Family Dinner Table - Asian Chicken

Advice for healthy, happy families and successful kids always recommends the family sitting around the dinner table together. I generally skip over those stats because I think, "we already do that." But then, last week, as I clocked in about 5 after-school hours in the car (in one day), I realized, maybe we don't. Not on a regular basis anyway. There are many days where our family is eating in shifts.  We don't all eat together, all the time; sometimes there are random pairings that share a meal, depending on whose schedules converge.

I don't know about the experts, but I figure a home-cooked meal is the next best thing to all 6 of us around the table. I do try to at least get that done, with the exception of Friday pizza night (though some nights we make our own pizza, which can be a lot of fun). Cooking at home is, generally, cheaper, healthier, and more balanced than haphazardly making a circuit of drive-thrus.

In addition to the schedule of activities, being the chaffeur also plays a factor in meal planning. I can't really do a quick-cook on the stove if I'm not there to cook it (still waiting for that be-in-two-places-at-once magic wand). For those nights, I consider foods I can cook during the day and leave for a self-serve, hot meal for the dinner table rotation. My crock-pot and rice cooker are my go-to appliances.

Asian Chicken (Crockpot)

For this recipe, I use a seasoning mixture similar to what I use when I make bul-go-gi, Korean sliced beef bar-be-que.
Ingredients: 
1/3 c soy sauce
1/4 t ginger
1/4 t sesame seeds
2 t sugar
Pepper
Minced garlic
Green onions, sliced in small pieces
About 10-12 pieces of chicken (I use drumsticks &thighs)

Adjust seasonings to taste



Mix together all ingredients, other than onions and chicken.
Arrange chicken in layers in crock pot
Pour seasoning mix over chicken, top with sliced onion

Arrange chicken and seasonings in crockpot

Turn on the crock pot, cook for a few hours.
(This can also be cooked in a regular pot on the stove.  Add a little bit more soy sauce or about 1/3 cup of water.  Cover pot, let simmer until done.)
Dinner's done.  Serve with rice.
Enjoy!

Tasty with a side of rice and seaweed salad