Smelling Some Kind of GOOD in Our House!!!

So today I am using my cooker and I am using a recipe from my FAVORITE crock pot recipe site, "Crockin Girls".  They have quite a few recipes I've tried and a ton more for me to experiment with.  LOVE IT.  Down home ladies from Texas doing what us mom's do.

I will post pictures and the recipe later.  I of course tweaked it a little but boy oh boy does it smell fantastic. 

I am posting a few pictures from different recipes I've used in the last couple of weeks.  Its been awesome having a meal planned every day with everything I've needed already in our house.  We only had to go out once to get bread, milk and we picked up 2 chicken breast all of that was close to the end of the 2 weeks.  FANTASTIC.

Chicken Stuffed with Crab & Parmesan Potatoes
Okay so, I didn't personally assemble the Chicken we purchased it from Nicks of Calvert.  Ernie and I went in there to check out their steaks and didn't see any fantastic deals but the Chicken Stuffed Crab caught our attention so we bought those.

We bought 2 very large breast and I was able to cut them in half after cooking giving 4 servings.  Worked out well. To go along with the chicken I decided to make a well known recipe in our house growing up.  Parmesan Potatoes.  YUMMY!!!  A long time ago we went to dinner over a church members house and they had fondue and these potatoes.  IT WAS SO GOOD!

Parmesan Potatoes
6lg potatoes
1/4 c flour                                                      1/3 c butter
1/4 c Parmesan Cheese                                  Chopped Parsley
3/4 tsp salt                                                      1/8 tsp pepper

We love garlic in our house so I added 1tsp of garlic powder and instead of pepper I added paprika.  Just different flavor.  If you are trying to save time you can buy the frozen cubed hashbrowns and thaw them before adding the ingredients.

Peel potatoes and cut into squares.  In a gallon zip lock bag combine flour, cheese, salt & pepper.  Moisten potatoes with water and place them into the bag.  SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE!!!  Coat the potatoes WELL.

Melt butter in 9x13 pan (I normally do this while the oven is heating up).  Place potatoes in pan and bake at 375 for 1 hour turning once during baking.  Sprinkle with chopped parsley when there is 5 minutes left.

Au Gratin Taters 'n' Chops

I have made this recipe a bunch.  Since I'm doing Weight Watchers and since I really don't watch points during dinner I am using a smaller plate so I can better control my potions.  It helps.

 



Ingredients:
6 boneless pork chops
1 tbsp of vegetable oil (I use canola spray)
1 4.9 ounce package of au gratin potatoes
1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese
4 bacon strips cooked and crumbled.

Preheat oven to 375

In a large skillet, brown pork chops in oil on both sides.  Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine potatoes and sauce mix according to package directions.  Spook mixture into a greased 13x9 inch baking dish.  Arrange chops over potatoes.

Bake uncovered for 20-25 min or until meat juices run clear and potatoes are tender.

Sprinkle cheese and bacon over chops and bake for another 2 to 3 minutes.

AWESOME Pulled Pork!!!

North Carolina style Pulled Pork

Ingredients
8lb Pork Butt Roast

Dry Rub
1 tbsp mild paprika
2 tsp light brown sugar
1 1/2 ts[ hot paprika
1/2 tsp celery salt
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp onion powder

Marinade
2 c cider vinegar
1 1/3 c water
5/8 c ketchup
1/4 c firmly packed brown sugar
5 tsp salt
4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp ground white pepper

In a small bowl, mix all the dry rub ingredients together.  Rub spice mixture into the roast on all sides.  Wrap in plastic wrap and refridgerate 8 hours or overnight.

Next Day or 8 hours later.
1.  After marinating put roast in crock pot adding about a inch of water and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours.

In a medium bowl, mix all the ingredients for marinade together.  Set aside.

2.  When roast comes off bone easily remove from pot discarding juices. 

3.  Pull apart the roast using fork (or fingers) and place back in crock pot. 

4.  Pour marinade over the shredded pork and mix together.  Set crock pot on low or warm and allow mixture to heat back up for about a hour. 

Notes:
This is a very spicy yet very yummy recipe.  I suggest serving your favorite coleslaw along with it to cut some of the spice or of course you can add less of the peppers.  Also we added a little more of the wet ingredients to make it a little more moist.  LOVE THIS RECIPE!!!  Great for football!

It's Been A LONG While!

WOW, I haven't posted in a while but that doesn't mean I have been cooking.  I have come across a A LOT of GREAT recipes that I'd love to share and hopefully, I will get back into making regular postings about what's going on in our kitchen. 

Definitely if you try one post your experience good or bad.  I love to get feedback from the men in our house.  Love it when Jake and Ben say something especially because they are so honest.  They use the thumb system:  thumbs up=great, thumbs out to the side=it's okay I'd try it again and tumbs down=well, you can imagine what that means.

