Have School, Will Travel

I know, can you believe it?  Two posts in one week!  I am on a roll!  It is hard to imagine I am sure, but there was a time in the life of this blog that I posted every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  No matter what.  Yeah, those were the days.

Anyway, I digress...

You may remember that my sweet hubby took a job about two hours from where we live.  Typically he leaves on Sunday night or early Monday morning, and returns home Thursday about dinner time.  It could certainly be worse, but at this stage of our lives, and after spending much our married life apart, it is not what we would choose.  It is where God has us for now and we are grateful he is loving his job and settling in to teaching.

None the less, after a busy week prior and having to put down our 16 year old dog on Friday, I decided the boys and I could use a break.  Well, I am sure the girls could too, but hey, they have jobs!  Thankfully, as a homeschooler, and now that football is done, we have the freedom to come and go, and so GO we did!

Packed up school and a few clothes and headed out the door.

Very early!

We are currently enjoying the sweet Air BNB life my husband has during the week, exploring the area, and just being still!  I could get a tad spoiled!  I was even smart enough to bring along the crock pot since we have limited cooking capabilities here, and the place smells so good when we get back in the evening.  If you haven't tried that before, I highly recommend it!  Not only does it save money, but it is a warm welcome when you come home tired after a busy day.  Not sure what the maid service thinks about us when they come in to clean our rooms in a hotel, but oh well!

Here's praying you, too, can find moments of rest during your busy week!

Blessings,

Monday Menu and a Crockpot Favorite

How is it already Monday again?  Seriously, do you ever feel like all you do is fix food for people who won't stop eating?  I told my hubby this week that when it is just the two of us (it will come someday I tell you) I am fixing one big meal and we are eating it all week.  Check back in 10 years and see what is on our plates! ;)

Until then, I have people that need to be fed so here is another week of our menu, keeping in mind we plan simple to save time, money, and let's face it, my sanity!

Monday- Honey Teriyaki Chicken (thanks Beth!)

Tuesday- Salisbury Steak

Wednesday- Turkey Taco Cups

Thursday- Chicken Curry

Friday- Dinner out

Saturday- Mini Ham and Cheese Frittatas

Sunday- Southwestern Chicken Chowder

There happens to be no crock pot meals this week, but you know I love my crock pot and use it often.  I love the ease and the feeling of accomplishment so early in the day, and I love the smell of a home cooked meal filling the house, especially on cold days.

Because of that and because I know some of you are buried under snow again, here is a crock pot favorite we got from a friend.
 

Author: Michele Pleasants

Creamy Scalloped Ham and Potatoes

prep time: 15 MINScook time: 6 hourtotal time: 6 hours and 15 mins

ingredients:

• 2 lbs. potatoes (about 6)
• 2-3 cups cubed ham
• 1/2 small onion, sliced
• 1/4 c flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 2 TBSP butter, melted
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1/4 tsp cream of tarter

instructions:

1. Wash and thinly slice potatoes
2. Toss potatoes in 1 cup water and cream of tarter, drain
3. Layer potatoes, ham, and onions in crock pot
4. Sprinkle with flour, salt, and pepper
5. Repeat layers!
6. Mix melted butter with soup and pour over the top.
7. Cook on low 6-8  hours, adding cheese the last 30 minutes.

Created using The Recipes Generator

Dinner's In the Freezer

It's almost that time of year again.  Can you feel it?  The temperatures are dropping a bit, school supplies are taking over the stores, and calendars are starting to fill up with events.  Yes, fall is coming and so is what I call "The Crazy Season."

A time when mom is pulled in a hundred, maybe a thousand, different directions and many evenings I just long for a quiet place to land and read good book.

But hold on, those people of mine want to E-A-T!  Can you even believe it?

Thankfully, during the busy seasons of life my slow cooker and my freezer have become my best friends.  With very little planning and even less effort, I can grab a baggie out of the freezer, pop it in my slow cooker in the morning right after breakfast, and there is a hot meal ready for dinner.  This is especially good for days that are crazy, days that we have "after school" events, or days that mom has reached her stopping point.  Yes, that about covers all days, right?!

There are countless ways to freezer cook and you can find many articles and recipes relating to that process.  What I want to share with you is not the process as much as just a few of our fast, easy, and no-frills meals.  We are not fancy around here.  I have four kids who have many distinct likes and dislikes.  I gave up trying to keep up with the Joneses and their menus years ago.  Simple is the name of the game here!

