BBQ Chicken in the crockpot

This is one of those recipes that will leave everyone wondering how you scurried around all day in the hot kitchen and still look beautiful! Us women folk gotta have some secret tricks, right?!  Well here is this one...throw all your ingredients in the crockpot and head off to do what ever make you happy!
~Like having a cup of tea and reading recipe books with your mama...that's exactly what I did this past week when we made this for our fourth of July supper!

There are quite a few recipes similar to this one out there on the internet, I even noticed a sweet friend of mine came up with one just about the same. ~great minds thinks alike, they always say!~ She is always sharing some yummy recipes too so when you can go check out her blog too.

Ingredients

• Chicken breasts 4-6 pieces
• 1 bottle of BBQ sauce of choice ( I love sweet baby rays vidalia onion flavor)
• 1/4 c White or cider vinegar ( I normally just splash it in)
• 1/4 c Light brown sugar
• 1/4 Chicken broth or stock *optional
• Seasonings: Mesquite chicken seasoning, garlic powder, nature's seasoning, mrs. dash garlic or the onion variety, and course ground pepper. I normally sprinkle the garlic powder heavier than all the other seasonings. But if you do not have these on hand simply use garlic powder and pepper.

Directions

 Toss chicken into CP, add liquids, brown sugar crumbled over all of chicken, seasonings of choice and then top with bbq sauce, reserve a little for after shredding. Cook on low for 4-5 hours. 

When you are about to serve, take chicken out and shred with forks. Before returning to CP remove some of the broth and set aside. Now return shredded chicken to CP and top with remaining bbq sauce and stir. Should the meat look too dry slowly spoon in some of the reserved broth until moist. Keep in CP on warm setting until ready to serve.

I serve this on soft buns with slaw or chunky pickle relish and some sweet potato fries or steamed corn on the cob. But it is also super yummy on top of baked potatoes.

Since it also freezes well I will sometimes freeze some to pull out later and make a quick brunswick stew during the colder months.

Salsa Chicken...Clean Eating, Gluten Free

I got this FABULOUS recipe from a sweet friend I went to nursing school with. She introduced me into the world of clean eating and I love it. Its so easy and makes such great sense! (she has a great site online that you can find here) I also have a gluten sensitivity so some of my recipes are gluten free or gluten reduced. I always chose the GF alternative when I can.

Ingredients

• Chicken breasts 3-4 pieces
• 1 Jar of simple truth organic corn and black bean salsa (found at Kroger) If you don't have a kroger just choose a salsa with very minimal ingredients and little to no sugars, and free of preservatives and additives. A good rule is 5 ingredients or less. 

Directions

Simply toss chicken fresh or frozen into crockpot, pour salsa over the top and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours. Shred with a fork and enjoy!

They also sell a salsa verde version. While I don't bake with this one I love it for a topper over your salsa chicken creations!

The possibilities are endless with this one...here are a few options we have come up with.

1. Chicken tacos
2. Taco salad
3. Enchilada with salsa verde topper
4. Chicken quesadillas 
5. Over Rice
6. On a baked potato, add black beans and cheese.
7. On a plate with side items like black beans and salad
8. Spooned over a slice of cornbread with melted cheese and sour cream
9.  ...Now it's your turn...
10.  Don't forget to share your ideas too!

Monterey Chicken and catchin up!

Hey Everybody! Long time no see huh? Well I will start my catch up posts with this yummy recipe I had mentioned a while back. I have found a few recipes like this on pinterest and you know me I always use part of one recipe with another and make it my own!
It's super yummy and a great spin on the grilled chicken breast. -Sorry the pictures are missing...I'm working on tracking them down. I think they are on my old cell phone. Ooh the world of everything digital! I will add them as soon as I find them. But in the meantime, Ya'll can be enjoying this for supper.

