sMashed Potatoes (#24)

Thanksgiving Eve.

Just got off work, heading to the store for the items I forgot when I was pre-planning. Haha. I am doing a lot of firsts this go around. I don't do pies and I am making a low-fat Chocolate Cream pie and a Gluten Free Sweet Potato pie for my little sister-in-law. :) (And an apple pie!) Thinking I will head to the store in the morning, and try my hand at a Strawberry pie - kind of in a pie mood.

But the magic happened in my Crockpot. My in-laws are the masters of instant mashed potatoes. They are good, but this gal grew up with boiled, peeled and mashed deliciousness of homemade smashed potatoes. Crockpot mashed potato recipes are all over the Internet, but most start with boiling on the stove. I consider it a CP recipe if I cook it ALL in my partner in crime, Sir Crockpot.

Finally, I found one. I didn't add all the extra ingredients that the author of the recipe did. I just needed to know how long they needed to cook in the CP. I like potatoes enough to know they don't need all the bells and whistles.

What you need:

*5 pounds of potatoes (I used russet this time, but Red and Yukon's work great too!)
*2 cups of chicken broth (or 2 cups of water and a bullion cube)
*Milk
*Fat Free Cream Cheese

The How:

1)Quarter the potatoes and toss into the Crockpot.
***You can peel or leave the skins on. I am a fan of the skins and I use the excuse with others who don't like them, that they are where you get the good stuff from. You can also cut them smaller if you need them to cook quicker. Add your chicken broth, or water if you prefer.

2)Cook on high for 4-5 hours, low for 7-8 hours - and then mash. (Depending on the amount of liquid left in the potatoes, you might want to drain. I had very little, and left most in for flavor)

3)The rest is really to taste. Everyone has a preference with smashed potatoes: fluffy, thick, chunky, etc. You add 1/2 block of FF cream cheese, and blend. (More or less to your taste) And then slowly add milk until you reach the consistency that you love.

I have to tell you, these taste incredible. And plus, it left a spot on the stove top open and allowed me to nap while I was waiting for the oven to open up for my bird. I love turkey. :) I hope everyone has an incredible holiday. Make sure you thank God, not only today - but everyday, for all he has and will continue to bless you with. My pastor said something that has stuck with me all week:

"If you woke up this morning with only what you gave thanks to God for yesterday, what would you be left with?"

Now, that is food for thought! Till next time...

How Do I Feel About Food?

That is a BIG question for me.

 

In the last several years I have realized this is how my Mother showed me her love, as well as my Grandmother. Being raised in a Mexican household, this love consisted of tons of lardy tortillas and plates that large enough to feed a small army. Even when combating diabetes and other health problems, my family never budged on their style of eating.

 

When I entered adulthood and moved to Mississippi, not much changed. In the South - love = food in the form of fried chicken and just about fried everything. I found that I one of the ways I show Michael I care is making sure I cook dinner every night. The kids and I love to cook together. It is one of my favorite times with them. Yum! In 2010, I began the fight. And I was very successful. And proud of how I looked and felt.

 

During the last year, I have slipped quite a bit. Not in the weight department so much, but on how I was eating and feeding my family. The result was a sluggish feeling throughout the day, and feeling tired after a full night of sleep. I woke up this morning, and realized that is how I used to feel. And I did not like it then, and I certainly do not like it now, especially since I am well aware of how awesome the extra energy and less pounds feel.

 

11/18/12

marks the day that I make the permanent change in our lives. Yes, there will be some things I cut out completely that I will not expect my husband to cut out, like soda. Although, since I do the majority of the cooking, this change will be for everyone in my house. I am very excited to begin again, and I look forward to the extra energy.

 

A few things that will become staples in my life will be:

 

1) No soda. I don't particularly like soda. I am a social drinker. (Haha, sounds funny - but true) I genuinely love ice cold water, and I will just get used to the crazy looks I get when I order just water.

 

2) 3 miles of walking or running - 3 days a week. I am going to work my Netflix workouts back in too, but the little ones make it difficult to commit to a certain amount each week.

 

3) Pack my lunch EVERY day.

 

I look forward to updating my blog with my success that I am sure will be incredible. :)

 

4) - Positive thinking.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup (#23)

On nights when Michael works, the kids and I can indulge in soup. My hubby is not much for soup eating. I, on the other hand, LOVE soup! And tonight, we have Loaded Baked Potato Soup in the Crockpot!

The finished soup, garnished with basil
from my kitchen herb garden!

The Ingredients

2.5 Pounds of Russet Potatoes

2 Cloves of chopped Garlic

1/2 Chopped Yellow Onion

32 Ounces of Chicken Stock (low sodium)

1 Block of Cream Cheese (fat free)

Bacon (low sodium Turkey bacon)

Parmesan Cheese

 

 

Chop up your potatoes, we like bite-size chunks in our soup, so ours are a little bigger than we see at the restaurants. It is really what you prefer. I also leave the skins on because it is the good for ya part of the potato, and they are YUM. Toss in your garlic, onion and chicken stock and cook on low for 8 hours.

 

The first time I made this, I followed the recipe to a tee. They instructed to puree the cream cheese in the soup. It was more dishes to transfer the soup to puree it, and I found that having the cream cheese sit for about 30 minutes, and adding it to the Crockpot works wonders. It does require a little attention with the stirring, but I prefer to keep the large chunks of potatoes. Makes the meal seem more filling that way.

 

On to the garnish. :-) My favorite part. I substitute pork bacon for Turkey bacon, our local store has an amazing low sodium Turkey bacon that is to die for. My kids don't really know pork bacon, so they don't taste a difference. I chop up the bacon, cook it and stir it in the soup. True, that doesn't make it a garnish really, but I like bacon throughout. Low-fat Parmesan cheese is sprinkled on top and served.

 

This is one of my favorite soups, and GREAT for those cold winter days. I do hope you enjoy this version of Loaded Baked Potato Soup. So happy for it to be winter and the soup making to commence! Until next time...

