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Showing posts with label May 2015. Show all posts
Showing posts with label May 2015. Show all posts

Friday, May 1, 2015

Kristy's Favorite Crock Pot Recipes

For those of you who have asked for some of my fave CP recipes, I finally decided to corral them all in one place for ya :) None of these are MY original recipes, and I will give credit where I can. First up the super easy peasy ones I learned from Carrie Overmyer
BBQ Pork Roast
Place in slow cooker, one pork loin roast, top with thinly sliced onions. Cover with a mixture of 1 cup dark soda and 1 cup BBQ sauce mixed together. Cook on high 4-6 or low for 8-10. Shred with 2 forks. ENJOY
We eat this on hamburger buns, over noodles or mashed potatoes, on top of pizza, as a burrito...pretty much anyway we can get it to our mouths :)
Salsa Chicken
Place boneless/skinless chicken breasts in the crock pot (4-6 depending on size) and top with a jar of your fave salsa. Cook low 8-10 or high 4-6. Shred with 2 forks. DONE
We like this a lot. Again, very versatile. Over rice or potatoes, in burritos or tacos, on pizza, in quesadillas, in ramen noodle soup, with black beans and rice...the possibilities are nearly endless.
Taco Soup
This didn't start out as a CP recipe, but since I keep cooked hamburger in the freezer all the time, it was a cinch to 'convert'. It's pretty much an open and dump it in recipe, no fancy footwork required.
Into your crock pot, place
2 lbs cooked hamburger (if you don't have it already cooked, just brown it and drain before dumping in)
2 large cans *ranch style* beans
3 small cans crushed tomatoes
2 small cans corn
2 cups chopped green chile (MILD)
2 cups water
1 pkg Ranch dressing mix
1 pkg taco seasoning mix
Do NOT drain any liquids from cans...dump it all in there. Let it go all day on low and then ENJOY! This makes a TON of soup. As in will feed the entire Man Crew for 2 full meals and possibly some left over after that. It freezes well (if there's any left) and gets better every time you reheat it. Serve with or without any toppings you like. We like grated colby jack cheese, sour cream on occasion, sliced black olives, etc. Eat with Frito scoops for added flavor AND fun. If you want to convert it back to a 'regular' dish, just put all the ingredients in a large stock pot and let simmer for 1.5 hours. I make this when people move. It's hearty, filling, EVERYONE likes it and requires no 'babysitting' while we are working.
Clam Chowder
This recipe came from my dear friend Beccy Winn and it's everything a CP recipe should be. Fast, Easy and YUMMY~ since we originate from the cold northern USA, this is a fave for cold winter days.
1 Can clam chowder (New England style)
1 Can Cream of Potato
1 Can Cream of Celery
1 Can of minced clams-drained
I can of Creamy Onion (or a small diced onion)
1 Pint 1/2 and 1/2
1 pint milk
I generally make a double batch to feed the Man Crew, but this will be enough to feed a small family, or a larger one with the addition of bread or crackers. It's good stuff!
Baked Chicken
1 Roasting Chicken (3-6 pounds depending what will fit in your CP)
1/2 stick butter melted
a splash of Worcestershire sauce
Poultry seasoning (or thyme, savory, marjoram)
Garlic cloves (or garlic powder)
Salt
Remove giblets and gravy pouch. Rinse bird inside and out. Rub salt inside cavity. Place in oiled crock. Brush with butter, Worcestershire sauce and herb mixture. Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 6-8. The meat will be falling off the bone and OH SO JUICY!
This also leads to my next recipe...
.Chicken Stock
1 chicken frame, complete with extra skin, some fat and little bits of meat.
Add a few carrots, a quartered onion, some celery and a little salt and pepper.
Cover with water (about a 1/2 gallon) and let cook all night on low (8-12 hours) Strain solids out of stock through cheese cloth and let cool. If you want to skim the fat, let cool all the way and it will form a thick layer on top that you can pick up. However, much of chicken soup's magical healing powers are in the fat, so the choice is up to you. I take some off, leave some in. Can or freeze as you like. Use to make soups, stews, use for boiling rice or pasta, etc.
Red Beans and Rice with Smoked Sausage
This recipe came also from a dear friend, April Rogers. It is SO good that the first time I made it, one of my boys licked his bowl after his THIRD helping. Seriously...it's that good. *winks* This finds its way into the CP at least twice a month, and usually more.
1 Large Can *ranch style* beans
1 quart stock (whatever kind you have on hand is fine)
1 Cup Brown Rice
1 lb smoked sausage (Dice smoked sausage and brown in skillet if desired.)
Cut the sausage into large chunks and drop right into the crock.
Add stock and beans, stir and cook on high for 1 hour. Stir in rice and cook for 3 more hours on high. ENJOY. This will feed the Man Crew one time with no leftovers, so I generally double it and we enjoy it as leftovers for a few days at lunch. So there you have it, my top Crock Pot Recipes. Hope you all enjoy them!
PS. I wrote this a while back on my FB page, and I can't recall if I shared it here. If I haven't, well...you're welcome. If I have, well it's so good it bears repeating. :)