Ingredients

• Boneless skinless chicken breasts
• Moores sauce (steak marinade, worcestersire will do just fine too)
• BBQ sauce of choice (my is always sweet baby rays...hickory or vidalia)
• Bacon cooked cooled and crumbled
• Shredded cheese ( I like to use sharp cheddar, or a colby jack blend) 
• Diced red onion
• 1 can diced fire roasted tomatoes- drained.
• Pepper *optional additional seasonings: ( I also use my fav's: natures seasoning and a mrs. dash or two, and sometimes some garlic powder) 

Directions

1. Pound out the chicken breasts and poke with a fork to tenderize. (this also makes lil holes for the marinade to get into)
2. Place into a shallow dish or container and pour a little marinade over them and season with pepper and optional addition seasonings. Let soak for at least 15-20 minutes, but you can marinate longer in the fridge if you like.
3. Fire up the grill! Place chicken on grill and cook until done. Don't forget to preheat the oven at 400º
4. Once chicken is done top with bbq sauce, bacon crumbles, cheese, onions and tomatoes.
5. Bake for about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

As always I like to offer options on all my recipes...or maybe it's the fact that anytime I write a recipe down I automatically start thinking of other things...dang ADD! Anywhoo.  This recipe can also be made into a more southwest version by using rotel for the tomatoes and by seasoning the chicken with: garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, and pepper. Ok now my lil hamster is just a spinnin in his wheel 90 to nothing! I keep thinking of more and more recipes for you guys! I better get to posting before he gets pooped and all is lost! LOL Stay tuned...

Bassinet Diaper Cake

Today I set out to conquer the world of diaper cake sculptures! And here is my first attempt creation. It is a bassinet made from diapers, a baby wipe box and a bib. I had my first order for one today and I was super excited at the possibility of finally getting to make money by crafting. Long story short...order was cancelled. But I was still excited at the opportunity. So now this lil jewel is for sale on craigslist! 

Now I'm off to make monterey chicken for supper! It's a new recipe I discovered on pinterest...I will post it later.

Mini popcorn thank-you's

Mini Popcorn thank you's

These lil jewels were part of the great 30th birthday surprise of 2012! They are really easy to make. Just some mini popcorn bags wrapped in scrapbook paper and topped with a stamped thank you on top.

I will end this post with a few cute pics from my sweet hubby's party! 

Mess free glitter ornaments

I told ya'll I am wayyy behind on posts so now I'm gonna take you all the way back to Christmas...which is one of my most favorite times of year soo let's reminisce. Grab a hot chocolate and your comfy flannel jammies. It's craft time!

 The reason these are "mess free" are because the glitter is all on the inside. Now I say mess free...but while you are making them you are inevitably going to look like a disco ball! But once complete no more glitter all over the house when it comes time to decorate the tree each year! I love glitter but hate to wear it so once I discovered these on pinterest I was sold!

They are super easy to make: First there are a few key pieces that you must not skrimp on...yea I just said skrimp and all my fellow southerners will read this with out skipping a beat. But for everyone else that are just as confused as my spell checker is right now that just means...not to go cheap or improvise! ( ok thanks google...I stand corrected it could also be scrimp. But whatever I like skrimp!) These are what you must have: micro glitter or ultra fine strip glitter and the floor cleaner. It must be a pledge floor cleaner style solution, because that is the trick to getting a good glitter coat on the inside of your ornament!

You need to make sure you have everything all laid out for each step because time is of the essence!
First: Go ahead and make a little funnel for your glitter with a index card. Second: pick your glitter. Third: Pour a little pledge cleaner into the ornament and roll it around so that it coats the whole inside. DO NOT shake...it will make bubbles! Roll until coated and pour excess back into the bottle. Next: Pour your glitter of choice into the ornament and pour more than you would think you will need. Now this is where you must work quickly! Roll the ornament just like before to coat the inside with glitter. Then tap out the excess. After this just let your ornament sit on a cup to dry a little. All that is left to do now is to replace the metal cap and decorate the outside!

Tah-dahh pretty mess free glitter ornaments!

I must admit this is clearly a pinterest knock-off...but for a few readers who aren't as obsessed with pinterest as yours truly, here ya go!

I would like to thank....Pinterest...my cousin-n-law Alicia...hobby lobby....(que music)...oh and my momma and sissy for these fun memories and crafts! 

Door Hangers & Diaper Cakes

It's been over a year since I made these for a friend that was having twins, but I'm in catch up mode. So I'll share them now! These sweet babes just turned ONE!!! Goodness time flies. So bear with me while I post a bunch from the past. 

These crafts where so fun to make! The first being the FABULOUS fluffy tulle wreath with birth stats charts and name canvas in the middle. There are a lot of reasons I love this....1. You will be the talk of the mother baby floor at the hospital, 2. You can hang it on the front door when you bring your sweet lil bundle home, 3. The canvases are detachable for use in decorating the nursery later! 

Second is the 3 tier diaper cake...my first ever attempt at it and I was so excited about it if I do say so myself! It was all assembled so that the mommy could use it from the top down. With the larger size diapers on the bottom tier. The topper was made from wash clothes and greeting cards ( found @ biglots), the tiers were decorated with small toiletries and on the back I attached a diaper wipe case for the diaper bag. The interior of the cake can be made of bottles...but this one was assembled around a paper towel cardboard roll attached to a cake plate. Oh and how could I forget that the green polka dot ribbon can later be used for hair bows! 

There are so many ways that you can customize these crafts...from keepsakes to themes --Anything goes! 

I would love to make you one or some one you know... If you do please let me know.  *Note: These were my very first attempt for these crafts...I have since researched and found even better ideas and materials. 

Well off to nurse a sick hubby and cook some supper.  Tonight is Spaghetti night!!

Spoonful of Love ~B

Fiesta Fish Packs

Looking for an easy foil pack dinner that can go from frozen to done in less than an hour?

This is a super easy and very *customizable dinner option.

Supplies and Ingreds

• Foil- torn into packet sized sheets
• Talapia filets
• Butter
• Favorite Ms. dash seasonings or Natures seasoning. ( If your new...these are my staples. Salt free and yummy!)
• Birds Eye steam in the bag chefs favorites lightly seasoned southwestern corn
• 1 can black beans, undrained

Directions for layering

1. Steam corn for half of recommended cook time.
2. Spoon into foil sheet a bed of corn.
3. Place one to two fillets of fish on top.
4. Season fish and top with a pat or two of butter....ha ha I just can't say butter without thinking of the SNL paula deen skit where she says buttah an awwl yall...buttah an awwl! LOL...just can't do it! So go on now and put yall on some buttah or a drizzle of olive awwl, yall.
5. Spoon black beans over fish.
6. Now fold up the foil pack and bake at 375-400 degrees on a baking sheet for 15-20 minutes depending on amount and thickness of fish. Once white and flaky it's done.

Enjoy!

*** I noted these are very customizable...using the same fish(talapia), you can change out the corn mixture and beans for rice and other veggies. Whether fresh from the garden like onions with some zucchini and squash or from the freezer these can be made into many different versions! Check out the birds eye steam fresh varieties (*here*) and see what you come up with! I just did and found an asian blend that I would layer with talapia and drizzle with teriyaki sauce, Mmm!

Easy Brunswick Stew

This is a fall staple here at our house, and adapted from my momma's recipe. Its super easy and a great fix that saves well and freezes beautifully. It is actually one of those dishes that gets tastier as the flavors merry in the days ahead. 

I recently had the opportunity to make and share this dish with a few great friends and it went over really well. I received lots of compliments and many wanted the recipe so here yall go! I hope you enjoy this as much as we do. 

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. frozen cubed country hash brown potatoes 
• 1 box of liquid chicken broth (4 cups)
• 1 tsp. or more to taste of ground black pepper
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 28 oz. diced tomatoes, undrained
• 16 oz. shoe peg corn or other mixed variety frozen corn
• 16 oz. fordhook limas or other frozen lima beans
• 1-1.5 lbs. Pulled pork
• 1-2 cups BBQ sauce provided with pork
• 1 small bottle kraft original BBQ sauce for extra
• worchestchire sauce

You will need a large stock pot for this recipe.

