A Busy Mom's Slow Cooker Adventures

VitaClay Chef Organic Mulitcooker #Review

2017-03-26T21:00:00.001-04:00

*Disclaimer: I was given a VitaClay Chef Organic Multicooker in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are soley my own.

I was recently asked to review the VitaClay Chef Organic Multicooker. I was really excited because I've never tested out a device like this before. It's kind of like a slow cooker and a pressure cooker, but does so many other things. Not only can you cook a slow-cooked meal faster in this Multicooker, but you can also cook rice, bone broth and yogurt in it too!

I tested out a few different recipes in this multicooker. I had success with 2. Unfortunately, the VitaClay Chef Organic Multicooker needs a lot of liquid, so when I tried to make baked oatmeal, my multicooker actually malfunctioned and I had VERY burnt oatmeal left to scrape out. It was TOTALLY user error. It's made very clear in the instructions the minimum amount of liquid required to make oatmeal in the Organic Multicooker, but I did not read that until after ;) So, don't make the same mistake I did. In fact, if I were you, I would basically just follow their recipes, as this device comes with a recipe booklet. Use that as your basis, when making other dishes and follow the care and cooking instructions very closely.

The first thing I made in the Multicooker was Red Curry Chicken. It turned out great! See the recipe and instructions below.

Makes 4-5 servings

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 1 1/2 - 2 hours

Using the 8 cup VitaClay Chef Organic Multicooker

3 lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs

1/2 medium sweet onion, sliced thin

salt and pepper to taste

13.66 oz. can lite coconut milk

4 oz. red curry paste

1 Tbsp. minced garlic

1 tsp. ground ginger

1. Place the chicken into the clay pot in layers. Salt and pepper each layer to taste and place onions on top of each layer.

2. In a bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients. Pour this over the top of your chicken and onions.

3. Cover the clay pot. Place the clay pot into the multicooker base. Closer it.

4. Press the slow cooking button and you'll want the little arrow to point to the stew setting. Set it for 1 1/2-2 hours.

This turned out wonderfully. Full of flavor!

I also made brown rice in the VitaClay Chef Multicooker when I had the flu and all I could eat was rice with some broth. It came out PERFECT!!!! SO easy to make.

Again, I also tried to make baked oatmeal with my VitaClay Chef Organic MutiCooker, but as I learned the hard way, it's not meant for anything without a lot of liquid. This really limits what you can do with it in the slow cooking department. So, no baking really. That's a bummer. But, it does SO many other things. Again, it very easily makes yogurt, bone broth, stews, soups, and a plethora of other things.

The price on the VitaClay Chef Organic MultiCooker is higher than most slow cookers. It's well over $100 on any given day when I check on amazon. Honestly, I don't think I would pay this much money for this device. I still feel like I have way more freedom with my slow cooker. Even though this device will keep your food perfectly warm after it's cooked for up to 12 hours, I feel like my food would be sitting there ALL day waiting for me on warm for at least 6-7 hours. This isn't ideal for me.

This device is very cumbersome. It takes up a lot of space. It's not something I can easily keep on my counter or in my cupboard, so we'll have to store ours elsewhere.

I found this easy to clean. Even when I BURNT oatmeal on the clay pot (and I mean, B-U-R-N-T,) it came off with a little soaking, elbow grease, baking soda and dish soap. I was impressed! Not sure this would have worked out quite as well with a regular crock. I will also say, I emailed customer service right away to see what I did wrong and they were extremely helpful! I was very impressed with their level of customer service and willingness to help me with this device. It was very obvious they wanted me to be successful with it and to learn how to keep my device in good working condition.

I honestly think I'm SO used to slow cooking in a regular slow cooker, I couldn't fully wrap my mind around this device. I feel the results were the same with my chicken in this device compared to what it would have turned out like in a regular slow cooker. This would be ideal for those who are not gone the entire day, and would like a slow cooked dinner in 2 hours or less. If that's you, I highly recommend this Multicooker. If you LOVE to make yogurt or rice, this device is for you! If you're an avid bone brother maker, this device will rock your world.

Thank you, VitaClay Chef for allowing me to learn a new device and opening my mind up to the possibility of slow cooking in less time!

You can purchase this VitaClay Chef Organic MultiCooker online through amazon or at VitaClayChef.com.

Zesty Orange Poke Cake

2016-09-18T21:20:00.000-04:00

I've been busy writing an upcoming cookbook and was writing dessert recipes when this idea popped in my head! I had to make it immediately! You seriously can't go wrong with a yellow cake mix, freshly squeezed orange juice and orange zest. I mean, what's not to like about all that?!

This cake is not too sweet and is perfectly orangy! You will love it warm, cold, on it's own, with ice cream, etc. It's perfect no matter what!

Alright, alright, alright! I'm going to stop talking now so you can get to what you came here for! Here's the recipe:

Makes 6-8 servings
Prep. Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 6 hours
Ideal slow-cooker size: 3 qt.

Ingredients:
Cake:
22 oz. gluten-free yellow cake mix
1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup melted coconut oil
3 eggs
1 Tbsp. orange zest

Glaze:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp. orange juice
1 1/2 tsp. orange zest

Ice Cream for serving

Directions:

1. Spray the crock with non-stick spray.

2. In a bowl, mix together all cake ingredients. Pour into crock.

3. Cover and cook on Low for 6 hours, or until cake is all the way set.

4. Mix together the glaze ingredients.

5. With a straw, poke holes into cake. Pour glaze over top of entire cake.

6. Scoop cake out with a spoon and into a bowl. Top with ice cream. Or, Turn crock upside down on a plate and cut cake in slices.

Enjoy!

NKD Pizza - And allergy friendly Dining Experience #BloggersDoPizza

2016-06-01T22:16:00.004-04:00

This past weekend, I had the immense pleasure of eating at NKD Pizza in Sterling Heights.

I thought it was "just another make your own pizza joint," but I was VERY wrong!

This is THE BEST and healthiest "pizza joint" I've ever visited.

You know what makes the food even better? The fact that the owner and manager GENUINELY care about their customers, their food, the quality, the freshness and giving us a healthier option.

There is SO much about my visit that I enjoyed. I enjoyed every single minute while there.

See this? THIS was my dinner!!!!
Right?!!!! You're drooling, I know. I was too. It's ok.
Guess what? This was all gluten-free!!!!
I. KNOW.
You're looking at the Niagra Pizza (GF), NKD Caprese Salad and Gluten Free Chicken Tenders.
Every bite was just as delicious as the next!

Here's a glance at few of the other pizzas and goodies my other blogger friends tried that night.

