Chicken With Sourdough-Mushroom Stuffing in a Slow Cooker

You may have a hurry-scurry life, but when you've got a slow cooker on the counter, all is right with the world. Dress up the slow-simmered chicken by finishing it off with fresh gremolata. The lemon-peel, parsley, and chopped-walnut topping give it a fantastic citrusy flavor.

Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray
2 Tbsp. finely shredded lemon peel
1 Tbsp. ground sage
1 Tbsp. seasoned salt
1½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
8 small chicken legs (thigh-drumstick piece), skinned
   (about 5 pounds)
¼ cup butter or margarine
4 cups quartered or sliced fresh mushrooms such as cremini, baby portobello, shitake
   and/or button mushrooms
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
8 cups sourdough baguette cut into 1-inch pieces (10 ounces)
1 cup coarsely shredded carrot
1 cup chicken broth
¼ cup chopped walnuts, toasted
3 Tbsp. snipped parsley

Directions:
1. Lightly coat the inside of a 5½- to 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Reserve 1 teaspoon of the lemon peel. In a small bowl combine remaining lemon peel, sage, seasoned salt and black pepper. Remove 3/4 of the mixture and rub onto chicken legs. Place chicken legs in slow cooker.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet melt butter over medium heat. Add mushrooms and garlic. Cook and stir for 3 to 5 minutes or until just tender. Stir in remaining sage mixture. Transfer mushroom mixture to a large bowl. Add bread cubes and shredded carrot. Drizzle with chicken broth, tossing gently.
3. Lightly pack stuffing on top of chicken. Cover and cook on high-heat setting for 4 to 5 hours.
4. Using a slotted spoon, transfer stuffing and chicken to a large serving platter; discard juices in cooker.
5. For gremolata, in a bowl combine reserved lemon peel, walnuts and parsley. To serve, sprinkle gremolata on top of chicken and stuffing. (Makes 8 servings.)

Nutrition Facts per serving: Calories 412, Total Fat 17g (Saturated Fat 5g), Cholesterol 146mg, Sodium 1450mg, Carbohydrates 27g, Dietary Fiber 3g, Protein 39g.

(Recipe taken from Better Homes and Gardens Best-Loved Recipes 2006 Cookbook.)