Directions:

Start on med-high to high heat. Boil broth, potatoes, lima beans and seasonings. Boil for 5 to 10 minutes. Turn heat down to medium heat. Stir in can of tomatoes with juice, and all other remaining ingredients. Cook on med heat for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to med- low and cook for 30 minutes or until heated throughout. Taste during cooking and add more BBQ sauce to taste. I normally use one cup from bbq joint and then 3/4 of kraft original sauce. ( I also have used generic original bbq sauce and it works just as well)

As for seasonings: add what ever you desire to taste. I like to use coarse black pepper, a pinch of red pepper flakes, a pinch of minced garlic, natures seasoning blend, and ms. dash onion and herb.

Yields: 12 one cup servings. 

Serve with cornbread or rolls.

If making this recipe in the crockpot for a party: Do not add the potatoes at the start. They will be too mushy by time to eat it. I would suggest adding frozen potatoes 1-2 hours before eating. 

Easy Hubby Supper's...and my kitchen is a wreck!

As many of you may know I've been sick for a week now...yea I'm all snotty and pathetic! It all started with a sore throat that ended up being strep and then turned into a head cold not it's migrated south and set up residence in my chest like those lil fat mucus people on the mucinex commercials. I'm pretty sure my mucus family looks a lot like the family from Honey Boo boo and they are all down there fighting over the barrel of cheese balls!!! And the coughing lawd have mercy! I'm one of those select few that did not get the graceful coughing gene...OH No! I have violent coughing, convulsing, gagging fits! Yep and nothing seems to help! Sooo....now that I have whined enough. 

Let me get to the good stuff...Recipes! When ever I am sick or when I was in nursing school and needed some extra help in the kitchen...I invent these recipes that always begin with "Easy hubby...". Like Easy Hubby lasagna, Easy Hubby Casserole, and today was Easy hubby Veggie Beef Soup!

I find that while my husband is so generous and kind about helping out, he is indeed a man & let's face it their brains just work differently. So when I design these recipes they are normally written in man language and E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G all spelled out to the very last detail. Not that they need it super simplified but because the whole idea of this is so you don't have to be in the kitchen. And there isn't a whole lotta questions about everything. 

I will save you the lengthy man style details on here though.

So here are the latest two dishes my DSH has made for us! Hope you enjoy :D

Easy Hubby Chicken Casserole

• 1 rotisserie chicken
• 1 can cheese soup
• 1 1/2 cups sour cream
• 3/4 - 1 cup milk
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar
• 1 bag of frozen broccoli, thawed
• 1 bag 20 oz of shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed
• Half a stick of butter, melted
• S/P to taste and some dry seasonings of your choice

Preheat oven to 375 degrees, coat a 13x9 baking dish. In a large bowl mix soup...sour cream, milk, cheese, and add in shredded chicken, then broccoli and seasonings to taste. Pour into casserole dish. Mix in same bowl hash brown potatoes and melted butter. Spread potatoes over top of casserole and bake uncovered for 55-60 or until golden on top.

Easy Hubby Veggie Beef Soup

• 1-1.45 lbs ground beef
• 1 onion, diced. (can get fresh or already diced frozen ones)
• 1 can of veggie broth, 1 can beef broth
• 1 bag frozen diced country hash brown potatoes (this is a short cut secret for having to peel and cut up potatoes in any recipe)
• 1 bag frozen mix veggies or soup mix veggies
• 1 can diced tomatoes, do not drain
• 1-2 small cans V-8 spicy/ regular
• worchestsire sauce, moores sauce, mrs. dash of choice, pepper, white sugar, and bbq sauce.

Brown meat and diced onions, season with mrs.dash, worchestsire and moores. Drain

In large soup pot, combine all other ingredients. As for potatoes and veggies just add as many you would like. Stir and add one half to one tablespoon sugar and a squirt of your favorite bbq sauce. If there isn't enough liquid just add in some water. Let it simmer stirring periodically until veggies are tender. Serve with some french bread or bread sticks. 

This can be made ahead in crock pot and left to simmer on low all day (add potatoes in during last hour so they don't dissolve). If you are wanting it super fast...just pre cook or thaw veggies before adding to soup. 

Hope you all enjoy these recipes...and most importantly I sure hope this makes sense. Trying to type and compile your thoughts while completely wonky on cough medicine is actually kinda hard! LOL 

Absence makes the heart grow fonder...and other sayin's

Isn't that how the saying goes? -Absence make the heart grow fonder. Well I believe that to be so true, but I'm also finding that it makes your appreciation, and greatful-ness grow all the more.

