Friday, January 25, 2013

Repeat#3 and It's snowing!!!!


What better thing to make on a cold day?  Soup!!!  Yesterday was the day of junk food, you have to have those days every so often.  Today we ate some of the left overs.  But, today we are gonna eat soup.  Since I have made this before I know how it tastes and I really can't wait to gobble it up!  Happy Snow day!!!



EASY CROCKPOT POTATO SOUP 
1 30oz. bag of frozen, shredded hash browns {I used Ore Ida}
3 14oz. cans of chicken broth
1 can of cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/4 tsp. ground pepper
1 pkg. cream cheese {don’t use fat free.  It WON’T melt!!!}
As the Pioneer Woman would say, here are the “cast of characters”.
  potato soup1
Not too shabby, eh?! 
In a crockpot, combine everything EXCEPT for the cream cheese.  Cook for 6-8 hours on low heat.  About 1 hour before serving, add cream cheese and keep heated until thoroughly melted.  Serve with cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, green onions, or whatever else you think would be good!!
potato soup2

Monday, January 21, 2013

Repeat #2 coming up tonight..(I have not made it yet)

So, even though I am cooking for two people I only get to eat alone :(!!  Hubby is on overnights, and most of the nights that I cook he isn't there.  Especially nights like tonight, when I have to work from 3-8 and he leaves at 7!  So, I am making the outback steak house Aussie Springs Chicken again.  Hubby will get to eat it tomorrow night.  


SHERRY’S AUSSIE CHICKEN

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2 inch thickness (sometimes it’s easier to filet them, instead)
  • seasoning salt
  • 6 slices bacon, cut in half (What is it with me and all the bacon recipes this week?!)
  • ¼ cup regular mustard
  • ¼ to 1/3 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 2 teaspoons dried onion flakes
  • 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
  • 2 cups shredded Colby/Jack cheese
Sprinkle and rub the chicken breasts with seasoning salt.  Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook bacon in a large skillet until crisp.  Remove bacon.  ***Do not discard grease.*** Saute chicken in the bacon grease for 3 to 5 minutes per side, or until browned.  Move chicken to a 9×13 pan.
In a small bowl, mix the mustard, honey, mayo and dried onion flakes.  Apply the honey mustard to each breast, then layer with mushrooms, bacon, and shredded cheese.
Bake in a 350° oven for 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and chicken is done.  (Be sure to cut into a breast to see that it is fully cooked before serving to guests who will find raw meat in their main dish.  Ask me how I know…)
Serve with honey mustard sauce.

So, I think the main reason that I am posting this now is so that I will have the recipe, and not have to dig for it.  I have yet to add a lot of these recipes to my cook book.  I really need to get on that, in my list of dozens of things to do.  I really wish that I could do some of my work from home.  If I could then I would be doing my things while I am watching the kids that I work with.  But, at this job you are supposed to remain as anonymous as possible, do you know how hard that is???  Seriously it is REALLY hard.  The kids ask over and over again, who this is and what that is.  Even harder, there is usually always a picture of my dogs on my phone, and they see it and then they know that names of my pups.  Yea, I am not too good at that anonymous thing.  

So as I am sitting here at work, with nothing to do, no one to talk to (no one is here?!?!?) I am board!!!!  Lord help me!!  The smart thing would have been to bring my cook book and look through it so that I can be ready for crock pot month.  For some reason January seems to just be dragging, and NO SNOW!!  Okay, I am off in a tangent right now, sorry!  Anyways, that is what will be for dinner tonight!  <3

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Repeat #1

Enchilada Lasagna

Ingridients:

2 tbsp of vegetable oil
1 lbs chicken breast, chopped to bite pieces
5 cups of mexican blend cheese
1 can of cream of celery
1 can of cream of chicken
1 1/2 cups sour cream
1/4 cup canned and chopped green chillies (drained)
small corn tortillas
1 tsp cumin
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Directions:
Brown chicken in a pan on 2 tbsp of oil. Season with salt and pepper. 
In a bowl combine cream of celery, cream of chicken, sour cream and green chillies.
Prepare the dish you will assemble the lasagna in. Put 1/2 cup of cream mix on the bottom of the baking dish and spread. Layer a row of tortillas followed with cream mix, chicken and cheese. You should be able to make 3 layers like this. Last layer doesn't need chicken, just a ton of cheese. preheat the oven to 425 degrees and let it bake for about 20 minutes or until cheese is nice and melted and golden brown on top.

