2-2-2-Recipes in 1 (Chicken in a Crock Pot & Mac'n'Cheese for 2)

I've been all about reading lots of other blogs as of late...I'm always looking for recipes that are easy - especially slow-cooker ones. Last week for dinner I made a whole chicken in a crock pot from Colie's Kitchen as well as the Macaroni & Cheese for Two that I found on SteakNPotatoesKindaGurl right here in Cincinnati. 

I have to say the chicken recipe was awesome and easy!!! You throw some chopped onion in the bottom of the crock pot, rub spices on the chicken, plop it on top of the onions and voila - you're done! I let it cook all day on low.

I also built a fortress of objects around the crock pot. The little rodents of my home knocked the crock pot off the counter last time I used it (note the large chip on the top). Little bastards ate my roast and I didn't even get a bite!!! Not this time - the fortress of solitude will protect my chicken!

While the chicken was winding down I started up the mac & cheese. It was just as easy - combine sour cream & milk - then add shredded cheese and chopped onion. Then stir in cooked macaroni. Bam - done - put it in the oven.

I took the bird out of the crock pot and just as Colie mentioned - it fell apart - which is fine. I was planning on taking all the meat off the bone anyway - it's what I do when I buy the rotisserie chicken at the store too.

It also provided me with a nice bowl of chicken broth to use later in another recipe!

While the chicken was cooling - I stirred the cooked macaroni into the mixture of sour cream, milk, onion and cheese.

A bowl full of shredded chicken! I peeled the skin off as I was taking it off the bone. Larry likes making sandwiches or just heating it up and eating. I also had a recipe I spied (blog to come) for a casserole that called for 2 cups of cooked chicken!

I popped the mac & cheese into a casserole dish and baked it - it was extremely creamy and doesn't make too much. I get so tired of having so much that I have to eat it every day for 2 weeks (as is the case with the casserole recipe I'm making from the chicken).

So here was my dinner - a little mac & cheese and a little chicken. How were they?

Whole Chicken in A Crock Pot - Fantastic! I have a feeling I'll be making this a couple of times a month. It was so simple and affordable! The nice thing also is the spices can really change depending on what you like or what's in your cupboard!

Mac & Cheese for Two - This one didn't fare so well. It was creamy and cheesy but I just didn't like the sour cream taste. It was very pungent (and I love sour cream). I won't be making this one again - it was very easy though. If you love sour cream - you might try it.

And thanks so much to Colie & Desi for blogging about these recipes. Next time you want to make dinner - go to Google and search just the blogs - I'm sure you'll find something really great! Here's a start for you to check out - I looked up crock pot!

Here are the recipes:

Chicken in a Crock Pot


Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon white pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 large roasting chicken   
• 1 cup chopped onion

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, combine the spices.
2. Remove any giblets from chicken and clean chicken.
3. Rub spice mixture onto the chicken.
4. Place chopped onion in bottom of crock pot.
5. Add chicken. No liquid is needed, the chicken will make it's own juices.
6. Cook on low 4-8 hours.

Macaroni 'n' Cheese for Two

slightly adapted from Taste of Home's Down Home Cooking for One or Two

* Yields: 2 servings 

• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 3/4 cup elbow macaroni, cooked and drained
• 2 tablespoons chopped onion
• dash of paprika

In a bowl, combine sour cream and milk. Stir in the cheese, macaroni, and onion. Transfer to a greased baking dish; sprinkle with paprika. Cover and bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes.