Day 31 Crockpot Challenge Taco Cheese Dip

Wow I can't believe it has been a month already. I will admit it has been hard to break the habit of making the same things day in and day out. This is one of my favorite bad for you dishes that I just can't seem to stop eating.lol I usually make it in smaller batches but this is the serving if you want to make up a big batch.

1 Pound of Ground Beef(cooked and drained)

1 Can of Re-fried Beans

1 Large Package of Velveeta Cheese

1 Package of Taco Seasoning

1 Small Onion(grated)

1/2 Cup Milk

Now it is really easy you just throw it all in. However I do not recommend leaving this one completely unattended for a long time. For whatever reason sometimes I do have to add more milk as it cooks down. Once it is completely melted and blended you can leave it on warm and it will be just fine :O)

Top Foodie Blogs :O)

If you have read through my blog you know that Melanie from My Side of Life is my biggest mentor and all around an amazing friend and blogger. Well recently she has been nominated in the top 32 Foodie Blogs. Now they are wittling them down to the top 10 and I need your help :O) This is a by vote contest so if you could PLEASE go HERE. Vote for #20 My Side of Life it is fast and, just a click. Click on the blue vote ABOVE her entry. Thanks so much :O)Her button looks like the picture below.

Day 30 Crockpot Challenge Sweet Evil Goodness(Triple Chocolate Brownies)

Ok so I won't lie in two days we are making some major changes to the way we live around here.lol So well....the next two days I plan on filling my life with the most fattening horrible for you foods possible.lol So while browsing the internet for crockpot fat foods I found this amazing recipe. All I have to say is thank God for Martha Stewart.lol Here is what you will need:

Nonstick Cooking Spray

1 1/4 Cup Flour

1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder

3/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1 Stick of Butter(cut into pieces)

8 Ounces of Bitter Sweet Chocolate

1 Cup of Sugar

3 Large Eggs(lightly beaten)

1 Cup Walnuts Chopped

1 Cup of Chocolate Chips

Spray your crockpot with your nonstick cooking spray. Then in a small bowl mix the first four ingredients together. Place your butter and chocolate into a microwave safe bowl and melt slowly, stirring every 30 seconds to help prevent burning. Stir sugar into chocolate and then your eggs. Add your flour  mixture, walnuts and chocolate chips. Stir till combined but do not over stir. Cook on low for 3 1/2 hours, then uncovered for 30 minutes. If you can remove you crockpot insert after this I recommend it to speed cooling. If not I would turn it off after 15 minutes. :O) This was really good with ice cream and caramel sauce.

Franks RedHot and Frenchs

If you have been following the blog then you know for the last couple of days I have been using products from Franks RedHot and Frenchs to make up some new meals. The companies have been amazing enough to have given me 6 products to try. So while this is kind of an unconventional review I wanted to share in one place all the fun I had reviewing these products. Now I'll admit when I received the box of sauces and condiments I was a little worried. I had never tried any of them. No not even plain mustard.lol So it was quite a challenge for me to not only try these but to create something new and delicious out of them. Make sure to click on the ingredient to see the great recipe I made with that product.

First I tried the Franks RedHot Original, not only a new dish but a new crockpot dish. Now as someone who is sensitive to hot products I was really kind of worried about the taste of this one. While I could taste the spice in it the flavor was amazing! I really enjoyed using this product, my husband was proud.lol The next day came and I decided to go the way of the Frenchs Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce. This sauce even smelt like I would like it so I knew that anything I created with it would be amazing, and it was. With the third ingredient, Frenchs Dijon Mustard with Chardonnay Wine, I create a great fish dish. Really any dish with fish I can eat must have been well seasoned. The tang and sweetness in this product really gave the fish a good taste. I used the Frenchs Classic Yellow Mustard and Franks RedHot Thick in an amazing BBQ sauce, which I can't get enough of! I know, I know, I cheated and used two at once. For my final dish I tried one of their new products the Franks RedHot Sweet Chili Sauce, I rarely get to enjoy Chinese food in this house because the other people in my family don't eat it, but this sauce has now given me a fast easy way to enjoy it in whatever portion size I want!

I was really impressed by these brands as a whole, they were tasty and easy to use. I look forward to finishing off these bottles creating not only these dishes but anything else I can come up with :O)

**I was provided these products free of charge. I was not required to write a positive review, any and all views on these products are strictly my own.**

Franks RedHot Sweet and Spicy Chicken

I have had such a great time working with these new Franks RedHot sauces. Today much to my husband's dislike I created a dish that was what he considers "Chinese food" lol. It was really simply and very very good. Her is what you need:

1 LARGE chicken breast

3/8 Cup Franks RedHot Sweet Chili Sauce

1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar

First start by cutting your chicken breast into cubes. Not only will this help your chicken to cook faster but it will spread the flavor around more. In a pan cook up your chicken until the outside is white all over. Add the remaining ingredients and heat till the sauce starts to bubble a bit. I served it over rice and veggies and it was really good just the way it set :O).

