Slow Cooker Apple and Onion BBQ Chicken

To keep costs at a relatively reasonable rate, my family and I try to eat in while on vacation. This can be hard when we all have different plans and guests over and whatnot. Especially when we’re on the beach all day. 

So, this recipe was put to use this week to feed a bunch of people as they came and went. Since it’s a slow cooker, I was able to start it up before I headed down to the beach and come back with it almost complete. 

Plus, it wasn’t too laborious on my arm (still getting used to the cast!)

Oh, and another thing I loved about this? You get a side dish of BBQ apples and onions, a combination that tastes surprising good together!

Slow Cooker Apple and Onion BBQ Chicken

Ingredients: 

4 lbs organic chicken drumsticks 

2 cup BBQ sauce (I used Bill’s Best Organic BBQ Sauce) 

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 onions, chopped 

2 apples, peeled and cut into 1 inch-cubed pieces

4 garlic cloves, minced 

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker (don’t worry if it’s filled to the top- it’ll shrink as it cooks.) Put on low and let cook for 5 hours. Remove chicken. With a slotted spoon, scoop up remaining onions and apples, drain of excess sauce, and place in its own bowl to serve as a side dish. 

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Spinach Feta Burgers (Baked)

Nobody in my family is a vegetarian. Nor are any of my friends. 

And then I met my boyfriend’s vegetarian friends- who were hosting a Memorial Day BBQ. 

And this put me in an internal dilemma: what about the ribs? Sausages? Mostly importantly, the hamburgers?!? 

Yet I persevered through (aren’t I such a trooper?). And I even contributed by bringing spinach burgers (which I keep calling “pretty patties” in my head- Spongebob, anyone?). Although I prefer the meat, this was the prefect alternative for the occasion (and maybe this 4th of July weekend too!) 

Spinach Feta Burgers  

Ingredients:

1 (16oz) bag chopped spinach (thawed and well drained)

2 eggs 

1/2 c onion, diced

1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped 

1/2 cup feta cheese

1/4 cup tapioca flour 

3 tbsp BBQ sauce 

1 tsp garlic powder

salt and pepper, to taste 

1 and 1/2 tbsp pine nuts

Directions: 

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking pan with foil and spray with cooking oil. Combine all the ingredients and form patties. Place on the pan and bake for 12 minutes. Flip and bake for another 12 minutes. Let sit patties sit for 10 minutes to firm up before serving. 

 

Baked BBQ Onion Rings

Onion rings have been on my to-do list for a looong time now. My first attempt was not so good. And so, I had to rebuild my ego up before trying again. This time, I am proud to say, I have succeeded in making the perfect onion ring. And it is soooo worth the first failure to be able to stuff these in my mouth. My brother and I were left by ourselves last weekend and we had the pleasure of gobbling these down for dinner along with avocado nuggets (recipe soon to come!) Just make sure to use a good BBQ sauce!

In other non-related food news, I am very excited for today. Why? It’s my birthday! And this so happens to mean that I get treated to my favorite food, sushi! (Is it bad that my greatest joy comes from consuming raw fish???) Now oddly enough, I’m very much hoping that Hurricane Sandy comes through strong tomorrow night so my college closes down for Monday. That way, I can get an extra day to study so I can enjoy a study-free birthday without feeling guilty. According to the weather channel (yes, I know, such a reliable source) South Jersey is supposed to get hammered. I already know people are stocking up on water bottles and flash lights. As for me, I think I’ll just barricade myself in with some left-over sushi and onion rings 🙂

Baked Barbecue Onion Rings

Ingredients: 

2 medium onions

2 tbsp whole wheat flour

1/3 cup barbecue sauce (I used cajun-seasoned sauce)

1 egg

1/2 tsp garlic powder

salt and pepper

1 and 1/3 cup panko crumbs

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and spay a pan with oil. Peel off the the hard outer layer of the onions. With a medallion, slice the onion into 1/4 inch thick slices. (Careful with your fingers!) In a shallow bowl, combine and mix the flour, barbecue sauce, egg, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. In another shallow bowl, place and spread out panko crumbs. Either using your hands or tongs, take one onion ring and place it in the barbecue sauce mixture. Shake off the excess sauce and place in panko bowl. Completely cover with crumbs and, again, shake off the excess and place on the baking pan. Repeat with every onion. Bake in oven for 18 minutes.