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Crockpot Chicken Flop,Weigh in & Weekly Menu

February 27, 2011 by DanicasDaily 18 Comments

This morning I weighed in and was up only .6 lbs. I say “only” because honestly I felt like it was going to be more.  I am glad I faced the scale when I didn’t want to.  I pretty much earned it this week because I tossed out my idea of planning my day out (something I do daily BEFORE I eat anything) and thought I didn’t “need” to exercise at all this week.  I am chalking it up for what it’s worth, learning from it and moving on with 3 GOALS this week:

1) Track EVERY single BLT, Bite, Lick, Taste

2) Water, water and more water!

3) Workout 3 times along with my daily yoga

I was actually “willing” my meeting to be over so I could go home and dig into breakfast.  I usually snack on my banana before my meeting but, I forgot it.

Sometimes you just can’t get enough of a good thing ~ another eggwich (6 points+)

fried egg sandwich

Plus a “naner”

0 pointplus fruit

This is what happens when I leave my drink sitting around.  The Husband draws random pictures on it.  He said the flower is one of the ones you “blow all the pedals” off Open-mouthed smile

Grande Dirty Latte (nonfat, decaf latte, 1 pump mocha) (4 points+)

latte

After I was sufficiently satisfied, I headed out to do our weekly grocery shopping and came home to whip up a few things to get ready for the week (prepping lunches, boiling eggs, etc).

#1 Shannon shared these delicious Low Fat Banana Bread Cookies last week on Friends for Weight Loss.  OMG!!!  You all have to make THESE COOKIES!  They are amazing and only 2 points+ each.

The only modification I made was to use 1/2 cup dry roasted walnuts for the cherries since I knew The Husband wouldn’t eat them if they had any dried fruit in them and I surely didn’t need 30 cookies for me only.

I instantly ate 4 cookies as I dished them off the pan while they were HOT.  (7 points+)

Weight Watcher Cookie Recipes

#2 BEST IDEA EVER!!!  I marinated some organic chicken tenders in Trader Joe’s LF Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette then grilled them up for salads this week ~ I cannot wait!

Grilled Chicken

We finally stopped for lunch at 2 PM and decided to use our FREE Chipotle Coupon.  I LOVE that our 2 drinks (tea for me, soda for him), his burrito and my HUGE bowl cost $9.81!

Chipotle Chicken Salad

* Lettuce (0)

* Chicken (5)

* Pico de Gallo (0)

* Corn Salsa (1)

* A little cheese (less than a serving) (2)

* GUACAMOLE! (4)

After lunch, we went to see UNKNOWN!! It is SO GOOD and TWISTED ~ I absolutely LOVE It when movies keep you guessing the whole way through.

I honestly had such HIGH HOPES for tonight’s Slow Cooker Recipe ~ it has chicken, brown rice, wild rice, tons of veggies ~ I mean, how can it not be great?!  Well, let me tell you how…..You cook the rice so long it um, dissolves ~ oops!

I adapted this recipe from my Weight Watcher’s Slow Cook-It Recipe by adding more veggies, herbs, changing up the rice and using what I had on hand.

The flavor is amazing and I imagine if I cooked it less, it would’ve been AWESOME with great chewing power.

SLOW COOKER BROWN & WILD RICE CHICKEN CASSEROLE

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 6 small carrots, cut diagonally into 1/2-inch slices
  • 8 oz. package sliced mushrooms
  • 1 cup brown and wild rice blend (or 1/2 cup each brown rice and wild rice)
  • 2 celery stalks, cut diagonally into 1/2-inch slices
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute (you could use poultry seasoning)
  • 2 Fresh Thyme Sprigs
  • 1/4 tsp. sea salt & freshly ground pepper
  • 1 1/4 lbs. chicken breast tenders
  • 10 3/4 oz. can low-fat condensed cream of mushroom soup
  • 2 cups frozen peas

INSTRUCTIONS

1.  Spray large nonstick skillet with nonstick spray and set over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Transfer onion to 5- or 6-quart slow cooker.

2.  Stir in broth, carrots, mushrooms, rice blend, celery, garlic, 21 seasoning salute, thyme, sea salt and black pepper. Mix well. Top with chicken, placing it toward center of slow cooker.

3.  Cover and cook until chicken and vegetables are fork-tender and rice is tender but still slightly chewy, 2 1/2 to 3 hours on high or 4 to 5 hours on low.

4.  About 25 minutes before cooking time is up, stir soup and peas into slow cooker. Cover and cook on high until mixture simmers, about 20 minutes.

Makes 6 servings, about 1 1/3 cups each

Nutritional information based on 6 servings, 7 points+ each

image

STEP-BY-STEP

Sauté your onion in nonstick cooking spray over medium heat, until softened, about 5 minutes.

Diced Onion

While your onion cooks, prep your vegetables.

ingredients for chicken pot pie

Add your veggies, spices and thyme sprigs.

savory vegetables

I had this Basamati Rice Medley on hand, but, in the future, I’d use a brown rice blend since white rice breaks down too fast in the slow cooker.

trader joe's basamati riceTrader Joe's Rice Nutrition Facts

Add 1 cup of rice (1/2 wild, 1/2 brown rice).

wild rice

Add your broth.

chicken casserole

Top with your chicken, cover and cook on low for 4 hours.

brown and wild rice chicken casserole

This is the point of when I SHOULD HAVE stopped and added the mushroom soup and peas, but, I kept going to 2 more hours.  I have adjusted the time above to take off 2 hours.

slow cooker chicken and rice recipes

I LOVE that Trader Joe’s has a healthy alternative condensed cream of mushroom soup.

Trader Joe's Condensed cream of Portabella Mushroom Soup

That has REAL ingredients and decent stats.

Alternative to cream of mushroom soup

Add your mushroom soup and peas.  Turn to high, cook 10 minutes until heated through and simmering.

crockpot chicken and rice recipes

I used a 1 1/3 cup measuring cup to scoop out my serving and topped it with a little fresh parsley.  The flavor tastes just like the “chicken and dumplings” with a nice crunch in the vegetables.  I ate half of this before I just couldn’t do it anymore (4 points+)

The Husband is a trooper – he ate two bowls!

Weight Watchers Brown and Wild Rice Chicken Casserole

NEW AT FRIENDS FOR WEIGHT LOSS

* New Tip of the Week & Guest Recipe ~ check them out at the bottom of the page!

* This week’s Challenge ~ Self Awareness ~ are you in?

 

HERE IS WHAT IS ON THE MENU THIS WEEK

* Cheesy Mini Meatloaves, simple salad with balsamic

* Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Garlic Bread and Salad

* BBQ Chicken, Scalloped Potatoes & Grilled Romaine Salad

* Sausage & Vegetable Deep Dish Pizza, Salad

* Green Lite Bites ~ Southwestern Turkey Burgers with Asparagus Fries

* Vegan Nachos

DESSERT ~ CEiMB ~ Banana Splits with pineapple brown sugar topping

I really want to try this Cauliflower Pizza Crust but The Husband told me no more funny things with cauliflower Winking smile

GIVEAWAYS!!!

* Win the new Green Lite Bites Weight Watcher Friendly Cookbook ~ click HERE to enter.

* Corinne is having her 1st giveaway ~  a FULL CASE of Chobani ~ Click HERE to enter.

Q’s

Do you let your cookies cool before you eat one or do you have one as soon as they come out of the oven? 

I can NEVER wait to dig in and always have to have a cookie as soon as I can get it off the tray ~ hot or not Smile

Night all!

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Filed Under: Product Reviews, Weekly Menus Tagged With: Chicken, Cookies, Slow Cooker

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Comments

  1. 1

    Colleen says

    February 27, 2011 at 10:00 pm

    I can’t even find my wagon this week, that’s how far off the wagon I am. Partly it’s PMS and the craving for carbs (mostly chips and bread w/ butter) Then the sweet tooth comes in, which only happens this time of month, and I add to the carbs with sugar carbs. Ugh! Get iced in so I couldn’t make my meeting. I work the next two days and can’t get to a meeting until Wednesday I think. Next weekend is girls beach weekend, which will entail drinking and some eating off plan. Ugh! So my goal is to get my ass in gear tomorrow and hold strong through until the weekend. Save my 49pt+ for the alcohol. At least I am teaching 2 extra classes this week–a boot camp and a cardio/strength, so I’ll get some extra workouts in. It is life and it has ups, downs and special events. I am trying to remember that. But I also feel like I am sabotaging myself some, since I am at my lowest weight in 20+ years. Can I be afraid to actually succeed in this journey? And if so, why? Why would I sabotage myself when I’ve worked so hard for so many years to get to where I am? I’ve lost 80lbs through the program, even thought it’s taken me quite a few years. So why would I sabotage when I am so close to goal? Those are my questions to ponder this week.
    Thank you for your brutal honesty in your tweets and blogs. They keep me from feeling so alone. I really appreciate everything you put into these posts.
    Let’s keep moving forward!
    -Colleen
    @therevivalofme

    Reply
  2. 2

    Marcia says

    February 27, 2011 at 10:26 pm

    You know I made those mini meatloafs and they were AWSOME!!

    I made the cauliflower with mac & cheese for tomorrow night. Not too much mac but hopefully, my hubby won’t notice that it’s mostly cauliflower. Also made those banana muffins for this week. They taste wonderful but I wouldn’t say their huge…… I really like quantity so I’ll have to figure if it’s worth the 4 points for breakfast. Thanks again for all the recipe tips. You’re an inspiration to help me stick with the program and try different dishes for the family!