Day 29 Crockpot Challenge Homemade BBQ sauce

Wow only 2 more days left in this challenge! I hope everyone has enjoyed it so far. Today I decided to not go for a meal but a sauce! We use A LOT of BBQ sauce in this family so I thought it would be fun to make my own. While I'm not sure I saved any money doing this it sure does taste good. Here is what you need:

4 Cups of Ketchup

1 Small onion chopped really fine

1/3 Cup packed Brown Sugar

2 Tablespoons Frenchs Mustard

1/2 Cup Water

2 Tablespoons Frenchs Worcestershire Sauce

1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar

3 Tablespoons Franks RedHot Thick

1/2 Teaspoon Pepper

Ok now this is odd but I did it because the recipe said to.lol Spray your slow cooker with a non-stick cooking spray. Then throw everything in and cook on low for 7-8 hours. Before using mix it really well, although it was pretty much mixed. This makes A LOT!  So enjoy it on EVERYTHING! lol

Calling All Bloggers with Pets

Recently I was given the opportunity to join up with Two Little Cavaliers and Happy Tails Spa / Eco Well Dog to do a giveaway hop and review! It is a FREE Opportunity for bloggers with dogs. As a mommy to three doggies I am excited to get to participate in this and I hope some of you will join us as well. If you are interested click the button below.

Frenchs Dijon Mustard Walnut Crusted Halibut

I'm really enjoying making new recipes using these Frenchs mustard varieties. Today I am using Frenchs Dijon Mustard with Chardonnay Wine. When I first looked at this one I knew instantly that it would go so good with fish. I used halibut because that is what I had but really you can use any white fish.

4 Tablespoons Frenchs Dijon Mustard With Chardonnay Wine

2 Halibut Fillets

1/2 Cup of Walnuts

1/2 Cup Breads Crumbs with Italian Seasoning

Really it is quite easy :O) I spread the mustard over both sides of the fish then set it in the fridge. Take the walnuts and crush them in your blender to make them fine like the bread crumbs. Next mix them together with the bread crumbs. Press the bread crumbs onto both sides of the fish. Now I do not like to fry things but you could here if you would like. If not place on a cookie in a 350 degree oven till flaky.

Day 28 Crockpot Challenge Wild Rice with Peas

I was a big worried about this recipe because my last rice experiment in the crockpot ended in disaster.lol I was assured though that it would work great so I held my breath. Thank goodness it turned out great because I had no real plan B for tonight's fish dinner. Here is what you will need:

2 1/4 Cups water

1 can of beef broth

1 can Condensed french Onion Soup

1/2 Cup Butter

1 Cup uncooked Brown Rice

1 Cup Uncooked Wild Rice

1 Cup Frozen Green Peas

Mix in Everything but the peas into your crockpot and allow to cook for 7-8 hours. About 30 minutes before serving mix in peas :O) the original recipe also called for 3 small cans of mushrooms but I don't like mushrooms.lol

PetCakes Review and Giveaway

Recently my family was given the amazing opportunity to review PetCakes Collectibles.  We received 2 of their Forest Animal assortment pets to check out. Honey Cakes, pictured on the left, and her friend Bamboo Berry the second one in the picture. Of course my 4 year old daughter took to them before her brothers got a chance to even breath and instantly fell in love! For the last 6 days she has carried them with her EVERYWHERE! She even sleeps with them and has added the rest of them to her ever building birthday list. These are great toys and very durable, She loves that they can fit all the way down inside their wrappers to look just like cupcakes, but of course insists those are only for hide and seek. They even had to join us at computer time.

PetCakes has a great sale going on right now that I plan on taking complete advantage of and I hope you do to! When you buy any 4 PetCakes Collectibles plush toys you receive the PetCakes Collectibles minis for FREE all you pay is an additional $1.99 shipping! We are ordering the Series one for her birthday :O) she loves puppies.

PetCakes Has been so wonderful to offer one of my amazing fans the chance to own one of these adorable Pets for yourself. One winner will be selected to receive a PetCakes Collectible from their series 2 line(A $14.99 value). The pet will be chosen by PetCakes and shipped to the winner. If you would like to enter make sure you scroll down to the Rafflecopter entry form below :O)

**I received this product to test and review, I was in no way obligated to provide a positive review. Any and all views expressed were my own and were in no way influenced.**

Wordless Wednesday

Frenchs Honey Mustard Grilled Pork Chops

When you think of Frenchs I'm sure you think of mustard, who doesn't. Well as part of my review I was given a new product I hadn't yet tried, their Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce! Now using it for dipping really wouldn't have made an exciting post would it ;o) So I decided to try using it as a marinade instead! Oh boy did it make my pork not only tasty but so tender, and of course everything is better on the grill. I took my thick cut pork chops and put them in a container with about 1/2 cup of the Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce and let it set for 5 hours. This was the perfect meal served with mashed potatoes and corn.