But blessings is the other name!  Freezing simple meals ahead of time that can be popped in a slow cooker, providing hours of yummy smells and at least ten minutes of yummy dinner time (does anyone have a fast eater???) has indeed blessed me.  It frequently takes the stress out of my day, saves me time in the kitchen, allows us to save money by avoiding those last minute "let's just order something in" panics, and provides a more nutritional choice for a meal.

Interested?
Here we go!

Chicken Meals

• Italian chicken- Just pop chicken breasts in a baggie, pour half of a bottle of Italian dressing in with a tablespoon of garlic salt.  Seal, shake and lay flat to freeze.  Pop it in the slow cooker on low for 8 hours and you are ready to go!

• Chicken and Rice- Pop chicken breasts in a baggie with a can of cream of mushroom soup (or your own homemade) and a half cup of water. Lay flat to freeze! Cook on low for 8 hours, adding uncooked instant rice the last 20 minutes.

• Shredded chicken- Spend a free day cooking chicken and then freeze in two cup portions for the following meals- Quesadillas, stuffed baked potatoes, tacos, enchiladas, and soups (add noodles or rice last 20-30 minutes)

Red Meat Ideas

• Shape meatballs and freeze with your favorite sauce (b-b-q, teriyaki). Cook on low 8 hours.

• Shape meatloaves and freeze.  Simply put in slow cooker and cook on low 8 hours.

• Freeze spaghetti sauce and cook on low 8 hours!

• Cook hamburger meat and freeze in two cup servings for the following meals- (you can add spices when you freeze or as you put your meat in the slow cooker) tacos, chili, taco salad or Sloppy Joes.

Pork Ideas

• A large pork loin found at our local large food club can easily make three or four meals for us depending on how we use it.  Cut it into how ever many pieces is right for your size family and freeze with a marinade.  (We love Italian dressing, b-b-q, and teriyaki the best!)

• You can then cook the pieces in the slow cooker for 8 hours and use the following ways- As the main meal, over rice, on baked potatoes, as sandwiches!

See?  I told you the ideas are endless!  For the most part, there are not many foods that do not freeze well, and even less that you cannot cook in a slow cooker.  No need to make it complicated, just make it and freeze it and watch your meal time stress melt away as you go about your busy day!

Blessings,

Taco Wednesday- Crock pot Style!

OK, OK, I knew most people call it Taco Tuesday, but work with me here.  Remember Wednesdays are about easy and quick.  What could be easier and faster than tacos?  And since most kiddos like tacos, it is perfect for your busy nights. 


So, tacos in the crockpot?  Yep, it's so easy!

Here ya go-

Crockpot Tacos

- 1-2 pounds of ground beef.  (I have been known to dump it in frozen if I forget to defrost it the night before)
- Taco Seasoning - below I will share my homemade recipe which we make in batches and keep in our cupboard, but feel free to just rip open a package and dump it in!
- 1/2 cup water

Cook on high 4 hours, or low for 6.
Break up meat at end and make sure ingredients are mixed.  You may need to add a little more water to keep it from being too dry.

Serve it up with hard shells or soft tortillas, add some fruit and call your night a success!  See, simple I told you!

Taco Seasoning
1 Tbsp flour
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. paprika
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp minced onion
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp sugar
1/8 tsp oregano

Mix all together and store in an airtight container.  I do usually at least triple this recipe so we always have it ready.  I vary the amount I use, depending on how much meat, but I would say use at least 1/8 cup per pound of meat.

Blessings,

Another Crazy Wednesday!

And another, and another, and...wait, today we have OFF!!  Yay us.  Because of the holiday, all of our Wednesday commitments have been canceled.  Can I just tell you that, although I will miss seeing friends, I am glad for a small break?!  Anyone else tired?

So while I am not crockpotting (yes, I made that word up) this week, I think we can expect that next week will have something to do with leftover turkey.  Just a head's up!

This week since I promised you a little more color-

Crock Pot Chicken BBQ!

6-8 boneless chicken breasts
1 cup ketchup
1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 cup cider vinegar

Place chicken in crockpot  (I put it in completely frozen)
In small bowl, combine remaining ingredients and pour over chicken.
Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high 4-5 hours.

We served it with french fries.  Yes, the frozen kind.  I told you- EASY is the theme.  No judging!


Off to- oh, nowhere today!  Yay us!

Blessings,

Rocking the Crockpot!

Yep, it is Wednesday again!  Who knew it could come around so quickly, right?

