With lots of travel and a complete lack of schedule in the summer…we struggle to find the time to prepare an entire meal!  Sound familiar?  Thought so.

But with all that travel, sometimes we just crave home-cooked, simple comfort food.  After one belle returned from a recent adventure, she pulled out a couple of old, easy standbys.  Thought we would share for a bit of inspiration…

BBQ Chicken Sliders and Summer Succotash (with a little kick)

The chicken, prepared in the slow-cooker, is just about the easiest thing imaginable:

Belleicious Crockpot Chicken Barbecue 

(similar to this version from Family Fresh Meals)

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 cups of your favorite barbecue sauce (or try our homemade sauce)

2 T worcestershire 

Place chicken in crockpot and season well with salt and pepper.  Pour bbq sauce and worcestershire over chicken and toss to coat.  Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours.  Remove chicken from pot and shred with two forks.  Return chicken to sauce, stir to coat, and allow to warm in the crockpot until ready to serve.

Done!!

Serve alone or as a slider or full sandwich with extra sauce…and if you want to do it up right, add some coleslaw.  Belleicious!!

Summer Succotash with a kick

(Loosely adapted from this FoodNetwork recipe and inspired by our friend, Cathy, ages ago!!)

2 cups corn kernels

2 cups baby lima beans

2 cups cut okra

2-3 tomatoes, chopped

1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped

1 small onion, finely chopped

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

1 T butter

1 T olive oil

1 T kosher salt

1 t sugar

Fresh ground black pepper

Heat oil and butter in heavy saucepan or large skillet.  Add jalapeño, onion and garlic, sprinkle with salt, and sauté until soft.  Add corn, stir and cover.  Allow to simmer/steam 5-10 minutes until slightly tender.  Add lima beans, okra, sugar and a couple tablespoons water.  Stir well and cover again.  Allow to simmer another 20-30 minutes until all veggies are tender. Adjust salt if needed and add tomato.  Grind pepper on top.  Stir.  Serve!

Easy, peasy belleiciousness!

a&a