take my word for wednesday.. this summer squash casserole went perfect with the lemon garlic slow cooked chicken

 

 

 

today is take my word for it wednesday..so take my word for it that these were yummy.. the pictures do NOT do these dishes justice and here is why.. pete decided he wanted the family to start having a weekly dinner with his parents and monday was to be our first.. i picked monday because i could prep the food on sunday and then on mondays when pete gets home he can pop them in the oven to warm and when i slide into home we can run over to his parents and be there by 6... yeah well best laid plans and yada yada.. i got summer squash in my bountiful basket on saturday and knew i wanted to use it for the meal.. i decided to make a casserole and sliced up the squash and seeing it there in stacks reminded me so much of poker chips which warmed my heart.. ha yeah i grew up in vegas can you tell?? ha anyway instead of laying them down i thought i could put them in the dish like pokers chips in their case.. i was one squash short they just didn't fit right.. so i grabbed a tomato sliced it up and wedged it in between the squash and it fit perfect.. i par cooked it the night before and i planned to ask pete to put it in the oven and finish cooking it.. yeah well i forgot and so the picture doesn't show it with the lovely golden cheesy top.. {which is what you want but i had to take the picture quickly then stick it back in the oven as i didn't want to be late for our first dinner} i also didn't get a final photo of the chicken once it was cooked, but take my word for it, it was golden brown and soo moist and good!! so on to another take my word for wednesday where you just have to trust me!!

 

colorful fresh poker chips.. ha ha 

see how the tomatoes wedged in just finished it off...  

in growing up one of my mom's philosophies was always if she made the food pretty we would eat it... that didn't always work with me but i did grow up appreciating that food can be pretty and delicious and i always strive to make my dishes and presentation when serving pretty an appetizing.. {doesn't always work but i do try ha}

summer squash casserole



prep time: 10 minutes

cooking time: 60 minutes

servings: 8-10

 

ingredients:

 

2 zucchini, sliced 1/4 inch thick

2 summer crook neck yellow squash, sliced 1/4 inch thick

1 large tomato, sliced 1/4 inch thick

olive oil

salt and pepper

handful of shredded mozzarella

parmesan cheese

pam

 

directions:

 

preheat your oven to 400 degrees {f}.. slice your veggies.. {i should have used a mandolin for uniform slices} but mine were pretty even.. you want them about 1/4 inch thick.. spray a casserole dish with pam or any non stick spray.. place your sliced squash in the baking dish vertically {like above} i didn't have a pattern or any rhyme or reason to how i placed them.. then go back in and wedge your tomato in.. salt and pepper and drizzle a little olive oil.. cover and bake for 30 minutes.. remove from oven and remove cover sprinkle with your cheeses and place back in the oven for 20-30 minutes or until cheese is a golden brown and veggies nice and tender.. it really did taste good..

 

things i would have done differently.. i would have sprinkled it with fresh minced garlic, thyme and crushed red pepper before baking.. maybe a little oregano and possibly add sliced sweet onion in the rows too.  i will be making it again and will update this page when i do.. check back.. :) now onto the chicken..

 

 

i got a huge beautiful lemon in my bountiful basket and knew i wanted to use it with chicken.. i love love lemon and chicken together.. toss in some fresh thyme and garlic and it's a dish made in heaven.... i cut the lemon in half and placed it at the bottom of a crock pot {i have said on many many occasions i don't like crock pots or food that has been cooked in one, but with me gone from 7:45 to 5:30 and dinner is going to be at 6 i need to get over myself and this dislike of the crock pot and embrace it.. and this first time around worked our perfectly and tasted wonderful} i cut the top off a bulb of garlic and tossed in some fresh thyme.. i placed the chicken on top and drizzled with olive oil and salt and pepper and let it cook on low for 10 hours.. it was really really good.. a few changes i would have made.. i would have put lemon slices, minced fresh garlic and thyme on the top of the chicken as well before closing it up.. like the recipe above i will make it again and update this post..

 

slow cooked lemon garlic chicken

 

prep time: 10 minutes

cooking time: 10 hours

servings: 6

 

ingredients:

 

1 whole chicken, 3-4 lbs, rinsed and giblets removed

handful of fresh thyme sprigs

1 lemon sliced in half

1 head of garlic, top sliced off but cloves still in tact

salt and pepper

olive oil

 

directions:

 

rinse and dry your chicken.. rub chicken with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.. slice your lemon in half and place both halves in the bottom of the crock pot add your garlic and thyme sprigs.. place your chicken on top and cover and cook on low for 10 hours.. after 10 hours you can remove the chicken it will start to fall apart but i was able to remove it to a serving platter with minimum damage.. we then sliced it up and picked it a part, i served it with the summer squash casserole and mashed potatoes.. i discarded the whole lemon and garlic head and strained the juices from the crock pot and served it with a little "gravy" on the side.. it was really moist and flavorful.. now the things i will do differently next time {and there most definitely will be a next time} .. i will put lemon slices, minced fresh garlic and thyme on the top of the chicken and i might cut an onion in half and add it to the bottom also.. i'll let you know.. and remember to

 

enjoy and get cook'n!!