Wednesday, 24 June 2015

CROCK POT PINEAPPLE GINGER CHICKEN



On Sunday I made crock pot pineapple ginger chicken.  It was really good.  The only thing if you like a lot of sauce I would double the sauce recipe which I will do the next time I make this.  It is very good and has a little kick to it.


In a bowl combine 1 cup cornstarch, pinch of salt, a couple of grinds of the pepper mill and cayenne pepper.  Mix it together.



Cut 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts into cubes.  Add to the cornstarch mixture and coat the chicken pieces.




Melt 1 Tablespoon on coconut oil in a pan.  Once it is melted add the chicken pieces and brown on each side.  You will need to do these in batches.  Do not overcrowd the pan.  Don't worry about cooking the chicken thoroughly as it will continue to cook in the crock pot.



Add the browned chicken to the crock pot and repeat until all the chicken has been browned.




To make the sauce drain the can of crushed pineapple.  Once drained set aside the pineapple.  To the pineapple juice, add rice vinegar, lite tamari sauce, coconut sugar, grated ginger, and red pepper flakes.  Whisk these ingredients together until combined.




Add the drained crushed pineapple to the crock pot.



Pour the prepared into the crock pot and set to low for about 4 hours.



At close to the four hour mark, remove the lid and gently stir the mixture and add the green onions. Continue to cook for another 5 - 10 minutes.





Serve the pineapple ginger chicken over cooked rice.  I served it over brown basmati rice.






INGREDIENTS:

4 Skinless, Boneless Chicken Breasts, cut into chunks
1 Cup Cornstarch
Pinch of Sea Salt
A couple of grinders of the pepper mill
1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 Tablespoon Coconut oil, more if needed

1 can of crushed pineapple in juice, juice drained from the pineapple
1/2 cup Lite Tamari Sauce
1/4 cup Rice Vinegar
1/4 cup Coconut Sugar
1 Tablespoon peeled, grated Ginger root
pinch of Red Pepper Flakes

1 bunch of Green Onions, chopped


DIRECTIONS:

In a bowl, mix together the cornstarch, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper.  Set aside.


Cut the chicken into bite size pieces and add to the cornstarch mixture in the bowl.  Coat the chicken pieces.

Melt coconut oil in a pan and add the coated chicken pieces.  Brown on both sides.  Do not overcrowd the pan.  Brown the chicken in batches adding more coconut oil if needed. Do not worry about cooking the chicken all the way through as it will continue to cook in the crock pot.  Once the chicken is browned add to the crock pot and repeat until all the chicken is browned.

Drain the can of crushed pineapple and set the pineapple aside.  To make the sauce take the pineapple juice and add the rice vinegar, tamari sauce, coconut sugar, grated ginger, red pepper flakes.  Whisk the ingredients together until completely combined.

Add the crushed pineapple on top of the chicken in the crock pot. Then add the sauce.  Put the lid on the crock pot and set it to low for about 4 hours.

Near the 4 hour mark remove the lid and carefully stir the chicken and add the chopped green onions. Continue to cook for 5-10 minutes.  Serve the chicken over cooked brown basmati rice.  ENJOY.

Note:  If you don't like spicy you can omit the cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes.


















Tuesday, 16 June 2015

Another container garden update



The peppers are coming along except for the jalapeno peppers no flowers or peppers yet.  The radishes are continuing to grow, the green onions are coming along.  The basil isn't looking so hot right now.



The first pot of Tinkerbell peppers has one red pepper which is about ready to be picked and has about 13 more peppers starting.




Up Close with the Tinkerbell peppers.




The first Gloria yellow pepper has started to grow



The Sweet Heat Pepper pot has one red pepper that is almost ready to pick.  Also has around 12 new peppers starting.





The sweet K pepper has 3 new peppers growing no red ones yet.







The second Tinkerbell pepper pot has about 15 green peppers started nothing has turned red yet.



Going to have to think of new recipes to use all these freshly grown peppers.  Thinking of red pepper soup, red pepper sauce just a few ideas right now.  Will know more once I have tasted them :)






Thursday, 4 June 2015

Container Garden Update



Well its been a little over a week since I planted the container gardens.  Its been a time of cooler temperatures, high winds and rain.  But they have survived and are growing.  The radishes are sprouting, the basil is doing well its two types but I don't remember what they are.  The peppers are growing more flowers are forming.  The only pepper that has no change is the jalapeno peppers they have not flowered yet so no peppers starting on that one.


Basil is growing
The beginning of the radishes

The beginning of the other variety of radishes

New tinkerbell pepper is growing

New flowers and tiny peppers starting.  Have to look really close to see them.

The sweet red pepper the first one is starting to grow and about 4 more flowers as well.

more flowers starting on the pepper plant

Lots of sweet heat peppers are starting.

The first sweet heat pepper is starting to turn red.  So excited :)


The other tinker bell plant is starting to form new peppers.

Lots of tinkerbell peppers still green so hard to see but they are there.


The adventures continue still might add a container of beets.  Looking forward to seeing the containers continue to grow.


 Until next time, Happy Gardening!!