After tossing out the idea of doing a
recipe known as Autumn Chicken in my slow cooker (missing some
ingredients), I decided to throw in some chunky salsa and chicken
tenders and then cook them on high for about four hours. At
lunchtime, I them prepared a small amount of egg noodles in a manner
that would insure I stayed within dietary limits! My chosen side was
about 40 grams of canned green beans that had been soaked in water to
brine out the extra salt. The result was interesting, tasty and
allowed me the pleasure of eating pasta without the guilt. Now some
notes on the two principal ingredients with an aside on sodium.
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| Note that the noodle weight was 'dry wgt' not actual wet! |
Chicken tenders
According to Organic Facts, 'eating
chicken provides a good supply of protein, a generous supply of
essential vitamins and minerals,
results in losing weight (when eaten in moderation), aids in
cholesterol control, blood pressure control, and a reduced risk of
cancer.' That's a few reasons why I eat it on a regular basis.
Egg noodles
The benefits
of eating egg noodles are numerous, including; being a
complete protein, which means that it contains all nine amino acids
that the body needs. It also contains high levels of B vitamins,
vitamin E, magnesium, iron, riboflavin, and calcium. Plus, it's
gluten-free. Finally, chicken is naturally very low in sodium,
although if you season it with salt, you’ll consume way more sodium
than you may realize. Personally, I brine the meat to removes excess
salt and then use a salt substitute, like potassium chloride, as a
healthy alternative.
Salt
As you may have guessed, I try to limit
my sodium intake as most processed foods, these days, seem to be
soaked in the stuff! When you have a lot of sodium in your diet, your
body automatically retains extra fluid (bad). Because of this, your
heart works harder to push blood out to your extremities that are
suddenly heavier. While you may experience no immediate effects, over
time, your blood pressure goes up, raising your chances of suffering
from heart disease.
Ingredients:
1/2 pkg of chicken tenders (about 4)
½ 8 oz jar of chunky salsa
1 cup of egg noodles
Fake salt and real pepper to taste
Directions: Place the chicken
and the salsa into a small slow cooker. I used a 2 quart model. Cook
on high for 4 to 5 hours. At the end of that time, cook a cup of egg
noodles according to package directions. Serves 2 and cost less than a buck per serving. The power used was also a deal; .4 kWh's or about 6 cents of electricity!
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