Brown Sugar Crock Pot Chicken

The older I get, the more I love fall. Fall in Montana means turning on the heat in the mornings and the air/fans in the afternoons. The smell of wet leaves on the ground is one that reminds me of being a kid (I have no idea why). As a matter of fact, the first time I visited Cornell was in October. The leaves were all changing colors and the Hilltop was truly magnificent. You couldn't deny how beautiful it was. It was less beautiful in sub-zero January, however.

The rite of passage every fall for me is the change in my meals. Let's face it, in the summer, it's hot and you certainly don't want to cook in the oven. We do lots of grilling and eat lots of fresh, cool salads. The last thing I want is something heavy sitting in my belly when I'm trying to stay cool and relax for the evening. Fall is a different story. Soups, stews and chilis are delighful. The warm deliciousness is comforting. Plus, I can add so many vegetables to them, it makes almost a one-pot full meal. I do a lot of crock pot cooking in the fall and winter as well, so I'm always looking for new recipes to try.

Yesterday, I was looking for something for dinner to use the chicken drumsticks I had in the freezer and came across the following recipe. My family are good sports about trying my new recipes (ok, they don't really have a choice). This one ROCKED!! It has all the elements of a great family meal: a few simple ingredients, E-A-S-Y to make, and delicious. Here's what you need:

10-12 chicken thighs or drumsticks or 6 chicken breasts, halved
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup lemon-lime soda (don't use diet)
2/3 cup vinegar (I used half apple cider and half white)
3 cloves smashed and chopped garlic
2 T soy sauce
1 t ground black pepper

Place your chicken in the crock pot. Cover with the brown sugar, garlic, pepper and soy sauce. Pour the vinegar over the top and then add the soda. It will bubble. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 6-9 hours. The longer you cook it, the more tender it will be.

I made some au gratin potatoes to go with it (ok, so no veggies for this meal). It was very good. The girls gobbled it up as did my husband and I. One of the best new recipes I've tried in the crock pot in a while. Try it. You will love it. This goes on the permanent list.

If you're looking for more crock pot recipes, check out this blog. I've tried several (including this recipe) and haven't found a "bad" one yet.