This time around we are going to change things up a bit and try a soup.  Well, you can try it, we already have and it was another hit!  I did have to giggle a bit when I realized the past meals are in the same color theme, so I promise next week we will do something with a bit of color!

But until then, this week is-

Slow Cooker Potato Soup

4 large potatoes, peeled and diced
1 TBS butter
32 oz. chicken broth
enough water to cover the potatoes
salt and pepper to taste
12 oz. can evaporated milk
Optional- bacon, cheddar cheese, chives to top


Add potatoes, butter, and chicken broth to crockpot, add water to cover.  Season with salt and pepper.
Cook on high 3-4 hours, or low for 6.
Add evaporated milk 15-30 minutes before serving.
Top with favorite garnishes.

(This is a recipe I found at Eat At Home, run by Tiffany!  Be sure to check her out when you get a free few minutes- she runs an AMAZING blog!)

The only thing I would do differently is to add bacon, which we just did not have on hand.  We did serve this with rolls and nothing else, because, well, it is all about speed on Wednesdays!

Time to hop in the car!

Blessings,

Another Quick Crockpot Meal!

So last week we talked about how crazy life is and how so many of us are on the go far more than we like or care to admit.  Can I get an amen?  (you can find the post and recipe here!)

Correct me if I am wrong, but this is what usually happens-

5:00 comes. (and thanks to Daylight Savings Time it is darker than dark already)

You pull out a pound of frozen meat, look at the clock, put the meat back in the freezer, and take the kids through a drive through on your way to the next event.

Not great food and a very large price.

Ask me how I know this!

That is why I pull out my crockpot on Wednesdays.  Otherwise, honestly, we would be frequent flyers at the local fast food drive-through.


I do tend to use recipes that are quick and have fewer ingredients on Wednesdays.  I have some amazing crockpot recipes I do on other occasions, but one of the things I am looking for on busy family nights is ease as well.  Fix it fast, eat it fast! So yes, these are BASIC!

Think families on the run!

And yes, they call for some instant foods!  Gasp, I know!  But I figure if we have 6 out of 7 meals mostly from scratch we are doing pretty well.  Sometimes we have to choose our battles, mammas!

This week's recipe (it's not stunningly beautiful but the kids like it!)-

Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole

 1 bag frozen shredded hash browns

1 can cream of mushroom soup 

1 8 oz container of sour cream

1-2 cups diced ham

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Mix all together and put in a greased crockpot.  Cook on low for 4 hours.

Add a salad and you are off to your next event!  Maybe even on time! ;)

Blessings, 

Crockin Fun Friday

I thought I would end this Fun Friday series with a dessert!  Who doesn't love dessert?

This recipe comes from a dear friend of mine who has put up with me for years.  Thanks D!

Crock Pot Pumpkin Pie

1 (16 oz) pumpkin

2 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

2 t vanilla

1 lg. can evap. milk

3/4 c. sugar

1/2 c. Bisquick

2 T butter

2 eggs

Spray crock.  Beat all ingredients together.  Pour into the crock.  Cover and cook 4 hours.  Serve with cool whip or ice cream.

Come back next week when I will begin a Fun Friday Homemade Mixes series for October!

Crocking Fun Friday and a blessing!

OK, here's a quick recipe for the slow cooker for you, we make this often!  It's makes a lot, so it is also good for when company is coming over.

Pulled Pork Sandwiches
1 (3 1/2-4 lb.) pork shoulder roast
1 can condensed French Onion Soup
1 c. ketchup
1/4 c. cider vinegar
3 tbsp. brown sugar

Put roast in slow cooker.  Mix remaining ingredients and pour over roast.  Cover and cook 4-5 hours on high, 6-8 on low.  Shred pork and cook an additional 10-20 minutes. 
Serve on buns.

Notice no picture?

Bad news- remember that  my crock pot died last week?  Yep, really could not get it to work.

The good news- My husband AND the Crock Pot people are amazing!

 I was going to just throw that sucker away and get a new one.  My amazing husband had a different idea and called Crock Pot's handy dandy phone number to see if they could help him fix it.  Stick with me, the story gets good.

He and the customer support gal played around for a while, turning the cooker on its' side, pressing buttons, etc with no luck.  Then, are you ready...

she said we will send you a new one!  Oh, and your model is not made anymore so we will have to send you a NEWER one.  Once the box gets there, please return the old one in the box so we can see what was wrong.

WOW!  Now how's that for customer support?  YEA CROCK POT!

Not to mention an AWESOME hubby who saved us money and was the hero of the day.  Well, he's always the hero, but he did get bonus points!  ;)