Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Adopted Motto

"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Applesauce Chicken Dinner

(Applesauce chicken cooking in the crockpot)

Hubby and I are officially back to the gym.  The means frugal and easy meals, that are also healthy.  Although pioneers didn't have crockpots, this meal is very self-sufficient.  It could easily be cooked over a fire using cast iron pans too.

First, I went searching for cookbooks on meals using applesauce, but I didn't find any (just baking cookbooks).  I found a crockpot dinner recipe on-line, using chicken and applesauce.


Anyway, back to the frugal dinner.  If I don't raise it, I do buy organically grown chicken.  It's not frugal, but worth our healthy lifestyle. And of course I buy when it's on sale or clearance, and freeze it too.

Then I needed a side dish.  Red Quinoa? Yep, but after checking the cupboard, I was out.  Sweet potato fries?  Yep, but not conducive to working out at the gym, and expecting kids to turn the fries every 15 minutes.  Hmm?  My side ended up frozen carrots that we grew and froze over summer - a  self-sufficient, chemical free meal.

I used the recipe that I linked (above), but used organic apple cider vinegar, organic cinnamon, home canned organic applesauce, organically grown chicken, etc. I may be making homemade hot sauce next season too. Cayenne and hot sauce are a great substitute for store bought hot red pepper flakes.

This was very good, and all of the family loved it.