Chocolate Covered Peeps

With Easter just around the corner the parties and crafts have begun! I found this the other day from a  fellow blogger and thought wow what a great idea! Chocolate peeps seem to be the new craze in the Peep industry but boy are they expensive. Better yet when making them at home you can come up with so many different varieties. all you need is Chocolate chips, peeps and any sprinkles or toppings you can chose. 

I started by melting the chocolate chips. It was really simple I used my microwave and it took about 90 seconds, stopping every 30 seconds to stir. Just be sure you use a bowl that does not get hot! I burnt myself pretty good.lol After they are melted simply take you Peeps and dip them in the melted chocolate, using a spoon to cover the edges, then apply your sprinkles. If you want to check out my inspiration head over to Busy Mom on the Go.

Day 27 Crockpot Challenge Breakfast Bread Pudding

Throughout this challenge I have been kind of neglecting the breakfast section.lol I have tries several recipes but nothing I could really get to work. Well I finally found something and it was a hit with the kids! Here is what you will need:

4 1/2 Cups Cubed Bread

3 Large Green Apples peeled and chopped

1 Teaspoon Cinnamon

1/2 Teaspoon Allspice

1/4 Cup packed brown sugar

1/4 Teaspoon Salt

2 Cups of Milk

12 ounces of sausage broken apart or cut into pieces

Place half the bread into the crockpot. Mix everything else together in a bowl and pour half over bread. Top with the remaining bread and press down just a bit :O) Then add the remaining mixture and press down a little more. Top and cook on low for 6 hours.

Life With Cornish Chicks Day 22 Life in The Great Outdoors!

Wow I can't believe I have had them for over 3 weeks now. I feel like I have been watching my babies grow up before my eyes. They are now 3-4 weeks old and half way through their normal expected life expectancy. Which really is kind of a sad thought. This weekend we finally moved them outside 24 hours a day. with loves in the high 40s and low 50s though they couldn't be happier outside :O). The really love the fresh weeds the children hold in their cage.lol I throw food to them now twice a day and always worry it isn't enough. One of the chicks is still much smaller and less developed then the other two but she is developing so maybe she is just younger. What chick update post would be complete without a cute picture.

Day 26 Crockpot Challenge Franks RedHot Kicked Up Casserole

Recently I was given the opportunity to try out 6 different products from Franks Redhot and Frenchs. Over the next 6 days I will be creating and showing you the new and exciting meals that I have created. For today's meal it will also be in the crockpot :O) Here is what you need

1 Pound Ground Beef

5 Tablespoons Franks RedHot Original

2 Tablespoons Frenchs Worcestershire Sauce

1/2 Teaspoon Onion Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder

2 Medium Potatoes

1 Cup Frozen Corn

1 Can Kidney Beans

Now depending on how fatty your meat is you can brown it and drain the meat first. I just threw my raw ground beef into the crockpot. Add in the remaining ingredients. Cook on low for 4-5 hours to make sure your potatoes are done. Now I am really quite a light weight on the heat section so if you can handle the heat feel free to add more Franks RedHot! This is amazing served with cornbread and green beans.

Easter Treat Baskets

I love holidays, there are always so many fun things to do and make. Up until Easter I will post a fun activity a day that you can do with your family :O) Today me and my princess made little treat baskets for her brothers classroom. Here is what we used.

3 pieces of construction paper

Glue

Scissors

Ruler

Cut the construction paper in strips long ways

Take one strip and make a loop with it by gluing the ends together

To make the basket take strips attaching ends opposite of eachother

Continue till the basket is full

Then take more strips and weave them through

Attach a top strap for a handle.

These are so cheap and easy to make. With the amount of paper you cut you can make two baskets.

Day 25 Crockpot Challenge Slow Cooker Custard

With the temperatures reaching 87 degrees today I have certainly not been in the mood for anything hot! So I decided today was dessert day because I can cool this down and enjoy it after we were done on the roof!

