Crock Pot Fiesta Chicken

Blowin' in the Wind

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

So far today we have had lots of Blowin' in the Wind but not rain, storms or tornado's.........YET!!!  Thank you Lord!!  We will see what goes on when the sun goes down......!!!!!  The closet is empty and ready to go!!

As promised I made my Fiesta Chicken which I will share with you below.  Just remember this recipe is one that you will make over and over again!!!  Be prepared!!  It is easy, feeds a crowd, can be frozen and good on anything.....but  maybe not on ice cream!!

Fiesta Chicken

Look like a lot of ingredients but I will go through each so you don't miss a thing.

Shopping List:

1 can diced tomatoes with chilies (RoTel works fine.  I used a can of Fire Roasted tomatoes with onions and chilies that I had on hand......use what YOU like...you can't mess it up.)
1 1/4 Cups Salsa ( I had this rather large Jar of On the Border Salsa opened in the fridge...use what you like)
Ground Cumin - 1 Tablespoon
Garlic - 3 cloves minced (Fresh or you can use the refrigerated minced garlic in the jar that equals 3 cloves)
Salt - 1/2 teaspoon
Ground Black Pepper - 1/2 teaspoon
Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs - 3 pounds ( 10-12 thighs, fat removed)
1 large Red Bell Pepper
1 large Orange Bell Pepper
1 large Yellow Bell Pepper
2 large purple onions
1 Can Black Beans (14 1/2 ounces) rinsed and drained
1 Can Corn (14 1/2 ounces), drained 

Remember our old friend the slow cooker from Monday?  Get it out!!  We are going to use it again!  I told you I loved the slow cooker so if you haven't got one yet you better get on it quick!!

 
I buy my chicken in large quantities so I put them in freezer bags and store them in the freezer.  I have about 12 chicken thighs in three bags pictured above.  Rinse them and put them in the CP.

Aren't these veggies beautiful?  This is the "Fiesta Part" of Fiesta Chicken.  Colorful and fun plus yummy for your tummy!!.
Now we CHOP!!  Peel onions and roughly chop.  They will cook down in the crockpot.

Now remove the seeds and veins from the peppers and roughly chop them also.

Plop all the veggies on top of the chicken in the CP.

Measure you salsa and open your choice of tomatoes and peppers .  As I said RoTel works great.  I just happed to have these Fire Roasted tomatoes, peppers, and onions that I love so I am using them today.  Pour both ingredients on top of the veggies in the CP.

Next mince the garlic.  Measure cumin, salt and pepper in small bowl.  Then add all the above on top of everything in the CP.

It will look like this.  Take a LARGE  spoon and gently toss all the ingredients together.

Now it will look like this.  Put the lid on the crockpot.  Secure it tightly and set for High for 4 hours or Low for 6 hours.

Waiting will be hard when it starts to smell like "Cinco de Mayo" all over your house!!
After 4 hours carefully open the CP, be careful it is very hot and steamy.  There will be LOTS of cooking liquid in the Crock released from the veggies.

This is the yummy goodness that you smelled all afternoon.  Be VERY careful as you strain the liquid into a large 8 cup measuring bowl or whatever you have.

Save the cooking liquid for later.  Return chicken and veggies to CP.  Now you have to Work.....take two forks and proceed to shred the chicken and veggies.  It will be very tender and just fall apart.  Shred to your desired consistency.

Looking better all the time.  Most of the veggies are absorbed in the mixture but you will still see flecks of the onions and peppers which makes it pretty to look at.  But who wants to look at it???? We want to eat it so continue by opening both the corn and black beans.

Strain off the liquid and rinse with tap water.

If you don't have canned corn then frozen will work just as well. 

Add the corn and beans to the chicken/veggie mix in the crockpot.

Stir the mixture.  You can add back the reserved cooking liquid a small amount at a time until the mixture is moist but not soupy.  You can also add more salsa at this time if you want the mixture to be a little more spicy and chunky.  My family likes it just the way it is!!

 Yummy, Yummy, Yummy for my Tummy, Tummy, Tummy.  Now I know this is hard but cover the CP again and let it cook on Low 30-45 more minutes until everything is Hot and Bubbly!!  DO IT!!

During this time you can decide how you want to eat this goodness and prepare your "fixin'!

Suggestions for Final Product:

1. Hard shell Tacos

2. Soft shell burritos

3. On top of a plate of Nachos

4. Fiesta Chicken Salad -- piled high on top of a bed of greens

5. Straight from the CP with a fork...oops....you weren't suppose to see that!!! 

Some suggested fixin's are:

shredded cheese - your favorite..cheddar, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack......What do you like?

sour cream or creama

jalapeno peppers

guacamole

avocado slices

salsa

Now you know how to make the best Fiesta Chicken that I have found!!!  You can be creative!!  How do you like to eat yours????  Send in suggestions and comments so we can all share and learn how to make a GREAT recipe even GREATER!!!

My daughter just came in the office and said the storms aren't going to be as bad as predicted so I guess we dodged the bullet this time.  But as the verse below states you Never Know....I will still be listening for the tornado sirens in my sleep tonight!!

John 3:8  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 

Prayers for safety and sleep to all who are in the path of these storms...wherever they are doing to hit!!

 Happy Trails,

Mtn Mama