Another Crockpot Filled Week

Man... I was sick, sick, sick last week. I woke up last Sunday and thought to myself, "You have more than a cold girlfriend, you have a sinus infection." Sure enough, after a trip to the walk-in clinic and an x-ray - it was confirmed. It still am not back to 100%, but I do feel better than I did. I need to get to getting better as I have a very busy week ahead. And ya'll know what happens when I'm busy, the crockpot gets a work out! A Year of CrockPotting has been an inspiration for three of my recipes.

Monday - I volunteered (or was I volunteered) to be on a panel for our senior class project presentations. It starts at 6:00 - so I'll have time to come home and have a bite before I have to be there and I've been most intrigued by the idea of Buffalo Chicken Lasagna. I'm not sure how the mini-chicks are going to like, but there is always cereal, right! LOL

Tuesday - Tuesday we are going to get the chickies haircuts and then speeding off to get to the Weight Watchers meeting. I am determined to lose FINALLY and make it to 20 lbs. this week. Being sick has hopefully helped this tremendously! LOL I don't know what we are going to eat. Since we have to drive 70 miles round-trip to go these days, it is harder to plan on cooking something that we are missing.

Wednesday - Mrs. S. is having a chocolate party!!! It was a booth we saw at the Taste of Home Cooking School a few weeks back. It looks fun - I'll report all about it. But, before we go to the party I wanted to have dinner so that I wouldn't eat my body weight in chocolate and decided Lazy Chicken sounded good. It is is truly the world's easiest recipe. I used a wonderful Marinara from Recipezaar when I made it a few weeks ago, and I still have some of this sauce I froze. Served with a little pasta and a sprinkle of mozzarella - YUM!

Thursday - It's piano lessons as usual. Even if it isn't my turn to drive, the weather might be nice and Mrs. S. and I will take a nice walk while our girls are at lessons. I don't think she thinks I like our walks, but I really do - someday, if I grow another 5 inches I might be able to walk as fast as she does! But, I digress - I wanted another crockpot recipe "just in case" and thought a little Chicken and Brown Rice sounded good.

Friday - WOW! We've eaten a lot of chicken this week haven't we? How about some nice grilled steaks? Kittencal over at Recipezaar has tons and tons of awesome recipes. I thought I'd give her Steak Marinade a try. I might try a grilled onion or something "fancy" too. LOL BUT, I hear you saying "Susie, what????? No crockpot??" Well, never fear peeps - I just read that the best way to bake a potato is in a crockpot - ya know what goes great with steak and onions?!?! ;)

Saturday - I joined Taste and Create and sadly, didn't get the recipe made from Live, Love, Laugh and Eat with because of the crazy sickies. I was going to make a Mexican Lasagna from the Taste of Home Cooking School demonstration and use her salsa in the recipe. It's too late to submit the recipe, but not to late to make it!

Sunday - I have a boneless pork roast in my freezer. It needs to be eaten. I wasn't really going to make a crockpot recipe on Sunday, but then my friend, Dishy goes and posts Sweet Pork Tacos on her blog. What's girl to do??? Fire up the crockpot, of course!

:)

Million Dollar Plan

I have a plan. I'm going to win a million dollars. How you ask? How is po-dunky small town Susie going to get a million bucks?? Well.. I'm going to enter and win the Pillsbury Bake-Off. Seriously. I have plans for my million bucks.

I'm about to start a test run of a my winning recipe. You'll see it in a Pillsbury Bake-Off Winners recipe booklet at check stand near you!

The Week of the Crockpot

We have a busy week on tap, so the crockpot is definitely playing a major role!

Monday - Tilapia for Monday. I'm think just baked with a little lemon pepper and parsley. Nothing fancy, I would like to find some asparagus on-sale - but we'll have to see.

Tuesday - First of our crockpot recipe off the WW recipe review board:

Crockpot Steak San Marco

2 lbs lean stew meat
28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 packet onion soup mix
1 tsp oregano
garlic powder to taste (all I had was garlic salt)
2 TB red wine vinegar
2 TB canola oil

Evenly distribute the meat in the crockpot. Mix other ingredients together and pour over meat. Cook low 8-10 hours

I will probably serve over noodles. I remember making this once a long time ago and liking it!

Wednesday - We've still never gotten around to those cube steaks in the freezer. This week I vow they will become chicken fried steak!

Thursday - The other appearance from the crockpot, also from the WW recipe review board:

Crockpot Chop Suey
2 skinless boneless chicken breasts -- halved
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ginger -- minced
1 cup celery -- sliced
5 ounces water chestnuts -- sliced and drained
1 onion -- sliced
2 cups chicken bouillon
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 cup mushrooms -- sliced
1 pound bean sprouts -- drained
2 cups cooked brown rice

1. Cut chicken into strips about 2-inches long and 1/2 inch thick. 2. Place in crockpot with salt, ginger, celery, water chestnuts, onions, bouillon, and soy sauce. 3. Cover and cook on low 5-6 hours. 4. Turn control to high. Add mushrooms and bean sprouts. Cover and cook on high 15 minutes. 5. Serve over hot rice.

I've never made this one - it sounds good!

Friday - I don't think the pork chops every really got made either - it's been too long since we had shake n' bake.

Saturday - I heard a rumor: it's suppose to be nice. FINALLY! I had this Unbelievable Chicken has made an appearance before - but never actually made it onto the table because it was too cold to actually grill. I HOPE THIS IS THE DAY!