Everyone said their meals were amazing! We had absolutely no complaints.
There is really something for everyone on the menu, but if you don't find something exactly as you like it, they are happy to make all accommodations for you, or you can build your own pizza.

They even have a very cool brand of soda for you to try with your delicious pizza.

Dessert is simple. And gluten free :) LOVE THIS PLACE!!!

Seating is simple. There are a a couple bars, a larger high top table and a few regular tables.

They even their trash area is cool ;)

Another cool thing they have is a word search dry erase type board where, if you find all 20 words while you wait for your pizza, you get 10% off your next order!!!

Besides the delicious food and the amazing hospitality of the owner and manager, my favorite part was the kitchen tour where I got to see what great care they take in making sure those with allergies are taken care of.

This is the gluten free prep area. You'll notice the tools are clearly labeled. You'll see the regular tools below. The toppings are in their own area totally separate from the regular pizza station, so there is no cross contamination. They also use different pizza baking trays for gluten free pizza than regular pizza.

Here is the regular pizza prepping area, cutting tools and baking dishes.

I have to say, I fell in love with this place from the moment we were greeted. It felt so welcoming and I was never once nervous about getting sick eating here. I HIGHLY recommend NKD Pizza. You have to go try it out!

Guess what?! They deliver within a 2 mile radius and delivery is only $1.50! Great deal and I'm TOTALLY jealous I don't live in their delivery area. I am completely willing to drive there however!

NKD Pizza is located at 2100 Metropolitan Parkway
Sterling Heights, MI 48310

You can find out more about NKD Pizza and all they have to offer here.

Connect with NKD Pizza on Social Media

https://twitter.com/nkdpizzami

https://www.instagram.com/nkdpizzami/

https://www.facebook.com/NKDPizzaSterlingHeights/?fref=ts

*I was not given a monetary compensation for this post. I was invited to dine in at NKD Pizza on their dime. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may differ from others'.

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

2016-04-13T19:06:00.001-04:00

I recently asked my daughter what she would LOVE for me to make and do you know what she said?

"Chicken Noodle Soup! But, Mom! No veggies and stuff though Mom. Just chicken and noodles"

You got it, Ella! So, being the amazing Mom I am....I honored her request. LOL

Who could say no to this face?!

I kept things very simple by making my own broth. So, grab those veggies in your fridge and throw them in your crock with some water and chicken and get it cookin'! You'll add the noodles at the end after you've cooked them on the stove top because no one likes soggy noodles. Plus, Gluten-Free noddles do not hold up well in the slow cooker. And for as long as you'll be cooking this, you don't want the noodles to absorb all the water.

I'm trying something new as you can see! I'm going to do a few video recipes and see how it goes :)

Now, go impress your family and make some amazing Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup.

Servings: 8-10

Ingredients:

2 cups carrots, or 2-3 whole carrots

3-4 stalks celery

1 yellow onion

4 garlic cloves, peeled

3 boneless skinless chicken thighs

1-2 Tablespoons salt (I needed to add more than I did in the video)

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon basil

1 bay leaf

2 teaspoons no-salt seasoning

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/4-1/2 teaspoon celery seed

10 cups water

Directions: (Use a 5 quart or larger Slow Cooker for this recipe)

Place all of the ingredients into your slow cooker, adding the water last. Cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or on HIGH for 3.5-5 hours. With a slotted spoon, remove the veggies and bay leaf. Remove the chicken and chop into small pieces. Stir the chicken back into the soup. Meanwhile, cook your desired amount of noodles according to package directions. To serve, spoon the desired amount of noodles into your bowl, then ladle the chicken and broth over the top. Enjoy!

Easter Recipe Roundup from "The Gluten-Free Slow Cooker"

2016-03-20T21:40:00.000-04:00

Are you already thinking about what you're going to make for Easter? I know, I know, you're probably making a ham, but have you thought about what you're going to serve for breakfast? How about for dessert?

Well, your day is about to get a little brighter because I'm bringing you 3 of my recipes from The Gluten-Free Slow Cooker to help make Easter day go just a little bit smoother! The Gluten-Free Slow Cooker is my newest cookbook and was released on October 2. It's FULL of all sorts of recipes, from appetizers, breakfast food, main courses, side dishes and desserts! If you need more suggestions beyond the 3 recipes listed below, I highly suggest you pick up a copy of my book and make it the easiest Easter EV-AH! ;) How about some Lasagna Roll-Ups or Apple and Onion Pork Loin for your Easter Main course instead of the usual Ham? The recipes are in the book! Or, how about making some Black-Eyed Pea and Ham Soup with those leftovers? The recipe is in the book and it's one of my FAVORITE soups ever! You'll love it! You can purchase it here.

Photography by JNV

So, let's talk the recipes I am giving you right now. How about starting Easter morning off with some delicious Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal? YUM! It's like dessert for breakfast! Seriously, you have to have some! You'll thank me later!

Moving on, I'm going to suggest serving my Brown Sugar Mashed Potatoes as a healthier alternative to the traditional mashed potatoes you may usually serve. Your family will love this new twist!

Let's end Easter dinner on a VERY good note! How about my Hazelnut and Chocolate Cheesecakes?! YES, PLEASE!!!!!!! Seriously. You'll get brownie points for the cute individualized jar presentation! Everyone will leave happy ;)

Alright....I'm going to get on with it now! Here are the recipes:

Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal

Finding gluten-free cinnamon rolls can be difficult. Making gluten-free cinnamon rolls takes way too much time. Making Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal is simple and quick! Drizzle your oatmeal with a delicious cinnamon frosting, and you’ve got a decadent dessert-like oatmeal for breakfast.

1½ cups (120 g) steel cut oats

½ cup (115 g) brown sugar

1½ teaspoons cinnamon

6 cups (1.4 L) almond milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup (115 g) cinnamon frosting, storebought, or follow the frosting recipe on page 159, substituting cinnamon for the pumpkin pie spice.

» Spray your crock with nonstick cooking spray. Pour in the oats, sugar, and cinnamon. Pour the milk and vanilla over the top and give a quick stir.

» Cover the crock and cook on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 4 hours.

» When you are ready to serve this, swirl in the cinnamon frosting.

RECOMMENDED SLOW COOKER SIZE:

3 quart (3 L)

YIELD: 6 servings

RECIPE NOTE

You can easily make this recipe dairyfree by replacing the cinnamon frosting with the following alternative: Mix together 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) almond milk, and ½ teaspoon cinnamon.

TIPS & SUGGESTIONS

>> If you don’t like the thickness of your oatmeal in the morning, you can thin it out by adding a bit of milk when serving.

