365 Days of Slow Cooking

Recipe for Easy Slow Cooker Italian-Seasoned Potatoes

2013-05-20T09:13:00.001-06:00

An easy, flavorful potato side dish that can be prepped in about 5 minutes!

Makes 4 servings (can easily be doubled)
Ideal slow cooker size: 3 quart

3 large yellow potatoes
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp home-made Italian dressing mix*

1. Scrub potatoes until clean. Cut potatoes into cubes. Place in slow cooker.
2. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with seasonings. Use a spoon and turn to coat the potatoes in the oil and seasonings.
3. Cover and cook on HIGH for about 2-3 hours or on LOW for 4-6 hours or until potatoes are tender (the yellow potatoes will cook a lot quicker than russet so keep that in mind if you choose a different kind of tater)
4. Stir the potatoes gently and serve! (some of the seasonings went to the bottom of my crock so make sure to stir to get all the goodness evenly on the potatoes)

*Homemade Italian Dressing Mix
1 Tbsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp onion powder
1 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp oregano
1 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp thyme
1 tsp basil
1 Tbsp parsley
2 Tbsp salt
In a airtight container, mix all ingredients and store with lid on tightly.

Review:
Potatoes are a great side dish to most any meal! This recipe is super super easy especially since I always have the Italian dressing dry mix already prepped. I like the yellow potatoes for this particular recipe but you could always swap them out with red or russets. I'll be making this again for sure. If you're in a hurry, you could oven bake these on a cookie sheet as well. Probably at about 425 for 20-30 minutes. 4 stars.

P.S. Make sure to join in all the foodie fun on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!

So so happy to have figured this out!

2013-05-18T12:23:00.002-06:00

Check out this awesome tip that is so helpful...especially if you have kids :)

P.S. Make sure to join in all the foodie fun on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!

Easy Meatless Dinner Recipe for Lemon Parmesan Pasta with Kale and Toasted Breadcrumbs using Kraft Fresh Take

2013-05-17T10:52:00.000-06:00

As part of a sponsored post for Collective Bias® I made this easy but totally delicious meatless pasta dish using Kraft Fresh Take (Italian Parmesan) for a no fuss weeknight dinner!

Have you see the Kraft Fresh Take meal kits, yet? It's an easy way to maximize flavor at dinnertime. The cheese and breadcrumb mix gives you flavorful, crisp and cheesy dishes with easy preparation.

The cheesy/breadcrumb Kraft Fresh Take can be found in the refrigerated cheese section of your grocery store.

And for you coupon lovers out there...There will be an immediately redeemable coupon stuck on packages of chicken in the meat department. The coupon takes $1.00 off the price of one chicken item with the purchase of Fresh Take. The coupons will run 5/1-7/31!

A few months ago I had the opportunity to go to a restaurant in Chicago called Balena's. We ate family style and were served several different dishes. The one that I'm still thinking about? The Orecchiette with Kale, Lemon, Bread Crumbs and Chili. It was SOOOOO good. I was sad that I didn't have my own big ol' plate of it to scarf down. I've been wanting to re-create it at home and I finally did! Now I couldn't find orecchiette in my grocery store so I just used medium pasta shells. It tasted amazing. I hope that you will all try this delicious, vegetarian meal this summer. It is bright and flavorful and can be served as an entree or a side dish. I was a little nervous about using the kale because I've heard it can be quite bitter, but it was seriously sooooooo good! Not bitter at all. And the Kraft Fresh Take Italian Parmesan gave the meal the perfect amount of seasonings. TRY IT, TRY IT, TRY IT!

Makes 6 servings

8 oz dry pasta shells (medium size), it will be about 2 3/4 cups to 3 cups
1 bunch of kale
8 oz cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 large lemon, juiced, it will be 1/4 cup juice approximately
1/4 tsp ground red pepper
1 package Kraft Fresh Take Italian Parmesan Recipe

1. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add about a 1/2 tsp salt to the water. Add the pasta to the water and boil for about 4 minutes.
2. While pasta is cooking, trim the kale and chop (here are instructions on how to do that). (I didn't use the entire bunch of kale, I trimmed it and then used about 8 cups)
3. Add the kale in with the boiling water and pasta. Boil for another 4 or 5 minutes.
4. Using a colander, drain the water. Transfer pasta and kale back into the large pot.
5. Add the olive oil, tomatoes, lemon juice and ground red pepper to the pot.
6. Open the Kraft Fresh Take package. Peel open the center portion so that the cheese and breadcrumbs get all mixed up.

