Lent-Approved...Rock that Crock

some of you, my blogger b's
need a fresh take on fish for your friday nights
I am not a participater in Lent
but I enjoy the idea of giving something up
to focus on the sacrifice of Jesus
=====================================================
so here's a little Rock the Crock, with a fishy twist
(pardon me for that, I couldn't help myself)
I'm telling you, forget the Friday Night Fish Fry
you are going to LOVE this easy way to make some healthy and delicious
FISH
in 3 ingredients

for each piece of fish you are going to make
you need a piece of foil to fully wrap the fish in a packet
place the fish on the foil square
and place a spoonful of pesto on top

sprinkle parmesan cheese on top
til your hearts content
keep in mind when looking at my picture
that I'm a Wisconsin girl
we go a little overboard when it comes to the cheese
sometimes

seal up your packets of foil by folding securely
and place into crock (no water)
Rock it on LOW for 3 HOURS
check to see if fish flakes easily and if not, add more time
(mine was ready @ 3 hrs)



 

the first question Justin always asks when I'm serving fish is
"do we have some tarter sauce to go with this?"
gulp 
I always forget the tartar sauce.
but when we were done, he said
"this fish was so tasty it didn't need any sauce"
phew
so there you have it:
fish so good it can remain tartar-sauce-less

Caleb's helping Justin hang a picture on the wall

Is there anything sweeter than watching your son
take after his Daddy?!
if I think of something
I'll let you all know.....
but I wouldn't count on it!


have a SUPER (tutorial!) Tuesday, all!

love, laurie for the fam

 grocery list:
*bag of frozen tilapia
*jar of pesto
*parmesan cheese

I'm linking up HERE today for Tasty Tuesdays on
33 Shades of Green.
Need some recipe ideas?!  check it out!



Rock the Crock....rockin one wonder

this is just something I had to share with you all

it's a one ingredient wonder

to Rock the Crock

and I just can't keep it inside any longer

I have to shout it out to all of Blogland so you all will know

and try it for yourselves

this one ingredient....dare I say.......miracle

that takes place

seriously

Justin and I just can't quite figure out why this would work

but it totally does

so you take a can (or two) of
 sweetened condensed milk
and you pour it into a glass dish that fits inside your crock
you need to pour water around the dish about 3/4 of the way up when its inside the crock
so depending on how carefully you pour the water you can do that before or after
placing the dish inside
does that even make sense...if not, look at pic below

and then you're set
after your kiddos stop peering inside just place the lid on top the crock
and turn on low
what's going to happen?! you ask
well after about 3 hours you're going to stir your mixture and see
behold! you've got caramel
what?!
I know.  I can't figure it out either
(note:  I've received comments that other crockpots
bake this caramel slower....
you're looking for a light brown color and thick consistency)

this thick caramel can be poured into a graham cracker crust
banana slices placed on top
with whipped cream and heath bar pieces
and you can impress everyone with a yummy dessert





but my fav way to enjoy the caramel is by itself
with some apple slices to dip


the best thing about this one ingredient rocker
is that it makes me feel very accomplished
I've MADE something
(insert loud cheering and wild applause)

let me tell you why that feeling is so important right now
see this cute adorable wonderful little girl below?

well, she's an over achiever already
working on getting 5 teeth
all at once

and this mom who has lost a lot of sleep
over that impending accomplishment in her daughter's  life
and has performed many a task only one- handed
needs a little Rock the Crock miracle
to make her day seem a little more.........
well, accomplished, too


just remember to make a dinner for your family
along with the Caramel Banana Pie
I forgot the dinner part because I was so excited about the caramel concotion
and Justin ended up running out to get subs for dinner
so how's that for keepin it real?!
no super woman here...just one who's pretty stoked about this recipe


ENJOY!
found here

Love, Laurie for the fam

Rock the Crock-- bbq 2 for 1

Let's Rock it

bbq chicken, crock style

(adapted by me from a taste of home recipe aug/sept '10 issue)

this is a recipe to be excited about BECAUSE...

it's a twofer

2 for 1, that is

make it once, enjoy it twice

 

(pretend there's a bottle of honey in the pic)

Here's what you need to mix up for the BBQ love:

2 Tbsp garlic powder

1 bottle your fav BBQ sauce

1 cup italian dressing

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup cider vinegar

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup honey

Here's what you are going to pour the mixture over:

4-5 chicken chests (boneless, skinless)

*note*  I used frozen....yes, still frozen

1 red onion, sliced into thick rings

(thick because you're going to want to take them out at the end)

When it looks something like this

after rockin in the crock about

 6 hours on low

Remove the chicken from the crock

Shred easily with a fork

Return the chicken to it's BBQ love

Bake your potatoes at some point

                                Plan on about an hour @ 350
                   I drizzled mine with olive oil and some sea salt

(highly recommended)

                       You can figure out what to do from here...
       Like a good Wisconsin girl I sprinkled some cheese on top
                  Cheese makes all things better, don't you think?