» You can change the flavor of this oatmeal by experimenting with different types of milk. Try coconut, cashew, vanilla-almond, or soy milk to change things up.

Brown Sugar Mashed Sweet Potatoes

5 INGREDIENTS OR LESS

This recipe provides all the goodness of mashed potatoes, but it’s sweet and delicious instead of savory. You won’t need dessert after eating these amazingly easy sweet potatoes.

6 cups (660 g) ½-inch (1 cm) peeled sweet potato cubes

1⁄3 cup (75 g) brown sugar

6 tablespoons (85 g) butter

½ cup (120 ml) vegetable stock

» Spray your crock with nonstick cooking spray.

» Place the sweet potatoes into the crock and sprinkle the sugar over the top. Place the butter on top, and then pour the stock over the top as well.

» Cover the crock and cook on LOW for 6 hours or on HIGH for 3 hours, or until the potatoes are very tender and pierce easily with a fork. Mash the potatoes right in the crock.

RECOMMENDED SLOW COOKER SIZE:

2 to 3 quart (2 to 3 L)

YIELD: 6 to 8 servings

TIPS & SUGGESTIONS

This dish pairs well with the Apple and Onion Pork Loin on page 92, the Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Breast on page 102, and the Honey Garlic Pork Chops on page 106.

Hazelnut and Chocolate Mini Cheesecakes

These individual cheesecakes are decadent, smooth, creamy, hazelnutty, chocolaty, and delicious. They are incredibly charming, served in individual mason jars, which makes for a beautiful presentation for your guests.

1 box (8 ounces, or 225 g) reduced-fat cream cheese, softened

1 cup (230 g) nonfat plain Greek yogurt

1⁄3 cup (60 g) granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

¾ cup (195 g) chocolate-hazelnut spread, such as Nutella

6 mason jars (6 ounces, or 175 ml, each)

» Using a stand mixer, beat together the cream cheese, yogurt, sugar, and vanilla on mediumlow speed. (You may use a hand mixer if you do not have a stand mixer.) When it is well mixed, add the eggs, one at a time. When this is well combined, add the chocolate-hazelnut spread.

Continue to mix and scrape the sides of the bowl as necessary.

» When the mixture is well combined, pour or spoon the batter evenly into the 6 jars. Leaving the lid off of the jars, place them into your crock. Carefully pour water into the crock around the outside of the jars, until the water level is about halfway up the outside of the mason jars. (Be careful not to get any water in your cheesecakes.)

» Cover the crock and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or on HIGH for 2 to 2½ hours.

» When the cook time is up, wearing an oven mitt, carefully remove the mason jars from the water bath and place them on a cooling rack.

RECOMMENDED SLOW COOKER SIZE:

5 quart (5 L) or larger

YIELD: 6 servings

TIPS & SUGGESTIONS

» Tie a ribbon around each jar, correlating to whatever theme or holiday you’re celebrating.

» For serving, top each cheesecake with a dollop of whipped cream and some mini chocolate chips.

Chicken and Vegetable Soup with Rice

2016-03-09T06:06:00.000-05:00

Recently, I had some stomach virus, which caused me to not feel so hot for 3 days. Anytime I tried to eat something, it didn't settle well. When I was younger, my parents would serve me either a can of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup, or Mrs. Grass' Chicken Broth with Noodles. I don't eat that kind of stuff anymore...it's not good for me and it's definitely not gluten-free. So, when I want some chicken soup, I make some!

I have to say, this soup turned out PERFECTLY! When my son walked in from daycare, he said "Wow, mom! What smells so good?!" When I told him it was Chicken and Vegetable Soup with Rice he said he couldn't wait to try it! This came as a huge shock to me.

First of all, he has never liked soup.

I don't know if it's a consistency thing or what, but he just never gives it much of a chance! This time, he did. He proclaimed he would not eat the carrots (he's going through a "thing") but he CLEANED his bowl!!!! Score 1 point for team mom!

Me? I managed to eat a bowl. It felt great going down. My stomach wasn't ready. LOL However, my husband finished every last drop of that soup! It was a definite win and a recipe we'll make over and over again. I almost can't wait for one of my neighbors to get sick so I can bring some over!!! (Is that bad?!!!)

Servings: 4-6 (Use a 3-4 Quart Slow Cooker for this Recipe)

Ingredients:

1.5-2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts

1.5 cups chopped carrots

1.5 cups chopped red onion

1 cup green beans (to add later)

2 Tbsp. garlic powder

1 Tbsp. onion powder

2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. celery seed

1/4 tsp. paprika

1/8 tsp. pepper

1 bay leaf

8 cups no-salt chicken stock (you can omit the salt if you're using regular stock)

Cooked rice.

Directions:

Place your chicken breasts in the bottom of the crock.

Add in your chopped carrots,

onion,

garlic powder, onion powder, salt, celery seed, paprika, pepper and bay leaf.

Pour in the chicken stock.

Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours, or on HIGH for 3-3.5 hours.

Take the chicken out and cut it into very small cubes.

Stir the chicken back into the soup and add in your green beans.

Cook for an additional 30 minutes or so, or until the green beans are tender.

During this 30 minutes, prepare your rice.

When your rice and soup are both ready, it's time to serve. Place 1/4-1/2 cup of rice in each bowl and spoon the chicken and vegetable soup over the top.

Enjoy!

Basil and Garlic Salmon

2016-03-08T08:43:00.000-05:00

First of all, sorry for the delay in posting! I've been super preoccupied with, well....LIFE! I'm sure you can all relate. There are BIG, exciting things happening in my life...which I'll share with all of you as I'm able. Your support and loyalty over the years has meant the world to me! Thank you all for continuing to cook my recipes and view my blog! You're the best!

So...onto this Salmon!!

This recipe came from me needing to make something for dinner because my inlaws were coming! I do some of my best work under pressure ;) Little did I know, they wouldn't be staying for dinner, but that just gave us delicious leftovers. LOL

I've been completely OBSESSED with Basil and Garlic paste. If you haven't tried it yet, you need this in your life. It's in the produce section in little plastic tubes. We put it in our eggs, meatloaf, hamburgers, etc. It's SO extremely flavorful and fresh! LOVE how convenient it is for us to use. So, I've been using it a TON in my cooking. It's really the perfect consistency for a nice rub, so that's what I did with it. Mixed it with a few spices and rubbed it on the salmon! Easy peasy! I don't have time for complicated ;)

The result? Delicious, flaky salmnon, packed with incredible flavor. You're going to love it!