On one side is the seasoned breadcrumbs mixture and on the other is the Parmesan cheese.
Open the bag completely to mix the two together!

7. Stir the Kraft Fresh Take into the pot. Stir to coat the noodles.

8. Pour the contents of the pot into a 9 x 13 baking dish.

9. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 25 minutes (if you like the past more soft and creamy then cover the dish with foil, if you like the pasta and breadcrumbs more toasted then cook uncovered)
10. Serve and enjoy!

PERFECTION!

Summer is just around the corner!! Check out this digital magazine to get some great ideas for summer (it includes ideas from Kraft as well).

Brownies with Cookie Dough Frosting!

2013-05-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

Do I need to say anything about these? I didn't think so.
Go get the recipe by clicking here.
Now.

P.S. Make sure to join in all the foodie fun on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!

Favorite Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

2013-05-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

These are my most favorite cookies lately! I love the chewy texture and the dough is the BEST EVER! Click here to get the recipe!

P.S. Make sure to join in all the foodie fun on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!

Recipe for Spaghetti Squash with Warm Tomato Salsa and Crumbled Goat Cheese

2013-05-13T09:56:00.002-06:00

How about this spaghetti squash with warm tomato salsa for your meatless Monday??
Yummy and so healthy too.
Although the recipe doesn't state this, you can make your spaghetti squash in your slow cooker if you want! I've done it plenty of times. Here's how I do it:
1. Using a fork, poke holes in the squash
2. Put the squash in a large oval slow cooker and then pour about 2 cups of water in the slow cooker.
3. Cover and cook on LOW for about 4-6 hours.
4. Cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Use a fork to scoop out the spaghetti like strands of squash.

P.S. Make sure to join in all the foodie fun on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!

Recipe for Easy Slow Cooker Korean Beef

2013-05-10T06:00:00.000-06:00

A throw-everything-in-the-slow-cooker recipe that takes about 5 minutes to get going.

The beef is seasoned with a slightly sweet Asian flare.

Makes 2-4 servings
Ideal slow cooker size: 3 quart

1 lb extra lean ground beef (93% lean 7% fat)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 Tbsp sesame oil
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp ground red pepper
1 tsp minced ginger
1 Tbsp tomato paste
Sliced green onion, for garnish

1. Add beef to slow cooker and break it up into small chunks with a spoon.
2. In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic powder, red pepper, ginger and tomato paste. Stir into the slow cooker and really coat the beef.
3. Cover and cook on LOW for about 3-4 hours.
4. Stir again, breaking up chunks.
5. Serve beef and sauce over rice and garnish with green onion.

Recipe adapted from The Girl Who Ate Everything

Review:
One of my worst jobs is standing over the stove and babysitting _____________ (fill in the blank). It could be the risotto or the beef that I'm browning or whatever. I don't like to do it. And that's why I use my crock pot as much as possible. Because I can throw everything in and be done with it, for heaven's sake. That's why when I see a fairly easy recipe to begin with I think to myself "how can I make this even easier?" And ta-da! I did it. I made a simple recipe even easier with the help of my friend, the slow cooker. This beef is very flavorful! We all loved it. And I bet you didn't know you could put raw ground beef in the slow cooker and have it look like that! It worked awesome. Just make sure to use the extra lean ground beef or else it will be swimming in grease! 4 stars.

P.S. Make sure to join in all the foodie fun on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!

My Trip to Chicago! It was like a dream...

2013-05-09T12:32:00.000-06:00

If you've been following my blog, you know that I have been involved for the past little bit with the Reynolds Real Moms. Because I was one of the winners (yay!), last week I was able to go back to Chicago to film some more commercials using their wonderful products. It was quite an awesome trip. And this time my husband joined me so we had a fun get away (no kids allowed, thanks to Grandma)!

The first morning we had a group photo shoot and this is the car that pulled up to the curb to take us to the studio! Ha ha, we were all freaking out and taking pictures. Not everyday does a real mom like me get to feel ultra pampered and special!

Emily Lyon (Clever Housewife) and I riding in style! Shanty 2 Chic in the background.

