Bring on the heat!!

Summer, how I miss you. It's quite chilly in my part of the woods. And it's not because I chose to expose my kneecaps today in my boots and dress. It-is-chilly! So to warm things up a bit, I needed a meal tonight that would not only taste amazing(why would I do anything less) but that warmed up my belly. I'm not talking about hot cocoa (although very delightful) but rather something substantial, something I can eat.....something with heat.

Spicy buffalo chicken sandwiches

I don't always have time to spend hours preparing a meal. Which is why I appreciated this one so much. If you have a slow cooker than your good to go. Yes, pull out the dusty old thing and treat yourself to a effortless meal. With very little prep work, you pretty much show up and eat.


Note: You still may need to do the dishes unless your husband or kids offer.




The process

Sear chicken on both sides and place in slow cooker

Saute garlic, onion and peppers until tender. Add water and scrape up brown bits.

Put everything in slow cooker, stir, and cook on high for 4 hours

Shred up chicken

Put it back in cooker and coat with sauce

At this point in the game, Justin politely suggested that cream cheese would be really good spread on the sandwiches. I gave him a look of disgust, and politely said, "oh honey that sounds repulsive. Lets build this sandwich.

Toast your buns

Appease your husband and spread on softened cream cheese

Top it with lots of spicy chicken.

I'm admitting the cream cheese was a hit. Sounds funny, but it really cooled off the sandwich from all the spiciness. I confessed my lack of trust giving Justin a moment of manliness and a "puffing of the chest" kind of demeanor. Leaving me to think maybe he should be the one to prepare the meals. Maybe he should be the one to "do the dishes".


Spicy buffalo chicken sandwiches


Ingredients


1 Tb olive oil
5 boneless skinless chicken breasts
salt and pepper
1 medium onion, diced small
3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
1 medium red pepper, seeded and diced small
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
1/4 cup hot-pepper sauce(such as Frank's
3 Tb Worcestershire sauce
2 Tb yellow mustard
1 Tb molasses
4 oz softened cream cheese(suggested by husband)
8 buns( I used onion buns this time)


Directions


In large heavy skillet on medium high, add olive oil and brown chicken on both sides; season with salt and pepper. Place in slow cooker. In same pan add onion, garlic and red pepper; cook until tender. Add 1/4 cup water to the pan and scrape up all the brown bits on the bottom. Place the onion mixture along with everything else(not including cream cheese) in slow cooker; season again with salt and pepper.(use your judgment) Cook on high for 4 hours. 


Toast buns, spread cream cheese and top with shredded chicken. Serves 8


This was delicious and while my knees are still chilly, my soul is warm and toasty.




Note: I still had to do the dishes.