My dear sweet hubby has been gone all week on business and I have been holding down the homestead ever since. I mean I feel like Nichole Kidman in Cold Mountain...just with out a Ruby to come help out on the farm! I have grown to appreciate just how much my husband really does around the house and learned that I can do a lot more than I ever thought...and I just thought I would share that with yall! ***I love you Hubby, I'm so grateful for all that you do. I'm blessed beyond anything that I ever deserve.

It would just so happen that this week we have triple digit temps. -Thank you mother nature, for making me a stinky hot mess :)

So here is a little of what I've been up to lately....

Almost forgot how pretty the coffee table is,  this is the after. I spared you the before picture. Now its all bright and shiny from pledge! 

Yardwork, watering the garden, tending the plants, picking the garden, scooping bugs out of the pools, attempting to vacuum to pool, watering the flowers --Repeat daily! And a lil of my normal stuff...washing clothes, cleaning in the house and organizing lots of clutter! Whew...so after a week of all this I'm one worn out little chic. I did save some things for the hubby...which involves some HUGE black widow spiders and by huge I mean so big they would eat a lil girl like me!!! So I drew the line at that!!

But Im so proud to say the garden is still thriving and isn't a giant brown tumble weed! And by thriving I mean there is no more room in the fridge or any of my counter tops. So now I'm searching my pinterest boards for some canning recipes. When I find some good ones I will post them here for yall.

Well I'm off to grab a shower because I'm far more stinkier than any good southern girl should ever be!

I'll leave you with a few pictures of our "Bumper Crop"<--- gotta figure out what that really means.  Here it is in its fresh just picked glory!

Smoked Tuna Casserole

I can hear so many of you right now....Ewwww tuna casserole! or hear my sweet daddy's tale of when my momma made him a tuna casserole when they were newlyweds. (I just love stories like that) Well really it's amazing. Some how it got a bad rap along with other dishes like meatloaf and well.... that's all I can think of right now, but I love them both and if you try it this way then I'm sure you will too. P.S. Sorry I don't have a picture of this one, we dug into it before I shot a pic. I'll get one next time ~ promise ~

Ingredients:

• Three packs/cans of tuna: I use 1 hickory smoked and two cans in water (drained)
• 1 bag fluffy egg noodles (I cooked a lil over half the bag)
• 1 small onion chopped 
• 1 bag steamfresh garlic peas and mushrooms
• 1 can sliced mushrooms
• 2 cans cream of something soup Choose from: Chicken, chicken and mushroom, mushroom, mushroom with roasted garlic, celery, chicken with herbs, onion. **I opted for 1 can chicken and mushroom (thankfully they actually make a product for people as indecisive as me) ~grins~ and 1 can celery
• 1 12 oz can evaporated milk
• Some regular milk
• Shredded cheese
• fried onions (like frenches) I used some off the salad fixin's isle and they were a garlic pepper  flavor...SOOOO Good. ~and cheaper too! *make sure you have some extra, because when you heat up the left-overs adding a fresh crunch to the serving is great! 
• Natures Seasoning, smoked paprika, Mrs. Dash(garlic herb or onion herb) and S/P to taste 
• Note: For my Shoals friends I have searched and found that you can buy the crispy onions at Food World in Florence. I purchased at publix and have also seen them at kroger.

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees, Boil noodles (al dente') do not cook to softness you would normally because they are going to be baked so they will continue to soften. While noodles are boiling chop and soften your onion.**when I say soften I mean get it started cooking a little because many times in casseroles the onions and such are still kind of crunchy. So either do a quick saute or simply place in a microwave safe glass bowl or pyrex with some butter or oil and cook for about 2 minutes. Drain noodles and pour into casserole dish. (13x9 or a round casserole dish) Pre-steam the garlic peas n mushrooms, for half the recommended cooking time. 