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Joy Journal 2015

Hi Friends!
Over at Ben and Me, I found this great printable to journal my joy this year. I printed it out, 3 hole punched it and put in multi-colored book rings to make my journal complete, and placed it next to my laptop on my desk so that I can record something from each day that brought me joy. I guess that makes it Grati-Tuesday every day this year. :)
Come along on the journey with me and add a comment about something you are grateful for this year.

January

  1. A Fresh Start
  2. SNOW!! In Cruces
  3. A perfect BLT
  4. A tidy junk drawer
  5. Completed House Paperwork
  6. ---
  7. Time spent with Dan at the end of a busy day
  8. A quiet evening at home
  9. 7 Wonders (new game for Game Night)
  10. A 'Welcome Home' card from the previous owner
  11. Family Photos :)
  12. Our credit score went UP, thanks Bob!
  13. The check from Dan's retirement came in today!
  14. A love note from Love Monkey
  15. The B-Bunch's Buick
  16. A delightful chat with 'Shua and Tony
  17. Packing helpers
  18. Patrick (Happy 16th birthday)
  19. A day off
  20. A great day of school with Derek
  21. Dan's boss bragging about him to me
  22. WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!! (in a blizzard...in Cruces. Weird)
  23. 1st Game Night at the new house (no, we haven't moved in yet)
  24. David's 1st meet of gymnastics season
  25. MOVING DAY! Best move ever
  26. We found Thunder, who had become lost in the move
  27. Kitchen is set up *enough*
  28. Bedrooms are set up completely except for the master
  29. Bathrooms are fully set up
  30. Snake Atrium completed
  31. Fish tank here safely

February

  1. I met with Jesus at home while the Man Crew attended church. Jesus is easier to find when the house is empty of boys. ;)
  2. ---Lost To---
  3. ---The Move---
  4. ---Aftermath and---
  5. ---Ensuing Exhaustion.---
  6. ---Good things happened, I just didn't record them in time to remember them. Oops---
  7. Dan built me a spinning DVD rack. SCORE!
  8. SEEK series started at church. Fasting, anyone?
  9. Mike Eorio came to visit the new house.
  10. Sister-Girl Night
  11. Derek is nearly caught up in school after the move and subsequent mayhem
  12. Autumn Rose (great niece) was born safely this morning.
  13. Manicure with Grace for the Father/Daughter dance at MPCC
  14. David's 2nd meet
  15. Lunch with Doug and Amy.
  16. A day spent at home.
  17. A coffee date with Myra and Amy
  18.  Being productive!
  19. Road trip to Phoenix which included a sing-along <3 li="">
  20. David's 3rd meet
  21. Safe drive home
  22. Setting up Game Room with Dan
  23. Back to 'normal'
  24. Happy birthday MOM
  25. Happy 40th birthday Dan
  26. Great chat with 'Shua
  27. Met Autumn Rose. I have died and gone to great-auntie heaven!
  28. David bought a car :) 92 Nissan Pathfinder...with his own money

March

  1. HELLO SCREEN FREE MONTH!
  2. David got his driver's license
  3. Science experiments with Derek, thanks to Magic set from B&N
  4. MORE science experiments
  5. Free pecan firewood, just come and get it
  6. GAME NIGHT
  7. Pig Roast at Bobby and Julie's house. Good times!
  8. Started 'GOD IS..." series at MPCC
  9. ON schedule to finish school before July
  10. Finally back to the library, and paid my enormous fine. Oops. LOL!
  11. Dan got a new chainsaw and chopped all the wood for the fireplace this year.
  12. Happy Birthday Lizzie!
  13. Hanging pictures in the Living Room and new friends at Game Night
  14. I remembered the time change, hurray!
  15. A relaxing Sunday anticipating the WHOLE WEEK OFF of work
  16. Hanging my star lights with Dan on the patio
  17. Jodi's Learn for a Lifetime 5 year anniversary celebration
  18. Rachel is arriving today for a visit!
  19. Reviving my long neglected blog :) Hi friends!
  20. Relaxing day off before Super Fun Game Night
  21. State Meet with David in Abq
  22. Church at R2R
  23. Spent the day baking and hanging out with Rachel
  24. Jay and Rachel cooked dinner for us. 
  25. ---
  26. ---
  27. Dinner with Bobby and Julie (new friends through Dan's work)
  28. Rachel arrived safely back home
  29. Hercules and Ricky had such fun together working on RC cars
  30. I had breakfast and a nice chat with Ricky before he left
  31. Back to Sister-Girl Night (alone)

April

  1. GoodBYE Screen Free Month
  2. Hello NO Pants April
  3. Good Frieday
  4. Many compliment about NPA attire
  5. Resurrection Day
  6. Took my first ever decent selfie
  7. Funny comment from Pat (him: Mom, when are you doing haircut? Me: Why? Him: Because my unicorn is dead, of course. Me: Bwuahahahah!)
  8. More compliments on NPA
  9. Road trip for Regionals with David and Karen: Hope to see Andy-Boy as well
  10. Arrived safely in Co Springs, CO
  11. REGIONALS!!
  12. Home safely
  13. Coffee with Karen
  14. Thrift store SCORE: 6 new-to-me pieces for under $4
  15. TAXES were paid months ago. Woot!
  16. Keeping up with my blogging
  17. 2 more new-to-me skirts for $6
  18.  Created a fire pit in the courtyard: Thanks Hercules!
  19. Started the 50 Shades of Black and White series at MPCC. GOOD STUFF!
  20. David got new glasses
  21. A great day of school!
  22. Dinner out with the Benson ladies
  23. Catch up on blogging
  24. Birthday Game Night: Alex, Art, Charlie, Cody and David G.
  25. Gymnastics Banquet
  26. Homemade pizza and movies with the whole family
  27. ---
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  30. ---

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June 

  1. Happy birthday G!
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  6.  Happy birthday, Boss Man
  7.  Happy birthday, A
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July

  1.  
  2. Ricky arrived :) I knew he was coming this time. 
  3. Ricky + Game Night = too much silliness for this old lady. Good times
  4. Happy Independence Day America! We relaxed at home. Alone. Perfection, even without a bbq, fireworks or multitudes of people at our house.
  5. Lunch at Cracker Barrel with all the men, plus Ricky
  6.  
  7.  Started a Squats Challenge with the CEO Moms group on FB
  8. Lazy day at work. 
  9. Wrote some letters (way ahead on this yearly goal)
  10. RAIN! In the desert
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  12.  Big Batch Cooking day, and free peaches!

  13. Wet-N-Wild with D, P, DT, A and Merrick. Short but FUN!
  14. Happy birthday Z
  15. Chatted with 'Shua
  16.  7 Wonders played at the new house. FINALLY! Woot
  17.  David hosted a MtG Tourney. Fun was had by all
  18.  Dan and Bobby arrived safely in Iowa City for their new jobs
  19.  Mean Machines Camp for DT
  20.  Long chat with Karen by phone
  21.  Pat and Gracie attending Project Jerusalem
  22.  Made a new friend (Melody) while preparing lunch for the Project Jerusalem kiddos
  23.  Breakfast with the BossLady
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August

September

October

November

December

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