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Sticky Apricot Chicken Bites & Rachael Ray Cookbook Giveaway

Finally. It is finally springtime and I can hear the brand-spanking new patio and grill calling my name. The flowers and trees have bloomed and I have been sitting outside on the deck lately and dreaming up some delicious recipes.

In fact, there is one recipe that I modified from Rachael Ray’s new Look + Cook cookbook that you will love. Wait, I don’t mean love, I mean lurve. Today’s recipe is a perfect example on how I stretch our budget by using a whole organic chicken to make two meals: The first meal being a straight from the oven roasted chicken and the second being the recipe I am sharing today.

In fact, the Sticky Apricot Chicken recipe is so awesome that I prepared it again two nights ago using organic chicken breasts and brought it to our friend’s house in a Ziploc Brand VersaGlass large square container. We popped it into their fridge while the kids played and then simply reheated it for dinner time.

(Photo Credit: Ziploc.com)

Speaking of meals and stretching a budget, I need to talk to you. Come closer as this is important: I care about you eating well and I want to make sure you are incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables into your meals. I hear lots of chit-chat that fresh foods are too expensive and meal preparation is too time-consuming and this makes me wonder: Are you buying the items on sale? Are you planning ahead of just buying willy nilly? Are you stretching your foods as I am demonstrating today? Get creative, remember your health super important so go plant some fruits and vegetables straight away. Even a tiny amount of gardening space can yield big benefits. Also, have you taken advantage of buying in bulk and freezing?

You know Ziploc has many great freezer bags including the NEW Ziploc Perfect Portions Bags.

Ziploc Perfect Portions Bags allow families to quickly and easily store and freeze bulk foods, saving time and money. Simply place hand in bag, pick-up desired serving size and turn bag inside out to easily create portions. Put individual bags in a Ziploc Brand Freezer Bag to freeze and you’re done.

If you need more ideas on how to eat fresh or have some great ideas to share, join in the FreshOver Community on the Ziploc Brand Facebook page (there are more than 384,000 members to date!). There is a great app to help out as well!

Photo Credit: Jennifer Leal

Sticky Apricot Chicken Bites
(Adapted from Rachael Ray ‘Sticky Orange Chicken’)
Ingredients:
2 cups boneless, skinless organic chicken breasts, cut into chunks
1/2 cup apricot preserves
1 cup low sodium organic chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon dried or 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, roughly chopped
3/4 teaspoon fresh or 1/4 teaspoon thyme leaves
1/4 teaspoon cornstarch or cream of tartar
salt and ground black pepper to taste, optional

Directions:
1. Place the preserves, chicken broth, herbs and cornstarch or cream of tartar into a non-reactive pot and whisk together over medium-high heat. Allow to gently boil for 2-3 minutes.

2. Add the chicken to the pot, gently mix to coat the chicken and remove from the heat. Allow the sauce to thicken and coat the chicken and then serve over brown rice or over mashed sweet potatoes. Delish!

In order to help you with ideas and inspiration, I want to give you a fun prize pack that was given to all the attendees at the FreshOver event with Rachael Ray back in March! This prize pack will include Ziploc VersaGlass containers, a Rachael Ray autographed look + cook cookbook, and organic basket/bag plant pot with herb seeds.

To Enter: Answer this question in a comment on this post: What are the main obstacles that get in the way of you eating fresh foods?

For additional entries (you must answer the question above & leave an additional comment on this post for each entry.):

– Tweet this giveaway, “Win a #Ziploc Prize Pack including an autographed @rachael_ray cookbook from @savorthethyme http://su.pr/6D8iKR #FreshOver #spon” (Be sure to come back and leave the tweet URL.)

– Subscribe to the Savor the Thyme RSS feed and leave a comment that you did so (yes, I verify).

– Follow @savorthethyme on Twitter.

This giveaway will end on 5/24/2012 at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be chosen by random.org and will be contacted by email. The winner must respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. Click here for the Official Rules.

Disclosure: I have partnered with Ziploc® Brand and am being compensated for my posts. However, my opinions on the product are my own.

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Comments

  3. Courtney Buteau says

    Honestly, the biggest hurdle is keeping it fresh. I buy most vegetables and fruits organic, and worry about it’s shelf life in the fridge. If I could find a way to make everything last the week, that certainly would make dinner planning easier! I sometimes run to the market mid-week to ensure that food is fresh.