In a large bowl combine: 2 cans of soup, 1 can of evaporated milk, a enough splashes of regular milk to make the mixture more liquid. **when making a casserole with egg noodles, you will always wish you added more liquid so don't hesitate. Now add in onion, mushrooms, seasoning, tuna, and pre-steamed bag of garlic peas n mushrooms. Stir all that yummi-ness up and sprinkle in a handful of cheese. Now pour all that over the noodles and fold it all together. Sprinkle the top with some extra smoked paprika and pepper. Bake until bubbly, remove from oven top with the crunchy onions and a full cheese cap. Return to oven until top is golden and bubbly. Let is rest for 5 minutes before plating. 

Alternate instructions: 

1. For those who are opposed to mushrooms, use regular frozen peas (pre-softened of course) and add more Mrs. dash garlic and herb, and use some of the other cream o soup options. 
2. For those who choose to not add the yummy richness of evaporated milk, simply use more regular milk.
3. For those who do not have or can not find smoked paprika, use two packs smoked tuna and one can.
4. If you don't like peas, use green beans....and if you don't like that either?....well your momma should whipped whooped you! LOL j/k Try it you might be surprised...adults often find that their tastes have changed since childhood! 

First Harvest 2012

What's better than just picked fresh home grown garden veggies?.....Well if you can think of anything let me know. This is one of the only reasons I like summer, cause we all know I'm a fall lovin' girl. But anyways...I do like summer for: garden veggies, going fishing on the lake and going to the beach. So in honor of the start of out summer harvest I thought I would share my favorite skillet squash recipe with yall. It's super simple!

• Yellow squash, washed and sliced. Don't peel it.
• Vidalia Onion
• Butter
• oil of choice
• White sugar
• S/P or Natures seasoning

Combine in the skillet, cook over med-high heat to start then down to med-low to simmer a little. I also find that it all cooks down faster if you put a lid on it. 

Hope everyone has a fun time this father's day weekend!

I will leave yall with a cute pic of mini veggies, I took these after I accidentally knocked off a lil pepper. I think they are so cute but I'm dorky like that.

--well apparently not, since my photo upload is being a pain. I will repost later.

Another Rotisserie Chicken quick meal

What on earth did we all do before the handy invention of the grocery store rotisserie chicken? I'm sure people like my momma, or my granny would answer that in one of those drawn out...settle in with a cup of tea style stores. But for me...my story is simple...back in the day for me, was buying over priced precooked chicken breasts in the deli section that you just popped into the microwave! I remember loving them sooo much... for two reasons: 1. They impressed my man, filled his tummy and convinced him I was a great cook. All before I really had mastered my handy cooking skills. 2. They tasted like the yummy chicken they serve at the Dolly Parton Dixie Stampede in gatlinburg...which always brings back some warm and fuzzy feelings of childhood. But even before all that I know my momma would say: things back then sure took a lot of work and extra planning! Thats why I'm so grateful for these new fangled little pre-cooked...pre-seasoned...birdies!!! Because we all know I'm not into extra work or extra planning!

So here is yet another quick and tasty recipe that will fool everyone that you spent all day in the kitchen. So grab a rotisserie chicken, whip this up and in the mean time...go doll yourself up and everyone will wonder just how you do it! ;D

• Rotisserie Chicken-torn, chopped, or shredded-it's up to you! You can also slice and place on the top over the sauce for a different presentation. 
• Pasta of choice- I often use whole wheat linguine or rotini-anything will do. This is also great over minute rice cooked with italian herbs in it. 
• 2 Jars Creamy pasta sauce: tomato cream, alfredo, or make your own.
• To make your own sauce: Combine a cabernet marinara or a sauce with basil, in a small pot on the stove with small pours of heavy cream until it's a good creamy consistency. Do this on a low heat, so you don't scorch the sauce. (this sauce is good poured over breaded chicken breast and cheese for a super easy parmesan chicken)**note to self post that recipe soon!
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 cup of steamed peas, more or less if you like. (DO NOT use canned they are too mushy)
• 1 can of mushrooms, or fresh is you have more time. 
• ground pepper to taste
• Mrs. Dash italian herb, and the garlic herb too. Just a few sprinkles

Simmer all this in a larger pot on the stove, stirring frequently. Once heated throughout and the flavors have mingled spoon over your cooked pasta or rice. 