Servings: 5-6 Servings (Use a 3-4 quart slow cooker for this recipe)

Ingredients:

5-6 single size portions of salmon (we buy the frozen salmon at Costco)

1 Tbsp. garlic paste

1 Tbsp. basil paste

1 tsp. lemon juice

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

foil

non-stick spray

Directions:

Lay out a piece of foil for each piece of salmon you are cooking. Spray each with non-stick spray and place a piece of salmon on each sheet.

In a small bowl, mix together the garlic paste, basil paste, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

With a brush, brush each piece of salmon with the paste you made.

Close each piece up like a cute little package.

Make sure they're sealed good...you want them to steam inside. Place all your little packets inside your crock.

Cook on LOW for 1-2 hours. Depending on the thickness of your salmon, time will vary greatly. My suggestion is to check it and go by "feel." You will want your salmon to flake easily with a fork.

Enjoy!

Vegetable Coconut Curry

2016-01-18T17:56:00.000-05:00

I'm going to start off with an apology. Unlike my normal "style" there is no final picture. Boo!

I know, I know...you're sad. BUT, in my defense, it was Christmas Eve and my plate didn't look so hot. LOL

I am a HUGE fan of Coconut Curry! HUGE! When my husband came home with some Maya Kaimal Coconut Curry Sauce that was gluten-free from Costco (it comes in a 2 pack with Vindaloo sauce too), I about died and went to heaven! I knew I had to do something with it. Turns out, I had the perfect occasion. My Uncle from California was in town and would be joining us at my Aunt's house for Christmas Eve. Not only is he gluten-free like me, but he is Vegetarian. I had offered to make something gluten-free and vegetarian, so it was the perfect opportunity.

So, this delicious Vegetable Coconut Curry was born! It was SO filling and incredibly delicious! I served it over Edamame Noodles (we buy them at Costco), but you could serve it over rice, brown rice, quinoa or any type of gluten-free pasta you prefer. Or, eat it by itself! Another bonus of making this recipe is it's kind of a "clean out the fridge" type recipe, so please feel free to add or delete an ingredient or two to make it work with what you have around your house.

ENJOY!

Servings: 10-14

Ingredients: (Use a 5-6 Quart Slow Cooker for this Recipe)

2 cups chopped broccoli

2 cups butternut squash, chopped into small cubes

1 cup chopped carrots

3/4 cups chopped onion

3/4 cups chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped mushrooms

1 (15.5 oz) can Garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

1 (24 oz) container of Maya Kaimal Coconut Curry Sauce (or any other type of curry sauce you enjoy...double check it's gluten-free though)

Directions:

Place the broccoli, butternut squash, carrots, onion, celery, mushrooms and garbanzo beans into the slow cooker. Cover it with the Coconut Curry Sauce.

No need to stir. Put the lid on and let it cook for about 4 hours on LOW or 2-2.5 hours on HIGH.

Serve alone or over rice, brown rice, quinoa, or any type of gluten-free pasta you enjoy!

Cranberry Glazed Turkey Breast - From The Gluten Free Slow Cooker

2015-11-18T21:00:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Step out of your normal traditional comfort zone and try this spectacular glaze for your turkey breast straight out of my new cookbook, The Gluten Free Slow Cooker. The sweetness of the cranberries mixed with the savory onion and other seasonings make this turkey breast superb.

Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Breast

DAIRY-FREE

Ingredients:

1 fresh turkey breast (5½ to 6 pounds, 2.5 to 2.7 kg), giblets removed if yours contains them, rinsed, and dried

1 can (14 ounces, 395 g) whole berry cranberry sauce

3 tablespoons (15 g) dried minced onion

1 teaspoon parsley flakes

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon turmeric

1 teaspoon cornstarch

¼ teaspoon celery salt

¼ teaspoon granulated sugar

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

» Spray your crock with nonstick cooking spray.

» Place the turkey into the slow cooker, breast side down.

» In a bowl, mix together the cranberry sauce, onion, parsley, onion powder, turmeric, cornstarch, celery salt, sugar, and pepper. Pour the mixture all over the turkey breast.

» Cover the crock and cook on LOW for 8 to 9 hours or on HIGH for 4 to 4½ hours.

RECOMMENDED SLOW COOKER SIZE: 6½ to 7 quart (6½ to 7 L)

YIELD: 6 to 7 servings

Want to try more delicious recipes from my new cookbook?
Find out where you can buy "The Gluten Free Slow Cooker" here.

What's Cookin?! My Menu Plan This Week

2015-09-20T21:19:00.001-04:00

Hi Everyone!

Life has been....how do you say???

BUSY!

Like, so busy I hardly have time to breathe!

But, I'm starting my week off well! I have a plan. I know, I know....even the best of plans go awray, but at least I have some sort of a plan!

(Recipes are linked up below....be on the lookout for the Chicken recipe for the salad soon!)

Monday: Mjardra

Tuesday: Walking Tacos

Wednesday: Mjadra Leftovers

Thursday: Taco Salad

Friday: Chicken Salad

Everything is prepped and ready to go! Like I said, it's gonna be a good week!

Lansing Gluten Free Fair - Come get your copy of my NEW COOKBOOK!

2015-09-18T21:54:00.001-04:00

I am SO excited!!! My cookbook release is just DAYS away!

OCTOBER 1st!!!!

(In case you missed that somewhere....LOL)

Come visit me at the Lansing Gluten Free Fair on October 10 from 10 am-2 pm!

I will be there with copies of my book and will even autograph them for you if you wish ;)

Not only will I be there, but there will over 40 other Gluten-Free vendors there for you! You'll be able to take some samples, try some samples and even walk away with products.

My good friend Priscilla from Celiac Specialties Gluten Free Bakery will be there with her AMAZING bread for purchase! If you haven't tried it yet, it's THE BEST! No joke! She ships, so check out her website.

There will also be FREE Celiac Screenings!!! How cool is that?!

So, bring the whole family down, up, over....however you need to come to get there!

I can't wait to meet you or see you again!

Where:

RAMADA INN

7501 W Saginaw Lansing 48917

Off Exit 93B from I-69/I-96

You can follow the Lansing Gluten Free Fair on Facebook here

Crock-Pot® Savor Bundle #Review

2015-08-23T07:00:00.000-04:00

I'm excited to tell you about the new Crock-Pot® Savor Make Bundle!

