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Crock-pots meals create ease for the cook of the family in two ways, time and clean up. Cooking the main dish, and often the entire meal, in the crock-pot for six to eight hours creates time. Making family errands and after school events stress free. One pot cooking saves the clean up time, as well. Many a working mother and business woman has found the crock-pot a life saver.

An amazing crock-pot meal is Crock fried Chicken. This is a remix of the Rival Crock-Pot cookbook that came with the crock-pot.

1 to 2 pounds of chicken (cutlets or bone-in as preferred)
1 quart of butter milk
2 cups of all purpose flour ( whole grain flour optional)
1 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon kosher salt, halved
1 tablespoon course black pepper, halved
2 cups of shortening

Soak chicken in buttermilk overnight. This causes a viscosity that assists the flour coating to remain in place. The soaking time can be as little as two hours, however, the longer the chicken is soaked the better.

At meal preparation time drain the chicken and discard the excess buttermilk. Combine flour, cayenne pepper, paprika, and tablespoon each of salt and pepper. Put in a plate or pie pan and set aside. Use the remainder of the salt and some cayenne pepper to season each side of the chicken.

In a deep 14 inch fry pan or Dutch oven melt shortening over medium heat. When the shortening is melting begin coating the chicken pieces in flour mixture. When the shortening reaches the temperature of approximately 350 degrees brown each side of the coated chicken and place upon a wire back rack to lightly drain. Do not cook the chicken through, simply brown on each side, creating a crust.

When all the chicken is browned on each side and lightly drained place the chicken in the crock-pot. Place the chicken into the crock-pot, layering until all the chicken is in the pot. Place the lid on the crock-pot, set on low and cook for six hours.

When the chicken is finished cooking remove from the crock-pot and plate for serving. Your fried chicken will have that homemade flavor and the juiciness we all desire. When first tried this writer was skeptical, as you might be. However, everyone was pleasantly surprised with the results. It was great serving a main dish that typically takes hours over a hot fry pan, for a midweek meal. Served with homemade mashed potatoes and a favorite vegetable, it's like a Sunday night dinner on Wednesday.

The crock-pot is a vital tool for the quick and easy meals. A working family's good friend. Every cook should try using the crock-pot, just once, for variety.

Learn more about this author, Andrea D. Hutchinson.
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