Serve with a side salad, asparagus, or steamed broccoli. Enjoy!

P.S. I know this is a rotiss recipe, but I do want to add if you have some leftover grilled chicken this is a wonderful recipe for that too. Do everything the same just add in your LO ckn in place of the rotiss! 

More coming tomorrow

Hey yall as you can tell I was away from the site for a while...sorry about that ( I have told ya about my attention span being that of a gnat, right?). But I did add a bunch more new things today. Gotta go get my exercise in for the day...and breath in about a ton of pollen, LOL. But I just wanted to let yall know to check back tomorrow or Friday because there will be even more added by then. Hope your enjoying this offical spring weather...even though it's been fairly springy before now. We sure have! ---started prep'n the garden and even squeezed in a fishing trip. But more on all that later.

Spoonful of Love, B

Rotisserie to the rescue!

Seriously what on earth did we ever do before these little guys were invented? 
*Here is a quick hint if you cant get a rotisserie or just want to have some quick protein to add to a meal. When those big packs of chicken go on sale grab one and boil it on the stove with water and bullion cubes, seasoning and liquid smoke. Drain off the broth and save for later or put it up for use in recipes later on. Ok, so shred that chicken and spoon in a little broth. Package in freezer safe bags or containers and thaw it out when needed.  Make sure you get all the air smooshed out before freezing.

*quick hint number two--- don't have time to boil that big pack of chicken? Girrrlll, you aren't alone. Here is another easy way. Dump it in a crock pot, add water and bullion or canned broth, seasoning and OOil. Let it go on low all day or at least for 6 hours. Then do just like I said above.

Ok, back on track here...I'm so A.D.D.- I swear I have the attention span of a gnat!

Chicken Risotto
Ingredients

• Minute Rice (must be minute)
• Rotiss. Chicken any flavor
• 1 Bag of Italian shredded cheese
• Chicken broth or water and 1 can of Cream of chicken, mushroom, herb...you choose
• Milk- splashes as needed for consistency
• Water
• petite diced tomatoes - add as many or as less as you want...or omit.
• Mrs. Dash Italian seasoning, garlic herb- just shake some in to taste.
• 1 can diced portobello mushrooms

Directions

Cook rice as box says...then add all other ingredients. Using med-low heat....then let it simmer, stir occasionally to avoid sticking. 

Serve with

Steamed asparagus, brussel sprouts, green beans, or a salad and garlic bread! Enjoy ;)

A side dish your granny never made!

Talking about easy side dish options on my last post made me start thinkin' about a few other quick and easy side dishes I make....heck I guess all the ones I make are. So here's the details and promise me...even your granny will think you make this from scratch!! --ssh we won't tell ;)

1. Canned green beans
2. Canned greens the skillet way
3. Creamed potatoes
4. Black eyed peas
5. Lima Beans
6. Garlic peas & mushrooms
7. Corn on the cob
8. Creamed corn
9. Parmesan risotto
10. Butter Herb New potatoes
11. Seasoned steamed Broccoli
12. Sweet potato fries
13. Oven "Fries"
14. Mixed Veggies with butter herb sauce

Green beans, & greens- see previous post

Creamed potatoes - Steam in the bag potatoes or instant. Use milk or cream, butter, & chicken broth **never water! Also you can stir in some ranch dsg, or mayo if desired. Season with natures seasoning and pepper to taste. Whip with hand mixer or for even easier shortcut...use a potato masher for rough mashed taters. A potato masher is found where they sell spoons and spatulas. It looks like a curvy S shaped thingy with a handle.

Black eyed peas & Lima beans - Simple picsweet frozen peas with snaps that are seasoned...or frozen plain ones and add butter, seasoning, LSmoke...just add a dash or two of what ever seasoning you like.

Corn on the cob & Garlic peas n mushrooms - Steam fresh bag, pop into microwave for 5 min and done. Add butter and serve. Who woulda ever thought you could have corn on the cob in 5 mins from the freezer! 

Creamed Corn - 1 can whole kernel, 1 can cream or 1 frozen tube of cream. Add S/P, 1/2 - 1 tablespoon sugar, Natures seasoning.