  4. Kelly Morrissey says

    The cost can be prohibative. I shop once a week and while 95% of the time all the fresh stuff is eaten up and does not spoil it does not get us through the week. Re-training the family to literally “Think Outside The Box” is the biggest challenge. I am gluten intollerant so fresh foods totally work for me. While there could be tons of great fresh food in the frig my teenage son will look at me and say there isn’t anything to eat. What he’s really saying is there isn’t anything “ready” to eat and he doesn’t want to take the time to make it. So he will often opt for cereal, frozen waffles, or some other convenience food. I guess if I didn’t buy those items he would have to opt for something else and learn to cook it. (Then there is the issue of getting him to clean up after himself LOL!)

  10. Jessica says

    With 2 small children I don’t get to the grocery store often enough to stay stocked with fresh fruits and veggies like I should.

  12. Cori says

    It often comes down to time. We certainly eat healthier during the week if I’m able to plan weekday meals in advance (but it doesn’t always happen!).

  13. TC says

    For me, it’s just time. If all I did after work was to come home and cook, it’d be no problem. But much of the time, I out at the gym,music lessons, and doing other things.

  15. Laurel C says

    Eating healthy can be difficult when produce is expensive, but my philosophy is that you can’t make excuses…..just because some foods are cheaper and more convenient doesn’t mean you should eat them!

  18. Krissy says

    I’d say that TIME is my biggest issue when it comes to cooking/serving/eating fresh foods.

  21. Megan McD says

    My biggest obstacle is my budget. It costs more to eat healthy than it does to load up on starch-heavy pastas, white rice and potatoes. I go grocery shopping when I get paid every 2 weeks and stock up on tons of fresh produce in the fridge. I eat very healthy for the following week, trying to use it all up before anything spoils, but then the next week I fall back on the pre-packaged stuff in the pantry. I love to cook though, so as long as I do have the fresh ingredients I’m always making healthy salads for lunch and healthy dinners at night.

  22. Greta says

    I live and go to school in a big city. Between 30 hours of work and being a full time students it is hard to make it to the grocery store or farmers market every week for fresh produce. Here’s to a summer goal of fresh veggies at every meal!

  25. Julie says

    I don’t have a problem with my family eating fresh fruit/vegetables but we do have problems with spoilage
    thansk

  26. Shannon says

    As a college student, it becomes too expensive. Oh to live with my parents again…

  27. Alyssa says

    Choosing really ripe fruit and veggies at the supermarket. Knowing how to pick certain fresh vegetables like watermelon and take them home and have them be perfectly ripe.

  28. Jennifer says

    Hi Debbie, sorry it is confusing – please note in the intro and ingredients that the chicken is already cooked…..I am using cooked chicken left from rossting a whole chicken.

  29. Debbie says

    Your picture looks awesome. However, your recipe neglects to actually cook the chicken.

  31. Krystal says

    My biggest challenge is that I am a college student on a tight budget. I do try to incorporate veggies in each meal the veggies I can afford usually limits the kinds of meals I can make.

  32. Marsha says

    I do eat a lot of fresh foods, especially now that the kids are grown, and our schedules and expenses do not revolve around them. My greatest obstacle in buying and eating fresh food is having what I buy go to waste because I don’t have time to prepare it all, plans change and we end up not eating at home as much as expected, or the food comes in packages too large for what I want or need.

  33. Sara says

    I have to admit, I started eating fresh, local foods more often as a result of the co-op being a significantly shorter bus ride than the local Shaw’s or Hannaford’s groceries. But recently, I had to take my business elsewhere for a week because I lost my debit card, and the only “grocery” that accepted my checks in the area was Walmart (more like grossery.) Anyway, living in Vermont tends to restrict the variety of fresh vegetables available in certain seasons, but I am starting to eat “seasonally”

  34. sara says

    My main obstacle is that I often don’t have time to shop during the week, and things purchased over the weekend can spoil quickly.

  35. Danielle R says

    the main obstacle that gets in the way of me eating fresh foods is LAZINESS! i need to be better about chopping up vegetables when i buy them so they’re readily available throughout the week!