Not only do you get the Crock-Pot® 6-quart Cook & Carry™ Digital Slow Cooker w/ Heat-Saver™ Stoneware, but you ALSO get the FoodSaver® V3880 Vacuum Sealer, (1) Oval Marinator, (1) 11”X10’ Heat-Seal Roll, (2) Heat-Seal Gallon-size Bags, (3) Heat-Seal Quart-size bags, (1) 2-pack of 11”X16’ Heat-Seal Rolls, (16) Quart-size Freeze ‘n Steam Bags with this bundle! That's a WHOLE LOT of product bundled into a low price!!!! I mean, the FoodSaver itself is worth almost this much, then add in a really cool Slow Cooker with it?! You have a major deal!

First, let me show you how simple it is to use the FoodSaver:

I've been using a FoodSaver for a couple of years and love it. I cannot WAIT to use the marinating attachment!!!!!

I also love that this bundle comes with everything you really need to get started with the food saver! Not only do you get the heat and seal rolls, but you also get the bags too!

Let's move on to the Crock Pot!!!! This Crock Pot Slow Cooker has a couple very cool features I'd like to highlight for you. First, there is a REALLY cool place to store your cord on the back! NONE of my other Slow Cookers have this and I am in LOVE!

Isn't that awesome?

I also like the locking lid with nice handles so I can travel with this Crock Pot Slow Cooker easier!

This Crock Pot Slow Cooker has a HIGH setting for 4 or 6 hours, or a LOW setting for 8 or 10 hours. It automatically switches to warm when the cook time is up. This Crock Pot Slow Cooker is also insulated, so when you travel with it, it helps keep your food safely warm. There is a gauge on the front of the Crock Pot Slow Cooker to show you how hot or cool your food is.

If you would like to get your hands on this awesome bundle, please visit

http://www.crock-pot.com/seal-to-savor/savor-maker-bundle/FS3880-SCCPCTS605.html

*Disclaimer: I was given the Crock-Pot® Savor Make Bundle in exchange for my review. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may differ from others'.

NEW COOKBOOK Release Date! THE GLUTEN FREE SLOW COOKER

2015-08-22T13:43:00.001-04:00

Guess What?!

My NEW Cookbook The Gluten Free Slow Cooker will be released in just over 1 month on OCTOBER 1!

WHAT?!!!

I KNOW!!!!!!!!!

Can you tell I'm EXCITED?????!!!!!!!

LOL

You know what's even better? It is AVAILABLE NOW for presale where all books are sold!

The Gluten-Free Slow Cooker makes mealtime quick and easy. With a little prep the night before or morning of, you can come home to tasty meals that have spent hours cooking while you were out taking care of the rest of your life! With more than 100 recipes, from Slow Cooker Frittata with Tomatoes, Avocado and Cilantro to Korean Inspired BBQ Shredded Pork, you'll find meal ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert. All with minimal prep but tons of flavor! Stick to your gluten-free diet while still enjoying hearty, home-cooked meals with The Gluten Free Slow Cooker.

Pick up your copy of The Gluten Free Slow Cooker at any of the following places:

In North America:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble
Indiebound
Indigo
Quarto Knows

In the UK:

Amazon
Waterstones
Book Depository

I'm REALLY hoping to line up some in store signing events, but stay tuned REALLY SOON for a Super awesome GIVEAWAY and for how YOU can get my autograph, even if you don't buy the book in person!!!!! EAAAAKKKK! I'm like bursting with excitement!!!!

WHO'S ALREADY ORDERED A COPY?

WHO WANTS ONE?

LET'S HEAR IT!

Cinnamon Vanilla Pearsauce - Gluten-Free

2015-08-22T13:07:00.000-04:00

My friend Becky from Week99er came over recently to borrow a couple of my slow cookers. You see, she has an ABUNDANCE of pears coming from her pear tree so she brought me a bag full! I let them ripen on my counter for a few weeks and then turned them into this amazing Cinnamon Vanilla Pearsauce! YUM!

Not only is this pearsauce SUPER easy and SUPER flavorful, but it's full of nutrients and fiber because I left the skin on. You can take the skin off if you wish, but it really isn't necessary!

If you're the canning type, this would be great to make and can. I am not, so you'll find I just eat it and cook with it...and will freeze the rest! LOL

So, go get Pearsaucein'!!!!!

Servings: 20-30

Ingredients:

5 quarts (20 cups) sliced pears

1 teaspoon raw honey (or regular honey will work)

2 teaspoons cinnamon

3 teaspoons vanilla

1/3 cup water

Directions:

Place all of the pears into your slow cooker, then add in the raw honey, cinnamon, vanilla and water.

No need to stir! Just set put the lid on and set your slow cooker on LOW for 7-8 hours, or on HIGH fro 3.4-4 hours. Test doneness with a fork, then use an immersion blender to make it as chunky or smooth as you like it!

Enjoy!

Hold and Go Slow Cooker #Review

2015-08-22T12:34:00.001-04:00

I'd like to introduce you to a brand new slow cooker called the Hold & Go Cooker!

This slow cooker has a handle integrated right into, which allows you to cook and GO!

Honestly, I didn't think I was going to like this 5 quart slow cooker. I mean, won't the handle get in the way? Nope! It's really cool actually. You push the handle back and the lid sits right in a little groove in the handle. No more looking for a place to set your lid!

When you're ready to take your slow cooker with you, all you have to do is pull the handle up, lock the lid and go! SUPER easy! It's easy to clean too by pulling the handle forward instead of back.

Here's a quick video on how it works:

In my experience with this slow cooker, I find it cooks evenly and at a normal slow cooker rate/temperature. I want to warn you the bottom of the crockery is VERY rough and will scratch your counter top. I scratched mine right away. Had I read the information that come with the slow cooker first, there is a bullet point about this. I put a towel under the crock after that while I loaded it up with my Cinnamon Vanilla Pearsauce!

A feature I really liked was that the lid was not made of glass. I like this because it's not easily breakable. I also like how the lid has a rubber seal on it to help seal the lid while you travel. The lock is SUPER easy to use and I love that as well. Nothing complicated at all!

I will DEFINITELY be using this slow cooker whenever I have somewhere to travel. (I bring slow cookers to work ALLLLLL the time so my collleagues can taste test things for me!)

This Hold & Go Slow Cooker can be purchased in Silver or Red right here.

If you'd like to find out a bit more info on this Hold & Go Slow Cooker, you can follow them on Facebook or Twitter

*Disclaimer: I was given a Hold & Go Slow Cooker in exchange for this review. All opinions expressed here are solely my own and may differ from others'..

"S'nores" S'mores Oatmeal - Gluten-Free

2015-07-21T14:50:00.002-04:00

Oh, YES I DID!

I turned S'mores into Oatmeal!

Why the "S'nores?" in the title?

You see, on the 4th of July, we were all sitting around a campfire and my son asked for something unusual! Let me show you...