So now added into the dinner rotation, is the above recipe.  It is still as good as it was a little over two months ago!!!  This recipe is really worth making over and over again.  And you really can't stop eating it.  One bite is not enough, one serving is not enough!  One thing that I forgot to mention last time, I didn't use the oil or the salt.  I didn't feel the need for either one.  There is enough sodium in everyone's diet and the oil just adds calories.  New flash: You can still brown chicken without oil!!!  So please make this recipe!  Happy Blog-iversary month!!! <3

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

15 days with OUT soda and I feel fine

Life is all about resolutions, you resolve not to do this, and give up that.  People say that they will get more sleep or exercise more, but who really does it??

This chick right here!!!  I want to be honest with you as I have always been, when I was younger (I know I am not that old, but I am talking like a little kid, pre-adult, TWEEN years) I never really drank a lot of soda.  It was around, but I was really lucky if I drank an entire can.  When I was in high school, in between school and whatever practice I had, I would pay 50 cents to drink not even half a can.  Then some where along the way (probably the late nights at wally world), I started drinking an entire bottle (not a can a bottle!!!!).  And then the one bottle turned into 4 or 5 a day and then I just couldn't stop myself.  

I stopped for my wedding, and I should have never allowed myself that Dr. Pepper on my wedding day.  Cause then I was up to tons of bottles again.  Honestly I didn't realize how awake they actually made me.....

So my resolution was to give up soda again.  I am 15 days soda free, and my pants fit better.  But, I have noticed that I am really coming down off of them and I am tired more.  I want to go to bed at 9:30 and still not get up until 9:30.  BUT, I do have more energy during the day.  It has been really hard not to drink them.  My biggest downfall is my hubby.  He really likes Soda, and many times will not drink much else, so fat he has not asked to buy a case of soda.  But, I have decided that if he does and he wants one, I am going to buy something that I don't like.  I cannot be tempted.  I was at Rite Aid today, and I was in the drink cooler.  Passing all the Sweet tea which I really can't stand...and then the DR. PEPPER.  God, help me!  I had to quickly move away from the case.  On to the Arizona tea.  Two of those for a buck!!!

Baby steps is what it is all about.  But, I quit cold turkey once again.  If I have access to tea, I will drink that.  If I can get water I will sometimes do that.  I will not drink sodas, if that means shopping for an hour at wally world and not buying a drink I will do it!!

Wish me well!!! <3

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Something Old, Something New, Something Blogged, Something Blue

So the theme of this month is something I've already made, in light of my blogaversary!!! :D  I have said this before and I will say it again, I just don't like Chili   I used to think that it was just the beans, honestly I think that it is all the ingredients together; it reminds me of a watered down meatloaf, and I hate meatloaf!!!  

But, the Hubby loves Chili, I am pretty sure that he ate two maybe 3 bowls the other night, while I could only stomach one. (And I left all the beans in there)!!!  While the beer that I used is different from almost a year ago, the chili was still as spicy!!!  

Here is what I said last year: "So, I made Chili. The night I made it, I did not like what I tasted. Hubby ate a bowl, like it was the best Chili that he had ever had. Yesterday, after it sat over night, and chilled, Hubby wanted another bowl. He made a bowl, and added some cheese, and I don't know what about it tasted good, but after it sat I liked it."  I haven't ate any since the night I made it this time around.  I think that I need to minus a can a beans, they were so over whelming this time around.  The beer that I used this time around was Warstiner (not sure how to spell that).  You really don't taste it.  

Here is the recipe followed the same way that I did last year!

Game Day Chili (From Pillsbury Cookbook, that is totally Free online >.<)
Prep time: 30mins Start to finish: 2hours and 30minutes Servings: 8

2lb ground beef, chuck
1 medium onion, chopped
3 to 4 cloves garlic, chopped (I used three)
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons of ground cumin
1 to 2 teaspoons of ground red pepper (cayenne, I used one)
1 teaspoon of paprika
1 can (6oz) tomato paste
1 3/4 cups Progresso beef-flavored broth
1 bottle (12oz) dark beer (I used yungling)
3 cans (8oz each) tomato sauce
2 cans (15 oz each) pinto beans, drained, rinsed
1 can (4.5oz) Old El Paso chopped green chilies
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1. In a 5 to 6 quart Dutch Oven, cook beef, onion and garlic over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain (I cooked the the onion and garlic first, without the beef, I don't like that the grease and fat from the beef gets in the onion and garlic.)

