Slow Cooker Roast Chicken

This recipe was amazingly simple.  The chicken is moist and falls off the bone, and the best part is coming home to a house that smells like supper.

• 1 whole chicken, giblets removed, rinsed
• 1 large onion
• 1/2 stick butter, cubed
• seasonings to taste (I used salt, pepper and paprika)

Chop the onion and place it in the bottom of the slow cooker.  Place the chicken on top of the onion and sprinkle on the seasonings.  Place the butter around and on top of the chicken.  There’s no need to add liquid.  Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.  After the time is up, remove the chicken from the slow cooker to rest.  It will fall apart, so use a big spoon to get it out.  Remove the liquid that has accumulated and use it to make gravy.  Skim off the fat from the broth.

• 3 Tbsp of the skimmed fat or butter
• 3 Tbsp flour
• broth from cooking the chicken (about 2 cups)
• salt and pepper to taste

Whisk together the fat and flour in a sauce pan.  Add in the broth from cooking the chicken, season, and stir over low heat until thickened.  Serve with the chicken and mashed potatoes or rice.

Yankee Pot Roast

• 4-5 lb. round roast
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 medium red onions, sliced thickly
• 4 cups water
• 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 lb. carrots, peeled and cut into large chunks
• 1 lb. mixed mushrooms
• salt and pepper
• 3 Tbsp softened butter
• 3 Tbsp flour

Preheat the oven to 300°F.  Season the roast liberally with salt and pepper.  In a large Dutch oven, brown the roast on all sides.  Remove the roast from the pan and saute the onions in the olive oil until browned and soft.  Mix the Worcestershire sauce with 2 cups of hot water and add it to the pan.  Bring to a boil and scrape the bottom of the Dutch oven with a wooden spoon.  Add remaining water and return the meat to the pan.  Bring to a boil, cover and place in the oven for 3 hours, turning the meat occasionally.  Add the carrots and mushrooms to the pot and continue to bake for 1 more hour, until the carrots are very tender.

Remove the meat and vegetables from the pan and arrange on a warmed platter.  Skim the fat off the top of the drippings.  Mash together the flour and butter and add to the drippings to make gravy.  Bring to a boil and season to taste.

Slice the roast as best you can, since it will fall apart.  Serve with mashed potatoes.  *Sorry, I only got one picture before my batteries went dead, and it’s a little out of focus.  But we weren’t going to wait to eat while they recharged!

As a part of Joyce’s Thanksgiving Challenge, I want to say that I’m thankful to have food to eat and to have my husband and brothers to share it with tonight!