Balsamic Glazed Chicken Drumsticks Recipe

Chicken legs are hands down one of the easiest options for dinner on a busy weeknight. This quick and easy balsamic glazed chicken drumsticks recipe is not exception. Plus it really does take quick and easy to a whole new level. If you marinate the drumsticks from the evening before, they are ready even sooner. Simply put them in the oven to bake while you tend to other pressing weeknight activities and dinner is ready in no time at all. Plus balsamic glaze is now one of my new go to methods that I use when I want to jazz up a dish. And the good news for those of you who are detoxing or just trying to eat a healthier lifestyle, this recipe complies with the whole30 program too. Serve with some green beans, asparagus or a nice piece of eggplant to keep it on the lighter side.

Balsamic Glazed Chicken

Sometimes getting younger people to eat can be soooo challenging. A diet of hotdogs is not going to cut it. With this balsamic glazed chicken recipe I tend to find even my pickiest eaters enjoy it. The need to get creative in the kitchen can be so demanding. So when I come across a recipe like this I tend to hold on to it. So it doesn’t hurt that this recipe just tastes so good. Plus as mentioned above, this recipe complies with the Whole30 diet plan that is so popular today. With things like GMO’s and antibiotics having such a huge impact on our health today, Clean eating is becoming more and more an important part of everyday life for more people. Whole Foods such as grains and greens have become ever more popular with the health conscious and should be a priority for everyone.

Balsamic Glazed Chicken Drumsticks

• CourseMain Dish, Meat & Poultry
• CuisineAmerican

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time50 minutes

Passive Time30 minutes

Ingredients

• 2Lbs Chicken drumsticks
• 1/2cup balsamic vinegar
• 3tbs EVOO
• 3tbs coconut aminoscan be found in many healthy food store and Trader Joe's
• 1/2cup organic chicken stock
• 1/2tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 3cloves fresh garlicminced
• salt and pepperto taste
• 3 scallionssliced

Instructions

1. Pat chicken drumsticks dry with a paper towel and place in a large, sealable plastic bag. Set aside.
2. In a medium glass, or other non-reactive bowl, whisk the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, coconut aminos, chicken stock, red pepper flakes, and minced garlic together. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
3. Pour one half of the balsamic marinade over chicken and seal bag tightly. Turn bag over until chicken is coated. Place bag in refrigerator for a minimum of 30 minutes to overnight. Reserve remaining marinade to use later.
4. Preheat oven to 400° and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove drumsticks from plastic bag and arrange on lined baking sheet in a single layer without overcrowding. Discard remaining marinade inside bag.
5. Place baking sheet in preheated oven for 30 minutes, then remove chicken from oven and turn each drumstick. After turning, brush the tops of each drumstick with remaining marinade and return to oven. Bake for another 20-25 minutes or until the chicken is well done and the outside has caramelized.
6. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Transfer drumsticks to a serving dish and sprinkle with sliced green onions before serving.

Balsamic Chicken Drumsticks

Regardless of what your health goals are, most people appreciate tasty foods. These balsamic glazed chicken drumsticks will not disappoint you. Whenever I enter a new kitchen I am always on the lookout for bottles of vinegar. I am always so surprised by the number of people who have not yet discovered the joys of cooking with vinegar. However, one of my my goals is to change that. The variety of different vinegars is enormous and they each offer an amazing flavor enhancement to many dishes. I think over the coming few months I am going to explore more recipes that involve the use of vinegars. My hope is that some of you will join me on this exploration and we will all learn some new, tasty and exciting recipes to add to our arsenal. If anyone tries this recipe I would love to know their thoughts.

 

source https://www.recipecritique.com/balsamic-glazed-chicken-drumsticks-recipe/

Slow Cooker Mushroom Risotto

In my usual manner, I came across this recipe for slow cooker mushroom risotto and just had to try it. Although I have had very little prior experience with making risotto, when it comes to cooking I am always willing to try something new. For those like me with little previous knowledge of this dish here is some basic information: Risotto is a type of rice that is cooked in a broth until it reaches a creamy consistency. Although the variations are vast, the preparation of risotto is always the same. Once you have mastered the technique of cooking risotto, you are free to experiment with different flavor combinations. When cooking risotto on the stove top it can be a bit laborious as it requires constant stirring. The use of the slow cooker/crockpot eliminates much of the work in preparing risotto. I never really enjoy standing over a hot stove stirring food for long periods of time. I am more of a set it and forget it type of cook.

Slow Cooker Risotto recipes

Long since considered a staple comfort food of Italian cuisine, the variations of risotto have become vast. This slow cooker mushroom risotto is just one of many, but it is a good one. Other slow cooker risotto recipes are just as tasty and some may be more so. Anyway, as previously mentioned, risotto can be flavored with any number of foods. Here are a few combinations to get you on your way:

* Zucchini and Shrimp – 1 medium zucchini, sliced and one half pound of cleaned and deveined shrimp
* Smoked Salmon – replace chicken stock with fish stock. when rice is cooked ad 6 ounces of smoked salmon roughly chopped, 1/4 cup heavy cream and some fresh dill or parsley
* Chicken – season chicken with salt and pepper and sautee until cooked through and a nice golden brown. Add to cooked risotto
* Lobster – Add cooked lobster and a tablespoon of butter to finished risotto

Slow Cooker Mushroom Risotto or Something Else?

While these are just a few suggestions the mind is your only limitation. Although this slow cooker mushroom risotto is one of my favorites, Tomato and sausage, peas and zucchini, butternut squash, spinach and peas, risotto primavera with vegetables are all great options. Some people even add fresh fruit to the dish when the risotto has finished cooking, thus adding a natural sweetness. As you can see the additions can transform the dish when cooking risotto and this is one of the main reasons I like it. For all of these suggestions, the basic slow cooker method can be applied. You could feasibly cook risotto every day for the next year and it would seem like a different meal.

Slow Cooker Mushroom Risotto

Servings8 servings

Cook Time2 hours, 45 mins

Ingredients

• 3tbsp Avocado Oil
• 3cups sliced mushrooms
• 1/3cup diced onions
• 2c;loves fresh garlicminced
• 1-3/4cups arborio ricedo not rinse, the starch creates the creamy consistency
• 4cups chicken brothlow sodium, use gluten free broth for a gluten free recipe
• 3/4cup dry white wineor substitute with more chicken broth
• Parmesan cheeseoptional, for serving
• fresh italian parsleyoptional, for garnish

Instructions

1. In a large skillet saute mushrooms, onions and garlic in avocado oil over medium heat . Cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until mushrooms are slightly browned and liquid has evaporated, stirring occasionally.
2. Stir in Arborio rice and cook for an additional minute.
3. Transfer the rice mixture to a 4-quart slow cooker. Stir in broth and wine.
4. Cover and cook on low-heat setting about 2 hours and 45 minutes or on high-heat setting about 1 hour 15 minutes or until rice is tender.
5. If desired, top with cheese and parsley. Serve immediately.

source https://www.recipecritique.com/slow-cooker-mushroom-risotto/