Cara's Sweet and Sour Crock Pot Chicken

My friend Cara shared this family recipe with me - it's been a favorite on their table for years, and often requested. :) Prep time includes chilling.

• Ready In: 5 hrs 10 mins
• Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• Chicken

• 4  boneless skinless chicken breasts or 6 -8  boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  garlic salt
• 1⁄4 cup cornstarch
• 2  eggs, beaten well
• 2  tablespoons  vegetable oil or 2  tablespoons  peanut oil

• Sauce

• 1⁄4 cup sugar (or temperature-stable substitute such as granular Splenda *)
• 1⁄2 cup rice or 1⁄2 cup white vinegar
• 1⁄4 cup  chicken stock
• 1  dash salt
• 3 -4  tablespoons catsup, to taste
• 1  tablespoon soy sauce

Directions

1. Trim the chicken of fat and gristle, then cut the breasts or thighs into thirds.
2. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken pieces with garlic salt; place into container and let stand in the fridge for an hour.
3. Preheat your crock pot on low.
4. Take the chicken from the fridge; put cornstarch and beaten eggs in separate shallow pans or dishes.
5. Dredge the chicken pieces in the corn starch, then the egg.
6. In a large skillet over medium temperature, heat the oil; slowly cook the dredged chicken pieces, frying to a golden brown on both sides, about 6 to 7 minutes per side.
7. Remove the chicken from the skillet and place in the crock pot.
8. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar (or sugar substitute*), vinegar, chicken stock, salt, catsup, and soy sauce; simmer, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved and ingredients have incorporated well.
9. Pour the sauce over the cooked chicken in the crock pot.
10. Cook on low for 4 hours, then serve with rice and enjoy!
11. *Note:if you use granular Splenda or Splenda Sugar Blend, you might want to use a bit less than 1/4 cup, then prepare the sauce to taste to make sure that it comes to the sweetness you prefer.
12. Julie notes: I'd make some slight additions to the sauce, such as about a 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic and some chopped scallions; also, if you use chicken broth instead of stock, use unsalted broth then season with salt and/or soy sauce to taste.