My ABSOLUTE favorite part of the trip was the make up and wardrobe. Oh man, I could get used to someone constantly making sure I look good. There were 2 ladies there just for that purpose. I can't tell you how awesome this was. When you're not worried about if you have anything in your teeth or if your hair is getting frizzy, you can concentrate on other things like learning the script :)

Tiffany of Stuff Parents Need getting her makeup done!

The other thing that I could get used to is a huge rack of clothes like this! Turns out I didn't need to worry about what to wear because they had it covered. They ended up picking out a simple green top with a gold necklace for me to wear. And I got to take it home with me too :) Gotta love that!

There was plenty of time to sight see as well!

My husband and I had fun playing tourist. Apparently we were in Chicago on the best 2 days of the year. The weather was incredible and everyone kept commenting on it! Lucky us. We got to ride in one of the open-topped buses and see all the sights. So fun and relaxing!

Driving past Harpo Studios...wishing me and Oprah could be BFFs!

After a wonderful day, everyone met up at The Girl and the Goat (a most amazing restaurant run by winner of Top Chef, Stephanie Izard). Let's just say it was probably the best meal I've ever eaten. It was also the most diverse meal I've ever eaten. Some of the things I got to try? Beet bread, chickpea fritters, goat sausage, shishito peppers, baby octopus, roasted cauliflower, roasted pig face, wood grilled broccoli, and pork shank. Oh MY goodness. I just couldn't believe how even the *weird* stuff tasted so amazingly flavorful! Also, I was happy that I wasn't the one picking up the tab :)

The next morning I was up and at 'em early. It was my day to shoot 6 commercials. The time that they thought we would be done? 5 pm. The actual time that we wrapped? 10 pm. Oh man, it was a long day. BUT I have to say I felt surprisingly energetic and didn't get really tired until about 9 pm. I prayed that morning specifically for extra energy and strength and I was blessed with it! During the day there were many periods of down time. I just kept thinking to myself "this is sooooo surreal." Now after getting home, it does truly feel like it was a dream. It was just so amazing to be on a set filming commercials for a national brand. I loved seeing the camera crew, the food stylist and the whole process. What a unique and exceptional opportunity. I feel so very lucky to have been involved with this and can't wait to share the results with you in a couple of months! You're going to love it!!!!!! (I hope)

P.S. Make sure to join in all the foodie fun on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!

Recipe for Slow Cooker Buffalo Ranch Turkey Meatballs

2013-05-08T06:00:00.000-06:00

Makes 4 servings
Ideal slow cooker size: 6 quart oval

1 lb lean ground turkey
1 egg
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1 carrot, finely grated
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp Ranch dressing seasoning
2-4 Tbsp hot sauce (depending how much heat you like, I used 2 Tbsp)

1. In a mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients. Mix with hands to incorporate well. Using hand form the mixture into meatballs, or use an ice cream scoop.
2. Place meatballs in the bottom of slow cooker. Try not to overlap.
3. Cover and cook on LOW for about 4-6 hours.
4. Serve with extra hot sauce, if desired.

*You can also make this recipe in the oven. Place on a foil lined cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Review:
Everyone in the family really liked these! I was quite surprised just because I thought they would have too much heat for the kids...but they didn't seem to mind. I like the addition of the grated carrot to give it some texture and color. Next time I want to make these as an appetizer. I will form into small meatballs, stick some toothpicks in them and then serve with some buffalo ranch dressing!! Can't wait...so yummy! 4 stars.

P.S. Make sure to join in all the foodie fun on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!

Do You Have Sensitive Ears??

2013-05-07T06:00:00.000-06:00

So, obviously this post is not food related. But I thought I would share this awesome trick with you that has been so helpful to me! My ears are no longer bothered by my earrings! Awesome.

Also, just wanted to let you know that I blog over here at Today's Mama about once a week. It has been a bit freeing for me because I blog about whatever I want (hence the earrings post). I mostly blog about food but it's not necessarily slow cooker recipes. I will keep this blog totally slow cooker related (for the most part) and then blog other interesting things over here.

Here are some of my latest posts:
Creamy Tomatillo Ranch Dressing Recipe (Cafe Rio Style)
Best Cookie Bars in the Whole World
Make Your Own Laundry Detergent

Thanks so much for supporting me in all my endeavors!!!

P.S. Make sure to join in all the foodie fun on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!

