Oven Baked (No Oil) Potato Wedges

When I was younger and we would go to dinner I would always ask my mom if I could get "mashed potatoes, hash browns and french fries," - and only that...YUM! (By the way, she always said no.) But I am an adult now. I could order that if I wanted too...but alas I try to stick to one kind of potato per meal. Now, however, I have learned how to cook my potatoes in different ways and to create healthier versions of my favorites...hence these delicious Oven baked (No Oil) Potato Wedges. And guess what...everyone in the family gives them a thumbs up!

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Flavorful Slow Cooker Chicken

Let's get something straight...I love to bake -  I have always been a good baker. Cooking, on the other hand...well, it has not come naturally...and my family is P-I-C-K-Y. I find myself making the same things over and over and they get bored and I get frustrated...BUT I do have a few tricks up my sleeve and this Flavorful Slow Cooker Chicken is one of them!

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I am not a big meat-eater (which is like a sin in Texas) but my family, especially my husband needs his meat for every meal. I continue to test and try different recipes to find combinations of flavors that he (and the kiddos like)...and this super flavorful slow cooker chicken is a "winner, winner, chicken dinner!"

Ingredients

• 1 Whole chicken, with all the stuff inside removed, rinsed and patted dry
• 2 Tablespoons softened butter
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano (ow regular oregano)
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 cup organic low sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 white onion, sliced (Optional)

Make it!

• Mix the softened butter with all of the spices, salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly.
• Remove the insides of the chicken, rinse it and pat dry
• Breast side up, gently use your fingers to separate the skin from the meat.
• Use your fingers to place the butter mixture between the skin and meat all  over the breast and into the wings and drumsticks (as best you can).
• Place 1 cup chicken broth into the slow cooker.
• Turn slow cooker on "low."
• Place chicken in slow cooker, breast side up.
• Add the onion to the slow cooker.
• Cook for 4-5 hours.

This chicken is so moist and tender...it literally falls apart as you remove it from the slow cooker, which is fine by me...no carving!

I make this chicken all the time and it works so well with our busy schedules. We use it in salads, serve it with rice and pasta, and in chicken tacos! Whew! Everyone is happy!

You can also play around with the spice combinations - add more or your favorite...and it is amazing when some preserved lemons - they add a richness to the dish.

 

Now go grab and chicken and make dinner tomorrow easy peasy!

 

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

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Make Your Own Pumpkin Pie Spice (too good to not share again)

I gotta tell you...I flip for pumpkin anything!

Pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin pie...

Carved pumpkins,tattooed pumpkins...

Big pumpkins, small pumpkins...

 I {heart} pumpkins!

I also love that pumpkin pie flavor. So much so that in the Fall (and summer, and spring and winter) I often use pumpkin pie spice in my recipes when it calls for cinnamon (and I think the flavor profiles fit).

What I do not like is the price of pumpkin pie spice. I got a teeny tiny bottle of it at the store yesterday...almost $6.00. All of the other spices were on sale...so I had a flash of brilliance (or at least I think so).

Why don't I just make my own?

In fact, I already had all of the spices I needs at home. I use cinnamon a lot and ginger too, but nutmeg and allspice, well I do not use them all that much.

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Baked Chili Brie

Brie is one of my favorite cheeses...ever. Of course it is delicious chilled, but when the air is crisp, I love a spiced, warm hearty dish, and Baked Chili Brie is perfect for that. The combination of the melted brie and the spices is absolute perfection! Oh yeah...then you serve it with delicious sourdough bread...WINNER! While I love this dish at home, I also find it to be a great dish to take to a friends house or party...the bread bowl is portable and edible...so you never lose a dish. 

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