Crock Pot Lemon Chicken and Carrots

Here's a great weeknight set it and forget it crockpot recipe for chicken ( I like to make it on the weekends when I golf all day and don't want to cook). It's a variation of the old campbells soup chicken recipe that everyone has made at least once in their life. Even though the recipe uses white meat, the chicken stays very moist. The secret ingredient is of course, the lemon juice, which brightens the sauce. I've made this recipe before by coating the chicken in egg and flour, frying it for a couple of minutes, and then putting in crockpot- much more fattening that way.....

2 Cans fat free condensed cream of chicken soup
1/2 Cup water
1/4 Cup lemon juice (fresh or bottled)
2 tsp dijon mustard
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 small bag of baby carrots
6-8 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Mix first five ingredients in slow cooker. Add carrots and chicken mix to coat.
Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours.

If you want to thicken the sauce, add a little cornstarch mixed in water 1/2 hour before serving.

Serve over rice or noodles.

Chicken- Latin style with Black Beans and Sweet Potatoes

This is an interesting one pot Chicken dish made in the slow cooker. The secret ingredient is sweet potatoes. They absorb the spices and are a nice contrast to the chicken and beans. The picture on the right is one of my favorite Dancing with the Stars past contestants Apolo Ohno. Could he do a mean Salsa !

3 lbs of bone -in chicken thighs, with skin removed
2 Teaspoons cumin
1 Teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1 Cup chicken broth
1/2 Cup Salsa
1 heaping tablespoon bottled minced garlic
2 Cans ( 15 to 19 oz each) black beans, rinsed and drained
2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2 inch cubes
1 jar roasted red pepper cut into strips ( 1 cup)
1/3 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves- chopped

Sprinkle chicken thighs with 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/3 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.
Brown chicken in a large skillet on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer chicken to plate. Remove skillet from heat.
In same skillet, combine paprika, allspice, remaining cumin, broth, salsa, garlic.
In slow cooker, combine beans and sweet potatoes. Place chicken on top. Pour broth mixture over chicken.
Cover and cook, about 8 hours on low, 4 hours on high.
Stir in roasted red pepper strips.
When serving, sprinkle cilantro on top. Serve with lime wedges.