2 Tablespoons of Butter

8 Eggs, beaten

2 Cups of Hal-and-half

2 Cups of Whole Milk

1 Cup of Sugar

This was actually easier then I thought it would be, although I'm sure not as healthy as I could have made it.lol Use the butter to grease the inside of your crockpot.In a mixing bowl mix all the ingredients well, then pour into your crockpot. Cover and let cook for about 4 hours, before turning off make sure your custard is set. Then turn pot off and uncover, let set for at least an hour at room temperature. I then put mine in the fridge to make nice and cold Mmmm.... You can top it with whatever you chose. Some good toppings are whipped cream, cinnamon, and nutmeg :O)

Jumpstart Review and Giveaway

Recently I was given the opportunity to review Jumpstart.com, it's learning software for children. As not only a mother of three young children, but with a child who struggle to learn I was very excited about this. The first day consisted really of mommy figuring everything out. Of course I had to "learn how it worked" right?? This was super simple to learn to use and has so many great features. I love that Jumpstart offers a parents zone where I can not only download more games for my children to play but I can track their progress in those games. THIS had to be my favorite part. I could see how the children were doing. It was easy to tell how much fun they were having that is for sure. You can visit their blog at http://blog.jumpstart.com it is a great place where parents can keep up to date on the new things coming to Jumpstart. It was here I learned that you can get Apps for your mobile devices. This was great so I rushed to my kindle to see what they were and found 3 free downloadable apps and several others ranging from 99 cents to $2.99.
While using Jumpstart my youngest child and middle child both really enjoyed the downloadable game Jumpstart 3D age 4-6. Which I guess was appropriate since she is 4 and he is 7(but has trouble learning). She LOVED planting flowers and taking her character around to meet all the other characters.lol You know typical girl things. My son really enjoyed putting together the calendar. I thought this was GREAT! A very important skill that he struggles with. He had to read just a little bit on and if he was struggling he could scroll over the box and it would tell him what it said so he never got down on himself for not knowing what to do. My oldest son really liked the fruit slicing game that was brought up when we launched Jumpstart. While it really wasn't educational more of a quick thinking game it gave him some down time after school. As a child of the 80s it really amazes me how far technology has come and how amazing children are at it! To sit and watch them soar through some things faster then I could was just great. In a technology driven world this skill will be very important to them in the future. I can't wait to see the long tern results from using Jumpstart but I am feeling very positive about the path there.

The people at Jumpstart have been wonderful enough to want to share this great experience with one lucky reader as well. So we will be giving away a free 3 month membership to Jumpstart.com to one lucky reader. Just use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. The giveaway will last from now till the first of April. Good Luck everyone :O)

Disclosure: I was provided with a JumpStart membership at no cost by Knowledge Adventure in order to test the products’ abilities and give my own personal opinions on it. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Day 24 Crockpot Challenge Cheesy Creamed Corn

It is so funny when I started this challenge I thought it would be a lot easier then it is.lol I find myself daily struggling to find a new recipe that my family will actually eat. I think really you do not realize how often you eat a food till it is time to make something different every day. This one came from a friend and I must admit I was a little scared.lol I always made cream corn out of a can. But it was really good and I hope you try it out :O)

3-16 ounce Packages of Frozen Corn

1-8 ounce Package of Cream Cheese

1-3 ounce Package of Cream Cheese Cubed

3 Tablespoons of Water

3 Tablespoons of Milk

1 Tablespoon of Sugar

1/2 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese 

Just throw it all in your crockpot and turn it on to low for about 4 hours :O) if you are home mix it every now and then.

Weekly Garden Update :O)

My plants are just taking off! I just got inside from planting 32 pickling cucumber plants. I really hope we have some good progress with them this year. We are trying something new though, instead of growing on the ground we are trying growing UP! My husband built me a system to help ensure that they have plenty of places to cling to. I am really loving this method because I can grow twice the amount of cucumbers in probably a 10th of the space. We have had great luck in the past growing them on the ground here so I really hope they do just as well.

I hope I didn't plant them to close to the onions.lol

Which are also just going CRAZY!

and of course for added cuteness look how big she is getting!

It has been such a funny gardening week. I went from pulling crab grass and weeds out for what seemed like an eternity. To wondering where I could steal some dandelions for my garden.lol Now if  you are wondering why I want to steal  those dandelions you'll have to head over to My Side of Life to see what she is up to! I promise you it is something you will never believe!

Day 23 Crockpot Challenge Cheesy Cauliflower and Broccoli

As you all know by now I struggle with healthy eating. I am a total food junkie and well fact is I have eaten less then 10 different vegetables in my life!............Yes I know that is shocking by anyone's standards.lol Ironically some of my favorites are foods people dislike the most. Cauliflower and Broccoli are two that my mama always made, of course covered in cheese, so when I found a way to make it in a crockpot I got as happy as a kid in a candy store.lol It was really fast and easy and MMmmmm......Here is what you need:

1-10 ounce package of frozen cauliflower

1-10 ounce package of frozen broccoli

1 Can Cheddar Cheese Soup

4 Slices of Bacon fried and broken into little pieces

1/4 cup Shredded Cheddar cheese

Throw the first 4 ingredients in the crockpot and turn it on :O) It will take about 4 hours to get it all yummy. Then top with cheddar cheese......We serve this over top of baked potatoes! Oh so good I wish I could eat it all the time.lol

Life with Cornish Chicks Day 17

So happy to say they are doing great. Although they are looking pretty ugly right now as they lose all their fluff and get in their big chicken feathers. They don't seem to be growing ridiculously fast or anything maybe my less then standard methods are helping them to develop more strongly. They are stay in they box in my kitchen closet at night then outside about 10 hours a day. Even though according to traditional keeping methods they should be being kept at 80 degrees right now they have been just fine at temperatures as low as 40 degrees. We do have an escape artist though :OP the biggest one can jump and "fly" just a big and manages to fit through the top line of the fence. They are actively seeking food which is awesome although still try to live in the food bin so I take it out most of the day and just sprinkle some about.