It's almost Autumn which is super exciting in our house.  We are in Full on Football Mode...  Jake and Ben are both playing on the same team this year which is great for this stay at home mom.  We are even more excited for the awesome adventure Ernie is about to embark on at work.  After being interviewed and after being selected, on October 1, he will begin the 2 year training to become a Senior Reator Operator.  This is a very intense yet awesome opportunity and we are excited to see where it takes our little family.  With this opportunity comes change.  We are attempting to run the house with a might tighter wallet in a effort to set ourselves up for a world of possibilities once class is finished.  One key aspect of this is planning and with being a stay at home mom and with absolutely loving being in the kitchen I FINALLY am planning out our meals every 2 weeks.  Eventurally I'd like to plan a month but to start 2 weeks is good.  We have a budget and I'm sticking with it.  I am trying to mix it up while adding some kid favorites in.  I have to keep in mind Ernie's schedule, right now he is still on the shift which means he works either nights or days.  I still don't have it straight!  Anyway, I try to plan meals according to what he is working which helps lunches because we aways have leftovers.

Crock Pot Lasagna

Crock Pot Lasagna

Ingredients:
1 Pound of Ground Beef                       

1 Pound of Italian Sausage

1 Package of Lasagna Noodles (depending on the size of your crock pot, usually 1/2 box is enough)

1 Package of Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

1 Package of Shredded Parmesan Cheese

1 Package of Ricotta Cheese

2 Jars of Favorite spaghetti Sauce

 

Directions:

1.  Brown ground beef and sausage and drain.

2.  Return mixture to pan and add spaghetti sauce.  Be sure to reserve some of the mixture to add to the last layer.

3.  You will layer the ingredients in the slow cooker starting with: meat sauce uncooked lasagna noodles ricotta cheese spread over noodles (this can get tricky, I use a spoon or spatula) mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.

4.  With your final layer of meat sauce, make sure your last layer of noodles is completely covered.  If not, whatever part of the noodles is not covered will not cook.

5.  Cook on low heat for 5-6 hours. Spoon out for a delicious meal.

 

YUMMY!!!

 

Fun things I do!

Cake Pops Anyone???

Uncle Rick's Birthday

Brenda's Birthday Gift

As you know I love to be in the kitchen just as equally I love to be creative.  A very dear friend gave me a Cake Pop pan for Christmas.  I was beyond excited and began using it in January and since that very first time I have used it 2 more times.  Actually, in my first batch I decided to make 2 different flavors so I had A TON left over.  Check out my pictures and let me know what you think.  ANYONE???

Valentine's Day Cake Pops!

I was feeling creative so I made some purple colored pops and displayed them in my Relay For Life Tervis Tumbler.

Happy Birthday Cake Pops displayed in a Ice Cream Sundae Glass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most Amazing Pork Chops (or not so)

Tuesday I decided to make something in my brand new Cruisinart Multi-Cooker.  Ernie had given it to me for our anniversary back in December and I had yet to use it.  It's not that I didn't want to, but the thing is very high tech and does several different things.  It a slow cooker, there is a roast option, you can brown/sauté and even steam.  I absolutely love it but I am also very intimidated by it.  

Anyway, as some of you know, I love Crockin Girls.  I believe it was my Aunt Cheryl who suggested their page via facebook several months ago and since I have tried many recipes it only seemed natural to try another.  I like mixing it up so I decided to find something pork.  I did not have the bone-in pork chops the recipe called for but with Giant being so close to run to the store was not a big deal.  Prep was SUPER easy.

Most Amazing Pork Chops

Ingredients:

4 Bone-In thick cut pork chops
1 Packet of Dry Pork Gravy Mix
1 Envelope of Onion Soup Mix
1 1/2c Chicken Broth
1 Can of Cream of Chicken

Directions:
1.  Place Pork Chops in Slow Cooker
2.  Mix remaining ingredients in small bowl.  Pour mixture over pork chops and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours.

Extras: (with a few reviews thrown in)That's it!  I used the Crockin Girls video they have on you tube as direction and was actually excited at how quick and easy it was.  I had the meal cooking by 9am.  Around 4:30 I started thinking of ideas for sides.  The Crockin Girls suggested rice or mashed potatoes.  I decided to serve a Oven Crisped Potatoes Recipe I had found on allrecipes.com since my 3 favs don't really care for mashed. (Recipe is below)  I thought the meal smelled unbelievable and to my shock both boys seemed to agree when they got home.  When the head of household walked in that hope of having another hit in our home was thrown out the window...

First, I have to say, my husband has come a very long way as far as his taste buds go.  When we first met he barely would eat in front of me let alone my family.  He didn't seem to like the many different things I had grown up on and enjoyed.  Vegetables seemed to be non existent and fried bologna seemed to be it's own food group.  When we first got married I tried easy things and in the 15+ years now we've been together I am happy to say my husband no longer thinks there is only 1 way to use corn.  For non hunters, corn is also used to bate dear. 

