Celebrating slow-cookers

Have I mentioned lately how much I adore slow-cookers?   So far my favorite use for mine is making applesauce.

However, on Friday when I go grocery shopping, I will be getting ingredients to make either pot roast or pulled pork.  I found a recipe for each.  Haven't tried either one yet-but the look like they should be good recipes.

And the best part, they are slow-cooker recipes! So I get to just throw the ingredients in and let it go!

I will post how things go once the recipe is put to the test.

Feeling good

I've lost 8 pounds!  I know this isn't a whole lot in the long run, but it feels good to me because I'm doing it the healthy way and I don't feel deprived.  I allow myself a couple small pieces of chocolate for dessert and I don't feel guilty at all.  And tonight some friends came over and we just had a girls night in-and I allowed myself about 2 scoops of frozen yogurt. 

It helps to remind myself that if I do want a certain food-like more chocolate, that it will still be there tomorrow.  The few pieces I had were not the last bits of food I will ever eat.  And if for some reason they were-they tasted darn good! 

I've tried crash dieting before, many times; and I see very quick results, but I could never keep them up for too long because I was so hungry.  But now, I have pre-portioned snacks that I can just grab and go.  And then I don't continue to eat and eat and eat.  I feel like that was a big struggle, so now I'm doing much better with that.  I feel that this way I can keep it up for the long run and it helps that I'm seeing results.  It's been about 2 pounds per week-which is respected as a healthy amount. 

Anyway, time for bed; I just wanted to share my success so far.

Healthy Living

I've been doing pretty good on my new healthy "kick" which I hope turns into a lifestyle.  I had a good breakfast, a small snack when I was hungry, some homemade tacos for lunch-which were probably not the best-but they did fill me up for a while, I worked out with a Tae Bo dvd, and had a nicely portioned supper. 

I've been looking into portion control, since I think that's one of my main struggles.  But I was doing some reading about portion sizes and proportions and ratios and such.  And basically learned that with a 9 inch plate, 1/4 should be protein, 1/4 should be whole grain, and 1/2 should be vegetable; then add a glass of milk to drink (or some other small dairy source) and maybe a small serving of fruit.  So I had a small boneless skinless chicken breast-baked, some whole wheat couscous-using chicken broth instead of water-and adding a pinch of some seasoning like garlic, and green beans for my veggie-I LOVE green beans-they are one of my favorite veggies.

I'm also drinking more water since I stopped drinking soda.  This coming Monday it will be 3 weeks/21 days without soda.  And I don't crave it like I thought I would.  Now, if I am in the mood for a drink that's not milk or water, I drink Minute Maid light lemonade. But I don't drink that very much either-I'm just finding myself reaching for a glass of water much more often than I used to. 

I feel as though the Lord is leading me down a healthier path.  Simply trying to take better care of myself.

Domestic Thursday

Today I'm spending the day doing laundry, baking and sewing.  I baked Oatmeal Raisin cookies yesterday, they are my dad's favorite.  So today I'm baking Turtle Bars for my mom, pumpkin pie for my brother, and chocolate chip cookies for my brother's girlfriend.

Then I'll be sewing sweater mittens to give to family and friends as part of their Christmas gift.  Then I need to wrap gifts and I think I'll be done and ready to go home right after work tomorrow!

Have a Merry Christmas everyone.  And remember the reason for the holiday.  Remember that our Savior Jesus Christ was born and has saved us all. 

Crockpot Applesauce!

Today I attempted to make slow-cooker applesauce in my new slow-cooker.  It was a GREAT success!  It smelled amazing (unfortunately my roommate was making chili at the same time in her slow-cooker, and chili scent is much stronger than apple scent).  But if that had been the only thing cooking, it would have made the whole apartment smell amazing.

All I did was peel and cut up about 5 medium sized apples, added a few teaspoons of sugar, about a teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1/3 cup of water and started it on high, but then switched it to low while I was at my bowling league.  And when I came home they were nice and mushy, I didn't even need a masher of any sort, I just used the wooden spoon I had been stirring it with all along. 

The 5 apples I used was just a perfect amount for a few servings for just me.  I also don't think I need to cut the apples into such small pieces as I did. I peeled them and then used an apple corer and slicer.  I could have just cut those chunks in half or thirds, I cut the pieces to be the size of marbles.

