This picture pretty much sums up how it’s been outside all.day.long! It rained from the moment I left for work, to the moment I got home from work!
Naturally, I was faced with the dreaded rainy day workout dilemma. Do I go home, put on my comfy sweats and lounge until my heart’s content? Or do I tough it out, get my butt to the gym and work. Well, unlike last time, today the comfy sweats and lounging triumphed… Oh well, you can’t win ‘em all!
I also semi wanted to come home because my crockpot had been working all day long on dinner. I know crock pots are trustworthy appliances, but I still always have that nagging feeling that they’re going to burn the house down while I’m at work! Luckily this was not my fate tonight, and Apricot Chicken with Roasted Brussels Sprouts was ready for me when I got home!
When it started getting cool out this Fall, I went on a major crockpot recipe search. This search led me to the Year of Slow Cooking blog, which was created out of one woman’s new years resolution to use her crockpot everyday for a year. Can you imagine?!
All her creations look and sound fantastic, and today I gave her Apricot Chicken recipe a whirl! I followed her instructions exactly, except I used 2 frozen chicken breasts, added some garlic powder into the sauce mixture and cooked on low for 5 hours. The result? Nothing short of DELISH!
The apricot preserves and soy sauce sort of caramelize and make this savory sweet glaze that penetrates the chicken. Really! It almost had a smoke ring look to it when I cut into the breast!
I also oven-roasted some delicious brussels sprouts. Simply follow the quick and easy instructions in my recipe here. 
Maybe you wanted to know a little bit more about brussels sprouts? Yeah – I thought you might 
- Brussels Sprouts are low in fat and sodium, high in dietary fiber and are cholesterol-free.
- They contain high levels of naturally occurring vitamin C and specific health-promoting compounds called glucosinolates with antioxidant properties, and proven health benefits in the area of cancer prevention.
- Brussels Sprouts have three times the level of vitamin C of an orange.
- Unlike most vegetables, Brussels Sprouts are rather high in protein, accounting for more than a quarter of their calories.
- They’re also an excellent source of vitamin D and folic acid during pregnancy.
What’s with these crazy, do-it-all foods? First it was complete protein source quinoa, and now antioxidant property toting brussels sprouts? I don’t hate it!
Unlike many children across America, I actually didn’t growing up eating brussels sprouts. The first time I ever had them was last year, and it was honestly love at first bite. If you cook them right, there’s really nothing to dislike!
I like to get mine super dark and crispy – they’re better than french fries in my opinion! Do you like brussel sprouts? You know what I say, if you think you don’t like a certain vegetable, try it roasted!
I am so full right now – borderline need to put on stretchy waistband pants! I do hope you’ll give this meal a try sometime – it was totally legit. 
Off to watch my Thursday night shows.
Remember TGIF on ABC? Full House, Perfect Strangers…URKEL?! HA!
Have a great night everyone!
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What’s your favorite vegetable?
Seriously, ever since I tried roasted brussels sprouts last year – they have become my hands down, fave veggie. There’s no comparison!
I love brussels, and roasting them sounds like a great way to change up the flavor!
I think my favorite would have to be sweet potatoes; they’re so nutritious and sweet and have a great amount of nutrients and vitamins without being too sensitive to aging
Maybe I need to try brussels sprouts again – when I was little, I thought they tasted like burned rubber (not that I ever ate burned rubber), and I haven’t tried them since!
It starting to feel like Seattle here in Iowa with all this rain!
Great dinner, I love brussel sprouts too, didn’t try them until this summer and love them!
I have a new favorite–Japanese sweet potatoes. They’re in season right now (in N. California, anyway) and taste wonderful baked. Try them!
Hmmm, I LOVE brussel sprouts but have never tried them roasted! I guess I will have to do that soon!
This is one of my favorite crock pot meals! I totally agree, apricot and soy sauce is a lovely mix. I also use this same marinaed in an awesome stir fry!! Always delicious!
I adore Brussles too, and like you, never grew up eating them. I always get so excited when a new found veggie enters my life. Thank goodness there are so many of them out there!
Oh I love brussel sprouts. I too just “found” them about a year ago. They are my go-to veggie. I always have some frozen ones on hand to steam. Need to roast some fresh ones up soon. Mmm.
I need to do more crockpot cooking too. And when I do, I have that nagging feeling something’s going to catch on fire too.