Recipe for Slow Cooker Honey Dijon Chicken and Mushrooms

2013-05-03T06:00:00.000-06:00

Makes 6 servings
Ideal slow cooker size: 5 quart

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 Tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp ground thyme
1 tsp ground rosemary
8 oz sliced mushrooms
2 Tbsp yellow mustard
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp honey
1 cup chicken broth
2 Tbsp flour
6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of fat (you can use frozen or unfrozen)
1 Tbsp quick cooking tapioca
Salt and pepper, to taste

1. In a microwave safe bowl, combine the oil, onion, garlic, tomato paste, thyme and rosemary. Microwave for 5 minutes, stirring every 90 seconds. Transfer to slow cooker.
2. Add the mustards, honey, broth, flour and tapioca to the slow cooker. Stir a bit.
3. Add the chicken and mushrooms to the slow cooker.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours for thawed chicken and 5-7 hours (depending on your slow cooker) for frozen chicken.
5. Remove lid and salt and pepper to taste. Serve chicken sliced into pieces or as whole thighs. This is a plenty saucy dish so serving this with rice, potatoes or noodles is a good idea.

Review:
I love chicken and I love mushrooms so naturally this was a yummy dinner for me personally. The mustard and honey gives it a tangy and sweet flavor. The onions, garlic and spices gives it a great depth of flavor. Everyone ate this happily. 4 stars.

P.S. Make sure to join in all the foodie fun on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!

Recipe for Slow Cooker Mashed Cauliflower with Garlic, Olive Oil and Parmesan Cheese

2013-05-01T06:00:00.000-06:00

This is NOT potatoes! Mashed cauliflower is a great way to feel like you're eating mashed potatoes with a fraction of the calories. This side dish is seasoned with garlic, olive oil and Parmesan cheese to make it perfectly tasty for kids and adults alike.

Makes 2 servings
Ideal slow cooker size: 3 quart

1 head of cauliflower
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Diced green onion, for garnish

1. Clean the cauliflower and cut off the stems and unusable parts. Quarter the head of cauliflower and place pieces into slow cooker.
2. Fill slow cooker with water until it covers cauliflower. Add a bay leaf to the water.
3. Dump in the garlic and salt.
4. Cover and cook on HIGH for about 4 hours, or until cauliflower is very tender or LOW for about 6 hours.
5. Remove lid and drain off all water (I placed mine in a colander). Discard the bay leaf.
6. Place cauliflower back into slow cooker and add in the olive oil and Parmesan. Mash using a potato masher until desired consistency is reached.
7. Salt and pepper to taste and garnish with green onion. Serve!

Review:
This is an easy side dish that is very healthy! It tasted great. Not exactly the texture of mashed potatoes but still a good substitute if you're looking to cut some calories and get a few extra servings of veggies in! 4 stars.

P.S. Make sure to join in all the foodie fun on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!

Recipe for Southwestern Pork Sliders with Refried Beans and Avocado

2013-04-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

A little sandwich that is packed with delicious flavors!

Makes 6 servings
Ideal slow cooker size: 5-6 quart
*This is a good recipe to make if you're going to be gone all day

1 1/3 cup dried pinto beans, rinsed and sorted (these will work best if they are soaked overnight)
2 lbs pork roast, trimmed of excess fat (butt, shoulder, Boston cuts work best)
6 cups water
3 tsp Shirley J chicken bouillon or 6 tsp regular chicken bouillon
1 onion, quartered
1 cup salsa, or your choice
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
Garlic powder
Red wine vinegar
Salt and pepper
Rolls or small buns
Slice avocados
Banana peppers

1. Place beans in bottom of slow cooker. Pour in water. Place pork on top.
2. Add in the chicken bouillon and onion.
3. Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours. Beans should be very tender and pork should fall apart.
4. Remove roast and shred.
5. Drain water but save about 1 cup of it. Discard the onion. Place beans in a large bowl.
6. Place roast back into the slow cooker. Stir in the salsa, cumin and chili powder. Taste and then add salt and pepper to taste.
7. Using a potato masher, mash the beans adding in a little saved liquid, as needed. Add in garlic powder and red wine vinegar to taste as well as plenty of salt and pepper.
8. Spread some of the beans on a roll/bun. Top with some pork and then top with avocado slices and banana peppers. Enjoy!!