Anyway, time for bed. I have a doctor checkup tomorrow morning at 8:00.

Crockpot Applesauce!

The other day my mom told me about a "recipe" she made in the slow cooker.  She had some leftover apples that she peeled, cut into chunks, and added sugar and cinnamon to taste.  She just let it cook in the slow cooker all day-it filled the house with a WONDERFUL smell and it tasted so yummy.  I haven't had time to try it myself yet, but I am so looking forward to it.

But for now, it's time to get dressed to go to a speech for a journalism class.

Easy Oreo Truffles

1 pkg. (1 lb. 2 oz) OREO cookies, finely crushed
1 pkg. (8 oz) cream cheese-softened
2 pkg. (8 squares each) semi-sweet chocolate-melted.

Mix 3 cups of cookie crumbs and cream cheese until well blended.  Shape into 1 inch balls.  Dip balls in melted chocolate-place on waxed paper-covered baking sheet.  Sprinkle on "topping" of choice-it can be more Oreo crumbs, finely crushed graham crackers, colored sprinkles (holidays) or anything else you think would be yummy!  I've done the graham crackers and those were yummy, but next time I'll have to try a new idea and experiment with that.

Refrigerate for 1 hour. Keep truffles in fridge until enjoying!

Chicken Stew

2 cooked, cubed chicken breasts
4-5 cooked, diced red potatoes
1 bag frozen, mixed veggies (choose your favorite blend)
2 small cans chicken broth/stock

some flour
spices (I used Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb blend-salt free)

Combine chicken and stock over medium heat; simmer for 10 minutes.  Stir in herbs, veggies and potatoes.  Cook until heated through.  Stir in flour to thicken sauce.
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This is a recipe that I actually found online-but in different measurements.  So instead of just converting them, I guesstimated on the amounts and it turned out very yummy!  One thing that I did was go a little heavy on the spices-they got a little overpowering, so be careful to only add a little at a time and keep tasting it.

You can also add onion in the first step-I did, for a little extra flavor-but then took them out before adding the flour.

Feel free to email me if you have any questions!

Bubble Pizza!

1 jar pizza sauce
2 tubes buttermilk biscuits-quartered
1 lb browned hamburger
1 pkg. pepperoni
shredded cheddar cheese and shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix pizza sauce, biscuits, and hamburger together.  Put in 9x13 pan, add pepperoni.  Bake 20 minutes, remove from oven and add cheese.  Bake 10 more minutes. Remove and let stand 5 minutes.
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This is a recipe that I first made in high school Home Ec. class.  It is a great recipe for families on a movie night or a Friday night...

New project...

I will be starting a new project of sorts.  I want to share some of my favorite "family" recipes.  Some of them are true family recipes handed down, and others are just ones that we got from a package of food/ingredients.

I am also going to post pictures of my apartment, I really like my cute apartment, but I am looking for new suggestions for interior design and possibly rearrangement.

But for now, homework.  I am to do a plastics inventory for my Biology class-our instructor is an "advocate" of sorts against so much plastic.  Then I have to do an online assessment for 2 chapters-in place of an exam because we won't have time before the class ends.

God bless.

One of my favorite things!

This is the cupcake apron that my lovely friend Amanda gave me for my birthday one year, I love it so much!

Tater Tot Hotdish

I have decided I should post my simple Tater Tot Hotdish recipe. This one is from my mom, but I don't know where she got it-I've looked online and I haven't found this particular recipe, so I'm just putting it out there.

Tater Tot Hotdish (13x9 pan)

2 lbs. hamburger
2 cans condensed Cream of Mushroom soup
onion flakes
2 cans green beans
12-16 oz. shredded cheddar cheese (or another kind if you prefer)
1 pkg. Ore-Ida tater tots

Brown hamburger in skillet. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix browned hamburger with soup and onion flakes (shake out as much as you think you will like). Spread in bottom of pan, layer with green beans, sprinkle cheese on top. Cover with tater tots. Bake at 350 for about an hour.


*Note*
For mixing the hamburger, soup and onion flakes, I just smush them together right in the pan; no need to dirty another dish!

Hope you enjoy!