2. Add chili powder, cumin, red pepper and paprika; cook 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste; cook 1 minute longer. Add remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Cover; simmer 2 hours.

Try it out and tell me how it goes!  And thanks again for reading my blog!  I really enjoy writing these up for you!! <3!

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Crap!! I'm three blogs behind...

Sorry that I got behind, it was not my intention!  But, even though I would love to stay home and cook and blog all day, I have to earn a living. This isn't paying yet :(.  I have been trying to make things that are a little out of my comfort zone. But, as I am becoming more comfortable there is less and less that I am not afraid to try.  

I am still nervous that the crock pot is going to burn my house down.  I know that is really unlikely, but I still get nervous!!!  

I made chicken with lemon and Italian dressing packet.  You dont add too much in it, and you just turn the crock pot on and go.  Luckly, my job ended early so I could be home to watch the crock pot!  This recipe didn't turn out to well.  It wasn't great, and I don't need to have it again.  

I don't have super powers, I wish I did though, because then I could make up a recipe and have it be a hit that millions of people want to eat.  Anyways, ever since my husband and I went to a Greek restaurant for our honeymoon, we cant get enough of Greek food.  When I found a recipe for Gyro's my husband bugged me every night after I told him to make it.  He would say: "Is that Gyro's in the crock pot?" "I think I smell Gyro's!!"  Boy do I love him!!  I found a Gyro recipe for the crock pot.  I was a little hesitant, mainly because there is lemon pepper that you put on the chicken.  And I was going to give you the recipe, but it has seemed to disappeared from my pinterest.  It really wasn't good.  It wasn't awful, but I don't need to eat it again, since I love Greek so much!!

On to the 3rd.  Pork is not my favorite thing to eat.  I would rather have chicken!!!  Anyways, I have to come up with ways to make it so that I can enjoy it too.  I found a recipe that you add coke, and thought that it might be good, cause it is like soda can chicken.  Again I will use my crock pot, however I have to work!  So I left it on low and prayed that it would be okay!  It was!  So you can find the recipe here:

You'll need:
McCormicks slower cooker Savory Pot Roast season packet
An Au Jus packet
A Can of Pepsi (we use Coke because we always have coke in our house)
And Boneless Cross Rib Roast
and your crock pot 

   Put your Roast in the crock pot. 
Mix the Slow cooker seasoning with 1 cup of Water.
Pour on top of roast.
      Add the whole can of Coke.
Cover with your lid for 8 Low or 4 hours on high.
Its VERY important that you never lift the lid!

Right before you are ready to pull it out, 
sprinkle your dry Au Jus packet over the roast.





Ahh.....
Pull it out and slice it up!
I promise you it is the most tender Roast EVER!!

ENJOY!!

So let me know how all your cooking goes!  Good night everyone, now that I am all caught up!!!

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!!  Welcome to 2013, I hope that it will be an exciting year!!  I love having parties, Scentsy parties, New Years Eve parties...any party.  Why?!?!?!  Because it gives you the freedom to cook, and lets face it, more times than often your friends will try things that your family will not.  Even though we had five people (including hubby and me!!) we had a great time.  And we ate some food.  Not all of it.  And there was one recipe that I was really disappointted in, we really didn't touch it.  I think that everyone might have had one bite...and that was all it went.

Here is what I made...

Oh wait I have to back up one day....
On 12/30/12 I made a crockpot chicken recipe.  It was okay.  But I am confused on what to do because when you go tot the Pin, it doesn't go to the recipe.  So you have to read what's at the bottom of the pin.
(PS, I am writing this while watching Bubble Guppies and Team Umizoomi, I am having trouble concentrating, LOL).  Here is what you do, and I did I just didn't know how much lemon so I covered the chicken with it...
Crockpot Lemon Chicken - Put cube of butter in bottom of crock pot. Lay chicken in pot. Sprinkle Italian dressing packet over chicken, drizzle with lemon juice, pop the lid on. Cook on High 4-5 hours, or Low 6-8 hours.
Hubby and I ate it, and thought it tasted okay, but it is not something that I would be like, okay I HAVE to make it again.