Anyway, upon my husbands arrival I could tell this was going to be a difficult sell but being the huge sport he is he called the boys to get washed up for dinner and we sat down.  As another veggie side I served Green Giant Honey Glazed Carrots.  To my surprise I think that was the favorite of the meal.  The pork chops really did fall off the bone when I pulled them out of the cooker.  I thought they tasted good.  Definitely not my favorite but good when you add some Sweet Baby Rays.  Ernie barely made it through but held his opinion in to keep the boys from turning on me too.  They, well one of them, gobbled up the carrots but only ate a portion of their pork chops.  I try not to take offence to a meal not going over well but I did want to know how to improve it.  Ernie informed me that he's not too into crock pot meals.  HUGE SHOCKER seeing how he bought me a slow cooker.  I have the leftovers in our fridge and I think I may take the meat off and throw it in a huge bowl of barbecue sauce and make pulled pork sandwiches so it's not a complete waste. 

Oven-Crisped Potatoes
Ingredients:
2 Potatoes (I used 3) thinly sliced
3tbsp Melted Butter
1tbsp Finely Chopped Onion (I used 1tsp of Onion Salt)
1/8tsp Pepper
1/4c Grated Parmesan Cheese (suggested by one of the reviews I read)

Directions:
1.  Arrange potatoes in an un-greased 1-1/2-qt. baking dish. Combine butter, onion and pepper; pour over potatoes. Bake, uncovered, at 425 degrees F for 1 hour or until potatoes are tender.

My lesson, not change anything in how I decide what to make, how do we know what we like if we don't Wtry right?  With my family I am not afraid to try something new.  what's the worse that could happen?  They hate it?  While I've certainly experienced my share of dinner disasters it will not scare me away from trying and experimenting.  I will conquer again.

Until next time my dear followers...

Chicken Milano

So tonight I decided to make a favorite from way back, pre kids.  When Ernie and I  first moved into our apartment we both worked a lot.  I worked at UMCP and he was framing homes with JSquare.  GOOD TIMES!  We were super excited about having our own space and kitchen.   Anyway, I had been collecting TONS of recipes (actually signed up to receive them) from Easy Everyday Cooking.  Have you heard of it??? These pictured recipe cards are fantastic.  They have like 18 food categories with 50+ recipes in each one.  The ideas are endless.  In addition to loving the pictures (so I could actually see what it should look like) they give suggestions on what to serve with it.  SCORE! 

My husband has never been one to try things but me being a newly married wife wanted to make something he would just love.  This is one of the first of many my, use to be picky husband, absolutely loves.

Chicken Milano

Ingredients:

6 Chicken Breast

1/2c All-Purpose Flour

2 Eggs

1c Italian Bread Crumbs

1/2c Butter or Margarine 

1c Marinara Sauce (I used Ragu Marinara Sauce it was on sale @ Giant)

1c Half-and-Half

1/2c Mozzarella Cheese

1/2c Swiss Cheese

1/4c Parmesan Cheese (grated)

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350.  Roll each chicken breast in flour; dip in beaten egg.  Roll in breach crumbs to coat well.

2.  Heat butter in large skillet over medium-high heat; add chicken pieces.  Cook until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes.

3.  Mix marinara sauce and half-and-half in a small bowl, reserving 2 tbsp.  Pour into baking dish.  Arrange chicken in prepared dish.

4.  Mix mozzarella, Swiss and Parmesan cheeses in a small bowl.  Sprinkle over chicken.  Top with reserved sauce.  Bake, loosely covered, until cooked through, about 30 minutes.

Extras: (with a few reviews thrown in)
We have gone back to buying all of our meats in bulk.  Mostly from BJ's but occasionally from places such as Nicks or Giant.  I used 2 packs of the thin sliced purdue chicken breast.  Each contain 4 to 6 slices of chicken so we had 9 for this dinner.  Seems like a ton for just the four of us but it's always good to have leftovers for Ernie to take to work for lunches or for those unexpected guest.

I began making this fantastic meal a few minutes before the boys came home from school.  It is always neat to hear the dinner guesses as soon as they walk through the door.  I've heard (among many others) the following: "OH NO Mom, are we having chicken again?", "I already ate at school", "Why do you always have to make that?" and my favorite, "Can't we just have chicken nuggets?".  Tonight they said it smelled like something good.  Yay!!! 

Onto the prep...  I decided to make a little extra sauce for the meal so I used the remaining marinara sauce and half-and-half and put it on the back burner to heat up.  I made Rigatoni Pasta to serve as a side and when it was done put it in my pasta bowl with some of the sauce and sprinkled some shredded Parmesan cheese on it.  YUMMO.  I then sliced 6 slices from the Olive Oil Cibatta loaf I had bought, spread some of the garlic butter mix you can get from Giant on it and baked it.  I had more than half a loaf left so I just threw that in the freezer. 

When everything was finally on the table I started hearing comments about the rigatoni.  It isn't the normal pasta we use.  In our house the boys think that there is just macaroni and cheese and spaghetti (which I actually very rarely use we prefer angel hair pasta) so to change it up was a risk.  To my surprise there wasn't any EWWWW or I don't like that.  No my little men made a game out of it.  They counted their noodles and made patterns between that and chicken.  It was cool. 

This meal was a hit and was a first for my little guys.  They like their daddy loved it very much and I hope you do too!!!