We're not a good leftover fam
So I froze the bbq chicken that was superfulous (sp) from our first dining experience
And I made bbq chicken subs a week or so later
Some provolone cheese,
some good (think: non generic) sub bread
Meal #2.  Boom. 
And I didn't even do anything this time around but unfreeze the meat
I guess thaw is the word but unfreeze is what popped into my head
Anyone have some cider vinegar and Worcestershire sauce
just sittin around, waiting for that perfect recipe?
Look no further.

What do you say, Blogger B's...
Wanna ROCK the CROCK with me?!

Enjoy your tasty (tutorial) Tuesday!

linking up here
check it.  some good stuff over there.

TT Rock the Crock

Hey Blogger Buddies

Happy (Tutorial) Tuesday to you all!

Because I've begun a New Years Resolution

to meal plan more and

serve last minute spaghetti less...

I bring you another Rock the Crock

Because that's what I've been up to

(except last night when I changed things up

And served the fam last minute ravioli)

But anyway....

This was a hit, and can the original can be found here

But I followed adapted the recipe from her book,

Make it Fast, Cook it Slow

 (thanks, Becky)

The recipe calls for 1/2 lb ground beef which you need to brown first (ewww.....I hate doing this)

But I used a whole pound. 

Then obviously you drain it.  Could you imagine if you didn't?!  Double ewww

 So add your browned ground beef to the crock and then add: 
4 cups chicken broth (it's the whole container)
1 T dried onion flakes
1 tsp minced garlic (hello jar that stays in your fridge of already-minced-for-you garlic.  love. it.)
13.5 oz can coconut milk (because that's what I had in my pantry) 
      *original calls for 1 c. milk
16 oz easy melt cheese (think Velveeta gone generic) 
     *it's half the container.  notice the use of PNS and be amazed. 
     cling wrap would need some help to hug the cut end of that cheese so closely
      you know it

Cut up 1 pepper and 3 potatoes and add to your crock

Cover and cook for on LOW  4-6 hrs 

You're supposed to add the melted cheese at the end but I'm not sure why.  I'm not the best at following directions and added it before I even bothered to read,

"Stir in milk and Velveeta 20-30 minutes before serving." 
I say.....isn't the point of the crock to not worry about dinner 20-30 minutes before the meal?! 

But who am I to argue with the FOUNDER of  A Year of Slow Cooking. 

Seriously.  (but you really don't need to wait until the end...)

 

 Remember this was my day with teething baby attached to hip

This soup was a hit in the James fam.  Well, maybe except for Caleb who is not much of an eater.

And he's been a little under the weather these past few days, poor kiddo.

Have a super day, All!

Love, Laurie for the fam

p.s. today I'm linking up here.  take a peek.....tons of recipe ideas!

TT Apple Chicken Soup

Do you wake up every morning and wonder what the James fam is having for dinner?
Funny, I do.
Well, if carrot flav Gerber wagon wheels aren't your thing (and just to be clear, Char is the only one in our fam who still likes these dissolving wonders) .....
then maybe you'll want to Rock the Crock with me this week.
Let me be a little more helpful and tell you to get out a pen and paper because I know you're going to want to rock this recipe. I just know you all like that. So....
This week's grocery list should include the following: (unless already in stock for rock the crock....sorry I couldn't help the rhyme there)

Apple Chicken Soup

3 T butter

2 cans Northern beans, drained and rinsed

2 T minced onion

4 green apples, chopped (leave peel on)

2 t chili powder

1/2 t italian seasoning

1 t ground cumin

4 shakes of salt, pepper

& garlic powder

1 container chicken broth1 c plain yogurt
if you don't have a Pampered Chef measuring cup to measure out ingredients like yogurt, peanut butter, mayo, etc.....I can't say enough about this amazing thing. You need one.
And I've hosted enough PC parties to know....(cause you get free stuff, that's why)
1 can chunk chicken breast

Put everything in the crock and stir

Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours

I served this to my fam over noodles with a side of cornbread. Both Justin and I couldn't stop saying "This is so flavorful." So if you think flavor is important, then Rock the Crock with me. You won't regret it.