 



Beer Chicken!!! (#22)

I have been in a rut! I have resorted to a good 10 to 12 Crockpot meals that are a guaranteed win for this family, and have not really ventured out of my comfort bubble. While watching all the morning shows that I do not normally get to watch with work - I heard someone talk about their 'go-to' meal of Beer Chicken.

Hmmm.... Can I do this in the Crockpot?

Yes I can, according to a fellow blogger at http://www.mydailydish.com/.

The Ingredients!!!

Ingredients

4-6 Chicken Breasts (You can use a whole chicken also, fresh or frozen.)
1/2 tsp Basil
1/2 tsp Pepper
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
1/2 tsp Crushed Red Pepper
1 bottle Beer






Toss it all in your Crockpot and walk away. How long do you ask? It depends:

FRESH CHICKEN
3-4 hours - HIGH
7-8 - LOW

FROZEN CHICKEN
4-5 - HIGH
8-10 - LOW

The recipe I found used Garlic Powder, Basil, Paprika, Salt and Pepper. She also stated, she used those because that is what she had. :-) Good deal, because I was out of Paprika, and we LOVE LOVE LOVE Crushed Red Pepper in the Crockpot! So please, take chances with the spices you and your loved ones enjoy! You know your taste buds best!!!

The finished product!
 

The Verdict:

YUM! Kids ate it with Mac & Cheese, Hubs ate it with Beans and Rice, and I ate my wrapped up in a corn tortilla. Totally a new one in the Crook Family rotation!!!

Crock Pot Pie (#21)

Hello Birthday Bucket List! #15 - COMPLETE!!!

Amanda will be proud, I finally made a Pot pie, and it was AMAZING.

The Ingredients

Ingredients

Chicken - 2 skinless, boneless breasts

Corn - 1/2 cup frozen

Peas - 1/2 cup frozen

Onion Powder - dash

Milk - 1/2 cup

Basil - dash

Butter - 2 Tablespoons

Flour - 3 Tablespoons

Chicken Broth - 1/2 cup

Salt - dash

Pepper - dash

Canned Biscuits - 1 can

 

 

I didn't have Cream of ANYTHING soup, so I had to improvise, and that is where a lot of the ingredients came from.

 

{1 Tablespoon of butter and  3 Tablespoons of flour to make a base. Ass the 1/2 cup of milk, 1/2 cup of Chicken Broth, salt and pepper and ta-da  - you have a substitute.}

 

The Finished Crust <3

First, you want to spray your Crockpot, and toss in cut up chunks of chicken. [I read in several recipes that many prefer dark meat, but we only had breasts] Next I added the frozen corn and peas. Again, every recipe had different veggies, and most had celery. This is what I had on hand. Add the spices of your choosing to the pot as well. Finally, you add your soup or soup substitute and mix well. Several different recipes had awesome dough recipes, and options to take your Crockpot liner out and toss the biscuits on and toss in the oven. I didn't have the time or the oven. I took a can of biscuits, and placed them on top of the filling. Added some honey to sweeten the "crust." Placed the lid on top and put a knife between the lid and pot to eliminate the condensation on the crust. Times varied from 3-4 hours on high to 6-hours on low. I choose 3-4 hours on high. At 3 1/2 hours the filling was smelling delicious and the crust was perfect.

 

I really did enjoy this recipe, and with the weather finally feeling like Fall - it was a perfect warm feeling meal. The kids loved the chicken and sauce. I loved the biscuits. Overall, a win for this family and I cannot wait to play with other substitutions with veggies and adding potatoes.

 



The Finished Plate

As you can see, I made a small portion. I was not confident in this recipe. It is something I was never made or ate in my life. You can just adjust the amounts accordingly. This was enough for 4 servings with a side of mashed potatoes.

 

Enjoy Y'all!

 

 

Lord of the Flies (#2)

Lord of the Flies

Made it through 1984, and I am very eager to start...

 Lord of the Flies.

We are having our first Book Club get together today... doubling as a BBQ for my birthday. 7 kids, 4 adults = I think we have NO chance. :-) But, 3 Crockpots going (2 at my house, one at Kristyn's) and the men are BBQ'ing - life is good!

Crockpot Honey Cola Ham (#20)

As a mother of 3, I face struggles daily with picky eaters. I make shaped sandwiches, foods have silly names, and there are rewards systems for trying new foods. (Sue me! I know there are not supposed to be rewards attached to foods, but it works!) My biggest struggles right now are Malakai and his inability to try new things. At 7, he thinks he knows what he likes and that it that. And he knows he DOES NOT eat ham. (Sheesh, that is a harsh thing to hear for a Thanksgiving Dinner loving gal like myself) And then my sweet diva-like daughter, Alannah doesn't want to eat meat unless it is turkey bacon or grilled chicken bites.

While Malakai is at school today, and the kids and I have a play date, my Crockpot will be slaving over a Cola Ham. Let's see how this turns out.

 

Ingredients

These is how it looks PRE-Crockpot! <3 (Brown Sugar
is in the Cupcake)

Boneless Ham (size accordingly to what you need)

2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar

4 Tablespoons of Honey

I Tablespoon of Mustard

2 (8oz.) cans of Cola

 

You are going to want to make a paste out of the brown sugar, honey and the mustard. This will be rubbed on the sides of the ham that have been scored. (Keep in mind, you can score both sides - just don't go any deeper than an 1/8 of an inch.) Put that rubbed on ham into your Crockpot and pour the 2 cans of cola into the pot. Be careful not to pour directly onto your ham, otherwise all that rubbing will have been a waste. Toss the lid on, turn that knob to low and ENJOY your day for the next 7-8 hours. Alannah, Kal'El and myself are off to the park for a play date while our partner in crime, Crockpot, slaves over the ham.

When this is done, Alannah and I will whip up a quick bowl of Honey Mashed Potatoes. (Regular Mashed Potatoes with honey swirled in. The kids ADORE them!)

***SIDENOTE: I do use a lot of honey. And if you are curious as  to why - here goes. I grew up in a family with very little allergies. When we moved to the South, my little family's allergies exploded. And I was told a teaspoon of local honey will help fight the allergies. And honestly it does. I give them a straight up teaspoon sometimes, but cooking with it is fun. Now, the honey bear - Alannah and Kal'El love Sir Honeybear, so I pour the local honey into a cleaned out Kroger Honey Bear container, and they know to grab honey bear. :-) I love my kiddos!