Day 22 Crockpot Challenge BBQ Shredded Chicken

I love chicken for so many reason, it is fast, easy to cook, good for you and freezes so well. Cooking chicken in a crockpot makes it that much better This meal is really easy of course and requires only two ingredients, Chicken and your favorite BBQ sauce. Just place your chicken breast in a crockpot and top with a bottle of BBQ sauce. I like to let it cook on low all day so that when it is time to eat you can shred it easily apart with two forks :O) Tonight we are having BBQ sandwich's on my Sub Rolls. Don't forget your Veggies! Green beans go great with this meal.

Day 21 Crockpot Challenge Comforting Chili

It is cold, dark, and rainy today. Normally this would make me very happy and it would be napping weather, lol or I'd feel like it at least. Well with our roof still pretty much exposed to the elements, being simply covered in a tarp, it has been anything but a relaxing day. so glad this morning I started one of my favorite comfort foods of all time! A nice pot of meat and bean chili. Here is what you will need:

1 Pound of Ground Meat(I use beef but really you can use anything)

2 Packages of Chili Seasoning

4 Cups of Water

2 Cans of Kidney Beans

1 Can of Black Beans

Shredded cheese

Now like always my meals are simple most of the time :O) Drain your beans of any liquid, then put everything but the cheese in the crockpot. Yep even the uncooked meat just break it up and throw it in! Turn on low for the day and walk away. When you are ready to eat put it in a bowl and sprinkle with cheese. Mmmmmmm....enjoy your little bowl of comfort.

My car reader is down on my computer so I will upload a picture soon as I can convince it that it likes me :O)

Wordless Wednesday

Day 20 Crockpot Challenge Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

Now don't freak out on me :O) yes I said cookies in the crockpot! Best thing yet, they were so fast and easy, I even mixed them in the crockpot. Here is what you need:

1 Stick of Butter

1/2 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup Brown Sugar (packed)

1 Egg

2 1/3 Cup Flour

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

Now I simply threw everything my my crockpot and mixed it with my blender :O) If your blender does not have rubber on the beaters then I recommend mixing it in a bowl. Then simply pressed it into the crockpot. Take 4 paper towels and put them under the lid but not touching the dough. Turn on low for two hours and walk away. After two hours turn your crockpot off and remove the lid. Serve when cooled(or when hot they just may not come out good yet) By the way make sure to press it good it does not spread like in the oven :O)

Day 19 Crockpot Challenge Classic Manicotti

This is one of my favorite meals whether it be made in a crockpot or in an oven. Problem is I am pretty much the only one who eats it in my family so I don't get to make it very often. If you love Italian food this is a fast and easy meal. For this I use my Manicotti Recipe and make just one simple change. Before adding the sauce in mix in a 1/2 Cup of water. Turn your crockpot on low and let it cook away. Serve with butter bread or garlic bread and enjoy your night :O)

Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler Review and Giveaway

Recently I was given an amazing opportunity to review a new product by Rubbermaid called the Hidden Recycler. As a family who does a lot to help our planet in many ways this was an exciting opportunity. I loved the fact the Rubbermaid not only made a product that would help my family continue their recycling more easily but they reduced packaging to merely a cardboard sleeve that I could in turn recycle. I quickly opened the package like a kid at Christmas and discovered it would not fit my kitchen cabinets :O( we are in the middle of a kitchen remodel and the layout of my old cabinets would not hold the brackets.  So as I sat down to gloat about not being able to use this amazing product, and I notice two holes on the lid and made a massive dash for the directions. Sure enough I can attach it with screws! (Which ironically took me forever to find in our construction materials) I found the perfect place for it in my laundry room and began putting all of Rubbermaid's claims to the test.lol

You'll be happy to know that they are all TRUE! I am a little nerdy of course so I started with milk jugs, you can fit 4 if they are uncrushed :O). Then it was onto the 2 liter bottles, I managed to fit 6 uncrushed. Unfortunately I didn't have 36 cans to put into it but I had 18 and I could see it fitting EASILY 36. I really enjoyed that the bag was sturdy enough to hold a decent amount of weight but could also be easily removed for cleanup and was machine washable. There is also a handle which helps you to easily remove it and take it to recycle either in a separate large bin or at the recycle center. I can't wait to pick up a couple more of these to help separate my recyclables.