Okay, now onto New Years Eve...

This first recipe was a dud :(.  I think that when you are working with cucumbers it is really hard not to have so much water.  Cucumbers are mainly water, so it really was everywhere.  The recipe is called Crisp Cucumber Salsa, and the jalapeno that I had was really hott, on my hand for two days, and I tasted it on all food after I made the salsa.  The "White sauce" that goes into it is pretty good, I would make it a dip cucumbers in them...you can find the recipe here:
http://pkstaples.blogspot.com/2010/06/crisp-cucumber-salsa.html (there son is incredibly cute!!!)..or you can find it here...

Crisp Cucumber Salsa
Yield 2-1/2 cups

2 cups finely chopped seeded peeled cucumber
1/2 cup finely chopped seeded tomato
1/4 cup chopped red onion
2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley
1 jalepeno pepper, seeded and chopped
4-1/2 tsp minced fresh cilantro
1 garlic clove, minced or pressed
1/4 c reduced-fat sour cream
1-1/2 tsp lemon juice
1-1/2 tsp lime juice
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp seasoned salt
Tortilla chips

In a small bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. In another bowl, combine the sour cream, lemon juice, lime juice, cumin and seasoned salt. Pour over cucumber mixture and toss gently to coat. Serve immediately with chips.

On to the next one...who doesn't love meat balls?  If you don't you are missing out.  I love them!!!!  Anyways, I am always trying to find a new way, and when someone tells me, a little of this and a lot of that I get a little frustrated because, it can get messed up depending on what YOU (I) think is a little and a lot.  

So I found this one day while pinning, and what struck me about it, is you use a can of jellied cranberries.  Most of the time people say Jelly.  Now, I only ate one meatball, I kindof forgot they were over in the crock pot.  But the one I ate was so fantastic!!!

You can find the recipe here: http://dappledesigns.hubpages.com/hub/Cocktail-Meatball-Recipe-for-the-Crock-Pot-Slow-Cooker

or here:

Cocktail Meatball Recipe Using Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients:
  • 24oz of Frozen Meatballs (turkey meatballs work great as well)
  • 18oz of BBQ Sauce
  • 3 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
  • 16oz Cranberry Sauce Jellied
  • 2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
Instructions:
  1. Mix the BBQ Sauce, Soy Sauce, Cranberry Sauce and mustard together until you get a smooth consistency.
  2. Put frozen meatballs in the crock pot and pour the mixture over them. Stir so all of the meatballs are evenly coated.
  3. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. If it starts to boil, reduce the heat to "keep warm" so that the BBQ sauce does not burn.
  4. Enjoy!
You will not be disappointed!!!

Last one I promise!!!  So to round out the dips, cause who doesn't indulge in dip this time of year?!?!?!?!?  I found a fiesta dip!!  I really don't know what is my favorite type of food, though I think that it is Mexican, because lets face it, if it isn't spicy I am going to eat it!!!  When I made this recipe I kept forgetting something, first it was the black beans, which am I the only one who thinks they smell like wet dog food? Yuck I don't like them.  Then i forgot the rotel...but it was so good, I didn't care.  If you eat them with "On the boarder chips" the best out there...you really don't care if you miss something!!

You can find the recipe here: http://eatcakefordinner.blogspot.com/2012/05/kelleys-fiesta-dip.html

or here...
Kelley's Fiesta Dip
adapted from: Simple Shortcut Recipes 
submitted by Kelley Nicholson
(Printable Recipe)

8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
16 oz. container sour cream
11 oz. can sweet yellow and white corn, drained
15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
10 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained
1 1/2 Tbl. salsa seasoning mix (I used taco seasoning)
2 c. shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
tortilla chips


In a large bowl, mix all ingredients.  Cover; chill at least 24 hours before serving.  Serve with tortilla chips.  Serves 10-12.

I am so glad that you are still with me.  It has been a pretty awesome year for blogging and I feel that I have learned and grown!!!  Have a wonderful day!!!