THE VERDICT:
We all loved it!!! I used a pre-sliced ham, so that was even less work that I needed to do. :-)

My life POST 1984...

I read it.

Mission accomplished.

My thoughts:

Topic #1: E-Books
I can't do it. At least not right now. I like the feel of pages. The smell of the pages, and until Kirkland's brings back the sachet that smells like books, I can't do it. Topic over. :-)

Topic #2: Readers
I am excited that we have a new reader, Amanda! We worked at Borders together also. Unfortunately she can't meet with us because she moved her happy behind to Florida. But, she is super friggin smart, and brings a lot of good points (and explanations) to the online discussions!

Topic #3: 1984
This book did a lot of things - none of which made me want to read it again. I questioned my own government quite a bit. Considered how much of our history is a false or altered telling of what actually happened. It also made me grateful for the freedoms we have that often get overlooked: free thought, will, and speech. This book was a very extreme Nazi like government controlled society.

There were days I felt for Winston. When he began to question Big Brother, I had hope. I love a good rebel, almost as much as a good love story. Enter Julia. (Or the dark-haired girl to start) Is she a spy? No, she is a rebellious insider. They form this relationship and receive help to continue this relationship by a Mr. Charrington. (My favorite character throughout almost the entire book.) Winston and Julia are in love. And to top it off Winston meets with O'Brien and learns of the Brotherhood who is against Big Brother, and he plans to join and basically live happily ever after. In a world of chaos and no freedom, you get the sense of hope with the relationships taking place. With all this going on, I still don't become attached to any of the characters, I just don't get a lot of development or emotions to latch on to - which leads me to continue to hope to see a glimmer of emotion or a character I love. The one character I find myself liking, Mr. Charrington turns out to be a member of the Thought Police which leads to the capture of Winston and Julia. Winston is then tortured in the worst ways imaginable - rats!

The issue that I have wrapping my head around this book is that the characters in the books I normally read are the "I will die for you" in love type of characters. The fact that Julia and Winston turned on each other just breaks my heart. (Maybe they should find themselves a vamp, shifter or a Fae. They love hard. :-P)

Then after all the torture - you are released, and after everything you fought and did not believe in is suddenly OK in your world. 2+2=5 now. What in the world??? It just switched. Ended. Oh man.

*deep breath*

Topic #4: Final Thoughts
When all was said and done, Amanda (being her smart, insightful self) brought up an interesting thought:

Was Winston ever released? Throughout the novel, there were several hallucinations. What makes you think he was actually released, and that he is not just imagining freedom? Perhaps as a coping mechanism. Now, my mind continues to wander.

And thus, my first check mark on the list of 101 Books You Should Read Before you Die.

Birthday Bucket List

For the past couple years, I have made a 'BIRTHDAY BUCKET LIST' that correlates with how old I am turning. Last year, I had 27 things to do during my 27th year. Needless to say, it was not very successful. Haha, my 27th birthday was 3 days before we shut the doors to my Beautiful Borders Store #0472. Which was followed by me being UNEMPLOYED and UNPLANNED for the first time since I began working. I was blessed God to only be unemployed for 6 whole days. Haha. Then came the hard part, we moved during this 6 days of unemployment which followed Malakai having to switch schools twice! (If you have not had to deal with a situation like this, NIGHTMARE!) Plus, I felt like I had been ripped from my entire family. I will not dwell on the loss of my favorite place growing up, and my favorite job thus far, but anyone who worked at Borders would agree that we were a loyal to the core group of people, and we were never there for the money. (HA!) We love those damn books and all their glorious plot twists and turns. I am grateful to still have quite a few of those people still in my life today, a WHOLE year later. I honestly did not expect it. There was a lot of drunken talk at our farewell party that we would never talk again. A year has passed and I have some amazing new co-workers, and even some awesome friends. I have been continuously blessed. We have found a church home, and the kids are all growing up so fast. We are a diaper-free zone now, and I never thought that would happen. Haha. I am happy to say that I did not put on the 40+ pounds I worked so hard to lose during this year of ups and downs. And my husband says I read WAY more now that I can't check them out. Funny how that happens. I look forward to this upcoming year, and I WILL complete my BIRTHDAY BUCKET LIST this year, so here goes it. (There will be some returning characters from last years list that are important to me to complete!)

1) Get my 3 planned tattoos.
2) Get my butt into the friggin' state of Florida. (I live too close to have never gone.)
3) Make a raised bed, and maintain my garden.
4) Be a part of a Book Club that meets once a month. I would LOVE it to be themed meetings, yep. I am a dork. So sue me! (Kristyn, can we do this???)
5) Complete at least one 5k and one 10k.
6) Create the reading corner in my room, like I keeping planning. (It's pretty awesome in my head!)
7) Skirts. (I am going to learn to sew, Alannah and I need more skirts!)
8) Have a garage sale.
9) Take a family picture. We have family pictures, but I mean like a photo shoot. :-)
10) Create and stick to a simple workout routine. (Now that the babies get up when they hear me get up, it's a LOT harder to work out after getting Malakai on the bus!)
11) Decide if I am serious about my store plans, I think I am. But 28 seems like a good year to decide what I need to do to go forward.
12) Go home to visit! LONG overdue, and my brother has a baby and a wife now. All these babies back home that I have NOT snuggled with yet!
13) Learn how to do the canning and preserves stuff. :-)
14) Go roller skating.
15) Make pot pies (Yes Amanda, they are easy - I just didn't do it last year. :-/)
16) Have a date NIGHT or DAY once a month. Even if it is a Wednesday, lol. Once a month.
17) 149, enough said on that one. :-)
18) Quit biting my nails.
19) Make some outdoor patio furniture.
20) Make/Find a vanity for Alannah.
21) Make/Find a fort(clubhouse) for the Boys.
22) Collect the cheesy plastic to-go cups from wherever I go!!!
23) Go to Easely Amused... Even if it is by myself.
24) Go back to school.
25) Volunteer somewhere with Malakai.
26) Host Marchgiving. I was an EPIC failure this year. I blame it on the morning of Borders. :-)
27) Blog more! (Twice a week, so 104 posts by my 29th birthday.)
28) Make a quilt.