    Reply
  3. 3

    Ruby W. says

    February 28, 2011 at 12:22 am

    I totally took advantage of the Chipotle coupon today too! They are so generous!

    Reply
  4. 4

    Gail H. says

    February 28, 2011 at 4:20 am

    I was up this week also! Back on the wagon today…really need to put a plan together for weekly meals! Can’t wait to get my Green Lites today!!

    Reply
  5. 5

    Marisa @ Loser for Life says

    February 28, 2011 at 5:46 am

    No worries about the small gain. You’re gonna have a great week, Danica! I just know it 🙂

    Reply
  6. 6

    Leah says

    February 28, 2011 at 6:03 am

    I would love to add that cookbook to my collection!!! The healthier the better!! I am so excited I am a vegetarian and my hubby isn’t, he is going to go vegetarian and see how it goes!!!!

    Reply
  7. 7

    Leah says

    February 28, 2011 at 9:33 am

    Personal question, it’s okay if you don’t want to answer. Are you and your husband planning of having kids? I think you would be a great mom.

    Reply
  8. 8

    Cecilia says

    February 28, 2011 at 9:43 am

    So glad to get all your wonderful tips, recipes and inspiration, Danica! I look forward to all your posts. Thank you for your wealth of information!

    Reply
  9. 9

    Sami says

    February 28, 2011 at 11:10 am

    you are the recipe QUEEN 🙂

    Reply
  10. 10

    Carbzilla says

    February 28, 2011 at 11:22 am

    I’ve made that cauliflower crust and it’s really good plain on its own. I cant even remember if I ever bothered to toss it with pizza toppings.

    Reply
  11. 11

    mary (what's cookin' with mary) says

    February 28, 2011 at 11:37 am

    I eat those cookies as soon as I can put one in my mouth w.o burning the heck out of it.

    I love when you share the TJ’s products you use. I’m going to pick up some of that cream of mushroom soup. I love when TJ’s comes up with yummy , healthier versions of things like cream of mushroom soup. Can’t wait to check it out and experiment.

    No weekly menu for the What’s Cookin’ house bc of my tummy bug. I actually had a hard time reading blogs bc looking at the food was making me feel worse 🙁 UGHHHHH! 2nd time with the flue this winter. YIKES.

    Reply
  12. 12

    Christin@purplebirdblog says

    February 28, 2011 at 11:42 am

    Awwwe, your coffee lid love note is the sweetest!! 😀

    Reply
  13. 13

    Roz says

    February 28, 2011 at 11:57 am

    I love the note on the coffee lid! Awww. Have a wonderful week Danica, look forward to checking out your recipes and posts!!!!

    Reply
  14. 14

    AJ says

    February 28, 2011 at 12:42 pm

    LOL ::: cracking up at Colleen’s wagon comment :::: definitely gonna make some of Shannon’s cookies :::: maybe gonna pass on the big pot of stuff exactly as written:::::
    Hey- Danica- something I have been meaning to ask you and the rest of the crew…do you know about Yumm bowls? Last time I was back on the West Coast…my friend turned me on to them at the local Cafe’ Yumm and showed me how to make them (so many varieties, too)…and I became addicted…so delicious! I have to replicate soon.
    :::: making a big sign… ‘I LOVE DANICA’S DAILY’ :::::::::

    Reply
  15. 15

    Lindy says

    February 28, 2011 at 2:24 pm

    that coffee lid cup note is so adorable and romantic…
    I eat a cookie as soon as it comes off the rack. Warm gooey and yum!

    Reply
  16. 16

    Liz says

    February 28, 2011 at 6:34 pm

    I haven’t had good luck in the crockpot with rice, but I would have thought that wild and brown rices might hold up a bit better. Sorry it didn’t work out! We have had several crockpot meals like that 🙁

    Thanks again for the post last week about Chipotle. We enjoyed our half price lunch yesterday 🙂

    Reply
  17. 17

    DanicasDaily says

    March 1, 2011 at 10:23 am

    Hi Leah,

    Ask away, I don’t mind answering. I would LOVE to be a mom and I think he would be an even better dad. We haven’t decided either way, but, I am sure we will one day 🙂

    Danica

    Reply
  18. 18

    DanicasDaily says

    March 1, 2011 at 10:25 am

    Hi AJ,

    Um, no, but, now I want to find a YUM Bowl just because I LOVE the name of Cafe YUM! Whats in it and how do you make them? I need to find out 🙂

    Thanks for sharing and for the great comment 😀

    Danica

    Reply

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About Danica

Whether she’s enjoying a dish at a local restaurant or whipping up a crowd-pleasing, nutritious meal at home, Danica has a passion for all things food. She believes in and follows the Weight Watchers principle of “all things in moderation” and chronicles her culinary adventures here. Besides sharing her daily eats and tasty, nutritious recipes, Danica connects others seeking a healthier lifestyle on her site and shares her travel adventures with her husband around the world.

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