This week's meals have really been out of whack for us. I had thought I'd have 2 crockpot recipes to share with you tonight but I'm just going to give you 2 bad reviews with photos and leave it at that.
Last night's recipe was from Sandra Lee's Semi-Homemade Slow Cooker Recipes 2: Sunset Chicken:
Basically it's a layer of bell peppers (in assorted colors) topped with seasoned chicken tenders and topped with a mixture of Catalina dressing and orange juice concentrate. I served it with a salad and brown rice. Not mentioning the fact that it looked bizarre, it had a strange flavor that we all agreed was not to be repeated.
Tonight's recipe I had my doubts about from the start unfortunately -- it's cooking chicken wings in the crockpot. My biggest issue with that is I don't like chicken wings unless they are CRISPY. I mean, charred on the grill. These, well, look for yourself (am putting this after the jump because, well, it's not very appetizing.)
See what I mean?
Anyway, I figured that since you marinated them, browned them and then cooked them on high they would stay a little drier than they were. Nope. I even didn't make as much of the marinade that was called for in hopes it would create so much "juice" in the crockpot. BTW, this recipe comes from one of my new cookbooks: Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker: Recipes for Entertaining by Beth Hensperger and Julie Kaufmann (title of the recipe is Garlic and Lime Chicken Wings). You might remember I have their first book and have enjoyed several recipes out of it.
I told Travis tonight that we really need to stick with soups and stews in our quest for crockpot greatness or we'll be eating a lot of sandwiches.
The chicken wings look pretty good to me. I would have eaten quite a lot of them! :):)
Posted by: sher | January 24, 2008 at 02:51 AM
I can see why you posted the picture after the jump, not the kind of chicken wings that make you think Superbowl or anything. Sorry it was such a downer. Good luck with your future Slow Cooker recipes.
Posted by: Melanie | January 24, 2008 at 09:28 AM
How funny, Sher. I'd gladly have shipped them all to you. LOL
Thanks, Melanie! Hopefully next weeks recipe will be better.
Posted by: Alisha | January 24, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Keep trying the crockpot recipes, Alisha, we're learning from your mistakes. Have you tried putting a pork roast or tri-tip in your crockpot yet to make soft tacos? A pork roast with a can of green enchilada sauce or a tri-tip (buy the pre-marinaded ones) make delicious taco meat!
Posted by: Carol | January 25, 2008 at 08:26 PM
I'm sorry you had two flops in a week... that happens to me, too, sometimes.
I have a great recipe for "Chicken for the Gods" in my sidebar- it's crockpot chicken that not dry, but not liquidy, either. I serve it over wild rice and with steamed broccoli for one of my favorite meals.
Posted by: Amy | January 26, 2008 at 06:27 PM
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW! Sorry they were a disappointment. Don't you just hate it when you put all that effort into preparing dinner and end up making a sandwich?
Posted by: joana | January 27, 2008 at 12:06 AM