1984

After a LONG day of figuring out how to use an E-Book.
Haha, I guess I am pretty content with my paper pages.

Here goes nothing!

My friend, Kristyn, and I are doing what most people hate... We are reading the books those crazy schools require you to read when you should be tanning at the beach, or whatever kids do during the summers now. We found a list titled, "101 Books to Read Before You Die," and we are doing two a month. Tonight I start reading 1984. A book I have always wanted to read for no particular reason other than the simple fact that it was the year of my birth. Silly reason - YES! So, like I said before...

Here goes nothing!

101 Books to Read Before I die...

Hello World, Blogging about cooking has not been on my to-do list lately. I have been cooking, but nothing SPECTACULAR. I vow to get back into the groove, but with a kid to get ready for 2nd grade, a diva who keeps finding a way to cut her hair, and potty training the baby - there hasn't been a ton of time to experiment in the kitchen. I have been relying on my Ol' Faithfuls. I did receive a Cake Pop maker, and we have been enjoying Pancake Balls, Corn Dog Bites, Cheese Ball Bites, Muffin Balls and all that fun stuff. Kids (and the Hubbs and I) enjoy bite size foods! But this post is not about the kitchen - it's about my MISSION: MISSION BOOK BUCKET LIST...

Below is a list that has been made of the 101 Books they (whoever "THEY" are) suggest one should read. The plan is to tackle them at the pace of - 1 per TWO week period. I am not going to abandon my Vampires, the Fae, the New Jersey Police Department, Wares, Sidhe-Seers, Vampyres, Bounty Hunters, etc... so the book per 2 week period is in addition to the book I always carry in my bag. (Not purse, my husband claims I look like a BAG lady with my totes... Haha, I adore my totes!) So, here goes the list. I have read a few of these, but it has been a LONG time... so RE-reading is a must. I am hoping to get this fellow friend of mine to join me, in hopes that I can be able to vent about how terrible the book is, or how much I love it!!! We will see if she joins me. (Plus, then we can go out to eat every 2 weeks... YUM!) It will take about 4 years to get through the list - EKKK, that is a big commitment for someone who took a year to complete the 60 day photo challenge. HAHA Wish me luck! (Luck for completing, and luck for buying 100 additional books to the 5 or so I buy every 2 weeks...Do you think Michael will notice the additional packages? Haha, feel free to send me y'alls copies!!!! Save a nerd some money!!!)

1. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
2. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
3. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
4. Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
5. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
6. Perfume by Patrick Suskind
7. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel G. Marquez
8. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
9. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
10. Atonement by Ian McEwan
11. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
12. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
13. Beloved by Toni Morrison
14. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
15. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
16. Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
17. The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank
18. Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
19. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
20. Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee
21. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
22. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
23. The Crow Road by Iain Banks
24. Dracula by Bram Stoker
25. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
26. Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres
27. The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber
28. The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
29. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
30. The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse
31. An Evil Cradling by Brian Keenan
32. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
33. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
34. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
35. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
36. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson
37. The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles
38. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
39. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
40. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
41. Ham on Rye by Charles Bukowski
42. Hey Nostradamus! by Douglas Coupland
43. If This Is A Man by Primo Levi
44. What A Carve Up! by Jonathan Coe
45. If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things* by Jon McGregor
46. An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears
47. The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat by Oliver Sacks
48. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
49. Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
50. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
51. In Patagonia* by Bruce Chatwin
52. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
53. Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
54. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
55. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
56. *Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
57. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
58. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
59. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
60. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
61. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
62. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
63. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
64. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
65. Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson
66. The Monk by Matthew Lewis
67. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
68. New York Trilogy by Paul Auster
69. Northern Lights* by Philip Pullman
70. The Odyssey by Homer
71. The Outsider by Albert Camus
72. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
73. Possession by A.S. Byatt
74. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
75. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
76. Rabbit, Run by John Updike
77. The Reader by Bernard Schlink
78. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg
79. What We Talk About When We Talk About Love* by Raymond Carver
80. The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell
81. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
82. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
83. The Secret History by Donna Tartt
84. The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins
85. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
86. Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut
87. Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
88. Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder
89. A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
90. Stalingrad by Antony Beevor
91. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
92. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
93. Touching the Void by Jow Simpson
94. Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh
95. Waterland by Graham Swift
96. The Unbearable Lightness of Being* by Milan Kindera
97. The Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
98. The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard
99. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
100. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
101. A Time of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor

Chicken Tortilla Enchilada Soup (#19)

I have been playing with recipes for Chicken Tortilla soup, and nothing is quite like the one Albertson's used to sell. YUM! And I stumbled across one that uses enchilada sauce. So, I tried it. (This house LOVES us some enchiladas.) The recipe is super simple. It took me 15 minutes to gather and toss and the ingredients into the CP and I was on my merry way to work. Got home 8 hours later and the kitchen SMELLED amazing!

I adore soup! (As does my daughter, but that is it. The boys do not care for soup, so they had chicken nuggets...LOL) I like the chicken tortilla soup recipes that lean more towards the clearer broth, but this recipe was thicker and way more filling.

1 pound of skinless, boneless chicken breasts

1 1/4 cup of enchilada sauce

2 cups of chicken broth (low sodium)

1 cup of diced tomatoes (fresh from a WONDERFUL co-workers garden!)

1/4 cup of diced green chills

1/2 ounce (1/2 shot) of minced garlic

1/4 cup of diced onions

1 cup of frozen corn

2 teaspoons of chili powder

pinch of salt (which was NOT needed!!!)

I sprayed the CP with a cooking spray and toss the chicken in, and then covered it with the remaining ingredients. Covered, and cooked on low for 6 to 8 hours. :-)

POST - CP

Pour into your bowl, top with Queso Blanco (or the cheese of your choice) and fried (or baked) tortilla strips and ENJOY!