Parmesan Risotto - Minute rice (must be minute), 1 cup shredded Italian cheese, Mrs. Dash Italian- shake in a little to taste.

Butter & Herb New Potatoes - Little red skin potatoes, washed and eyes removed (Do not peel). Place in boiling water or in steamer until softened. Place in a bowl and toss with butter, lemon juice and dill. Can sub any seasoning you like for the dill. But try it at least once it's soo yummy!

Seasoned Steamed Brocoli - Fresh brocoli or frozen (thawed), add spray butter and natures seasoning. Place in steamer for 2-3 minutes.

Sweet potato fries - frozen in a bag...get some they are yummy. Try the chipotle kind too! They have a low glycemic index. 

Oven "fries" - Slice washed semi peeled (peel strips of peeling off, or all if desired)potatoes in half lengthwise and then in long chunky fry like pieces. Place in a ziploc bag...add OO(olive oil), powder parm cheese*optional, Seasoning of choice, and some S/P. This is where you can get creative...toss in anything yummy you can think of....like what you say?...humm try OO and some dry italian dressing mix or some dry ranch dressing mix! See easy now get creative! Coat potatoes in the bag and then dump them out and arrange on a baking sheet. Bake in the oven on 425 for 35 minutes or until browned and crispy.

Mixed Veggies - Get a bag of frozen, place in a dish, add water or chicken broth, butter pats, natures seasoning....microwave till softened and hot.

There are many other sides I make, but these are a few to get you started! 

Why yes canned green beans can taste homemade!

Have you ever wanted a quick side item, but didn't have the time to slave away in the kitchen all afternoon. Well try these...
Ingredients

• 1 can Italian cut, or kitchen cut green beans. Also makes for some tasty greens as well!
• olive oil -OO
• liquid smoke - LS
• mrs. dash of choice or Natures seasoning
• chicken broth or double the water and use bullion powder or granules
• *optional- pre-cooked smoked minced ham...minced--this means really tiny tiny pieces, yall!

Directions

Open beans and drain the juice. Refill half way with water. Add a splash of OO, liquid smoke, seasoning to taste and half a can level of chicken broth. If using powder or granules add half can water and your chicken bullion. Toss in a few pieces of minced ham if desired.

Microwave until heated 

For greens, place them in a skillet and add OO, LS, and seasoning. Stir in a little ham if desired.

Enjoy!

Italian Pork or Chicken

This dish can be made with either a pork roast or any boneless chicken you have on hand. If using chicken it can be made in the crockpot or in the oven.

Ingredients

• One marinated pork roast or boneless chicken breasts
• One can stewed tomatoes *either regular or italian
• A splash or two of red wine
• Mrs. Dash onion herb, Italian,  or garlic herb *if your just tuning in I use these in everything! So start building your stock pile today ;)

Directions

Place into crock pot and cook low 4-6 hours. For chicken option baking in Oven: Place into a pyrex dish and bake 375 until chicken is done. To reduce cooking time pound chicken out thinner or butterfly the breast. Also cut breast into 2-3 smaller pieces. This will drastically reduce to cook time often to about 20 minutes. Depending on how thin and small the breast are.

Serve with 

Parmesan rice, and asparagus. Other options: steamed broccoli, steam in the bag garlic peas and mushrooms, Canned Italian cut green beans (check out my recipe to spice them up), risotto, butter herb noodles...

Simply Simmer Potato ham Soup

Ingredients
4 cups chicken broth
1 bag frozen diced potatoes * country hashbrown or steam and mash kind
1 cup cheddar cheese
1 cup instant potatoes *one envelope = this amount
1 cup heavy cream
1 onion, diced
1 cup or more diced smoked ham
s/p to taste

Directions
Pour broth in soup pot over medium heat, add onions and potatoes. Stir and add ham, s/p to taste.
Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer covered 10-15 minutes so potato cubes can get soft.
Remove lid and add potato flakes, cream and cheese...let it simmer to combine last ingredients then serve! Top with some crumbled bacon and cheese or anything else you like. Enjoy :)