Our FitAddict friend Andrea Lauren challenged me to make S'nores Oatmeal, so we did!

How does it taste? Incredible. No, for real. It's amazing. Sinful. And OH SO GOOD! And you know what?! It's really not all that bad for you! You can leave out the brown sugar and cut down on the calories, but I threw it in there for the kids' pleasure. I owed them one. They eat everything healthy I throw at them. They make me a super proud mommy!

We used dark chocolate chips, but you can use milk chocolate if you like. We also used gluten-free graham crackers, but you could use regular if you're not gluten-free.

This is a super fun recipe for the kids because it's EASY to assemble and then when it's done, the kids get to "decorate" their oatmeal! My kids are suckers for this!

Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:

1 cup gluten-free steel cut oats

2 cups almond milk

2 Tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla

Toppings:
Dark Chocolate Chips

Mini Marshmallows

Gluten-Free Graham Crackers

Directions: (Use a 2-3 quart Slow Cooker for this)

In a well-greased crock, place the steel cut oats.

Pour in the milk, brown sugar and vanilla.

Give it a stir.

Cook it on LOW for 8 hours, or on HIGH for 4 hours.

Stir and place into bowls.

Place your toppings into separate bowls and let your kids (or you!) decorate their bowls of oatmeal!

It's super fun for the kids to do!

I took a quick video of my kids decorating their oatmeal!

Enjoy!

Sriracha Creamy Shredded Chicken - Gluten-Free

2015-06-12T19:15:00.000-04:00

What can I say?! I was in the mood for SPICY! Oh, let's face it, I'm always in the mood for spicy! LOL

However....I do have a family to think about, so I feel as if I took precautionary measures to tame down the spice a bit. My kids are 4 and 7. They both ate this without complaints, but I did make sure they had plenty of non-fat plain Greek yogurt (we use this instead of sour cream) on their dinners ;) They were just fine and I didn't hear any complaints. (Unless you count the one from my husband because he didn't put any of the Greek yogurt on his....whoopsie!)

This is everything the name suggests! It's spicy from the Sriracha, it's creamy from the cream cheese and you shred it when it's done cooking ;) Not only does this taste delicious, but the recipe only contains 4 ingredients and is STILL delicious! That's not an easy task, so this is a keep folks! This would be a great recipe for those days where you seriously don't have time to fuss over dinner!

You will see below I used my chicken breasts and cream cheese frozen. They cook up nicely that way as long as they're not too thick or they don't reach the proper temperature in time. I buy cream cheese when it's on sale and freeze it for future use.

*see below for some serving suggestions

So, go grab these few ingredients and get crockin'!

Servings: 6-10

Ingredients:
3-4 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts (mine was frozen)

1 onion, halved and sliced
5 Tablespoons Sriracha sauce
8 oz. 1/3 less fat Cream Cheese (mine was frozen)

Directions:

Place the chicken into the bottom of your crock and top it with the onions.

Pour the sriracha sauce over the top and add in the block of cream cheese.

If you're cooking your chicken FROZEN, cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours.

If you're cooking fresh thawed chicken, cook on HIGH for 2.5-3 hours or LOW for 5-6 hours.

Shred the chicken between two forks, then stir back through sauce in the crock.

Serve any way you choose and ENJOY!

Serving Suggestions:

Over the past couple of days, I've served this a few different ways.

The first way I served this was on GF white corn tortillas with some shredded lettuce and non-fat plain Greek yogurt in place of sour cream.

For the kids, I served this as quesadillas! I heated up the shells with mozzarella cheese and the shredded chicken.

I also served just the chicken in a bowl with some shredded mozzarella, shredded lettuce and some non-fat plain Greek yogurt!

This would be great over salad or on nachos or in crunchy taco shells as well! Get creative!

Kayem Artisan Sausage #Recipe and #Review

2015-05-02T17:06:00.001-04:00

I had the extreme pleasure of reviewing Keyem Foods' new line of Artisan Sausages and BOY am I in love with them!

Before I get to how I used these delicious sausages, let me give you a little bit of information on them! First, they are GLUTEN-FREE! Yay! They contain no artificial flavors or MSG and are made with premium cuts of pork sirloin and are blended with natural ingredients. These also come fully cooked and contain 35% less fat than the average pork sausage. This is excellent news!

You see three of the flavors pictured above, but Keyem Artisan Sausage comes in 5 flavors; Andouille; Sweet; Fire-Roasted Pepper Jack; Pineapple Uncured Bacon; and Sweet Pepper Provolone.

I literally got right to cooking with these delicious sausages! I even created a recipe for you!

I call this Fire Roasted Pepper Jack Sausage Soup. You are SO going to want this recipe, so click here and it will take you right to it!

I used the Pineapple Uncured Bacon Sausage to make this delicious dish. I added the sausage to some brusses sprouts, halved and sauteed along with some diced up pieces of bacon. I served it over rice and it was absolutely incredible. I don't think I even added any salt or pepper! It was delicious as is!

I used the Andouille Sausage in some scrambled eggs one morning. I used the sausage, some red onions, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and some Garlic and Herb Mrs. Dash seasoning. They were so tasty and SO easy to whip together!

If you haven't tried Kayem's Artisan Sausages yet, I highly recommend picking some up!

Kayem is available at Meijer throughout the greater Detroit area. You can find out more about Kayem at Kayem.com/products

*Disclaimer: I was given three packages of sausages in exchange for this review. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may differ from others'.

Fire Roasted Pepper Jack Sausage Soup #Gluten Free

2015-05-02T16:55:00.000-04:00

I was recently asked to review Kayem Foods' Artisan Sausages and I'm so happy I did! It allowed me to create this delicious soup!

You know how you have a bunch of things in your refrigerator you really need to use? Yeah, that's the situation I was in. I had broccoli with only a couple more days left in it, some carrots in the same situation and onions growing in cupboard. LOL I decided to throw it all into a soup and see what happened. What happened was pure deliciousness!

Funny story really....I actually used HOT diced jalepenos in my soup and let me just tell you something...........it was H-O-T! LOL I've changed the recipe below for you to use mild. TRUST me when I tell you....you do NOT need the heat from the jalepenos! I promise! This sausage is delicious, but spicy ;)

Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped broccoli
3/4 cup chopped red onion
3 Tbsp. fresh minced garlic
2 Tbsp. mild diced jalapenos
2 tsp. Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime Seasoning
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 package Kayem Fire Roasted Pepperjack Artisan Sausage, sliced into rounds then halves
6 cups no-salt chicken stock

Directions: (Use a 5-6 Quart Slow Cooker)

Place the carrots, broccoli, onions, garlic and diced jalepenos into the crock.

