The texture does change a bit cooking it in the slow cooker, but the taste is basically the same.


Ah lovely dessert! Haven't made cookies in a long while so I tried these today. YUM!

Ranger Cookies

1 c. unsalted butter, softened
1/2 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 c. Rice Krispies type cereal
1 c. quick oats
1 c. coconut
1 c. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.
Cream butter & sugar together. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.
In small bowl mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder & salt.
Add dry mixture into butter mixture a bit at a time.
Stir in rice krispies, oats, coconut & chocolate chips.
Bake for about 10 mins. or until lightly brown

Cook's Notes:
These have a really nice texture. I think next time I may toast the coconut first along with some pecans or slivered almonds. I think these are WAY better than regular chocolate chip cookies.