Have a super (Tutorial) Tuesday, Blogger Buddies!

TT Chicken Parmigiana

Hey Blogger Buddies,
Happy Tutorial Tuesday!
Let's celebrate and Rock the Crock, shall we? (crockpot, that is.....)
Trust me-- this is EASY, QUICK, and uses SIMPLE ingredients

You know you're going to want to Rock the Crock when you see this tut:

Chicken Parmigiana

Beat 1 egg, 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper in bowl
Pour 1 cup breadcrumbs in another bowl
Take chicken breasts and dip first in egg and then in breadcrumbs

Transfer to pan sprayed with cooking spray and saute on either side over medium heat.
(read notes below, I think this step is totally unneccessary...)
When both sides are light brown, place in the crock
Pour a jar of spaghetti sauce on top
Set your crock on low for 4-6 hours
Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese before serving

Fix it and Forget it p180

adapted by Laurie J

IMPORTANT NOTES:

I have made this before and not sauteed the chicken--I could not tell a difference.

All you really need to do is dip the chicken in butter, breadcrumbs, and place in crock.

The original recipe says cook on low for 6-8 hours but my crock rocked it quicker--(4-6 hrs)

When you put this over noodles, it becomes a wonderful meal.

When you serve this with salad, it becomes a magical meal.

My kids were not paid to eat it without complaints and they did anyway.

Whoa, right?!

Rock the Crock, Blogger B's. You won't regret it!

My lunch

A moment to myself during kiddos naptime

In an attempt to be real...

3 pics of the kitchen that surrounded my ambience:

(yes, some Christmas decor remains. Don't be judging!)

Here's to being real.

Have a super Tuesday, All!
+2 = 12 down, 488 to go

December 21st. Ugh.

Are you kidding me?! First day of winter, give me a break.
I've already had like 38 days of winter.

Winter is wearing a bulky jacket and freezing anyway.
Winter is scraping off your car.
Winter is praying the gas fills your tank faster than it ever has before. Even faster than last time when you thought you were the coldest you could possibly be.
Winter is getting the kiddos all bundled up. And then unbundling them.
And then rebundling them.
Winter is sending your 4ker to school with his jacket and snow pants and hat and mittens and boots and then finding out from his teacher he didn't have his mittens. What?!
SO negative Mom Points.

There is one reason to celebrate this day, the first day of winter.
It is the shortest day of the year...so it can only get better from here.
Tomorrow? It will have a couple more moments of sunshine in it.

well, now, isn't that snow just so pretty glistening on the tree like that.
Did I mention it's cold?! (big huff)

I'm sure when I was little I enjoyed making snow angels, too.

But I'd rather sit under the Christmas tree (in the warmth of my home) reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Charity would rather eat it, but that's just because she's 8 months old and teething. I'm pretty sure the snow doesn't impress her either. Why? Cause she's my daughter, that's why.

For all you winter lovers out there, congrats on today. I'm sure you are inwardly rejoicing that today is just the beginning of the frigid fun. Well, yay for you.

For the rest of us, I bring a warm & cozy crockpot soup to make up for the shortest (yet sadly, not the coldest) day of the year.

Mexicali Chicken Soup

Put in the crockpot:

Frozen boneless, skinless chicken (I used 4 chicken chests)

2 cans diced tomatos with juice

Chicken broth (2 cans or the container you see on the left side of the pic)

1 cup salsa

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp cumin

Can of black beans

Can of corn
Rinse, drain and add to crockpot

Set the crockpot on low for 8-10 hours or high for 6-8 hours.

Before serving, pull chicken out and shred (easily) with a fork and knife. Return to crockpot, and think to yourself, "that's it? how easy was that?!"

Call it dinner.

If you want, really impress the crowd at your table with some cornbread and a sprinkling of cheese and a dallop of sour cream on top.

If you've got family visiting you for Christmas, this is the way to go.

Happy Tutorial Tuesday!