Chicken with Figs and Lemon over Rice

(revised from p. 84 "The Best Slow Cooker Cookbook Ever")

11 oz. Chicken Broth, no salt added

3 oz (2 packets) McCormick's Slow Cookers Italian Herb Chicken Recipe Mix

1 tsp ground cinnamon

6 garlic cloves, minced

Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon

1 onion, chopped

8 oz. dried Mission figs, halved

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts or thighs

Parsley for garnish

In a slow cooker, mix together the chicken broth, recipe mix, cinnamon, garlic, and zest & juice of the lemon. Stir in the onion and figs. Push the chicken pieces down into the mixture in the pot.

Cover and cook on the low heat setting about 4 hours. Don't overcook. Chicken should be moist. 

Serve over Trader Joe's organic brown rice. Add a green garnish, such as parsley or cilantro.

Serves 4.

One serving contains:

Fig newtons

Homemade Fig Newtons

For the Filling:
1 lb. dried figs or 2 lbs. fresh figs
1 cup sugar
1/2 or 1 cup water (1 cup for dried figs; 1/2 cup for fresh)
Dice figs, soak in water 1 hour.
Add 1 cup sugar & cook on medium heat until it has a thin jam consistency.

For the Pastry:

1/2 cup butter, room temp.
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon cream or milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Beat 1 cup sugar, butter, egg, milk & vanilla until well blended.

Then add these to the pastry mix:

1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 3/4 cup flour
Mix well and refrigerate for 1 hour.

=======================

Place 1/2 of the pastry on well floured dough cloth; knead about 6 times.

Roll out pastry to 1/4" thick. 

Line the inside of the 13 x 9" glass dish with the rolled pastry; cover that with fig filling.
Roll out remaining pastry, and cover the fig filling in the glass dish. Cut off any excess pastry dough.

Cook at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Let cool and cut into squares.