I had a bad experience with brussel sprouts when I was younger… I’ve never tried them again. I know I should give them a second change
I never had brussel sprouts as a kid either…I have no idea why! Maybe my mom just didn’t want to go there with the picky eaters in the fam. I tried them for the first time a few weeks ago, thinking “why not?” They’re pretty good! And your apricot chicken looks even better!! I looove sweet glazes.
Have not tried brussel sprouts before. I want to though! But my fave veggie is steamed carrots. They get so much more flavor that way!
I can’t wait to use my crock pot girl, thanks so much for the link to that site! I got a super awesome digital one that I hope will make some magic happen
Your din looks fantastic, I haven’t had brussels since I was a kid when I of course despised them – my older more sophisticated self of course may think otherwise, esp roasted like this… thanks for a side dish idea for next week 
I love crispy b. sprouts; they are so yummy dipped in ketchup!
Oh, and seriously, I think I have to invest in a CrockPot soon. I can’t stop drooling over your delicious meals!!!
I always worry my crockpot will burn the place down too! So far, so good! That chicken looks so good. I love that crockpot blog, she had so many great ideas!
I love brussel sprouts. I’m travel for business right now and am dying for fresh vegetables!
So glad you found Stephanie’s blog! She has so many creative and yummy crockpot recipes. I haven’t tried the Apricot Chicken, but I’m going to HAVE to now. Your photos make everything look soooo good!
I guess I would say sweet potatoes are my favorite veggie. Good thing, because my garden produced tons of them this year! I’ve never tried brussel sprouts, but I will soon, b/c I picked some up on a whim the other day!
I have been obsessed with brussel sprouts since I discovered them last year too! I can’t get enough!!
That’s what our weather looked like yesterday. Was not a happy day. I ended up working out at home to avoid having to go out in it.
I love that blog and try to find some recipes there occassionally.
I love roasted brussel sprouts. It took me a long time to try them because I had horrible images of a child of eating cabbage patch babies (yeah my dad told me that). I love almost anything roasted but especially aspargus and sweet potato.
Yes, today was yucky! Is it just me or have we seen more rain this usual this year?
True story, I have never tasted brussel sprouts. I was that normal child that refused to eat veggies and now that I’m older I love veggies but there are several I still haven’t tried.
It has been raining here all day long and it’s still raining at 10 pm. At least it’s not snowing like in other parts of Nebraska. I would never be able to choose a favorite veggie, that would be like having to pick a favorite child. Asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, green beans, peas, sweet potatoes, lettuce, spinach, peppers, onions, tomatoes … love them all! Roasted veggies are one of my favorite foods.
I bet you could probably guess this, but broccoli is my fave, followed by mushrooms as a close second.
Kohlrabi with a little sprinkle of sea salt and pepper, fresh outta the garden! My grandpa and I used to walk out to the garden and eat them right where we picked them when I was little – can’t get any fresher than that! Not very many people like them, let alone have heard of them.
My favorite is roasted brussels sprouts too! That chicken looks delish – I love savory fruit.
ah i totally agree. if u don’t like a veggie try it roasted then decide
I love crock pot meals too!
My favorite veggie is the tomato! Okay technically it’s a fruit but who cares! lol
I love brussel sprouts when they’re roasted! They’re so delicious. The marinade on that chicken looks great, too!
I’m a big fan of broccoli and spinach.
I’ve never tried brussel sprouts. Most people I know hate them!
I did not try brussels sprouts until adulthood either. I think they got a bad rap (like many veggies) from being boiled to death. I love them roasted with onions. My two old really loves them. We also steam them when we don’t want to mess with the oven and they are pretty good that way too.
I am loving reading your blog this week! All the great food facts and the awesome oatmeal. I love it. And I love Brussels sprouts so when I saw all these awesome nutrition facts about them I fell in love even more. I know how you feel about the rain-I did the same thing on Tuesday. It is so hard to get out there and workout when its cold and rainy out.
I am loving reading your blog this week! All the great food facts and the awesome oatmeal. I love it. And I love Brussels sprouts so when I saw all these awesome nutrition facts about them I fell in love even more. I know how you feel about the rain-I did the same thing on Tuesday. It is so hard to get out there and workout when its cold and rainy out.
Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.
My favorite is broccoli, but I can honestly say, I’ve never had brussel sprouts. I’d like to try them, but my husband insists that he hates them and won’t eat them. Maybe I’ll just fix them anyway!
I’m always nervous about the crock pot too! I never use it during the week cause it freaks me out to leave anything going at home all day when we’re not there.
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