Slow cooker chicken and orzo

 For two - 

• 1/2 a finely chopped onion
  
• 2 skinless chicken thighs
  
• 1 small can mushrooms
• 1/2 cup white wine
  
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
  
• 2 T olive oil
  
• 1/4 cup parsley chopped
  
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  
• 3/4 teaspoon black pepper
  
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  
• 2/3 cup orzo pasta 
  
• 1 cup (240ml) boiling chicken stock or water. - may not need
• Fresh spinach 

To slow cooker add everything except orzo and extra water. Cook on low 5 hours. 

Reserve chicken to side. Cover w foil. 

Turn heat to high. Add orzo. Cook 15+ minutes. Evaluate- add additional chicken stock to finish cooking the orzo. 

Add two handfuls spinach - stir in to cook. 

Return chicken and drippings to pot. Keep warm until dinner.  

Ribs in the oven

 

Barbecue Pork Ribs

Serves 4 to 6

2 racks of pork baby back ribs
¼ cup dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons dry mustard powder
4 teaspoons smoked paprika
1½ tablespoons kosher salt
4 teaspoons black pepper, freshly ground
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups barbecue sauce (homemade or store-bought)

1. Preheat the oven to 275°F.

   
2. Pat the ribs dry with a paper towel. Remove any silver skin or membrane from the ribs.

   
3. Combine the dark brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, dry mustard powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix well. Add the vegetable oil and mix until you form a paste. Rub the ribs all over with the spice paste.

   
4. Wrap both racks of ribs in foil packets, sealing the edges, making sure the ribs are completely sealed inside. Place the packets on one or two baking sheets, depending on the size of the packets.
   
5. Place the ribs in the oven and cook for 2 hours and 30 minutes. You can finish the ribs on the grill or in the oven (see directions for both methods below).
   
6. Finishing on the grill: Remove the ribs from foil packets, being careful to reserve the juices. Add the juices to the barbecue sauce and mix well. Place the ribs on a preheated grill and baste with the sauce for another 20 minutes or until the ribs are beginning to fall off the bone.
   
7. Finishing in the oven: Cut the foil packets open using kitchen shears and carefully fold back the foil to expose the ribs. Liberally coat the ribs with barbecue sauce. Turn the oven up to 400°F and return the ribs to the oven without rewrapping them. Cook for another 25 minutes or until the ribs begin to fall off the bone.