Sprinkle in the Fiesta Lime Seasoning, salt and pepper.

Add in the sausages.

Last, pour in the chicken stock.

Give it a quick stir and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or on HIGH for 3.5-4 hours.

This one is spicy, but SO flavorful! You'll love it!

XFINITY TVGo App #Review

2015-05-02T15:26:00.000-04:00

If you're an "on the go" type of person or family like me, then the XFINITY TVGo App is perfect for you! We first used our XFINITY TVGo App while on a short family vacation over mid-winter break. The kids loved having a "movie night" at our hotel. We used it again shortly after while staying in a hotel over Easter weekend. The kids were ecstatic to have the app!

XFINITY customers can watch live TV on more than 75 channels from your smartphone, tablet or laptop. You'll also have access to thousands of TV shows and movie titles through their On Demand service. What's super cool is you can also download some shows and movies to your phone or tablet to watch when you're offline. This is super helpful if you have an iPad like mine that doesn't have a data plan and only works through wifi.

Above, you see what the screen looks like after you easily log into the app.

Below, you see what the Family/Kids section looks like. There are hundreds of movies and TV shows for your kids to watch. You can use the filter to see what's available for download, or to separate movies from tv shows. Of course, the magnifying glass in the upper right hand corner allows you to search specifically for things.

As a parent, I really appreciate the parental controls. My son is 4, so he doesn't read yet. 99% of the time he asks me before clicking on anything, but in my opinion, just because it's in the kids/family section, it doesn't necessarily mean it's appropriate for children ages 4 and 7!

As mentioned above, you can also access live TV. There are tons of choices obviously and I think it's a really nice feature. When I'm busy blogging, I don't really like to have the TV on, but I do like that I can have my iPad next to me and glance at it and listen to it. This is one of my favorite features of XFINITY TVGo!

Some fun Xfinity TVGo App facts for you:

XFINITY TV customers watched more than 3 million hours of comedies, dramas and reality TV on XFINITY TV Go and programmer apps throughout Watchathon Week, up 64 percent from last year’s event. Providing an all-access pass to TV’s hottest shows, XFINITY Watchathon Week, which was April 6-12, unlocked full seasons of the best in entertainment content from premium, cable and broadcast networks for XFINITY TV customers to enjoy for free.

During the Final Four, TV Everywhere viewership across our XFINITY TV Go platforms skyrocketed, up 292 percent year over year with nearly 330,000 total live streams nationwide for the action-packed semifinal games.

We've tried just about every cable company out there and have finally settled with XFINITY. We've been very happy.

Do you have XFINITY? Have tried the app? Let me know what you think below.

*I was not monetarily compensated for this post. I was only given a trial period of the app. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may differ from others'.

Roominate #Review and Playdate!

2015-04-13T21:30:00.000-04:00

I'm excited to tell you about a new product that came across my email recently!

Roominate is an award-winning, stackable and customizable building set. It contains a motor and light circuit, modular pieces and universal joints. There are ENDLESS possibilities as to what you can do with the Roominate pieces.

We had a playdate with our Roomniate goodies! I opened all 3 boxes and mixed them up. I put the same amount of pieces into 3 different containers, but gave each child the makings of a "fan."

I sat the kids down and gave them instructions. I told them they could build whatever they wanted with the pieces they had. They were allowed to trade/take/give pieces to one another with permisson. All children had access to the walls and paper, but my 4 year didn't have eyes for anything other than the Roominate pieces, so he let the two older kids use all the walls.

They got building and BOY did they have fun!

I took a couple videos of the kids because they were just too cute with these things! SO engaged. So creative and so QUICK to figure things out!

The Roominate Studio retails for approximately $29.99. This is a 70 piece set, with 4 wall/floor panels, 24 furniture pieces, 16 connectors, a motor, switch, battery pack, screwdriver, doll, pet and 20 sheets of craft paper.

The Roominate 3-in-1 Helicopter set retails for approximately $19.99. This comes with 24 furniture building pieces, 12 connectors, 2 arches, a switch, motor, battery pack, screwdriver, doll and pet.

Our guest has already asked his mom for more sets of these! My kids have been playing with them non-stop and haven't created the same thing twice yet ;) I'm a happy mom and my kids are happy too. What a great, educational and quality product that stretches my kids' imaginations.

If you'd like to find out more about Roominate, please visit their website at http://www.roominatetoy.com/

*Disclaimer: I was given the 3 sets pictured above in return for hosting a playdate using the Roominate products. I was also given a gift card for Playdate materials. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may differ from others'.

Surf Sweets - Gluten-Free, Organically Sweetened Candy Just In Time For Easter! #REVIEW

2015-03-31T23:26:00.000-04:00

I'm SUPER excited to tell you about the amazing new candy I found through Surf Sweets!

Not only is Surf Sweets GLUTEN-FREE, but it's also oranically sweetened, which will make your Easter snacks a whole lot healthier!

Surf Sweets products are:
~Free of Artificial Colors and Flavors
~Non-GMO Project Verified
~Gluten-Free
~Corn Syrup-Free/ Dairy-Free/ Casein-Free
~Allergy Friendly - Free of the 10 Most Common Allergens
~100% recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C per serving
~Made with Organic Fruit Juice and Sweeteners

So, let me get straight to the good stuff and tell you about all the amazing products they sent me to review you can stuff your kids' Easter baskets with! (Don't worry, I taste tested EVERYTHING for you, so you wouldn't wonder whether or not they were really good....cuz they are....and they may all be gone, just sayin'!)

Oh MAN, do I LOVE a good jelly bean!!! These are top notch jelly beans, and this is coming from a Jelly Belly addict. They are absolutely perfect and they have THE BEST crunchy little outer shell a jelly bean could ever have. These are the Organic Spring Mix Jelly Beans which include Tropical Punch, Lemonade, Mixed Berry, Pineapple, Tangerine and Watermelon! YUMMMMMMMY!!! These are my new favorites!

These are the regular Organic Jelly Beans and the Organic Fruity Bears. The jelly beans include Cherry, Grapefruit, Grape, Lemon, Strawberry and Orange. Let me tell you, they are incredible!!! Again, the best jelly beans I've ever had! Not a bad flavor in the bunch!

The Fruity bears TOTALLY take me back to my childhood! They're delicious and lightly sugar coated. They coming in several flavors, including Cherry, Grapefruit, Grape, Lemon, Strawberry and Orange. They're vegan too!