Recipe adapted from Six Sisters Stuff

Review:
The great thing about this recipe is that the beans and the pork take exactly the same amount of time to cook so you can throw them in together and have great results. The thing is, you must choose the right cut of pork. Don't even think about pork loin for this recipe. Just won't work! I didn't soak my beans overnight but I wish I would have. They just turn out much better. So try to remember to soak! These pork and beans would also be really great on a tortilla if you don't have any buns on hand. I added the banana peppers last minute to give it a little flavor boost and crunchiness. It was the perfect choice. You can also melt cheese on top, if you'd like. 4 stars.

P.S. Make sure to join in all the foodie fun on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!

Reynolds Test Kitchen Trip!

2013-04-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

This past week I had the really wonderful opportunity of visiting the Reynolds Test Kitchen in Richmond, Virginia with the other Reynolds Real Moms. We attended a cooking school where we learned more about Reynolds products and how to use them. It was a couple days of laughing, talking and a LOT of delicious eating. At one point I exclaimed, "I don't want to go home!" I was having such a great time and wanted to stay just a few more days. I feel so lucky to have had this experience and next week the fun will continue when I will go to Chicago to shoot some more commercials :) SOOOOOOO excited!

The Reynolds Real Moms from left to right: Whitney, Ashley (Shanty 2 Chic), Utokia (She's Got Flavor), Me, Tiffany (Stuff Parents Need), and Emily (The Clever Housewife)

Anybody need some foil? Slow cooker liners? Freezer paper? We got you covered.

Vegetarian Quinoa that we made in an Reynolds Oven Bag.

Breakfast Strata (this was one of the very favorite things I ate while we were there).

The Breakfast Strata...only this time it was made in the slow cooker!

The parchment paper difference! I will never make cookies without using parchment paper again. So amazing.

We made 2 turkeys...one in an oven bag and one tented with foil. Both were awesome!!!

Bang Bang Shrimp in an oven bag...this was awesome!!!

Sweet potato, apple, cranberry dish in a foil packet. I loved this one! I'll post the recipe soon :)

I felt so spoiled. They got us these cute little baskets and aprons. So fun.

Tiffany and Utokia making a turkey in the oven bag...Tiffany was a little grossed out by the whole process :)

Utokia was right at home cooking it up and making sure to season everything perfectly!!

Emily making the quinoa! We all kept pronouncing is KWIN-OAH. Ha ha!

Whitney, washing dishes...she's a mother of 5!

Ashley, checking her phone. With 6 bloggers, there was a lot of that going on :)

Getting a tutorial on all the awesome Reynolds products!

The menu from The Blue Goat...where we went to dinner. The Chocolate Pate I got for dessert was the most amazing chocolate dessert I've ever had...and that is saying a LOT. I'm still dreaming of that dessert.

As you can tell I had a lot of fun! Thanks Reynolds for the awesome trip!

What should I wear?

2013-04-27T09:22:00.000-06:00

Do you follow 365 Days of Slow Cooking on Facebook? If not, you're really missing out :) I mostly talk about food but sometimes other things too. For example, today I posted these pictures of myself and requested advice on what I should wear to the Reynolds Real Moms photo shoot in Chicago next week.

Which one do you love the best?

Besides Facebook, join me on Twitter and Pinterest! It's just a big fat party all the time.

Fresh Living Video Segment: How to Make Your Own Laundry Detergent

2013-04-26T11:23:00.002-06:00

Yesterday I was on Fresh Living showing penny pinchers (like myself) how to make your own laundry detergent. The recipe is HERE. The video is HERE.

P.S. Make sure to join in all the foodie fun on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!

KitchenAid Slow Cooker Giveaway!

2013-04-26T09:49:00.001-06:00

I've been having so much fun with my newest slow cooker! Sometimes I just get a little giddy when I look at it. It is very sleek and functional. It is a KitchenAid 6-Quart slow cooker that has some awesome features including a medium setting. So so sweet. My review and a giveaway of this awesome appliance is here. I hope you win!

Recipe for Slow Cooker Chicken Lemon Orzo Soup

2013-04-26T06:00:00.000-06:00

A delicious and light soup flavored with lemon rind and lemon juice.

