Cowboy Chicken

This recipe is so simple I still can't believe it. I'm not sure where I found it, but whoever thought about it hit the jackpot! And it's one even my picky eaters will eat.

Cowboy Chicken

5 chicken breasts
1 jar salsa
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can corn, drained

In your crock pot, place chicken breasts, pour salsa over chicken, add can of black beans.
Cook on low 7 hours. Add can of corn for the last hour of cooking just to heat it through.

Shred your chicken and serve over rice or tortilla chips. (It would also make a good filling for tacos. Some of my coworkers love to top baked potatoes with this!)

I serve mine topped with cheese and sour cream. The possibilities are endless.

Photo Cupcakes!

Okay, so my youngest just turned 6 and we celebrated with a birthday at the park. To make things simple, yet personal, I bought cupcakes from the local market frosted in her favorite color, yellow!

I had wallet sized pictures of her printed at our local Walgreens, enough for all of the cupcakes. Put each picture in a paperclip and slid the paperclip slightly into the frosting, allowing for the picture not to touch the icing!

It was an inexpensive way to add a personal touch to the cupcakes, and in the end, each of her friends were able to take a picture of her home that day!

Tortilla Soup

I love the spicy kick this amazing recipe has. It's such a great combination of flavors and what's great is you can personalize your cheeses. When I was younger, I loved eating at this local restaurant in my hometown. Bewley's had the greatest taco salads and their homemade tortilla bowls reminded me of the delicious tortilla strips that top this fantastic soup.


1/4 cup butter OR margarine
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups cooked, chopped chicken
3 cups chicken broth
1 cup milk
8 oz. Velveeta process cheese food - cubed
10 oz. can diced tomatoes and chilies

1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
salt and pepper – to taste
flour tortillas – as needed, about 4 - 6
2-4 cups shredded cheese –

-In a pot, melt butter over medium heat. add flour to make a thick roo, stirring constantly until well blended.
-Slowly stir in chicken broth, then stir in milk.
-Reduce heat to low and stir in Velveeta cubes; stir until melted.

Transfer to crock pot...
-Stir in tomatoes and chilis, chicken, and spices.
-cook on low for 4 hours.
-to make fried tortillas: cut tortillas into strips and fry in oil until desired crispness is reached.

Serve soup in a bowl, top with cheese, and tortilla strips. Enjoy!!!

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Cantonese cooking is probably the most common of the chinese cuisine. It offers low key flavors, a contrast between textures and it's just simplistic!

Here's a common recipe that's been adapted just for slow cooking!

4 chicken breasts

8 oz. canned pineapple, reserve juice

½ c. orange juice

2 Tbl. Cornstarch

2 Tb. Brown Sugar

2 Tb. Vinegar

2 Tb. Soy Sauce

½ tsp. Ginger

2 tsp. Garlic or 2 cloves minced

chopped red, green peppers

½ small chopped onion

Chop peppers and onion.

In a medium bowl, mix orange juice, cornstarch, brown sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, ginger and garlic.

In crock pot, place chicken top with onion, peppers, pineapple and sauce. (if the sauce isn’t “juicy” enough, add some reserved pineapple juice) Cook on low 6-8 hours.

Serve over rice.

Slow Cooking Tips

The puzzling love of my favorite appliance has been conquered!
Here are some tips I ran across on the Kraft website, www.kraftfoods.com
* Don't fill it up. Your slow cooker should be one-half to two-thirds full. If it's too full, it will take too long to start simmering. If it's not full enough, you risk overcooking.
* Keep it thrifty. This long, moist cooking method is ideal for inexpensive cuts of meat, since it provides plenty of time for tenderizing.
* Leave it alone. Don't lift the lid, unless you want to extend the cooking time by 20 min. To check the progress, spin the lid until the condensation falls off. If the recipe gives you reason to lift the lid, replace it quickly.
* Customize it. If you want to thicken the juices or concentrate flavors, remove the lid and cook on HIGH for the last 30 min.
* Stick to the cooking time. Slow cookers work by simmering food at a low, even temperature, so adhere to the recipe.

Crock Pot Wednesday--A tradition

I am addicted to my crock pot. It has become my best friend! Is that wrong?

It seems like I can always get a lot of things accomplished in one day each week. For me, this is Wednesday, For example, after picking up the kids from school, it's homework, maybe an appointment, and then soccer practice. Then the 3 boys arrive and are finishing homework while hanging out with dad, but they're growing kids so it's hungry time. Then, we get home from soccer and it's bathtime, girl's dinner, clean up and since not all of our kids eat at the same time, I like to have something healthy and tasty and ready to go whenever they decide to eat!

Well, my crock pot Wednesday tradition has become a favorite and friends are always begging me for the recipes I use. I am kind of a one pot, 5 ingredient kind of girl. Anything that can be served simply, but beautifully...I'm all about it.

So, I am preparing Tuscan Chicken in the pot...crock pot that is.

Tuscan Chicken
4 chicken breasts
1 green bell pepper
1 small onion
1 can/jar prepared spaghetti sauce (or homemade if that's your thing)
1 package of italian herbs (oregano, basil, pepper, etc.)
Fresh Garlic (I love Christopher Ranch organic minced garlic in olive oil...saves me some prep time)
Mozzarella Cheese
pasta (your pick)

I recommend the crock pot liners! start with your onion and pepper, then top with your chicken. Add your spaghetti sauce, herbs, and garlic.

Cook on low for 8 hours. Shred chicken and serve with prepared pasta (per package directions), top with your chicken and cheese and voila! Dinner is ready and you're tongue vacations in Tuscany!

Domestic

So all of a sudden...not really...I have become domestic...again. Making things for people, getting crafty, and all with little to no time to get things done.

As a mother of 2 and sort of step-mom to 3, a full time love to a great man, I work during the morning, spend my afternoons running errands, and my evenings dedicated to my family. That only leaves my night time to make plans. Here is my no brainer solution that I will blog about.....a busy mom's life and how to stay organized in my disconnected world.

Tip 1: always have a notebook to jot down you guessed it....notes.
--I have a terrible memory and sometimes I just have to write things down. This is so true when someone mentions a recipe that sounds good...I write it down so I can google it later.

A note about something that happened. A church sign that gives me a good laugh. Something I might want to craft. If I notice something is on sale and I need to pick it up later....I write it down.

I love to prepare dinners that taste like I slaved all day, but in fact, there were only a few key ingredients that made the meal in 30 minutes.

Time is precious and I hope you'll see that as I give you my household tips that make my time well spent!