two recipes I made up as I went

It's not too often I go crazy in the kitchen. (Now that I've said that I realize that there are many interpretations of what defines crazy in a kitchen.)  And as most of you know in my kitchen I can, cook lamb, cook duck, bake way to many Christmas cookies which some people might consider all that to be crazy.  But crazy for me is flying with no recipe at all.  Crazy is looking through the pantry and freezer and grabbing things that you normally wouldn't throw together and trying to make something out of it.  Crazy is tasting while your cooking and adding a little more of this and a little more of that. 

So today I'm sharing my two crazy recipes that I cooked up for dinner (and named myself).  Apricot & Molasses Chicken in the crock pot and Italian Garden Okra.

 

First up Apricot & Molasses Chicken.  This marinade gave the chicken a moist sweet flavor.

Ingredients: 2-4 chicken breasts, 1/4 cup molasses, 2 T. cider vinegar, 1/2 cup Apricot Juice, 2 T. Worcester Sauce, 2 tsp. mustard powder, 1 tsp. ground cumin, 1 tsp. onion flakes, (optional...a couple shakes of hot sauce)

 

Directions:  Placed chicken in a greased crock pot.  Combine molasses, vinegar, apricot juice, Worcester sauce, mustard powder, cumin and onion flakes (and hot sauce... if you dare).  Cover and coo on low 7-8 hours.  (or you could cook in on high 3-4 hours, but I think the other ingredients need more time to soak in.  Serve with rice and vegetables.

 

Then my Italian Garden Okra

Ingredients: 1 (16 oz) bag frozen okra, 1 cup frozen kernel corn, 1 cup fresh cherry tomatoes, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, 1 tsp. oregano, 1 tsp. basil, 1 T. olive oil.

 

Directions: In a skillet pour 1 T. olive oil and place over medium heat.  Then add okra and corn.  Stir and cook till vegetables have thawed, then add spices.  Cook for a couple of minutes and then add tomatoes and cheese.  Cook for 5 more minutes, then serve.