  36. Supe says

    We do eat loads of fresh vegetables. We’re lucky to live in the Sacramento Valley in California and we have year round farmer’s markets available to us. Not only do we have access to fresh and organic fruits and vegetables, but we also have grass fed meats and artisan cheeses also! It’s easy to eat well when you have access to all that great food.

  37. Justine M says

    Would probably eat more fresh foods if we generally shopped more than once a week. Not so easy to guess how long certain fruits and vegetables will stay fresh. But it’s great to have delicious, healthy dinner ideas for the big shopping day and some for the days after, if possible.

  38. kristen says

    the fact that they spoil so quickly is the only thing. Other than that we tend to eat alot of fresh foods we just buy in smaller quantities and go to the store more often

  39. Shannon says

    My workplace does not currently provide a refrigerator OR microwave for employees’ usage (criminal, I know). It’s been quite a stretch trying to pack my own lunches every day. I usually end up having to eat out a couple of times a week, since it’s hard to eat the same sandwich every day.

  41. Melissa M. says

    My biggest obstacle is the usual — TIME! However, after years of struggling with stomach/digestive issues and numerous doctors visits and procedures, I finally discovered that its processed and “convenience” foods that are affecting my system. Finally feeling healthy has been motivation enough to eat fresh and natural/organic foods. I now take time on Sundays to plan out my weekly meals and how I can get everything prepped (veggies cut, marinades made, beans cooked, etc.) more efficiently.

  46. Louis says

    My only obstacle is if I’m too tired to prepare something healthy, and opt for a quick fix, but that doesn’t happen too often.

  49. Michelle says

    My biggest obstacles are that I have at most 45 minutes from the time I get home from picking up the kids after work until when we have to eat. My next biggest challenge would probably be that my husband is not the most adventurous/healthy eater (although after 8 years of marriage he is getting better – he’ll eat fruit now at least!).

  50. Andrea says

    They spoil too soon so I am always hesitant to spend money on them. I also am a nanny so many of the foods im surrounded by are processed.

  51. Maureen says

    If there is anything it is my husband and his being extremely picky about everything he eats. He is not one that is much for eating veggies so I feel good when I can get some into his meal.

  55. Jessica M says

    Our main obstacle is cost. We already spend a LOT on groceries, mostly organic and fruits and vegetables. I think we eat really healthy, but honestly, I would probably buy even more if I had an unlimited budget!

  56. Stephanie's Mommy Brain says

    My main obstacle is that I get in a rut. We are super busy with extracurricular activities right now so I’m fixing my go-to meals. Grilled cheese sandwiches, toast and scrambled eggs, cheese quesadillas. They’re quick and easy to prepare but not highly nutritional. We usually add a side of fruit but we definitely need more veggies.

  60. Denise @ Creative Kitchen says

    My biggest challenge is that my husband doesn’t eat or like veggies at all. My girls are better. So taking the time to meal plan and buy fresh produce is key. One thing that helped immensely is my new fridge with the bottom freezer. Now with 3 produce drawers it’s front and center. I also love that the drawers are now eye level (and hand level) with my 4 year old. Makes it easy to grab fruit on her own…and hard to get to other stuff. 😉

  63. Crystal @ Crystal's Cozy Kitchen says

    I am so adding this to my menu for next week!

    My family and I are trying to eat healthier… okay so my husband is supporting me in my trying to eat healthier (love the support). I have been planning my meals around the produce instead of the protein (most of the time) and it has helped a lot to be able to include produce. We live in a rural area and we use a produce co-op (wish where was a CSA but there isn’t) and will be going to the (very small) farmers market when it starts (in July). Our families biggest challenge – my son absolutely won’t eat vegetables… I do offer them at every meal but he won’t touch them.

  64. Jen Senecal says

    My main obstacle is the ages of my children. This actually gets in the way of making ANY kind of dinner, most nights, whether it’s healthy or not. It’s really hard to manage time for dinner-cooking when you have 3 little ones, ages 4 and under. That hour of the day is probably well-known as “the witching hour” and it gets a little crazy. I feel confident that once they’re a little older, I will have more time & energy to create fabulous HEALTHY dinners again! I’m stocking up on recipes and this one looks delicious!

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