I don't think I can stress enough how delicious these gummy treats are. Back when I was in high school, I used to stop and get a bag of peach rings every Thursday on my way to Chamber Singers practice along with a French Vanilla Cappuccino. (Healthy, right?!) This TOTALLY brought me back! These did not disappoint! I was a little hesitant trying the watermelon rings for some reason, but you know what?! I LOVED them...even more than the peach rings and I didn't think that would ever be possible!

They're vegan too!

If you're into the not-so-sweet type of treat, then the Organic Original Fruit Chews are TOTALLY for you! These are soft and delicious. They are lightly sweetened and won't break your teeth if you know what I mean!

The Choco Chews are definitely chewy. They are the perfect amount of chocolitiness in your mouth! (I think I just made that word up and I'm keeping it!) They definitely soften up as you chew and are extremely addicting! (You've been warned!)

Surf Sweets are available in natural and organic grocery stores across the country including Whole Foods and online at Amazon.com and NaturalCandyStore.com. Visit www.surfsweets.com

*DISCLAIMER: I was sent all of the above photographed products for free in exchange for this review. I was not given any monetary compensation otherwise. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may differ from others'.

Red Wine and Garlic Sirloin Tip Roast

2015-03-08T14:17:00.000-04:00

I love when I walk into the meat market and the butcher tells me what's on sale because it provides such inspiration! Plus, I like to save a buck or two! Who doesn't, right?!

Red wine. Let's talk red wine. I needed an excuse to break open a bottle. Truly, I did. I used half for this roast and the other half? Well, let's just say it was put to good use ;)

If you've never had a sirloin tip roast before, you're missing out. They are super lean and cook up beautifully! This recipe is fool proof. I mean, seriously, it's one of my easiest recipes to throw together, so ANYONE can do this!

Let's talk garlic now. I absolutely adore garlic. Garlic and red wine make a mighty fine team, let me tell ya! I left all my garlic cloves whole for this recipe, but I kind wished I had thrown them into my food processor and SLATHERED the yumminess all over my roast. When I make this again, that's what I plan to do. So, make this recipe as is below, OR do as I just mentioned. I think you'll find the extra step totally garlicriffic! ;)

Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:

24 oz. mini yellow potatoes
2.5 lb. sirloin tip roast
20 garlic cloves

2 cups baby carrots

1 head green cabbage, cut into chunks

2 cups red wine

salt and pepper to taste

Directions: (Use a 7 quart Slow Cooker for this recipe.)

Place the potatoes and half of the garlic cloves into the bottom of your crock.

Next. place the sirloin tip roast on top and salt and pepper well on both sides.

Place the remaining garlic cloves on top of the roast.

Place the carrots around the roast.

Place the cabbage on top and salt and pepper it.

Pour the red wine over the top.

Cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours.

Enjoy!

3 Bean and Ham Soup - Gluten-Free

2015-02-03T22:17:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I've made a soup THIS delicious. No, seriously. My husband is very honest. He tells it like it is....even when I don't want to hear it. He said, and I quote, "Usually your soups are just, well....they just taste 'blah.' (Gee, thanks honey! LOL) This time, however, I heard "wow, this is good!" at least 6-7 times. It was so good there are absolutely no leftovers after the second night! Not a drop. I'm pretty sure he licked his bowl clean as well...just sayin'!

How did I make this delicious magic happen? It complicated, really.....no, not really. Honestly, I grabbed some beans from my cupboard, took a ham bone from Christmas out of my freezer and added in some veggies from my fridge. The rest, well, it magically just all came together PERFECTLY! I would give this soup a 10/10.

Am I suggesting you make this instantly? Why, yes. I certainly am. You can drool over the pic first, but then off....off you go! Go make this! ;)

Servings: 8-10 Servings

Ingredients:

1/3 cup dry black beans

1/3 cup dry black-eyed peas

1/3 cup dry pinto beans

water to soak the beans in

1 ham bone

1 cup chopped red onion

3/4 cup chopped carrots

1/2 cup chopped celery

2 Tbsp. minced garlic

2 tsp. salt

1 teaspoon basil

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 tsp. Herbes de Provence

1/4 tsp. pepper

4 cups unsalted chicken stock

6 cups water

Directions: (You will need a 6 quart or larger slow cooker for this recipe)

The night before you want to make this, place your beans (sorted of course) in a pot and cover them with water by a few inches. Let them soak overnight. In the morning, drain and rinse them.

Place your drained and rinsed beans into the crock.

Add in the ham bone with the onions, carrots and celery.

Next, add in the garlic, salt, basil, onion powder, herbes de provence, and pepper.

Finally, add in the chicken stock and water.

Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours.

Remove the ham bone, scrape off all meat and discard any bone, cartilage or fat you find. Place all of the meat back into the soup and stir.

Serve and Enjoy!

Snapware® Total Solution® Collection Review, Sweepstakes AND GIVEAWAY!

2015-01-07T21:32:00.003-05:00

I am in LOVE with my new Snapware® Total Solution® 10 Piece Collection!!!

Do you know what I love most about these? They are SO easy to use. Seriously! The top just "clicks" on in about 2-3 quick seconds. No more second guessing whether or not the lid is actually on. (That's not a fun game especially when you have liquids inside. OYE!) I made a super quick video to show you how incredibly easy and quick these are to use...check it out!

To inspire at-home cooks and families looking for hearty and delicious soups this winter, Chef Lagasse will be sharing some of his favorite soup recipes on www.facebook.com/snapware, along with tips and tricks for perfecting soup. Prep, storage and transportation is a “snap” with the Snapware® Total Solution® collection, which combines an air-tight and leak-proof, four-latch plastic lid with either a plastic or Pyrex® oven-safe glass vessel. Soups, sauces and more can be transported on-the-go without worries of leaks. I have been using my Snapware for a couple of weeks now and have been 100% satisfied with how these perform.

Sweepstakes Information:

January 7 through January 31, 2015, fans can visit the Snapware brand Facebook page to enter the Snapware® Winter Warm-Up Sweepstakes daily for the chance to escape the cold with a trip for four to Orlando, including airfare, accommodations, dinner at Emeril’s Orlando restaurant, tickets to local attractions, a suite of Snapware and more! Weekly winners will also receive a Snapware prize pack to prep and store with ease.

To learn more about the Snapware Winter Warm-Up, enter to win and view the official sweepstakes rules, visit the Snapware Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Snapware.

Would you like to win a Snapware® Total Solution® Collection for yourself?!

Comment below with what your favorite leftover food is? What do you think tastes even better the next day?

This giveaway will will close on January 31, 2015

*Disclaimer: I was given this product in exchange for this review and giveaway. My opinion may differ from others'.