Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Thanks to "Just a Taste" blog for this recipe. It is awesome! Perfect Monday dinner to come home to after a long day. Many times "Asian" type chicken dishes in the crock pot lack flavor. This one was packed with flavor. I did add A LOT more garlic and onions to the recipe, I highly recommend it. This dish was also really good with some sriracha lightly drizzled over :) I served ours over brown Jasmine rice (even though it looks white in the picture), but it is definitely not necessary.

3 large chicken breasts, skinless

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup blackberry jam

1/4 cup hoisin sauce

2 tablespoons olive oil

7 cloves garlic minced

1 diced onion

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 tablespoon cornstarch

scallions & sesame seeds for garnish

Directions:

• Put chicken in the slow cooker
• In a small bowl, mix together hone, soy, jam, hoisin, olive oil, garlic, onion and crushed red peppers. Then pour the sauce over the chicken
• Cover and cook the chicken on low for 5 hours until the chicken is fully cooked. 
• Remove the chicken and shred, then put in a large bowl.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water to make a slurry.
• Transfer liquids from slow cooker into a small saucepan and set over medium-high heat and whisk. Add the cornstarch slurry.
• Bring the sauce to a boil and cook until it reduces and has thickened slightly - 3-5 minutes. 
• Pour the sauce over the chicken and toss. 
• Serve the chicken topped with scallions and sesame seeds. 

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Chicken Ravioli with Kale and Peppers

Here is what my schedule regularly looks like: Wake up at 4:30 am, get to the gym by 4:50 to set up and workout from 5:15 -6:15 am, run to work and be working by 7:00 am, work until 4:00 pm, rush home, change and get back to the gym by 5:30 pm (trying to get some sort of dinner prepped before I go to the gym), work at the gym until 8 - 8:30 pm! Long day! So when Stephen and I get home at 8 - 8:30 we are starving and I am always looking for something quick to make. This is a dish I will regularly go to. DELICIOUS and uber simple!

1/2 container of Costco Chicken & Mozzarella Ravioli

Italian Meatballs (mine had mozzarella in them)

1 orange pepper, diced

1 yellow pepper. diced

1 cup of Kale, diced

2 cups fresh spinach

salt and pepper

garlic powder

pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

Meatballs

Directions:

• Boil your water and cook the ravioli according to the instructions, drain and set aside - reserve about 1/4 cup of hot cooking liquid
• Cook meatballs in a pan until they are browned
• Add Peppers, kale, and spinach and cook about 5 minutes, until everything is softer. You still want everything to taste fresh and have some crispness. 
• Season the vegetables
• Add the ravioli to the veggies and meatballs - add a little bit of the pasta cooking water to the pan and stir, careful not to add to much (only need about 3 tablespoons). 
• Devour! 

WODtoberfest 2013

I competed in my second CrossFit competition this past Saturday!! Although I had really hoped I would place higher, I am super proud of my 8th place finish- TOP 10!! woo hoo!! I had so much fun and I really feel so blessed to be part of such an awesome team. Obsidian CrossFit had such a strong presence at the event and it was so fun to cheer on every single athlete. I can't wait for next year. Below is a pic of our crew- although we were missing a couple of key people when we took the picture (my parents, Stephens mom and some of our other awesome cheerleaders!)

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