u/Saltycook

A take on an Italian "bread salad," with ingredients that are currently in season/in the garden. I wanted to see if I could make chicken in my crock pot and use the meat, stock, and fat in one dish.

Serves 4 as a main course.

For the chicken:

* 2# Bone-in, skin on chicken

* 1 Yellow onion chopped

* 1 Carrot chopped (I don't even peel it)

* 2 Cups chicken stock or water

* 1 Tablespoon coriander seed

* Italian seasoning to taste

* Kosher salt to taste

1. Throw all this in a Crock pot and cook 6 hours. Skim and retain chicken fat that renders from the skin.

2. Cool sufficiently to remove the flesh from the skin and bones. Once you've refrigerated the strained stock, peeling of the fat is way easier as it's all on top.

I'll use the onion and carrots from this for other stuff for an extra veggie kick.

Garlic & Parm dressing:

* 1 Clove garlic, microplaned or minced

* 1/4 Cup white wine vinegar

* 1/2 Cup reserved stock from cooking chicken

* 1 Tablespoon "shaky parm"

* 1 Tablespoon smooth Dijon mustard

* Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

* 1 Cup olive oil

1. Blend all but the oil until well combined, then slowly drizzle the oil until well incorporated and doesn't separate

Croutons:

* 4 Pieces thick Italian bread or similar, cubed into 1/2 " pieces. I'm too frugal to cut the crusts off. The staler, the better

* 1 Cup rendered chicken fat

* 1/4 Cup shaky parm (optional)

1. Melt the fat in a large pan, toss the bread a single layer at a time, toast. You can also do this in an oven, but it's too hot for me to run my oven here.

2. Toss on shaky parm, if using, cool completely, then store with a paper towel.

At last, the salad!

* 1 Cup shredded chicken

* 1 Zucchini, sliced thin

* 1 Summer Squash, sliced thin

* 1 Carrot, sliced thin

* 1 Cup grape tomatoes or similar, halved

* Sprinkle of Kosher salt

* 1 Handful basil leaves, torn or sliced

* 1/2 Cup fresh mozzarella (I used torn ciliegine sized balls) (optional)

* Dressing and bread from previous step

1. In a large bowl, combine veggies and gently toss with salt, set aside for 20 minutes. Drain any liquid.

2. Combine with remaining ingredients and toss lightly. Adjust seasoning and dressing level as needed.

Many crunchy habits overlap with frugal habits I've noticed as someone who belongs to a plethora of crunchy type subs. Not at all saying this in a negative light, quite the contrary! I'm certainly all of the above

Honestly? I'm happy about it. We lived in the moment. My phone is full of photos and most are of her. But we just fucking lived. I didn't even look at my phone while her party was happening. We celebrated my daughter with our friends and family.

Idk, probably something odd to be happy about.