I'm off to sea!

Hi blog-loves!

Hope you've been enjoying the recent posts here on Gas Stove Girl. I'm having a ton of fun cooking and eating them, and I hope you do too!

Like any good adult, I'm treating myself to a tropical vacation for the next week. I'll be cruising with my good friend to Belize and Cozumel--can you say bright sunshine and 85 degree weather?! I NEED IT!

Since I will be in the middle of the ocean, I won't have any new posts for you. That doesn't mean you can't be cooking though! Perhaps you want to give one of Gas Stove Girl's most popular recipes a try.

These Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers have far and away attracted the most readers. They are cheesy and hearty, all the amazing flavors of a traditional Philly Cheesesteak stuffed in a pepper...YUM!

Perhaps you need something to warm you up. In that case, Mom's Lentil Soup is a popular stop. This soup is healthy and flavorful, and makes you feel right at home.

My Ground Lamb Lettuce Wraps are packed with rustic Mediterranean flavors. They are light and satisfying. A great alternative to a traditional taco.

 

This French Onion Pasta is comfort food at it's finest. A full meal inspired by a traditional French Onion soup. That means there is bubbly melted cheese on top...you're welcome!

If you love your Crock Pot as much as I do, then you are going to love this Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore. This meal rocked my socks off. A little bit of prep work leads to a rich, flavorful, and down-right addicting chicken dish.

Have fun cooking while I am away! Let me know what kinds of recipes you'd like to see when I get back, and be sure to comment on any posts with recipes that you've tried -- I'd love to know how it went for you.

Pictures of my tropical paradise to follow!

Until next time,

Jess xo

Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore

I think that Crock Pots are the most cocky kitchen appliance.

Can't you imagine the Crock Pot taunting all the other appliances? "I'm so awesome, I make everything delicious and totally simple, everybody loves me. Nahh nah nahh!"

 I mean, I can't blame the Crock Pot. It literally rocks my world.

Tonight's dinner also rocked my world...we went back for seconds. It felt so right to indulge.

My second helping...

Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore simmered away for 8 hours while I went to the movies and did a bunch of chores. When it was done, there was a rich tomato-based sauce and fall-off-the-bone chicken waiting to be enjoyed.

There was a little bit more prep required for this meal than you would expect for a typical slow cooker dish, but the depth of flavor comes through and makes it all worth it.

It starts with 8 chicken thighs, seasoned liberally with salt and pepper. Then I dredged them in flour and seared them in a frying pan to create a nice, brown skin. Into the Crock Pot they go!

In the same pan, cook your vegetables (green and red peppers, and red onion) for 5 minutes until slightly tender and browned.

Place the veggies in the Crock Pot along with a 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes. Stir in a large amount of dried oregano and a scant teaspoon of sugar.

"Scant teaspoon" = a teaspoon, that isn't quite filled. Very professional term. There will be a test on this later.

Cook on low for 8 hours and wait. The aroma of the peppers and tomatoes will be blissful.

During the last hour of cooking, turn the setting to high and remove the cover. This will thicken the sauce just a bit. I also stirred in the juice of 1 lemon, for an added bite.

At this point, the chicken is so tender that it will pull right away from the bones. Immediately serve on a bed of whole wheat pasta and sprinkle grated parmesan cheese on top. I also garnished each plate with a bit of fresh parsley.

I really loved this dinner because the flavors were complex and built on top of one another. The sauce was rich and thick, and the flavor of the peppers along with the lemon juice and the bit of sweetness from the sugar is tangy, but not sour. Add in some salty cheese, and we are totally in business. Ladies and gentlemen...start your Crock Pots!