Makes 6 servings
Ideal slow cooker size: 4-5 quart

4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of fat
6 cups chicken broth
1 bay leaf
1 grated carrots
1 diced onion
1 diced celery ribs
2 minced garlic cloves
1 tsp ground thyme
1 Tbsp dried parsley flakes
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp grated lemon rind
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tsp salt
1 cup orzo
Salt and pepper to taste
Parmesan cheese, for serving

1. Place chicken, broth and bay leaf in bottom of slow cooker.
2. In a microwave-safe bowl place the carrots, onion, celery, garlic, thyme and parsley. Microwave for 5 minutes, stirring every 90 seconds. Transfer contents to slow cooker.
3. Add in the lemon rind, lemon juice and salt.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for about 5-6 hours.
5. Cook orzo over the stovetop until tender (if added straight to the crock, it will soak up a lot of liquid and make it a little weird).
5. Remove the chicken thighs and shred. Then return chicken back into slow cooker. Add cooked orzo into the slow cooker.
6. Stir and then add plenty of salt and pepper to taste.
7. Ladle into serving bowls and then top each bowl with about 2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese.

Adapted from The Girl Who Ate Everything

Review:
Ever since my neighbor brought over a big jug of orzo I've been thinking of fun ways to use it up. When I saw this recipe I was instantly intrigued because lemon is such a great flavor and I love lemon chicken. The soup turned out great and I had my mother-in-law for dinner that night. She loved it as well. It is pretty light and is perfect served with a slice of bread and a side salad. 4 stars.

P.S. Make sure to join in all the foodie fun on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!

Slow Cooker Ooey Gooey Chicken

2013-04-24T06:00:00.000-06:00

Makes 6 servings

Ideal slow cooker size: 4 quart

6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of fat

1 (13.75 oz) can cream of chicken soup

1 cup water

1 Tbsp dressing mix (recipe below)

1 Tbsp quick cooking tapioca

3/4 cup Greek yogurt (or you can use sour cream), at room temperature (to prevent curdling)

1 Tbsp flour

Salt and pepper

1. Place chicken in bottom of slow cooker.

2. Dump in the cream of chicken soup, water, dressing mix and tapioca.

3. Cover and cook on LOW for about 4-6 hours.

4. Remove the chicken and shred or cut into pieces. (I like to shred mine in my bosch).

5. In a bowl, stir together the Greek yogurt and the flour. Add the mixture into the slow cooker and stir.

6. Add the chicken back into the slow cooker and stir into the creamy mixture. Salt and pepper to taste.

7. Serve creamy chicken and sauce over rice, noodles or potatoes.

Dressing Mix Recipe:

(my husband and I are addicted to this dressing! We eat salads several times a week and always use this dressing)

1 Tbsp garlic powder

1 Tbsp onion powder

1 Tbsp sugar

2 Tbsp dried oregano

1 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp ground thyme

1 tsp ground basil

1 Tbsp dried parsley

2 Tbsp salt

Mix all ingredients and store in an airtight container.

Dressing:

2/3 cup apple cider vinegar

2/3 cup olive oil

2 Tbsp water

2 Tbsp dry mix

In a jar, combine all 3 ingredients and shake. Store leftovers in the jar with a lid in the refrigerator.

Review:

This reminds me of the cream cheese/italian dressing mix recipe that everyone seems to have made. But it's a bit healthier with the use of Greek yogurt instead of the cream cheese. This is a super easy recipe (especially if you have the dressing mix on hand, like I do) and your family will love it. 4 stars.

P.S. Make sure to join in all the foodie fun on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!

Recipe for (Cafe Rio) Creamy Tomatillo Ranch Dressing

2013-04-23T06:00:00.000-06:00

This Cafe Rio-style dressing is so addictive and tastes awesome for up to a week! You'll never buy bottled dressing again! Click HERE for the recipe.

P.S. Make sure to join in all the foodie fun on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!

Recipe for Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs

2013-04-22T06:00:00.000-06:00

This is a perfect week day meal! Very easy and very versatile. We always serve ours with rice but it would be great over pasta too. If you prefer beef you can substitute a lean ground beef instead of the turkey.

Makes 4 servings

Ideal slow cooker size: 6 quart oval

1 lb ground turkey

1/2 cup quick oats

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1 egg

1 (28 oz) can spaghetti sauce of your choice

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Hot cooked rice or pasta

1. Combine the turkey, oatmeal, chili powder, salt, garlic powder, onion powder and egg in a bowl. Using your clean hands (or gloved hands) mix the meat mixture until well combined.

