Cider-Braised Chicken Thighs with Sweet Potatoes and Sage

Cider-Braised Chicken Thighs
with Sweet Potatoes and Sage

This comforting dish boasts the fall flavors of apples, sage, and sweet potatoes. Serve with crusty bread to soak up the sauce.
8 points plus PER SERVING | PREP: 15 MIN | COOK: 53 MIN | SERVES 6
11⁄2 lbs skinless chicken thighs, about 6 thighs 11⁄2 tsp kosher salt, divided
1⁄4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 Tbsp canola oil
8 medium shallots, thickly sliced 1 medium garlic clove, minced
2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1⁄2 cup apple cider
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tsp minced fresh sage (or to taste), divided 4 sprigs fresh thyme
11⁄2 lbs peeled sweet potatoes, cut into 3⁄4-inch cubes
Season both sides of chicken with 1 teaspoon salt and 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Brown chicken in batches, flipping once, about 2 minutes per side; set aside.
Reduce heat to medium and add shallots and remaining 1⁄2 teaspoon salt to pan; cook shallots, stirring frequently, until softened and beginning to brown, approximately 5 to 8 minutes. Add garlic to pan; cook, stirring frequently, for 1 minute.
In a small bowl, combine broth, cider, vinegar, 1 teaspoon sage, and thyme sprigs; add to pan and scrape down sides of pan to loosen any brown bits. Increase heat to high; bring to a boil and cook until mixture reduces slightly and flavors blend, about 5 minutes.
Add chicken and potatoes to pan; stir to combine and reduce heat to low. Cover pan and simmer, flipping over chicken and stirring potatoes halfway through cooking, about 30 minutes. Remove thyme sprigs from pan; stir in remaining 1 teaspoon sage. Yields 1 chicken thigh and
about 3⁄4 cup sweet potato–shallot mixture per serving.


Sweet Potato Power!
A medium sweet potato is loaded with vitamin A and provides a nice dose of vitamin C for an adult. It’s also an excellent source of beta-carotene.

next week's meeting topic

Be sure to come in next week to find out more about, Managing your environment to avoid temptation and make following the Program easier. Next weeks meeting topic is: A space of your own.

scv walk this saturday

Weight Watcher Friends 5K FUN Walk - 8 am - THIS Saturday, October 8, 2011
ALL levels are welcome...even if you can't make the entire distance, walk what you can. It's a nice, flat, straight-out and back course. Go your own speed. JUST DO IT!!!  

You are invited! We are meeting in the parking lot of RiteAid/Mobil at the corner of McBean and Decoro in Valencia for a 5K (3.1 miles) walk along the river trail. This is a FLAT trail --- don't miss out on the free FUN! Family, friends and your four-legged companions are always welcome! Bring bottled water.
We will depart the parking lot at 8 am SHARP.

Tuscan Chicken recipe

Tuscan Chicken
6 servings @ 5 each
Italian Roasted Potatoes
½ cup @ 1 each
Green Salad
6 servings @ 2 each
2 lbs boneless chicken breasts, pounded thin
(½ t salt, ¼ t pepper, ½ t Italian seasoning,
1 T olive oil, 2 T balsamic vinegar, 1 T water)
1 pint grape tomatoes
20 oz bag red potato wedges
(No-stick spray, salt & pepper, Italian seasoning)
1 bag chopped salad
************************************************************************************
Sprinkle chicken w/ seasonings. Heat oil in a
large sprayed skillet on med high. Add chicken;
brown each side 3 min. Add tomatoes; cook 4
min. or until skin pops. Add vinegar & water;
cook 4 min. more.
Place potatoes on a sprayed pan; also spray
potatoes. Sprinkle w/ seasonings, bake 25 min
@ 450. Toss salad together, divide into 6 salads.

Slow Cooker Southwest Hominy and Turkey Sausage Stew Weight Watchers Recipe

Slow Cooker Southwest Hominy and Turkey Sausage Stew
Weight Watchers Recipe


Course: soups
PointsPlus® Value:    5
Servings:  8
Preparation Time:  15 min
Cooking Time:  420 min
Level of Difficulty:  Easy

A go-to recipe for fall’s chilly nights. Hominy adds wonderful flavor and texture.

Ingredients
      28 oz canned diced tomatoes, with their juice  
      31 oz canned hominy, drained and rinsed  
      1 1/2 cup(s) red onion(s), chopped  
      1 1/2 cup(s) celery, thinly sliced  
2/3 cup(s) canned chicken broth  
      1/2 cup(s) chopped green chilies, canned (hot, medium or mild)  
2 tsp dried oregano  
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin  
1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground  
1/4 tsp ground cloves  
1 pound(s) raw turkey sausage, casings removed  
Instructions
Mix the undrained diced tomatoes, hominy, onion, celery, broth, green chilies, oregano, cumin, pepper and cloves in a 4-, 5- or 6-quart slow cooker. Crumble the sausage into quarter-sized bits over the stew; gently stir it in without breaking it up too much.

Cover and cook on low setting for 7 hours. Yields about 1 cup per serving.

Southwestern Slow Cooker Chicken and Potato Soup Weight Watchers Recipe

Southwestern Slow Cooker Chicken and Potato Soup
Weight Watchers Recipe


Course: soups
PointsPlus® Value:    7
Servings:  4
Preparation Time:  15 min
Cooking Time:  420 min
Level of Difficulty:  Easy

This spicy soup is packed with chunks of chicken, potatoes and corn, and flavored with cumin. Hearty and delicious.

Ingredients
      3/4 pound(s) uncooked boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes  
      2 medium sweet potato(es), peeled, cut into 1-inch cubes  
      1 large onion(s), chopped  
      29 oz canned diced tomatoes, salsa-style with chiles, undrained  
      14 1/2 oz fat-free chicken broth  
1 tsp dried oregano  
1/2 tsp Durkee ground cumin, or other brand  
      1 1/2 cup(s) frozen corn kernels, not thawed  
Instructions
Mix all ingredients, except corn, in a 4-quart or larger slow cooker; cover and cook on low heat for 6 hours.

Stir in corn and cover slow cooker; cook on high heat until chicken is no longer pink in center and vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes more. Yields about 1 1/4 cups per serving.

workout

reminder for SCV walk

Just a reminder I will re post through out the week. :-)

Weight Watcher Friends 5K FUN Walk - 8 am - Saturday, October 8, 2011

You are invited! We are meeting in the parking lot of RiteAid/Mobil at the corner of McBean and Decoro in Valencia for a 5K (3.1 miles) walk along the river trail. This is a FLAT trail --- don't miss out on the free FUN! Family, friends and your four-legged companions are always welcome! Bring bottled water and sunscreen.
We will depart the parking lot at 8 am SHARP.

next week's meeting topic

Be sure to come into a meeting starting tomorrow for next week's meeting topic: eTools for Success.