Crockpot Chicken Lettuce Wrap

I have a new best friend and her name is "CP", short for crockpot.  We have been doing alot of activities together and some more than once because it's so fun!

One of the things we can't do together is go out to eat, so....I bring the recipes to her and we try'em out.  I love me some chinese food and really like P.F. Chang but maybe go once a year if I'm lucky.

They have alot of tummy yummy's but something they are known for are their "Lettuce wraps".  I came across a recipe...wait, not just any recipe but a crockpot recipe for making these tummy fav's.  Stephanie @ A year of slow cooking [click for original recipe]is one of my new blog friends (well not new anymore, I've known her for a year now) but she doesn't know but we are like this...X.

I've made this recipe twice and would do it more but don't want to burn myself out.

Crockpot Chicken Lettuce Wrap

What you need:

Not pictured: Lettuce and rice

10-15 Boneless skinless chicken tenderloins (I used frozen)

3 Tbsp of minced garlic

4 Tbsp of dried onion flakes (or 1/2 chopped onion)

1/4 Cup soy sauce

1/4 Cup white cooking wine

1/2 Tsp ginger

2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

Dash of allspice

Directions:

• Put chicken in crockpot topped with garlic and onion. 
• In a mixing bowl, mix the liquid and spices.  Pour over chicken. 
• Cover and cook on high for 6-8hrs.  I did stir a couple of times as chicken wanted to stick together.
• Once done, you can chop chicken up inside crockpot or take out and chop, then put back in.
• Serve over lettuce leaves.  I used a head of lettuce and chopped up but rumor has it that Trader Joe's sells them already separated (I haven't made it there yet).  I also added rice because they give you rice at PF Changs.

Enjoy, I sure did.  I would say it serves at least a family 4.

Crockpot Chicken Chili

For bible study, I always like to sign up to bring a dish for 1. It's means I have to come, no backing out and 2. I always like to find and try new recipes and they are my testers.

I use to make things for work but sometimes people start to take you for granted and something fun that I liked to do just because turned into a pain.  What do I mean?  Well I would make different dishes and everyone would like them and then start requesting items or asking why I didn't bring breakfast or lunch in because they were waiting.  Or people would want to know why I didn't provide drinks to go with the item and if I ask for someone to bring drinks, you thought I had asked for them to handmake it.  Then people would go on "diets" and be upset that you didn't make a specialized dish for them.  Hogwash!!  Yes, I should continue to do what I like to do and bless them but I will say, I have to do it on my on timing so I won't get caught up in my emotions of their actions.

It was chili month at bible study and I had signed up to bring "White Chicken Chili".  I have never made it nor had it so off to look for recipes.  After looking at all the recipes, I realized that I wasn't too fond of white beans.  I'm not too fond of beans in general but definitely not white beans.  Thanks to Chipotle, I really like black beans and came across a recipe using black beans.  Then to my surprise, I came across one for the....Crockpot!  Yes!!  So I was going to make white chicken chili w/black beans.  It didn't dawn on me to call it "Chicken Chili" until I mentioned to someone what I was making.  I know, I'm a little slow.  I've been having alot of those moments lately.

So I made this for the bible study and brought leftovers to work to eat.  One of my co-workers asked if she could have some (which I was thinking, it was just some that I had bought) and then another co-worker heard her ask and she asked if she could have some.  Always excited for people to try what I make I said sure.  They warmed it up and had some.  Then they asked if they could have it all because it was soo good.  Of course I said sure.  They've been asking for it all the time now.

You can find the original recipe that what Mel calls the "Easiest Dinner Ever"  on her blog.  

Crockpot Chicken Chili

What you need:

Most important: 1 crockpot liner!

1 Bag of boneless skinless chicken breast tenderloins (used frozen)

1 Can of black beans (drained & rinsed)

1 Can of corn (drained)

1 Can of  rotel (I used mild, I'm a wuss)

1-10oz Sante Fe Blend Cooking Creme

Directions:

Put items in the crock in order of list. 

I put it on in the morning on low and after an 8 hour shift at work, Bam! It was done.  After stirring chii, it was perfect.  I did not shred or cut chicken.  They were already in perfect pieces.  If you turn it off and let it set for 30-45 mins, chili will thicken a little.

The recipe calls for you to put it over rice but you great with or without rice.

**A couple of suggestions:

I used Bush's Seasoned black beans which is alot better.

The recipe calls for 8oz of plain cream cheese.  I did try but it was NOT good.

Re-Kindle Love

For my crockpot.  Or should I say crockpotssss!



I have even a smaller one not pictured, it's at work.  Made chocolate fondue in it for the kids at work!

I've always enjoyed my crockpot but finding recipes or should I say realistic simple recipes have been a challenge.  Well, within the last month, there have been some great websites surfacing on the internet via facebook and blogs. 
On top of this wonder, I've been exposed to crockpot liners savers, smile.  I bought my first box last weekend.  I will say, only 4 bags come in a box, REALLY!  You can't put a number on love, so let's put a little bit more bags in that box please Reynolds, (click on link for a $1 off coupon) please and thank you!

So I used my first crockpot liner Monday for a new recipe called Crockpot Brown Sugar Chicken aka Candy Chicken.  Stephanie @ A year of slow cooking has some really great recipes.  I think I found her site way of fb.

Candy Chicken

Ingredients


Look at me being all domestic, had my laptop ready with the recipe pulled up!

• 12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or 6 boneless skinless breast halves (I used 1 boneless chicken breast and 4 boneless chicken breast halves)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup lemon-lime soda
• 2/3 cup vinegar (I used white wine vinegar)
• 3 cloves smashed and chopped garlic (I used 3T minced garlic, that what I had on hand)
• 2T soy sauce
• 1 tsp ground black pepper

Directions
Use a 4 quart crockpot for this recipe.  (I don't know what size mine is but it worked great-see my baby)

Happily lay your chicken in your crockpot.  Cover with the brown sugar, pepper, chopped garlic and soy sauce.  Add the vinegar and soda.

Cover and Cook on low for 6-9 hours or high 4-5hrs.  Now, let that babe rock your world! 

Serve over a bowl of white rice with a ladle full of the broth.

What I came home from work too, yummy!

The finished product!

My thoughts
I made for my neighbor too and she loved it.  She said it tasted like chinese food.  Which it did.  It tasted like sweet and sour chicken.  The next time I would probably add less vinegar and brown sugar.  I would probably add some vegetables in the mix.  It would be good with fried rice.  I need to find a simple recipe for that.

Overall, I would make it again.