Rubbermaid had been wonderful enough to offer one of these Hidden Recyclers(a $15.99 value) to one of my readers. If you would like to enter please do so in the Rafflecopter below

**I was provided this Rubbermaid product to do a fair and honest review. I was in no way obligated to provide a positive review, any and all opinions are that of my own**

Day 18 Crockpot Challenge Simple Roast Chicken

As I sit and talk with a friend I realized how little people actually cook anymore. In fact, at nearly 30 years old she has never, oh yes never made a roast chicken. Now granted she is a busy woman, always running from meeting to meeting and really just never making time to do something good for herself. So I told her I would make her a post :O). Luckily she is a good friend and was excited to find out how she can make herself and her husband a great meal and not have to stand in the kitchen all day getting it ready. Here is what you will need to make yourself and your family a full meal Roast Chicken meal in your crockpot:

1 Whole Chicken

2 Cloves of Garlic 

Baby Carrots(However many you need to serve your family usually 1/2 per person I make)

Small New Potatoes(2-3 per person is what i like)

Pepper

Paprika

1 Tablespoon Butter(Melted)

I love how fast and easy this meal is for any family whether you are a busy business woman like my friend, a mom with little ones under foot all day. Simply place your chicken into the crockpot. Surround it with the garlic,  carrots and potatoes, you can really use any carrots and potatoes but buying them small save chopping time and I know sometimes I would love an extra couple of minutes in life. Take your melted butter and put it over your chicken, then sprinkle the chicken with the pepper and paprika. Don't put to much on but give it a good dusting. Place your lid on set it to low and head off to your busy day. When your family is ready for dinner you meal will be to.Not only will this be a full meal for a couple but it will have leftovers for future meals.

Life With Cornish Chicks Day 13

I can't believe I have had them nearly 2 weeks now. According to everything I have read they have reached 1/4 of their life now assuming they were 1 day old when I bought them. Kind of sad to think of it that way, however I am hopeful because their growth is much slower then I thought it would be. They are still getting feathers and happy as can be. :O) One is still dramatically smaller then the others but that may be the thing that keeps her alive. Yesterday my husband and kiddos spent half the day making me a cute little chicken coop. I still am bringing them inside at night but now they will spend the other 12 hours outside pecking about their pen looking for food. I am sprinkling food on the ground for them 3 times a day and the let them have a free for all for 30 minutes before bed :O) Here is a picture of my coop. I'm excited to see what the future holds for them.

Day 17 Crockpot Challenge Ultimate Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

So this isn't an original idea but when I was wanting to try mashed potatoes out, I figured why not check out some other sites. Well I found this recipe at Pillsbury.com I figured well what goes best with a nice Smoked Brisket, and Homemade BBQ Baked Beans mashed potatoes for course!Here is what you need :O)

5 pounds of baking potatoes peeled and cut into chunks(I used russets)

1 1/2 Cup Chicken Broth

1/2 stick of butter

1 Cup Sour Cream or Plain Yogurt(don't tell my kids ;o) )

1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder

1 Teaspoon Onion Powder

1/2 Cup to 1 Cup of Milk

Salt and pepper to taste

Put your butter, chicken broth, and butter into your crockpot and allow them to cook on high for 4 to 4 1/2 hours. When that is done add everything else besides the milk and mash well. Mix in milk as needed and enjoy!

First Signs of Life

I'm getting more and more excited as my garden starts to take off. This is the first year I am really sitting down and planning out a full garden. Wow I had no idea how many rules and restrictions there were when it came to planting things. No wonder the gardens I have planted in the past have had such limited success.lol I took the time and picked up a book all about gardening and much to my surprise still had questions. Luckily I have a great friend to help me out. She is the blogger for My Side of Life and I swear that girl must know everything she has made my head spin in circles just trying to get this garden going. I'm is awe of the fact that she has been picking fresh fruits and vegetables from her garden for nearly a year now! I hope you will take the time to head over to her Gardening Section and see what she is up to these days :O). Now of course what people really want to see PICTURES! 

Look closely :OP

Mostly cucumbers

CORN!

My plants really took off this week with small views of onions erupting through the ground outside to cucumber plants that I swear have just gone mad. So mad in fact I have been outside most of the day just trying to get through this crab grass. I am happy to announce that I am about 1/4 of the way done woohoo! My husband is hard at work building my chicken pen :O) come by tomorrow and check it out as I up date you on those little devils.

Awww why not they always love their camera time.lol

An Amazing New Opportunity

Many of my readers have followed some of my healthy tips as we try to get to a healthy lifestyle, of course you have also seen my sweets and weaknesses.lol I've been given and amazing opportunity to work with http://www.dustinmaherfitness.com and http://www.fitmomsforlife.com. I hope you will come back and join my journey on the first.

