Slow down for flavor

Come home to the aroma of a delicious dinner with this recipe for Mediterranean chicken thighs in the slow cooker.

Place the ingredients into the cooker before you head out the door in the morning, and dinner will be waiting when you get home.

I'm picky when I develop recipes for the slow cooker. In order to make the cut, they must meet two criteria.

First, they can't require pre-cooking. If you have to brown meat before adding it to the cooker, you've dirtied up a skillet or pot and the recipe isn't "throw and go," which is what I like about cooking in a slow cooker.

Second, the dish has to taste great. A lot of slow cooker recipes meet the first criterion but are low on flavor.

These chicken thighs meet both standards, and the recipe is one of the best slow cooker recipes I've come up with, according to my family, which has been my taste tester over the years.

When you're ready for dinner, cook a box of couscous or pasta and toss a big salad with your favorite vinaigrette. You might want to add a loaf of crusty bread for sopping up the flavorful sauce.

SLOW COOKER GREEK-INSPIRED CHICKEN THIGHS

6-8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs

Greek seasoning

1 14.4-ounce can diced tomatoes with basil, oregano and garlic

1 10-ounce package frozen artichoke hearts, defrosted and patted dry with paper towels, or 1 8-ounce jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained

Juice of 1 lemon, about 3 tablespoons

20 pitted Kalamata olives

1 teaspoon dried oregano

Feta cheese

Lightly spray slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Place chicken thighs into bottom of the cooker. Sprinkle both sides of the thighs with the Greek seasoning. Pour the diced tomatoes, artichoke hearts and lemon juice over the chicken. Place the olives over the top and sprinkle with the oregano.

Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Sprinkle each serving with a little feta cheese before serving.

Makes 6 servings.

Contact Karin Calloway at karin.calloway@comcast.net. See her prepare the recipe at noon Tuesday on television station WJBF (Channel 6). Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/karincalloway.