Sunday - It's potluck at church. One of my "Cookin'" friends turning me on to this Rice A Roni Salad last year. It's very good and I haven't made it for awhile. I'll might try a dessert also - this yummy looking cake is yet again, from the WW Recipe Review board:

Very Berry Cloud Cake

12 Serving

Ingredients

2 Jell-O-Sugar Free Low Calorie Strawberry
2 8oz. Cool whip Free Whipped Topping
1 (1lbs.) Angel Food Cake
4 Cups Strawberries
1 Cup Blueberries
2 Cups Boiling Water
1 Cup Ice Cold water

Instructions

First line 10 inch tube pan well with plastic wrap. Tear Angel Food Cake into 1 inch pieces. In medium bowl, combine 2 cups boiling water with gelatin; stir until dissolved. Add 1 cup ice-cold water. Chill into gelatin mixture let it set until it is the consistency of thin mayonnaise. Fold in one container of Cool Whipped topping, torn cake pieces and 2 cups of Strawberries, into gelatin. Pour mixture into a 10 inch tube pan lined with plastic wrap. Cover and chill overnight. To unfold cake quickly dip pan into hot water, pull off plastic. Frost cake with remaining whipped topping. Garnish with Strawberries, and Blueberries.

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 182 Calories; trace Fat (1.7% calories from fat); 3g Protein; 40g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 0mg Cholesterol; 216mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1/2 Fruit; 2 1/2 Other Carbohydrates.

I WON!

Can you believe it!?!!?!? I won............. I commented on Spatulas, Corkscrews and Suitcases give-away for Garofalo Pasta and Aguave Nectar and I WON! Just by saying I like Prego Mushroom with Extra spice, but since I can't find it very often I've been questing to make me own!

I WON! I WON! I WON! squeeeeeeeeeeeeee................

This almost makes up for not winning at the Taste of Home Cooking School last night! BWAHAHAHAHAH

Normal Week??

Wow... Last week was so out of norm - I caught what the mini-chicks had and by Wednesday was not feeling so hot. They spent Thursday and Friday with their dad and I concentrated on wiping my leaking nose! EWWWWW! I hope this week will get back to our level of "normal".

Monday - It's a menu repeat from a few weeks back - Oven Fried Catfish. This was a big hit with the chickies. I haven't gotten around to any sweet potato fries - I think this would be good opportunity for that.

Tuesday - I am ALLL KINDS OF EXCITED for Tuesday this week. Why you ask?? Usually the answer would be I was going to eat something totally fattening and get rid of my cravings, but this week you'd be wrong. Mrs. S. and I are going to a Taste of Home Cooking School!! I have wanted to go to one of these for years, and this year it is going to be close enough to go!!! AND Mrs. S. was kind enough yet again to indulge my bucket list!

Wednesday - Another popular repeat from a few weeks ago - Kona Chicken. It was well received and deemed a "do over" from the chickies. I'll make a big batch of rice, I've got plans for the leftovers on Thursday.

Thursday - A think a little spice is in order to liven up our week. I think Pepperoncini Beef is just the ticket. I think I will serve it with sauted peppers and onions and the leftover rice.

Friday - I'm in a put the leftovers to good use mode - and burritos sound awesome. I will make some refried beans and add some of the leftover beef, wrap it all up in a tortilla and be all happy.

Saturday - I am starting to crave some potato salad.... potato salad is one of the best things in the whole entire world. My dad and my ex both prefered macaroni salad - but not me..... I love a good ol' potato slathered down in some tangy mayo with maybe a hard-boiled egg or two. Last summer I quested long and hard for a perfect potato salad, and as I may have mentioned - I'm sure it contributed to my 20 lb. weight gain. So, in an effort to keep those pesky 20 lbs. where they belong - this is my favorite "light" potato salad recipe:

CREAMY POTATO SALAD

6 red potatoes (2 lb.), med., unpeeled
1/4 c. green onions, chopped
1 (2 oz.) jar diced pimiento, drained
1/2 c. mayonnaise, reduced-calorie
1/2 c. fromage blanc OR
1/4 c. low fat yogurt and 1/4 c. low-fat sour cream
2 tbsp. prepared mustard
1 tbsp. sugar
1 tbsp. white wine vinegar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. celery seeds
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
Green onion fans (optional)

Place potatoes in a medium saucepan; cover with water and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer potatoes 25 minutes or until tender. Drain and let cool. Peel potatoes and cut into 1/2 inch cubes. Combine potatoes, green onions and pimiento in a large bowl. Combine mayonnaise and next 8 ingredients in a small bowl; stir well. Add to potato mixture, tossing gently to coat. Cover and chill. Garnish with green onion fans, if desired.

For a "side" for my potato salad, we'll have some oven-fried chicken!

Sunday - EASTER! I know the chickies will be disappointed we aren't having ham - but I honestly don't really like ham and I have never made a ham a liked well enough to spend the money on. So, we are having this nice little porketta roast because I said so and I'm the mom (and the cook!).

In addition to all the dinners - I'm making these couple of extras in the pipeline as well. For lunches I've got a version of Fruited Chicken Salad in the works. I will probably use almonds instead of pecans and craisins instead of raisins. I think this would be really good on salad for lunch. Plus I seem to have a few over-ripe (i.e. black) bananas and just wasn't feeling the banana bread love and "gawked" these little banana cookie treats from a nice little blog.

For My Cookbook Fiend Friends

I found this great cookbook give-away over at Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice via Grumpy's Honeybunch. I know some of you guys can't have enough cookbooks, so you better run over lickety-split and get entered! :)

It's this nice little Tex-Mex Cookbook by Gloria Chadwick:



It's says that Gloria is a compiling recipes for a new cookbook and you can add yours too! How cool would that be???!?!