Crock pot cilantro lime chicken, deconstructed!

If you are like me, heating up the kitchen during the summer months is not an option.  If I don’t have time to grill, I turn to my crock pot. 

This recipe is one of my favorites.  Simply add the ingredients to your crock pot and walk away.  In hours, you have a flavorful chicken ready for use in tacos, fajitas, or in sandwiches.  If there are leftovers, simply make a Mexican chicken salad (onions, peppers, corn and black beans with lime-cilantro dressing) the next day!

I add a splash of beer to my crock pot, though it isn’t required.  I think it gives the chicken an extra kick!

Cilantro lime chicken

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

16. oz jar salsa

Optional:  one jalapeno pepper, diced, seeds removed if desired

1 pkg. Taco seasoning

¼ c. fresh lime juice (Reserve juiced lime and cut into quarters)

1 TB. dried cilantro

Optional:  ¼ c. beer

Add the salsa, taco seasoning, lime juice, juiced lime, beer, and cilantro to the crock pot and stir.  Add the chicken breasts, and coat with the salsa mixture.

Cover the crock pot, and cook on high until tender, about four hours.  (The chicken may also be cooked on low for six to eight hours.)

Shred the chicken, and serve in taco shells, tortillas, or on rolls.  Add additional salsa, onions, peppers or cilantro if desired.

Cilantro lime chicken, deconstructed 

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

16 oz. jar salsa 

>Health alert:  Commercially made salsa may contain all sorts of interesting ingredients.  It may be high in salt or sugar.  It may contain MSG or thickeners.  If any of these are a dietary concern, check the product labels carefully.  In the alternative, make your own.  (see the recipe below) and adjust the ingredients as necessary.

Optional:  one jalapeno pepper, diced, seeds removed if desired

1 pkg. Taco seasoning

>Health alert:  Prepackaged taco seasoning may contain excessive salt or MSG.  If this is a dietary concern, check the product labels carefully.  In the alternative, make your own (see recipe below), and adjust the ingredients as necessary.

¼ c. fresh lime juice (juiced lime reserved and cut into quarters)

1 TB. dried cilantro

Optional:  ¼ c. beer

(Follow the instructions above.)

Easy salsa

2 c. chopped tomatoes, seeds removed

6 cloves minced garlic

1 medium onion, diced

½ red bell pepper, diced and seeds removed

1 jalapeno pepper, diced and seeds removed

1 TB. lime juice

¼ c. fresh cilantro, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor and chop until the mixture  reaches the desired consistency.

Taco seasoning

1 TB. chili powder

1 ½ tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. Kosher salt

1 tsp. black pepper

½ tsp. paprika

¼ tsp. garlic powder, onion powder, crushed red pepper flakes, and dry oregano

Pour all of the ingredients into a zipped plastic bag and shake well. This recipe creates the equivalent of one store-bought seasoning envelope.

Red, white and blue baked Alaska, deconstructed!

With the fourth of July upon us, a great dessert for a cookout is this easy baked Alaska.  Since you control the colors of the ice cream, you can add or omit any that your desire. I like to make mine red, white, and blue.

This is a not a dessert that can be made quickly, since the ice cream needs to be frozen solid before it can be covered in meringue.  It takes me at least two days!

Easy baked Alaska

1 qt. strawberry ice cream, soft

2 qts. vanilla ice cream soft

1 c. thinly sliced strawberries

1 c. blueberries

Angel food cake

6 large eggs, separated

Pinch of tartar sauce

1 c. sugar

2 sparklers or mini-flags

Line a large bundt pan with plastic wrap. Add a layer of strawberry ice cream, and top with the sliced strawberries.  Add half of the vanilla ice cream and smooth the ice cream into a level layer.  Mix the blueberries into the remaining ice cream, and stir.  Add this layer on top and smooth until level. Freeze at least overnight. 

Cut the angel food cake in half, and position one half on a cake plate.  Remove the ice cream from the bundt pan, and flip it onto the cake (rounded side up), matching up the center holes. Remove the plastic wrap.  Put the plate in the freezer while preparing the meringue.

Separate the eggs, place the whites in a bowl, and allow them to come to room temperature.  Add the cream of tartar and whip the whites with a mixer on medium high until foamy, about two minutes.  Slowly add the sugar, whipping the whites on high, until they are glossy and hold stiff peaks. 

Remove the cake from the freezer and completely cover it with the meringue, using any extra to create peaks or waves on top.  Keep the cake in the freezer until you are ready to serve the dessert.  Then, using a cook’s torch, brown the meringue with the flame, moving the torch constantly in circles.  Add the sparklers and light them just before serving.  (Extinguish the sparklers before serving.)  Store any leftovers in the freezer.

Easy baked Alaska, deconstructed

1 qt. strawberry ice cream, soft

2 qts. vanilla ice cream soft

>Fat alert:  Ice cream is high in fat.  If this is a dietary concern, a low-fat version, or frozen yogurt,  are the best alternatives.

>Health alert:  Ice cream can be high in sugar. If this is a dietary concern, low or sugar-free versions are available. 

>Health alert:  Ice cream is a dairy product.  If this is a dietary concern, try vegan alternatives made from almond or coconut milk. 

1 c. thinly sliced strawberries

1 c. blueberries

Angel food cake

>Health alert:  Angel food cake is traditionally made from egg whites, flour, and sugar.  Some versions contain a significant amount of sugar.  If this is a concern, check the product label carefully.  In the alternative, make your own using an alternative sweetener, or limiting the amount of sugar used.

>Health alert:  If egg whites are a concern, any type of cake or crushed cookies may be used.  In the alternative, make the cake yourself, using an egg alternative.

 6 large eggs, separated

 >Health alert: Baked Alaska is frosted with meringue, which is made from egg whites. If this is a dietary concern, a frosting alternative may be used.  However, it will not be possible to brown the frosting with a cook’s torch! 

Pinch of tartar sauce

1 c. sugar

>Health alert:  The sugar used in the meringue sweetens the frosting.  It may be replaced with a alternative sweetener.

2 sparklers or mini-flags

(Follow the instructions above.)