I enjoyed this soup, and so did Alannah. She calls it "Momma's Special Soup!" Next time I will do without the salt, it was not needed at all. I made a pot and was able to eat from it for 2 dinners and a lunch. Looking for other variations to experiment with. Will keep you posted!

What Mexican dishes can you not live without? Mine is enchiladas! Tamales during the holidays. And I sure do miss a big ole serving of rolled tacos from Saritas! 

Parmesan Cream Cheese Sliders (#18)

Parmesan Cream Cheese Sliders - these are not made my in trusty Crockpot, but we LOVE these anyway! Perfect for quick dinner, of BIG lunches. We like them for football games and just about any occasion. The Hubby could get burgers 3 times a day!

1 pound Ground Beef

1/3 block of FF Cream Cheese

1/4 cup of Reduced Fat Parmesan Cheese

1/4 cup of Italian Bread Crumbs

OPTIONAL: Cheese for topping

Mix all the ingredients together, and divide into 16 portions. Shape these into sliders, and place on the grill. (We use our handy griddle, you can fry up, grill up, etc...) We like Sliders because they are bite size. Flip and cook the other side. When on side 2, add the cheese if you are making cheeseSliders. :-) You really don't need cheese with the cream cheese and Parmesan cheese. (My kiddos are CHEESE lovers, so we eat cheese on cheese!

Alannah my little mixer!!!

Malakai loves the recipes and preparing!

ME - flipping the Sliders!

Crook Sliders!

Kal'El likes Spoons! Haha

We will eat these on Hawaiian rolls, or cut-up hot dog buns... whatever we have on hand! Enjoy these tasty treats! And these are some pictures of my little chefs!

Stuffed Chicken Breast (#17)

I came across this recipe while watching the Today Show waiting for Janet Evanovich and Charlaine Harris to come on and tell me some good stuff to read this summer! :-)

I am going to prepare this for dinner for the family before I head off to work for a late night of RETAIL FUN!!! So, here's the how-to:

You will want to prepare the stuffing of your choice. I prefer the Kroger brand of original, but I am new to the stuffing game. (Back to the texture thing I struggle with, I like it dry - like a crouton, but am still working on the softer texture of prepared stuffing.) For this recipe, if you are using the boxed type, you will only need 1/2 of the box. ***I saw some suggestions of using Applesauce instead of water, adding onions and celery. Some of which I will experiment with the next time I make this. :-)

All the DRY ingredients

3-4 Chicken Breasts

Toothpicks

Butter

Cream of Chicken (2 cans)

Seasoning of your choice (I used Garlic, Basil and Salt)

I did not have toothpicks, so I used cooking string.

This is the browned stuffed
chicken in the CP, before
adding the Cream of
Chicken. :-) You could use bigger
pieces, the smaller pieces work
better for the kids.

Added the soup, salt, garlic and basil. Can't wait to see and TRY
the completed product!

You will want to split the skinless/boneless chicken breasts and fill with your prepared stuffing and roll up tight with a toothpick. You will brown the outside slightly in a buttered pan and then place in your Crockpot to cook. You will cover the stuffed chicken breasts with 2 cans of Cream of Chicken. (The recipes I found called for cream of celery, but I am not a fan of the flavor of cream of celery)

Cover for 5 hours on HIGH, and enjoy!!!

A little piece of chicken with sauce!

THE VERDICT:

This was amazing! The chicken was tender, and the stuffing inside was moist and to die for. I was fearful that the Cream of Chicken would be too much for a sauce, but everything flowed together. And since I used small pieces, some of the stuffing fell into the sauce, and the taste flowed with every bite. This is definitely one I will continue to make. Ingredients were cheap, and add some potatoes or rice and a veggie to it, and it will be complete.

Chicken will be the theme of the next couple of posts... so until, next time!!!

What I am reading...

Welcome to my bookshelf. (One of them, anyway...) I have entered the world of light, slightly paranormal at times, odd female lead who cannot decide who she loves series. And I would not trade it for the world!

1) Stephanie Plum series - So far Evanovich is up to #18, which #19 due out in November of this year. And if you add the 4 'In Between the Numbers,' you have 22! So, exciting. Took me about 6 weeks to complete, and now I am counting down until November. Stephanie Plum is a clumsy wannabe Bounty Hunter who blows up more cars then I will ever own in my life. She has a sexy cop and a sexy bounty hunter, a crazy granny, an ex-hooker of a best friend/sidekick, and it is just a serious LAUGH OUT LOUD type read. And this series brought on the next one...

2) Lizzy and Diesel series - also by Evanovich. Diesel is the main character in the 'In Between the Numbers' books and he is slightly paranormal, and so were the story lines. These have the same Stephanie Plum charm that allows me to escape from the craziness of the world for a little bit. I enjoy the Unmentionable touches of paranormal, and the sexy men. :-) (Getting to see a pattern, LOL...) Right now, there are only 2... but YUM!

3) Undead Series - my friend, Kristyn introduced me to these.  I LOVE THEM. Vampires! Betsy is a new vampire and God help the rest of the vampires, she is the Queen. LOL, and she hates to love the sexy vamp who has tricked her into so many things. There are 10 or 11, that took me about 3 weeks to finish. I love ALL the vampires. It is sexy and funny like Charlaine Harris' series. You can buy this Queen whose sister is the daughter of the Devil which a GREAT PAIR OF SHOES. If that tells you any of the insanity that is this series, by MaryJanice Davidson, I can assure you it is JUST the beginning. <3

4) Glory St. Clair series - This has 8 currently, with the 9th coming out soon. Glory and her band of vampire friends have been around a WHILE. She was turned by a sexy Scottish lad in 1604. They reside in Texas, and this series has vamp hunters, rock stars, shifters and OH SO MUCH more. I am 4 into this series, and cannot wait to finish. Gerry Bartlett is amazing when writing this series! Jerry (Glory's on again, off again boyfriend) is my favorite male lead! The best part of this series are the titles, Real Vampires Live Large, Real Vampires Don't Diet, Real Vampires Hate Their Thighs, Real Vampires Hate Skinny Jeans, etc... When Glory was changed, she was not petite, like many of her friends. So that just adds to the laughs.

