Chicken Thighs/Mandarin-Tomato/CrockPot

8 oz chicken thighs, skin removed, cut into 1" pieces
1 onion, chopped
12 oz. carrots, chopped
14.5 oz diced tomatoes, no salt added
6 oz tomato paste, no salt added
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 mandarins, segmented
1 blood orange, juice and zest
1 TBS dried basil
1 tsp rosemary
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp ground pepper
1 tsp Mrs Dash Garlic & herb seasoning
1 tsp sugar
2 TBS lemon juice (optional)

In a slow cooker, combine the chicken, onion, carrots, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, the mandarin segments, juice of the blood orange, the zest of the blood orange, basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme, ground pepper and Mrs. Dash. Mix thoroughly.

Cover and cook on low heat in the slow cooker for 5-6 hours. Don't let the chicken get too dry. Stir in the sugar and lemon juice (optional). Serve over rice.

Makes four servings.
Nutrition per serving:

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: