Slow Cooker Italian Sausage Stew

I don't usually make a lot of slow cooker meals; however, I had my pot still out on the counter after I made the Beef Stroganoff and I found myself with some defrosted sausage and day where I wouldn't be getting home any time soon to whip up dinner.  I decided to make a stew with it (since I never tried it that way before) and boy was it good! I threw in the potatoes as a last minute decision as well to make it a complete all-in-one meal and I was glad I did. This Italian Sausage Stew was so filling and flavorful and I was happy that there was some extra left over so that I could pick on it for lunch the next day as it reheated beautifully. 

Italian Sausage Stew

Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 4-8 hours (depending on setting) Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 12 Italian Sausage Links (Sweet or Hot), cut in half
• 1 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1/2 Red Onion, chopped
• 2 Garlic Cloves, chopped
• 3 Stalks Celery, washed and sliced
• 3 Parsnips, peeled and sliced
• 3 Large Carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1 Bunch Rosemary
• 1 Bunch Thyme
• 1/2 c. White Wine
• 1/2 c. Low Sodium/Fat Free Chicken Broth
• 4 Medium Red Potatoes, washed and quartered
• Kitchen String

Directions

1. In a large nonstick saute pan, heat the oil over medium heat; then add the sausage and brown it on all sides. Place in your slow cooker. 
2. Next, add your onion, garlic, celery, parsnips, and carrots to the slow cooker and mix them in with the sausage. 
3. Tie the rosemary and thyme together with kitchen string and nestle the bunch in with the meat and vegetables. Pour the wine and chicken broth over the top, cover the slow cooker and cook on Low 6-8 hours or High 4-6 hours. 
4. The last hour of cooking, add in the potatoes. (If you don't have an extra hour, you can prepare the potatoes the night before by either boiling or microwaving them until they are soft, yet slightly firm). 

Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts 

Calories 420, Carbs 33.9g, Fat 16.8g, Protein 30.6g, Fiber 4.3g, Sugar 4.5g

*Calculations based on ingredients entered into Calorie Count and may not be 100% accurate.

Slow Cooker Italian Sausage Stew Shopping List

Chicken and Rice with Zucchini

Happy Monday, I hope you all had a lovely weekend! 

I don't have many of these, but I recently had a recipe flop. Well, not a complete flop because I was able to ultimately salvage the meal. But this recipe for Chicken and Rice with Zucchini first started off as something else. I had originally wanted to use my bone-in chicken thighs as a braise with the zucchini, but the sauce looked a little boring and colorless. So I wound up removing the chicken from the bone, adding some rice to absorb the liquid and turned it into a one-pot meal. 

I was SO glad I did! This dish was amazing and it really simplified my dinner plans for the evening. My guess is that you could also cook this in a slow cooker most of the day on low, then just add your rice a half hour before you're ready to serve.  I adjusted the directions and cooking times below to reflect using chicken off of the bone and you could even use boneless chicken or turkey breasts as well in this dish. 

Chicken and Rice with Zucchini
4 Chicken Thighs, boneless and skinless
1 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Medium Zucchini, rinsed
2 Scallions, chopped
2 Garlic Cloves, minced
8 oz. Mushrooms, sliced (I used white button)
3 Sprigs Fresh Thyme
1 c. White Wine (I used Pinot Grigio)
1 c. Instant White Rice 
Kosher Salt, to taste
Fresh Ground Black Pepper, to taste

Directions:
1. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large stockpot over medium-high heat. 
2. Rinse the chicken, then pat dry. Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the pot and allow to cook approximately 5 minutes; it should be lightly browned on all sides. 
3. While your chicken is browning, prepare your vegetables. Remove the top from the zucchini, cut in half lengthwise then chop in 1/4" slices (or half moons).
4. When the chicken is finished, add the zucchini, scallions, garlic, mushrooms and thyme to the pot. Allow to saute for 3-5 minutes until the vegetables start to soften; then add in the white wine. Cover the pot, reduce heat to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes. 
5. Next, add in the rice, replace the cover and allow to simmer for an additional 15-20 minutes; until the liquid is absorbed. (If using brown or long grain rice, cooking times may vary; as will the need for adding additional liquid, like chicken broth or water). Serves 4. 

*Nutritional Information per Serving: Calories 273, Carbs 23g, Fat 6.8g, Protein 18.9g, Fiber 1.4g, Sugar 1.9g

*Calculations based on ingredients entered into Calorie Count and may not be 100% accurate.

Enjoy! 

Chicken Balsamico

I had purchased some chicken thighs in preparation of making something with them while my Mom was visiting last month, but never really got around to it. The kitchen still wasn't done through most of her stay and we were just too busy with other things to really make dinner home much. (Truth be told, I had no where to take a nice, pretty picture of anything new once it was done. So the things I did make were recipes I've either made before or new ones that I'll have to make again...hmmm if I can remember, I rarely make the same thing the same way twice!) 

Since I froze this large package of chicken in it's entirety, I wanted to make something with a sauce or stew since the chances of it being eaten more than once would have been a lot better than if I had grilled them. I wanted simple and easy, as cheering season is underway (and I have no life) and this was perfect. Now, I'm not one to eat leftovers, but I have to say, they tasted even better heated up the next day! I just love the flavor combination of balsamic vinegar and fresh rosemary and by cooking them in this sauce, they were extremely moist too. 

Chicken Balsamico
12 Bone-in Chicken Thighs
1 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 Sprigs Fresh Rosemary, removed from stem
4 Garlic Cloves, thinly sliced
1/4 c. Aged Balsamic Vinegar
1/4 c. White Wine (I used a Sauvignon Blanc)
1/2 c. Low-Sodium Chicken Broth
Kosher Salt, to taste
Fresh Ground Black Pepper, to taste

Directions:
1. In your Dutch oven, add the oil and season the chicken with salt and pepper. 
2. Next, brown the chicken on both sides until the chicken is almost cooked through. You may need to do this in two batches. Transfer the chicken to a platter, cover and set aside. 
3. Add the rosemary, garlic, vinegar, wine and chicken broth to the Dutch oven and bring to a boil. Let simmer 5 minutes. 
4. Add the chicken back in, cover and let simmer for 30-40 minutes(until the chicken is cooked through). Remove the chicken and place on a serving platter; then cover and set aside. 
5. Turn the heat on high and bring the liquid in the Dutch oven up to a full boil, uncovered for approximately 15 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Pour the sauce over the chicken. Serves 6. 

Nutrition Facts per Piece of Chicken

Calories 131, Carbs 2.3g, Fat 6.6g, Protein 13.9g, Fiber 0g, Sugar 1.6g

*Calculations based on ingredients entered into Calorie Count and may not be 100% accurate.

Enjoy!