This is a dinner crockpot balsamic recipe to save the world. Or at the very least, to save you stress this week. Add veggies and chicken thighs to your crockpot and let it simmer in the balsamic dijon sauce until you're ready to enjoy at the end of the day. And for shit's sake – chill out and be kind.
It's been a long week. Hasn't it?
Is there anything that we can all agree on right now? Please. I pray to the gods of left and right and up and down and sun and moon and stars and everything else that there is something that can bring us all together. I don't have much to offer, but if anything could get the job done, I'd bet it's food.
Our currency bears the phrase "E pluribus unum" or, "Out of many, one." Maybe we have forgotten. Have we forgotten? Can I have the privilege of reminding you?
We're not so different, really. It is the media who have created this illusion of the "other" and told us that we don't get along. Today, I'm here to tell you a secret and, as an afterthought, to share a meal with you.
YOU have a choice. I have a choice. WE ALL have a choice. We do NOT have to buy into this story that they are telling us we must own. White vs. black. Men vs. women. Muslim vs. Christian. Gay vs. straight. Rich vs. poor.
Here's the secret. Are you ready? IT'S BULLSHIT.
Insults = hate. Hate = headlines. Headlines = profit. All that we're left with is an endless cycle of helpless frustration and division.
When we are divided, we are weak. Reality gets buried. While we are blinded by these distractions, they control us. They keep us separated. They keep us powerless.
The only solution is, thankfully, a very simple one. Love. The single most important thing that we can do to make a difference is to love. Whether that's holding the door for someone. Or making friendly eye contact when you pass a stranger on the street. Or calling an old friend just to say hello. These gestures have the power to bring us together and make us more human, more united. We're not so different, after all.
You all know I don't get political here very often, if ever. And here's the thing. This post isn't political. It's personal. It's important. It's something I had to say.
"What I hope most of all is that you understand what I mean when I tell you that even though I do not know you, and even though I may never meet you, laugh with you, cry with you, or kiss you. I love you. With all my heart, I love you." – Valerie's letter from V for Vendetta
Without further adieu, here is the recipe that I promised at the beginning of this post.
It's just a humble balsamic dijon chicken and vegetable recipe, but it's made with ingredients that are accessible anywhere, to anyone in America. It cost less than $10 to make and it serves 4 people. It saves well as leftovers and it's great for packing as a work lunch. It can easily be made vegan with tofu instead of chicken and maple syrup instead of honey. And it's a recipe that everyone can love.
Everyone can love.
And if you need a little feel-good to kick off your Saturday, I got you.
Can't Stop the Feeling – Justin Timberlake
Hallelujah – covered by Pentatonix (Leonard Cohen)
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Crockpot Balsamic Dijon Chicken and Vegetables
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
This crockpot recipe combines chicken thighs, carrots, and potatoes for an all-in-one meal that cooks in a savory balsamic and dijon sauce.
Ingredients
Sauce
- ⅔ cup balsamic vinegar
- ⅓ cup honey or maple syrup
- ¼ cup dijon mustard
- 1 Tablespoon sriracha (optional)
- 2 teaspoons dried Italian herbs
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
Crockpot
- 1 pound chicken thighs**
- 2 cups carrots, chopped
- 2 cups yukon gold potatoes, chopped
- 1 yellow onion, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients for the sauce in a bowl and whisk to combine.
- Add veggies and chicken** to the crockpot. Pour in the sauce.
- Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
Notes
**If you don't eat meat, substitute 1 pound of extra firm tofu (cubed) for this recipe. The tofu will cook perfectly and absorb all of the delicious flavors of the sauce.**
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Main
I love what you said in your personal not political statement. You're right that profit is driving this bus, and it's not just headlines=profits. It's corporations + the wealthy driving the bus. But that's the story we're trying to change/ignore.
Thank you for this wonderful recipe! It's just what I need for my day-after-Christmas dinner (Boxing Day here in Canada). I just found your page and it's fantastic. Thank you!
Agreed! The more of us who wake up and see the sham for what it really is, the better. If enough of us quit buying into their system, we have the power to change it. I hope you enjoy the dinner – best wishes for a Merry Christmas!
Your letter made my day!! I've made friends on line that I will never see but I consider them dear friends. Our "media" no longer have ethics, morals, emotions or feelings. Anything that can generate violence or even the suggestion of violence gets spun into the horror we've witnessed these last few months and years. That gets ratings and that's all that matters, the truth is not relevant.
Hi Judy! Thanks so much for your comment. You are 100% correct. I wish everyone could see through the sham and just get along. We are all united and we are all in this together.
Could I replace the Yukon for sweet potatoes? AND add more veggies to it - zucchini, green beans, peppers and so forth?