It's been a good run...........

Slow Cooker shortcut rotisserie chicken

Two weeks ago I posted a risotto recipe served with an easy slow cooker meal. The shortcut rotisserie chicken recipe is from Delish magazine and I can recommend it as super easy and flavorful.

Did I get photos of the bird all cooked and browned and pretty? Noooo...so here is a photo from the magazine and I swear, it looked just like this!

You'll need the following:

cooking spray
2 TB brown sugar
1 TB chili powder (I only used a sprinkle)
1 TB smoked paprika
1 tsp. fresh thyme
1 whole chicken, giblets removed *
salt and pepper

Grease a large slow cooker with cooking spray. Roll a few balls of aluminum foil and place in the slow cooker, creating a rack for the chicken.

In a small bowl, whisk together the seasonings.  We aren't fans of a lot of heat so I didn't use as much chili powder. After washing the chicken pat dry with paper towels. Generously rub with salt and pepper then rub the seasoning mix all over the bird.

Place in slow cooker, breast side up.

Cook on High for 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours, until juices run clear. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and if you want it browned more or crisp skin, place under a broiler for 3 minutes.

We didn't do the broiler part, just carefully lifted the chicken out next to the cutting board, let it sit a moment before cutting.

* The recipe didn't state what size chicken so I used one which was almost 5 pounds and went for the longer cooking period.  Turned out perfectly.

Update: we made it again and here it is 👇 still in the crock.  We did not put it in the oven to brown afterwards.

Linking with Marg at The Intrepid Reader for Weekend Cooking.

Gnocchi with spinach, cherry tomatoes and goat cheese

Gnocchi is a wonderful staple for the pantry.  It doesn't need refrigeration and can be dressed up a variety of ways.  If the electric goes out, and you have a gas stove or camp stove, this is an easy meal.  I mention that because in Florida we have hurricane supplies on hand in case you need to hunker down. 👇 This is a stove top meal.

This plated up nicely but take my word for it - Do Not replace goat cheese with Boursin cheese.  This turned out so incredibly rich we couldn't eat the leftovers.  I ought to have followed the recipe and not substituted! Here is a recipe for the meal but I found the recipe I used in a magazine.  Now I can't find the magzine so, can't tell you the publication.  This recipe appears to be the same and again...use the goat cheese.

Besides the gnocchi you have nice fresh ingredients such as cherry tomatoes, fresh baby spinach, garlic and onions. Let me know if you try this and have better luck with the goat cheese :-)  This is a vegetarian dish if you use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.

Sharing with The Intrepid Reader for Weekend Cooking.

Book page

Book Page is a free publication available at the library.  I like flipping through to see which new books are showcased and get ideas for my to-read list on Goodreads. 

I saw a historical fiction review in Book Page for The Bookbinder by Pip Williams.  It mentions this is a follow-up book to The Dictionary of Lost Words.  Has anyone read either of these books and if so, could I read The Bookbinder without being totally lost?

Finished / The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton.  If you click on the book title it will take you to my review on Goodreads.  * Thank you Terrie for helping me  figure out how to link to my account :-) 

This was great to read while Hurricane Idelia was deciding where to go. We are in north Florida and landfall was south of us near Cedar Key. We were just down in that area two weeks ago when Doug delivered a telescope.  Currently we're getting rain and wind but nothing like the full force of a hurricane. 

Currently reading / The Downstairs Neighbor by Helen Cooper. The setting is London England.  I saw this on Les' site Coastal Horizons and it's a good so far.  Love a mystery.

That's my bookish roundup this week.  

Linking with:

Readerbuzz for Sunday Salon
Joy for British Isles Friday 

Books, movies and life

Life / Two weeks ago Doug sold one of his telescopes so we made a short trip south for the handoff.  It's always nice when you don't have to ship something large and heavy. 

Doctor appointments seemed to be clustered into a 10 day period between the two of us. The usual physical, eye exam to keep check on Doug's eye after his torn retina in 2020 and a crazy misdiagnosis for me about my liver.

 I had a call that my blood work came in and was told I had a history of cirrhosis and they needed me to see the doctor instead of the P.A. Naturally I panicked. Then I received an apology because they had misread my chart/ mixed me up with another patient. Whew!  So here I am now, just enjoying my healthy liver :-) And a few glasses of Chablis :-)

Book 📚📚📚 Chat

I saw The Downstairs Neighbor on Les's site Coastal Horizons so that's in my lineup.  For my nonfiction book I am reading The Great Displacement by Jake Bittle. Here's my reading buddy Loki.

Just finished Fresh Water for Flowers by Valerie Perrin. 

Watched / A British mini series called In the Dark. This show was adapted from books by Mark Billingham and gets quite gritty.  Filmed in Manchester you get a dose of crime, drama and good acting.  You'll loathe a few characters and have a nice twist near the end.  Only four episodes. Note: There is another show called In the Dark so if you look for this one look for one starring MyAnna Burring and Ben Batt.

We also tried Guardians of the Galaxy 3 and it wasn't great, in our opinion.  You get Rocket's back story and it was, as expected, very sad.  Will not purchase.

That's my roundup - I hope you are enjoying some good books and lovely weather!

Linking with:

Readerbuzz for Sunday Salon
Joy for British Isles Friday
Women in Translation months - August 2023

One Pot Meal - Ranch Chicken and Rice

With heat indexes constantly in the triple digits I like to prepare something which doesn't require the oven.  Why add more heat to the kitchen - find a one-pot stove top dish to slap together. 

Here is a good recipe which is fast, easy and utilizes only one pan.  This ranch chicken and rice was on the table in 40 minutes from start to finish.  That includes prep and all you need is a skillet. * Jinjer, you can make this in your cute pink hotpot!

The magazine is called Delish and this is a repeat of their popular chicken dinner publication. So far I have tried three recipes from this magazine and all have been successful. Don't you hate it when something doesn't turn out and you followed the directions? This magazine appears to actually test the recipes. 

Ranch Chicken and Rice

Delish Chicken Dinners magazine - 2022

4 bone-in, skin on chicken thighs

salt and pepper

1 cup Ranch dressing

2 TB extra virgin olive oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 onion, chopped

2 cups low sodium chicken broth

1 cup white rice

1 cup baby spinach

3/4 cup chopped parsley

In a large mixing bowl, season chicken with salt and pepper.  Add ranch dressing and marinate at least 5 minutes.  * I dumped the chicken in a freezer bag and put it in the fridge for an hour.

Heat large skillet and add olive oil.  Pat some of the ranch dressing off the chicken. Sear the chicken skin side down until golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate, cover to keep a bit warm. Reduce heat and add garlic and onion, about 2 minutes.

Stir in broth and rice. Season with more salt and pepper per your taste.  Return chicken to rice mixture, skin side up.  Simmer until rice is tender and chicken is cooked through.  This will take approx. 20 minutes.

Stir in baby spinach and parsley and serve.

Next up is the slow cooker rotisserie recipe #winner

Linking with Marg at The Intrepid Reader for Weekend Cooking.