2. Shape into meatballs using your hands, or use an ice cream scooper to form. Place the balls in the bottom of a slow cooker. (I use my 6 quart slow cooker for this recipe, so not much overlapping will happen).

3. Pour the spaghetti sauce over the top of the meatballs.

4. Cover and cook on LOW for about 4-6 hours.

5. Remove the lid and sprinkle with the mozzarella. Cook on HIGH without the lid until the cheese is melted.

6. Carefully scoop out the meatballs and place on serving plates. Serve with hot cooked rice or pasta.

Note: You can make these meatballs in the oven instead of the slow cooker if you prefer. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes. Add cheese before you bake.

Review:
This recipe is the same meatball recipe my mom always made growing up except I subbed ground turkey and made it in the slow cooker instead of the oven. I love this recipe because it's super easy and everyone eats this happily. In fact, all the food was eaten and my family was still asking for more! Make the meatballs as little or as large as you prefer. The cheesy goodness is awesome too...you can always switch it up with cheddar if you'd like. 4 stars.

Recipe for Slow Cooker Turkey and Black Bean Chili

2013-04-19T06:00:00.000-06:00

A delicious and mostly healthy creamy chili. This recipe is perfect served with cornbread on a cool day.

Makes 6 servings

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-5 quart

1 diced onion

1 Tbsp olive oil

2 cups beef broth (or 2 cups water + 1 tsp shirley j beef bouillon)

1 lb ground turkey

1 (14.5 oz) petite diced tomatoes with juice

2 (14.5 oz) cans black beans, rinsed and drained

1 (14.5 oz) can refried beans (or you can make your own)

1 cup salsa (mild, medium or hot...whatever you prefer)

1 Tbsp chili powder

1 Tbsp cumin

1/4 cup lime juice

Fresh cilantro, to taste

Salt and pepper

1. Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium high heat. Add in the onion and cook for about 4 minutes. Then add in the ground turkey and brown for about 5 minutes. Add onions and turkey to slow cooker.

2. Add in the tomatoes, black beans, refried beans, salsa, chili powder and cumin.

3. Cover and cook on LOW for about 6 hours.

4. Stir a bit and then add in lime juice and salt and pepper to taste.

5. Ladle into serving bowls and top with as much (or as little) cilantro as you want!

Note: You can also serve this with cheese and sour cream, but I didn't need it because of the creaminess of the refried beans.

Recipe adapted from Kalyn's Kitchen

Review:

This was a delicious chili! I loved the addition of the refried beans. What a great way to add creaminess, without adding a ton of cheese and sour cream. The lime juice gave it a flavor burst and, of course, the cilantro is my favorite thing ever! 4 stars.

Fresh Living: Sesame Chicken

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I was on Fresh Living yesterday talking about winning the Reynolds Real Mom competition and cooking up some yummy sesame chicken. Here is the video!

P.S. Make sure to join in all the foodie fun on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!

Recipe for Slow Cooker Egg, Spinach and Ham Breakfast Casserole

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For me, this is the best breakfast casserole thing-y I've made in my slow cooker to date. The seasonings were dead on and the use of the Greek yogurt gives it something a little extra. I also used pepper jack cheese instead of a usual cheddar. It gives it a bit of a kick and ups the flavor.

I hope you enjoy this as much as my family and I did!

Click HERE for the recipe.

P.S. Make sure to join in all the foodie fun on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!

Work With Me!

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For over 4 years now I have spent a lot of time blogging. A lot of time cooking. A lot of time taking pictures. A lot of time has been spent on social media. A lot of time figuring out how to grow my blog. Basically a lot of time. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. I've loved learning about cooking/blogging. It's been a fun journey...just a lot of time.

When I first started blogging I didn't have many goals in mind but I did hope to eventually make enough money to pay for groceries. It's hard to estimate the amount of time that I spend on this blog but I feel like it has become a significant portion of my time. And now I'm making enough money that I feel like I can even call it a part-time job. "Mom has to go to work!" Even if that work is about 2 or 3 steps away from the family room.

So thank you readers for supporting me! Thank you for understanding that I need to have some advertisements on my blog. Thank you for telling your friends about my recipes. It's so much fun to think about all the neat things I've been able to be a part of.

I've had extraordinary experiences of working with many wonderful brands and companies. So I'm just throwing this out there...if your company would like to work with me please visit my newly updated "work with me" page.

Thanks again for supporting this blog! It is such a fun gig!