Maple Chicken*
(This would serve 8 or so, adjust according to need)
12 or so Boneless/Skinless Chicken thighs- I buy the big frozen bag at Costco
1/3 cup Maple Syrup
2 Tbs Coconut Aminos (This is an alternative to Soy Sauce, you can use Soy Sauce or Bragg's)
2 Tbs minced garlic and/or 1/2 a chopped onion
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp ground ginger
salt and pepper to taste
*This recipe is so forgiving. The amounts given are approximate. I don't think I've ever used the exact same amounts twice...I've even forgotten an ingredient. It always turns out, though I do believe these amounts will get the best results.
Place the chicken in your crock-pot/slow cooker. Turn it on HIGH while you are mixing the rest of your ingredients. In a small bowl or liquid measuring cup mix together remaining ingredients and pour over the chicken. I like to leave the slow cooker on high for an hour or so to bring it up to temp quickly, then turn it down to LOW. This cooks 6-8 hours on low. BUT if you forget to start it earlier in the day OR it just works better (for you) to start it later; just leave it on high for 4 hours. Make a gravy with all of the juices left behind in the pot after you remove the chicken.
I serve this chicken with mashed sweet potatoes...
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
(again, adjust amounts according to how many people you are serving and to taste)
5 peeled and cubed sweet potatoes
1/2 butter or coconut oil
1/2 to 1 can of full fat coconut milk
a dash of Cinnamon
Salt to taste
Boil the cubed sweet potatoes in water until tender. Drain and put back in pot. Add butter/oil, coconut milk, cinnamon and salt. Mash (I like us use my hand mixer). Babies and toddlers LOVE this too. I like to make extra to freeze when I have a little one.
This is about the amount I make to serve my family, sometimes a bit more or less. Serve it with some sort of veggie (broccoli works well) and/or salad. Right now there are 11 of us. The teen boys eat quite a bit, others not so much. It all evens out to be just about right for us.