Day 16 Crockpot Challenge Slow Cooker BBQ Baked Beans

Since tomorrow will be the day we smoke our brisket what is more perfect then a big pot of baked beans! I got this recipe from Betty Crocker's website just made a few substitutions for items I didn't have ;O)

2 Cups of Dry Pinto Beans

6 Cups of Water

3 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce

1/3 Cup BBQ Sauce

1 Teaspoon Onion powder

1 Teaspoon Onion Powder

1/2 Cup Brown Sugar

Place everything but the brown sugar into your crockpot and turn on high! After about 5 hours check to make sure you have enough water,burnt beans are gross, some beans absorb more then others I have discovered. Once most of your liquid in absorbed and your beans and fully cooked add your brown sugar and let cook for another hour on low. ENJOY!

Cake Batter Drop Cookies

Anyone who even kinda knows me knows I have a  major weakness for sweets. Problem is I usually just don't have the time to make them, so over time I have come up with ways to make something bad for me that is fast and yummy. These are super simple and good....plus they really can be customized to fit any style you like. Here is what you need:

1 Box of cake mix(I used a Pillsbury White cake)

1/2 bag chocolate chips(I used Nestle Tollhouse Dark chocolate and Mint)

Food coloring if you want some color

1 egg

1 stick of butter

The process really is easy just throw it in a bowl and mix well :O) Then put them on a cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake them at 350 degrees for about 8-10  minutes(times will vary)

Day 15 Crockpot Challenge Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken

This is by far one of my favorite things to cook. I love making it in large batches because it goes so well in everything. Mostly I use it in stir fry but it also freezes very well so I can freeze individual serving sizes then defrost them in the microwave for lunch. It is really a simple dish with only 4 ingredients. In your crockpot place 4 large chicken breasts in a single layer. Take 1/2 cup of pineapple juice from a  can of pineapple and pour it over the top. Take a couple chunks of pineapple and throw them in as well, I usually give the rest to my children as a treat :O). Then take your favorite teriyaki sauce about 2/3 cup and pour it in. Then simply let it cook on low for the day. Served up with rice and broccoli it is a complete meal everyone will love.

Meat Rub :O)

Okay so if you have ever been to the South you know how much we like to smoke meat out here. Well no brisket is complete without a good spice rub. Here is what we like to use on ours :O)

Spice Rub

1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder

1 Tablespoon Onion Powder

1 Tablespoon Season All

2 Teaspoons Chili Seasoning

1 Teaspoon Sage

1 Teaspoon Nutmeg

1 Teaspoon Black Pepper

Now really it is simple just put them all in a bowl and mix them all around with a spoon. Then take your brisket and rub it all over. Yes RUB! It is called a rub for a reason.lol Rubbing the spices into the meat insures that the seasoning gets into the pores of the meat so it can absorb the the flavor. Tomorrow I will be smoking this brisket(I like to let it sit over night) so make sure to come bake to see how that is done!

Life with Cornish Chicks Day 9 :O)

Nothing really bad to say today they are doing really well. They are feeding really good outside but of course want to do nothing but eat so this isn't surprising.lol They are growing slower then I thought they would I'm hoping that means that they are crossed with a less stupid breed.lol

Day 14 Crockpot Challenge Pot Roast :O)

This has to be one of my all time favorite meals and I admit I still CANNOT master the perfect flaky pot roast.lol Regardless it is still an amazing meal that I make and everyone seems to gobble it down! Best part is it is super simple and makes my house smell oh so yummy. All I do is take a small roast and place in it my crockpot with some chopped up potatoes and carrots. Over the top I sprinkle a healthy amount of pepper and onion powder. Smash a couple garlic cloves and add those in, in my opinion you can never have to much garlic :O). After you have all that in take your Worcestershire sauce and splash it all around, put in about a half of a cup of water, put your lid on, and turn it on your lowest setting. It really makes a great meal every time! 

Wordless Wednesday

What if one day they all went away?

Day 13 Crockpot Challenge Slow Cooker Ham and Eggs Breakfast Casserole

Sadly last night my cat decided to somehow knock off my crockpot onto the floor and I have been unable to get to to the store yet today to buy a new one :o(. So for today's I'm going to share a fellow bloggers amazing looking breakfast meal! I can't wait to start this in my own crockpot tonight. Maybe tomorrow when the kids wake up there will be less fighting in the air as breakfast will already be available. Check out Cookin' With Super Pickles Slow Cooker Ham and Eggs Breakfast Casserole. Mmmmmm....