Well, that is it for series at the moment. I am waiting to start the Fever series, by Karen Marie Moning. And I am very excited!!! I have also started another Evanovich Series, Barnaby and Hooker. I have just started the 1st one, so we will see. It is called, Metro Girl. Another good book I recommend is "Under the Covers and Between the Sheets!" It is a books about books, and has all these cool facts and books I have not read. And there is an author that was recommended to be, Amanda Hocking! Her trilogy is on my list to read this summer!

I am also going to venture and read the Percy Jackson series and the other ones. Just need to get all caught up with my multiple series at the moment. (Plus, my pastor spoke about the Five Love Languages - and WOW did it make sense, so I got my Lifeway coupon in the mail, and I will be getting that to read ASAP!) I love to hear what other people are reading too, and if you are not involved with the Goodreads APP, you should! My email is catherinescrook@gmail.com, and you can find ADD me that way. It tracks what you and others are reading. You can review or just rate! I LOVE IT!

Well, I think that was enough for now... Happy reading!!! It is always fun to get so lost in a book that you smile seeing a car pass that is driven by the lead male in the series. :-)

Sloppy Joes (#16)

WOW! It has been over a month since I have posted. :-( With work, potty training (with no luck yet) and reading more than I have in a while... I have neglected the creative meal planning. Now, I am still planning meals a month in advance, and spending $300 or less for a MONTH of meals for this family of five. (A skill that will be listed on my resume... LOL, as if anyone would NOT be impressed.) So, I am learning to balance a little more, at least that is what I would like to think. Last night, when I got home from work - I tossed a roast, potatoes and carrots in a Crockpot and then spent the evening watching movies with the Hubbs. (Rebound, with Catherine Zeta-Jones... EXCELLENT!) Then, when I got up this morning, Dinner for today was done. We spent the morning cleaning, and now the kids are playing... I am blogging, and I will have ample reading time today. :-) So, this is a meal that I have not shared yet, that my kids ADORE. I am not a Sloppy Joe fan, but the other 4 are... so on nights I close, this is the Hubby's go to meal. And the kids do not complain. In fact, I am sure they would eat it 3 nights a week, but that is NOT happening. (Once a week, yes. :-) Gives me a soup night, since I am the only soup eater...) So, here is the ingredients. (Now this is for 20 sloppy joes, which is what we do - Good next day lunch go to.)

3 pounds lean ground beef

1 large onion, chopped, about 1 cup

1 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

1 (12 ounces) bottle prepared chili sauce

1 (6 ounces) can tomato paste

Sprinkle of Brown sugar, to taste

1 to 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

So, I will brown the meat (on my Griddle, since I am anti STOVE/OVEN) and add that and all the other ingredients to the Crockpot, and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours. THAT'S it. I know what you are thinking... the canned stuff is good, but this is better. (Well, I have heard.) My kids prefer this kind, and plus I KNOW veggies are making it into this way of Sloppy Joes. Anywho... I will try to be more consistent. I have 6 weeks left until my goal date for my goal weight, and I have 1.4 pounds a week to lose to meet it, and so I am being more cautious, which will lead to more posts. I am LOVING my CP still, but becoming more adventurous with my waffle iron and Griddle. So, expect more fun stuff!

We have also been experimenting with S'Mores thanks to my best friend, Beckie and her hubbs, TJ. I love the Reese's S'More the best. Second comes Butterfinger, and third is classic. Not to fond of the Milky Way version, even though I LOVE THE CANDY BAR. More experimenting to come. Until next time...Happy Eating!

Teriyaki Beef Bowls/Sandwiches (#14 and #15)

No pictures because my camera DIED! But, this was delicious. And super simple. The kids LOVE teriyaki, and so do I.

All this required was tossing a beef roast in the crockpot, half a bottle of low sodium teriyaki sauce and a cup of water. I let it cook for 9 hours, and it feel apart. I had made a pot of rice in the CP the day before, so all I had to do was warm it up, top with some beef and carrots and we have DINNER. Everyone had seconds.

There was quite a bit left over since rice and carrots will fill you up. The next day we had the shredded beef on sandwich rolls with some sliced oranges for dinner. Leftover peas to go with it, and dinner was good. :-) The beef also covered lunch for me for 2 whole days. The $9 piece of beef made 12 meals. That is some good math if you ask me. Today I am trying again with a different Au Gratin potato recipe in the Crockpot. Wish me luck... this one should have photos... :-)

April was a Mess!

April was filled with frozen chicken nuggets, pizza rolls and so much more. (I am sure the kiddos were in HEAVEN!) But, I am back. I have figured that my Crockpot is a way to cook and still get my reading in. I am in the process of planning the ENTIRE remainder of May out for meals, and the ones from April that I will keep on my list are:

1) Chicken Tortilla Soup

2) Apple Coffee Cake

3) Baked Potato Soup

4) Chicken Parm

5) Orange Chicken

6) Honey Garlic Chicken, I made this - kids loved it, but did not use my CP.

The other recipes I am going to try this month are:

7)Asian Beef with Mandarin Oranges

8)Sloppy Joes

9)Sweet & Sour Chicken

10)Crock Potpie

11)Chicken & Rice

12)Lemon Chicken

In between, I will be playing with the idea of Spaghetti in the CP. I have not yet come up with one I like. And this is a staple dinner in my house. So, back to the drawing board. :-) Oh Happy May!.

Janet Evanovich :-)

So, my Crockpot April was interrupted by a series of 22 books so far. LOL, I only have 4 left and I will be back to blogging. As for my kids, they have 100% enjoyed a life of corndogs, mashed potatoes, frozen pizzas and corn. LOL.

Be back soon...

Au Gratin Potatoes (#13)





The Ingredients :-)

This recipe was not a success with the entire family. :-( I, personally, thought they tasted WONDERFUL. Pretty? No. But, I know the reason for their challenges esthetically - and I am OK with the trade-off. So, here it goes. I had to search quite some time for a recipe that wasn't heavy on the cream and milk. I found one, and it seemed too good to be creamy, but I was going to give it a shot anyway. Here is what the recipe called for:

 

1/4 pound of diced cooked bacon

4 thinly sliced potatoes

1/2 pound of shredded cheese

salt and pepper

butter

2 medium thinly sliced onions

 

I made some adjustments, so here is what I used:

 

4 thinly sliced potatoes

1/8 cup of fat free Turkey Bacos, the real kind

1/2 pound of FF shredded cheese

2 wedges of Garden Vegetable Laughing Cow Cheese

Salt & Pepper

2 Garlic Cloves, grated

 

Lined CP, full of DELICIOUSNESS

You then want to line your Crockpot with aluminum foil, and layer the potatoes (that have been seasoned with S&P) with cheese, bacon and garlic. Complete until you have used all the ingredients. The original recipe called for butter to be dotted on top. I was going to use butter, but during the last minute, I substituted the butter for Laughing Cow cheese. :-) I love that stuff. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. I then went to work and left the CP with the family. Called on my way home to have the hubby turn it on WARM, so it would not burn. He informed me that it smelled wonderful, but did look like it burned a little. :-( I was kind of sad to hear that. The entire time I was pregnant with my first, I could sit and eat an ENTIRE box of these. So, I got home, and assessed the situation.

Final product.

 

What I realized had happened, is that FF cheese does not melt the way regular cheese does. This resulted in delicious potatoes, and the Laughing Cow cheese was creamy, but the sharp was not. I had found a recipe that utilized Cheddar Cheese soup, but you cannot find a low fat version of that soup. The hubby and I enjoyed them. To the eye, they were not pretty. To the belly, they were GORGEOUS. And who knows, maybe the kids will eat them one day, but they are on a mashed potato kick. So, there. My first not so successful attempt for April. Made a good side, and an excellent lunch the next day. Happy Crockin...

Crockpot Sourdough Bread (#12)

I did not have the gadgets Google referred to, so  I Googled so more...

Ta-Da! Sourdough!!!

Besides another Crockpot, I have always said "I WANT A BREADMAKER!" I love baking bread, and it tastes SO delicious. :-) Thanks to the almighty Google, I have found that your Crockpot can double as a Bread Machine. So, now I need another TWO Crockpots. I can cook dinner, bread and dessert all at once. <3 This gal would be in kitchen heaven.

The dinner complete with
Cranberry Roast (a la
Crockpot) and my Sourdough
bread (a la Crockpot)

It may not be the PRETTIEST bread ever, but I had to use foil
in place of a trivet and a round pan.

About 1/2 way though its
cooking process :-)

Ready to rise!!!

So, I have an amazing Sourdough recipe that I will share, but for this trial run of my Crockpot's alter ego as a Bread Machine, I used a boxed mix. :-) The mix still required the yeast (packet included) with the allowing to rise, and all that jazz! While it was rising, I fashioned a shelf to place over the boiling water added to my CP. This will be where my bread is being baked my steam. When you add the bread to the foil cooking shelf, you will also want to cover it the top with foil, so the condensation from the lid does not soak your bread. I found it easier to wrap the lid with foil, so it just catches during the cooking process. It took 3 1/2 hours to cook to perfection. (On Low) I found a tip that said to flip the  bread about half way through to create a crust on both sides. And it worked. The top was cooked if you do not flip it. The difference is that is do not have the same crust you associate with bread. I flipped the bread during the last 30 minutes, and received a good crust on both sides. So, here are the simple steps:

1. Add water to cover the bottom of the Crockpot about 1/2 inch.

2. Crumble foil to create a shelf to protect the bread from the water. (It said you could use a trivet, and a pan made for your Crockpot, like an insert. I had neither, and so I used foil.)

3. After you have followed your favorite recipe, and it is ready for the "baking" setp, place the loaf in the Crockpot, and cover.

4. Let cook for 3 1/2 hours. Cooking times may vary, but this Sourdough took 3 1/2 hours.

5. Remove from the foil when done cooking. (It can go back in the Crockpot on "WARM" for up to 30 minutes before a meal and not hurt the bread)

6. Slice and ENJOY!

Now, I promised to share my favorite Sourdough recipe (which works wonders in the Crockpot too, got excited and made another loaf. Practicing on the shaping of bread)

Ingredients

• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 3 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F to 115 degrees F), divided
• 7 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 1/4 cup nonfat dry milk powder
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• Cornmeal

Directions

1. In a bowl, dissolve yeast in 2 cups warm water; let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in 2 cups of flour until smooth. Cover loosely with a towel. Let stand in a warm place to rise for 48 hours; stir several times daily. (The mixture will become bubbly and rise, have a "yeasty" sour aroma and a transparent yellow liquid will form on the top.) Stir in milk powder, butter, sugar, salt, remaining water and enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. (Do not knead.) Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours. Turn onto a floured surface; punch dough down. (Do not knead). Divide in half. Shape each into a round loaf. Heavily grease baking sheets and sprinkle with cornmeal. Place dough on prepared pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. With a sharp knife, make three diagonal slashes across tops of loaves. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. Brush loaves with cold water; bake 35-40 minutes longer or until golden brown. 

Final note: I think I love Sourdough because the kneading is not there. I am wanting to venture and make a cinnamon raisin bread for breakfast. :-) Exciting!!!  I would love everyone to share their favorite bread recipes. Making bread is one of my favorite "RELAXING" things. :-)        

Cranberry Roast (#11)

Unfortunately, this post does not come with photos. Today, I work 10 hours without a lunch. And you may wonder why this matters, but coming home to a house that smells THAT amazing means no "FINISHED photo." Good thing, this was SO good and flavorful, this will be a frequent meal.

1.  roast (I used a 4 pound rump roast, but I am sure a pork roast would do wonderful too)
2.  a couple of WHOLE gloves of garlic.
3.  a can of jellied cranberry sauce. (The recipe I used called for 2, but I feared this would be too sweet. I used one, and it was plenty...even enough to make a pretty delicious gravy)
4. salt
5. pepper

I rubbed the roast with the salt and pepper, and placed it in the Crockpot. Take the jellied cranberry sauce, and slice it. I covered the roast in the slices, and added a cup of water and the cloves of garlic. Cover and cook for 8 hours. While it is cooking, I will go over the cost breakdown...

roast - $9.63

cranberry - $1.65

garlic - $0.65

mashed potatoes - $0.95

mixed veggies - $1.00

I did not calculate the cost of salt, pepper, and flour (to be used later) since this is a regular in my cabinet. Total cost - $13.88. This made enough for 2 meals each for the 5 of us, which breaks down to a WHOLE $1.39 a meal. That is a GREAT bargain if you ask me. :-)

Back to the roast... it has been 8 hours, and it is done. Michael has made some instant mashed potatoes and mixed veggies to act as sides. I take a cup or so of the sauce in the Crockpot, and whisk it with a little flour until it reaches the consistency of gravy. This roast is as tender as you can expect from a Crockpot, but the flavor of the cranberry was amazing. The smell and taste reminded me of family holiday dinners. The gravy was served on top of the meat and potatoes, and made it that much better. I highly recommend this meal to anyone who loves a good roast. Who knew a big family dinner can be made while at work. Man, whoever invented the Crockpot is my hero! Until next time...

Cheesy Chicken and Veggies (#10)

This is one for the rotation. :) Simple, and everyone ate it. I will be honest, it isn't blow your mind flavorful, but I will experiment with adding more spice. So here it goes.

1. 1 can of reduced fat cream of chicken
2. 1 can of cheddar cheese soup
3. 16 ounces of mixed frozen veggies
4. Salt
5. Garlic
6. Black pepper
7. 4 chicken breasts

Toss it all in the Crockpot, cook it on low for 8 hours. :)  I walked into the house smelling INCREDIBLE. The chicken fell apart, and the sauce was a perfect touch to the mashed potatoes. It is not common, in a house of five incredibly different tastes to all eat seconds. So far, Crockpot April has been a success... Two recipes in and 2 successes. :) Til next time...

 

The finished product!

In the pot!

The Ingredients!

Rice Krispies in the Crockpot(#9)

YUM!!!

We love Rice Krispies and Marshmallows, so it only seemed like the kids would love Rice Krispies Treats! And in the Crockpot, the kids can help so much more than I could on the stove.
2 tablespoons of butter
10 ounces of marshmallows
6 cups of Rice Krispies
Turn your Crockpot on high, and add the butter. Then the marshmallows. Then the cereal. Place the lid on the Crockpot, and go read for an hour. Well, that's what we did. Fancy Nancy, Glow Eyes in the Jungle, and Peek-a-Boo Bard.
After an hour of whatever you choose to do with your free time, come back and give it a good mixing. If it doesn't seem done, just another 30 minutes is needed. Scoop out and spread in whatever you use for treats. Ours were done in just about 45 minutes.
Ours came out Delicious! On a sad note, my Wok died last night. :( This is a sad day in my world of appliance cooking. We mourn the loss of my Wok with Rice Krispies Treats! Hope you enjoy as much as we do!



So excited to help!

What?

Helping make the treats!

<3

The finished product!

April Plans :-)

I have been neglecting my blog (and my Crockpot) during the last couple of weeks. It has been one of those months! Today, I am getting my shopping list together, and I am cooking 16 new things in my Crockpot, then I am also going to try a CP recipe for Playdough. April is going to be a fun (and hopefully TASTY) month for the Crook household. I will keep you posted along the way with my April Adventures. As for now, here are the plans I have for April...

1. Chicken Tortilla Soup
2. Chocolate Mess (thanks Kristyn)
3. Apple Coffee Cake
4. Baked Potato Soup
5. Bread (I was shocked to find this recipe)
6. Carnitas
7. Chicken Parmesan
8. Potatoes Au Gratin
9. Granola
10. Orange Chicken
11. Peanut Butter Cup cake
12. Cranberry Roast
13. Chicken Noodle Soup
14. Honey Garlic Chicken
15. Cheesy Chicken and Vegetables
16. Rice Krispies
17. PLAYDOUGH!!!

I look forward to eat and every one of these. I sure do wish that my Easter basket was a Crockpot filled  with YUMMIES! :-) Until we meet again...

My 1st Meatloaf in the Crockpot (#8)

Late Thursday shifts at work have me partnering with my Crockpot those nights. Today, I choose to be brave and make a Meatloaf. I do not eat meatloaf, but my children and hubby LOVE meatloaf. What a perfect day to make it, I will not be home for dinner. :-) I have received several recipes from people, and I just prefer to keep it simple. With the 3 little ones, I do not always have time to chop onions and all the other details that June Cleaver had time for. I choose to experiment with the Stovetop stuffing version.

For this meatloaf you will need: 1 pound of Ground Beef, 1 egg, 1/2 cup of Stovetop stuffing mix, 2  tablespoons of Ketchup and a pinch or two of Basil.

I mixed the egg and the meat until it was completely mixed. I then added the basil and the ketchup. I put the stuffing mix in a bag to crush it into smaller bits. Combine the stuffing mix and the meat and form into a loaf. You may be wondering why I am making a small loaf... Well, this is my first meatloaf, and I want to make sure it comes out ok. Plus, we are not big leftover eaters. :-) I then sprayed my Crockpot with a non-stick cooking spray, placed the meatloaf in, and turned on high. To prevent the burning of the top, I spooned about 2 more tablespoons on ketchup over the top.

You can cook it on low for  6 to 9 hours, or on high for 3 to 4. I choose to cook on high, so I can see it almost done before I lead to work. You will need to drain the fat from the pan. If you are home during the cooking, you want to do it every couple of hours. I am partnering it with Parmesan mashed potatoes and green beans. I hope this meal is enjoyed, because it was VERY easy to prepare, and could become a go-to meal for me.

AND THE VERDICT IS...

It was a success!!! The kids and hubby loved it! This is going to be a regular on my menu rotation now! The picture below might not be great, but the empty plates when I got home were great!