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!