Getting on the Shelf at Walmart

Getting on the shelf at Walmart is not as easy as you think these days. Not only does it take a lot of marketing and hard work but sometimes it takes a little caring. The people at EcostoreUSA are doing just that. Trying to bring care and safety to the shoppers of Walmart with their all natural products. They need a little help from you the consumers to get there. Walmart runs a Get on the Shelf program where consumers vote on products they want to see in their stores. Check out their video now and vote to get all natural products on your Walmart shelves :O).

Day 12 Crockpot Challenge Slow Cooker Pear Butter

Now this is a recipe I won't lie I was a little afraid to try. I got this from a Cafemom group I'm a part of. When I saw that the local grocery had pears on sale I thought what perfect timing! This was really easy and surprisingly my kids are madly in love with it! They have been eating it on their peanut butter sandwiches today and loving it! Here is what you will need:

10 large, well ripened pears(4 lbs)

2 Tbsp frozen orange juice concentrate

2 cups sugar (I only use 1 cup, 2 cups was way too sweet for me)

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground cloves

½ tsp ground allspice

Now like I said this was super easy to make. Peel and quarter pears then  place them in the slow cooker.  Cover them and cook on low 12 hours. Drain thoroughly and then discard liquid. Mash or puree pears then add remaining ingredients. Mix well and return to slow cooker. Cover cover and allow to cook on high for 1 hour. Place in hot sterile jars and seal. Process in hot water bath for 10 minutes. Allow to cool undisturbed for 24 hours. For more on canning check out My Side of Life.

Day 7 with Cornish Chicks-Stupidity Strikes

*SIGH* I knew it would only be a matter of time before they really started to show how stupid they are.lol It is a beautiful day outside today here and the children are on spring break so I decided it would be a good idea to take them out in the garden while I did some weeding. They were loving scratching around the garden, giving me some fertilizer while they were at it ;o). Suddenly my oldest yells to me that one was laying on its side..I get up and head over there and it jumps up only to lay back down. I got really worried and thought for sure this was the end of one of our sweet little chicks. My 4 year old simply says mommy I think she is thirsty and picks her up and carries her to the water. Sure enough the stupid little chick was just to stupid/lazy whichever it was to walk 2 feet to get a drink! She is fine now screaming for feeding time.lol I see this may be a long road. If they don't become stable enough to walk a couple feet for a drink they will never survive.

Day 11 Crockpot Challenge Hamburger Soup

I must admit at this challenge goes on it gets harder and harder to find new things to make. I never realized how much of a rut I really cook in making the same thing way to often. this is kind of a creation that I threw together that turned out pretty yummy if I must say so myself.

8 Cups of water

3 Tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce

1 Tablespoon A-1

2 Garlic Cloves (grated)

1 Teaspoon Onion powder

1 Cup Chopped carrots

2 Cups Chopped Potatoes

1 Pound Ground Beef

This is a really simple one which is just the way I like it :O) just throw everything in your crockpot and turn it on . Low if you are going to let it cook all day! I didn't have any other vegetables available because tomorrow is shopping day but I imagine any added veggies will make it that much better ;O)

Life with Cornish Chicks Day 6

Well day 6 is going so good, we got to take the chicks outside today. It only last 45 minutes before they got to tired and laid down for a nap.lol Still no heat lamp in their pen and they seem to be just fine with that. They are wanting to eat more and more these days it is just AMAZING! After being outside searching and eating everything they could find they came in and were looking for food already. I let them have it for 2 hours then took it out. They were stuffing their little chicken nugget faces when I left and stuffing their little faces when I came back. No wonder they are known for dying from being to fat to fast all they so is eat. Well here is a cute little picture they have nearly all their wing feathers now and are getting in their tail feathers. My husband is going to build them a pen soon and we will start transitioning them to be outside animals :O)

Spring Is In The Air-Blog Hop Giveaway!ENDED WINNER PICKED!

As spring begins there is so much to celebrate, the birds are coming around and the tempuratures are warming up. As spring cleaning begins and everyone starts fresh I've joined up with fellow bloggers to bring you a giveaway :O) through the end of the month we will be featuring them in this blog hop giveaway. I will be giving away 2 of my handcrafted soy candles to one winner. These are strawberry scented and will certainly bring a little spring joy into the winners home.


Contest Details:
*No purchase necessary
*US Residents only
*Contest runs from March 11th till March 31st
*Winner will be announced by April 7th and prize shipped as soon as information is recieved






a Rafflecopter giveaway




If you are interested in joining this blog hop at any point this month you are more then welcome to here is what you need to do :O)


1.Write a post about what you are celebrating or thankful for this month.
2.List what you will be giving away at the end of the month.
3.Include the following script at the bottom of your post.
<script src="http://www.simply-linked.com/listwidget.aspx?l=aa957944-4f21-4ea8-8bae-7c10431916f3" type="text/javascript"></script>
4.Register the blog on the linky on my blog.




Make sure to check out these blogs for more chances to win: