Simple Crockpot Recipes

So I know that when you think of crockpot, you think of winter, but I need something easy in the summer, too.  I also love that the crock-post does not make my kitchen hot like the oven.  It is a great option for a rainy summer day when the grill is less than ideal or when you will be at the pool and just want to come home to dinner.

I love an EXTREMELY SIMPLE recipe without too many ingredients. Here are a few of my favorites.  They are so easy that the recipes don't need much detail, but if you have questions, please let me know in the comments.

 

Pot Roast

• Buy a round roast, Chuck Roast or Round bottom roast
• Place it thawed in the crock pot
• Pour a can of French onion soup over it 
• Cook for 4-6 hours on high or 8-10 hours on low

BAM! That's it.
The meat will fall apart it will be so tender. Serve with a salad and it is even low carb!

 

Turkey Breast or Small Chicken

• Quarter an onion and half a few stalks of celery
• Place the celery and onion in the bottom of the crock put
• Place a small chicken or turkey breast on top of them
• If it will not fit on top, you can arrange it so it will fit, even if not on top
• Pour chicken broth over the whole thing 
• Cook for 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low

In the summer I serve this wil salad, but you could add new potatoes to the crock pot and serve them as well.

Pulled Pork

• Place a pork butt or pork should in the crock pot
• Pour your favorite BBQ sauce over it (any brand will work) 
• Cook on low for eight hours
• Shred the meat with 2 forks and serve on rolls with Cole Slaw

Shredded Buffalo Chicken

• Place 3-5 chicken breasts in the crock pot (You can cook as many or as few as you want)
• Pour a packet of ranch dressing mix and  ½- ¾ bottle of wing sauce over it (I like Franks Buffalo) 
• Cook for 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low
• The chicken will shred easily with 2 forks

This chicken can be used over salad or in wraps and sandwiches

You can also use taco seasoning and water and use it for casseroles or your favorite Mexican dish

 

Chicken and Artichokes

• Place 3-5 chicken breasts in the crock pot (You can cook as many or as few as you want)
• Pour a can of cream of chicken soup over it (can use FF)
• Add a couple ounces of wine
• Pour over a can of artichoke hearts, quartered
• If you add the liquid your sauce will be thinner, it’s up to you 
• Cook for 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low

The artichokes will fall apart. If you prefer them to be whole, only add them in the last hour

You can also cook this in a skillet on the stove

Serves well over pasta

 

White Bean Chicken Chili

• Add the Following ingredients to the crock pot

             Purdue Honey Roasted chicken – 2 packs

             ½ stick of butter, cut into cube

             1 Onion diced

             1 Green Pepper diced

             3 Can cannellini Beans

             1 Can Corn

             1 Can of diced tomatoes, drained

             1 Large Crushed Tomato

             1 1/2 Packs of mild chili seasoning (I use McCormick but you do not have to)

              ½ Cup sugar

• Cook for 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low

Your chicken is already cooked, so you probably could reduce the time. You are just really cooking the vegetables.

Serve over mashed potatoes with cheese and sour cream. I know this sounds odd, but it is SO good this way.

To the Imperfect Working Mom, I Know You

Dear working mom, we have never met, but I know you. I know your exhaustion, your joy, your stress, your contentment, your chaos, your disappointment, your excitement, your concern, your commitment, your patience, your frustration, your love, your wisdom, your humbleness, your devastation, your strength, your loneliness and your pride.

 

I could go on and on, but the point is, I know you. I am you. Well, not exactly you. Our families are different sizes and ages. Our job and work hours vary as does our commute and salary.  Our situations are not the same, but many of the things that we face are.

 

That struggle that you feel when you have a sick child on the same day as a very important meeting? I have that, too.  That stress you feel when you get the email that sports practice starts at 5:30, but you don't even get to pick up your child until 5:30, so now what do you do? I feel that.  Those tears that run down your cheek when you get into bed at night totally exhausted and frustrated because you nailed a work project but failed in making the time to help your child to nail their school project, or visa versa? Yup. Me, too.  The annoyance when you feel so good about the job you have been doing at work and as a mom only to give your house a once-over and realize that you are failing as a house-keeper? Again, right here!  

 

But, you know what else we both feel? We both get to feel that satisfaction when the boss or client calls us in to say what a great job we have been doing. We both get to feel that warmth when our children hug us and tell us they love us.  We both even get to feel good that our children are learning from our work ethic and that, as a bonus, our earnings have not only helped pay bills, but also allow us to say, "yes" when they ask for that treat in the store, sometimes.

 

This life, whether we chose it or it was handed to us, as a mom who works outside the home, is a struggle. It is a constant balancing act. But we are not alone. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.  There are an enormous number of moms who feel just like you. Just do a google search of your feelings and add "mom" to the end.  I am 100% sure you will find some momma that feels just like you.

 

You know what else? I see you. People around you see you. Your family and friends see you. They are proud of you and they admire your strength. And most importantly, God sees you. He loves the effort you are making and He is giving you His graces.

 

You are doing a better job than you think. The mistake you made in your presentation or the homework book that you didn't sign doesn't define who you are.  You are imperfect, but you are imperfectly trying your best by your family and that is a beautiful thing.

 

I will pray for you, not just tonight, but every night. I will pray that you find peace in the choices you are making and strength in your path. I will pray that you feel God's love in a way that offers you comfort. I will pray that you know that you are enough.

*I just want to make clear that I think all moms are working. In this case, I am just talking to moms who work outside the home because that is the message that I was feeling about when I wrote this.  I know that all moms feel some of the same things. I hope this could go unsaid, but as you may have learned about me by now, I have a problem with over-explaining myself sometimes.

I Don't Want to be a Fraud

I had a bad day yesterday and I thought to myself about how I write this blog and often encourage people to better themselves and some days, I am failing. I do not want to seem like a fraud, so I need to make a few things clear.

While I did study communication, I am certainly no expert. In fact much of what i share is more from my life experiences than books I have read.

I am a fairly new mom, only eight years in.  I am no expert at that either.

I love my friends and my family but am not always as good to them as they deserve me to be.

I try to be a christian, but I fail. Everyday, I fail.  I am truly thankful that our God is so forgiving.

So, why do I write this blog?

I write because I love to hear from other moms. I love to learn from their successes and failures. I love when I can relate to something and feel less alone.

I write because sometimes I have an experience or a-ha moment that changes the way I look at things and I want to share that in hopes that it will help someone else to their a-ha moment.

I write because sometimes a message comes to me. I wonder, sometimes, if it is God quietly talking to me. I am sure it is just my own thoughts, quite often, but I still want to pass that message in case it is God.

I love to cook and bake and try new recipes. When I find or create a new one, I like to share it.

I know that many bloggers are not experts and are just sharing the wisdom that they have come across. I have never tried to say that I am an expert, but it was just weighing heavy on my heart to make this clear. I am a sinner and failure but I am trying. I will always try to be honest with you.

Have Empathy for Your Kids...

...Or Sympathy if that's what you can offer.

As I watch my kids and their cousins grow up, so many memories wash over.  They go through so many things that I can relate to. So, why am I such a grown up? Why do I not empathize more? This is something I am working on. Let me explain.

When something happens with kids, for some reason, I tend to response in a harsher manner than I would to an adult. I am not sure if it because kids tend to complain more or if it is because I think they are more dramatic. I also forget what it was like to be them and want them to understand what I am telling them as if they too have lived it. But instead, maybe I should just take a minute to respect their feelings.

For example, my 18 month old often cries in the back seat because she is not a big fan of the car seat. When she cried, for a while, I would just assume that she was whining. Then, I  started to pay better attention and I noticed one day that the sun was right in her eyes and another day she had dropped her sippy cup. As an adult, I do not like the sun being in my eyes, either. I put on sunglasses or put the visor down in the car, so why would I not expect my daughter to complain about it? I also want a drink when I am thirsty.  While I cannot fully expect her to understand that I am driving and cannot get her cup, I can, at least, not get as frustrated that she is crying.

I am similar with my 8 year-old son.  He plays really hard and sometimes when he gets hurt, my first response to tell him he shouldn't have been standing on a ball. While, yes, I do need to remind him of these things to keep him from getting hurt in the future and, yes, it is frustrating that I told him 50 times not stand on round objects, he is still hurting.  Why can't I ask if he okay first and give him a little sympathy before going straight into correcting mom mode?

My last example is with my teenage nieces. They often tell me about teachers, friends and boys. When they do, I try to give them advice from my experiences. I am sure that helps them, eventually, but you know what else would help them? A listening ear and someone to tell them they understand. When a friend stabs them in the back, before telling them about how to deal with it, I am guessing they would prefer to hear that I am sorry and that it stinks to feel that way.

I am not saying that we should give up on the correction, advice or guidance, I am just saying that we should also remember the sympathy and empathy.  As adults,we have bad days and bad moods. We need a minute when we get hurt and might even let out a scream. We hate to bring work home and have a tough time pulling it together when we are tired, sometimes.  So do kids.  Kids are humans, too; Imperfect humans, just like adults.  I am going to try harder to remember that.

Mint Chocolate Cupcakes

I have a friend who is moving. When people move, and you love them, I think you should bake them things. So I did. I decided on Mint Chocolate Cupcakes. I used a chocolate cupcake recipe that I already love and then made some minor adjustments to a mint-chocolate icing that I found on the internet. They were pretty and yummy. I will be making these again!

Here is the Recipe

Cupcakes

1 Box devil's food or any chocolate cake mix

8 oz Sour Cream

1 Small package instant chocolate pudding mix

4 eggs (Yikes!)

8 oz milk (Whole is best. What? I never said these were low fat!)

½ Cup Vegetable Oil
½ Bag of Mint Choc Chips (about 5 oz)
 

1. Preheat Oven to 350
 

2. Mix all ingredients except the Mint Chips. because you do not have butter and sugar to cream, order does not really matter. If using a stand mixer, I use a low-medium. It is fast enough to incorporate a little air, but won't throw your mix everywhere.  

3. After all ingredients are fully incorporated, fold in the mint chips
 

4. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full

5. Bake for 20-23 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean

 

Frosting (Adjusted from this recipe from My Baking Addiction) 

4 sticks (2 cups) unsalted butter, room temperature
1.5 pounds (28 ounces) confectioners' sugar, sifted
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3-4 tablespoons heavy cream
green food coloring
1/2 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
3 ounces semi sweet chocolate, melted and cooled
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
mini chocolate chips

Just a head's up...after mixing the first few ingredients, you will split the frosting into two parts.

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed for about 5 minutes or until creamy.

2.Turn the mixer down and slowly add in the confectioners' sugar until it is completely incorporated. Add in vanilla and heavy cream. Turn the mixer back up to medium-high speed and beat the mixture for about 3-4 minutes or until light and fluffy.

4. Remove half of the frosting from the mixer bowl and set aside. Add 2 drops of green dye to the remaining frosting and mix in to fully incorporate the dye. Slowly add more, if needed, to get a nice minty green color. Stir in peppermint extract. Taste and add extract to your taste.

5. Remove the mint frosting from the mixing bowl and set aside.  Add the other half of the frosting back into the bowl of your stand mixer. Add in the cooled, melted chocolate and cocoa powder. Mix until fully incorporated.




I borrowed this pictured from Martha Stewart. She has a tutorial on her site.

6. For the two-toned effect, I put each icing into a piping bag and then piped them into one icing bag next to each other rather than on top of each other.
(See Picture)

7. Pipe the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes and garnish with mini chocolate chips.


These cupcakes sounded like alot of work but really were not too bad and turned out so cute and Yummy.

 

No Need to Judge Me, I am Doing It Enough for the Both of Us

No, seriously, however much thought you gave to what I said or did, I probably gave it twice as much thought. I probably judged myself and researched inside myself and gave myself a harsher score than you did.

I gave a brief at work the other day and I found myself saying, "Um", more than usual.  I could hear myself saying it which distracted me, so I said it again.  I wondered if the audience was judging me, then I realized that they probably forgot about it, but I didn't.

A few days later, I made a comment disagreeing with someone. I knew what I said was okay but I spent the next 30 minutes trying to decide if I said it in the best way possible. Was there a better way that I could have worded my comment that would have had a more successful outcome?

I am not the kind of person who spends hours in the mirror caring  what others think about how I look, but I do think that in certain situations, it is important to present the best you possible.  I am also not the kind of person who will bend my morals to appeal to others, but I do try to see other perspectives and share mine in a respectful manner.  I am the kind of person who likes to see people comfortable and happy and I try to help make that happen for them when I can. As a result, I often over think what I say or rethink previous conversations or situations.  

These are the types of thoughts that go through my head...

I noticed the Daycare did not have bubble wands, I think I'll buy some. Oh wait, am I allowed to buy them? Do they have to use a certain brand? Maybe I should ask.

I have a similar story to what she is talking about, I think I will share it so she knows she is not alone. Wait? Will it look like I am trying to Bogart the conversation? Maybe I should hold the story back.

Why did I just share so much?

Did I talk too much in that meeting? Maybe they missed my point.

Why didn't I speak up more strongly about that? I know better.

As you can see, I am a constant filter for myself and even then I second guess myself.  It is not about trying to be someone else or changing for others, it is about being the best friend, employee, confidant, sister, mom, aunt and wife I can be. I feel that it is important to be self aware and strive to be the best me.

I am sure that I am not alone in my internal process, so I urge you to remember that when you go to judge someone.  People are not perfect, but they are trying and if they are like me, they are already judging themselves.

All I am Saying, Is Give People a Chance

I keep seeing all of these quotes, memes and other funny messages about being annoyed with people.  We read them and laugh, but I can't help but wonder if after seeing too many of them, Does it change the way we see people? Are we becoming hardened to people not like us, or maybe even to people in general?

With all of the discussion about race lately, you may think that is the direction that I am going in, and while that would be worthy discussion, it is not what is on my heart for this post. What I am talking about is individual people. I am talking about judging people from what you see on the surface without giving them a chance and getting to know them.

Quite often we meet people we do not relate with.  They are not like us or like people we usually spend time with.  Maybe they seem snobby or rude but are just very shy, but we never get to know that.  Maybe them seem like an angry person, but are just frustrated due to a personal crisis at home that we know nothing about.  Maybe them seem clueless but really they have just been misinformed and our time and patience would make a world of difference for them.  Maybe they seem like a big jerk but have been walked all over their whole life and are just learning to assert themselves and still need to find the right balance.  Maybe we don't even know their personality because we judged them on the way they look.  Maybe we are uncomfortable with a mom that has multiple tattoos or we think the basketball coach can't be good because he had to rush to the first practice in his work clothes rather than workout clothes. Maybe we think this young teacher won't be able to control a class of third graders or that that mom would make an awful running partner because she is not thin.

There are all sorts of assumptions we can make about people. When we are little, we may notice differences, but they don't resonate with us. As we get older, we start to know what we want in company but are sometimes forced into relationships through sports teams, school projects or parental friendships. When that happens, sometimes we make unlikely friends. Unfortunately, too often by high school, we have let go of the people that do not fit our mold and we keep trying to fit people into a mold for years to come.

As I get older, I find myself in a similar situations as when I was in elementary school but for different reasons. I am again put in situations such as team moms, school volunteers or work where I am spending time with people that I usually wouldn't spend time with. As that happens, I get to know these people deeper over time and am sometimes surprised to really like the one I thought I could not relate to or find myself put-off by the mom who I thought fit my mold.

 
I know that all people will not relate to all people on all levels. I know that we will just find some people's company more enjoyable than others.  I am not suggesting that everyone we meet should be our best friends.  I am simply saying that we should take time to get to know others before we judge them.  At a minimum, we should be kind because we have no idea what makes people into who they are.

Blogs that I Like

As a blogger, you may have guessed that I also like to read blogs.  Considering I am a mom who works outside the home that likes to bake and do the occasional craft but needs help with organization skills and loves a good quote, you can probably guess what type of blogs like. (So how's that for a run-on sentence?)

Anyway, if you think you might like what I like, here are some blogs you might like. Please leave links to your favorite blogs in the comments.
(I am really tired, I hope this is making some sense.)


Mom Blogs
http://jenhatmaker.com/blog.htm
Jen is a mom who used to be a teacher. She writes about her family and her life. She is funny and genuine.  She self proclaims to love her home, her friends and family, writing, people and Jesus. Check her out.

http://www.christianworkingmama.blogspot.com/
Liz is a mom who has a very strong faith. Her writing is supportive and inspiring for all women and moms, but especially for those who have another job in addition to the hardest job there is, being a mom.  Let her lift you up.

http://lisajobaker.com/
I learned about Lisa Jo when I read Surprised by Motherhood.  She was born and raised in south Africa but now lives in the US. She is honest and real. If you want relatable, you'll find it here.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/
If you do not know who Ree Drummond is, you should check her out.  If you do, you probably want to smack me for picking such an obvious choice.  But, I like her. To be honest, I like her blog more than her show. I find the she translates better in writing and I like alot of her recipes.

http://www.divinesecretsofadomesticdiva.com/
This one? She's funny and relatable. She's relatabley funny. Hi, Susan.

Food Blogs
Chocolate Covered Katie
Katie writes a healthy desserts blog. If you are a dessert traditionalist, you may find some of her ideas wacky, but I have been impressed with a few and I just adjust to my taste if I want them a little sweeter. I mean, hey, even if I add a little brown sugar it is still much healthier than the typical original recipe.  The Healthy Cookie Dough Dip is what got me hooked to her blog.

The Minimalist Baker
This Bloggers goal is to make all of her recipes with 10 ingredients or less. She has many healthy recipes with some treats and substitutions.

Six Sisters Stuff
As you might expect, this is a blog created by 6 sisters. It has some great recipes. As per thier page, "Our recipes are family favorites that use ingredients that can commonly be found in your pantry and our crafts and home decor projects can be made with little or no money. We don’t claim to be amazing chefs- we just know the importance of feeding your family a home-cooked meal and sitting down to eat it together."


Home Blogs
I Heart Organizing
Ok, so once I got past my jealousy of Jen's ability to organize and was able to see through clear eyes, I really appreciated her tips. Plus, as she shows you, even her mom-car gets dirty.

The Frazzled Homemaker
The word Homemaker sounds like an old-fashioned word in some ways. However, these tips are not old fashioned. The tagline on thsi blog is, "Easy Homemaking for the busy woman, " and it is right on target.

The House that Lars Built
The is a pretty artsy blog with projects, party ideas, printables, food and life info.  If you like home ideas, you might want to give this one a look.

Org Junkie
This Blog caught me because she bites off small pieces or organization at a time. It make me feel liek I can handle it.

Why I Won't Tell You That I am Proud to be a Woman

I had a conversation with someone recently about gender and they asked me, "Aren't you proud to be a woman?" When they asked, that word, "proud," rung in my ears.  It is something we hear growing up as females. We are told to be proud to be a girl, young woman or woman. But once I gave it some thought, it feels odd. Why?

For me, the first reason that it feels odd is that I know that pride is something that we must be careful with.  Outward pride is not something that God values. It is said in the bible that he opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.  Feeling pride can eventually turn into showing pride outwardly and even arrogance.  That is not something that I want. However, I think there is more to it than this.

Even if I limited my womanly pride to an inward feeling, it still feels odd. I think that is because being a woman is not something I accomplished.  I did not work hard to be a woman. I did not sacrifice anything or practice for hours. I did not study or exert any amount of energy. I was born this way.

I am not saying that I am not glad that I am female. I love being female for many reason, perhaps the greatest of which is because being female allowed me to be pregnant and become a mother. Being part of that miracle is the most amazing thing I have ever done and being female allowed me to share in that.  I feel blessed to be a woman. I feel specifically blessed to be born, as a sister and daughter, into the family that God chose for me. I feel blessed to have the friends that I do and to marry the man that I did and to be the mother of amazing children. I feel very good about things that I have accomplished in my life and at times, I have even felt pride about them. But I am not sure pride is the right way to describe how I feel about being a woman.

So how do I feel? I feel blessed and glad to be a woman. I feel content and, ironically enough, sometimes humbled to be woman.  I feel that being a woman offers some special grace but also comes with great responsibility.

I am not sure what made me just come to this realization, or if it will actually change much in my thoughts or actions, but I am sure that I will give it more thought.

How do you feel about your gender?

The Best Marriage Advice I Ever Recieved

I have had a few friends with wedding anniversaries recently and started thinking about marriage.  I thought about my marriage and how I always come back to some of the best advice that I ever received.

That advice was to remember that marriages are not 50%/50%.  I know, I know, that goes against what we are told, but hear me out.  This advice came from my parents who told me that when you get married, you have to be willing to give 100%.  Sometimes your spouse just can't give their 50%. Whether they are sick or just having a bad day, they may only be able to give 10%, so you may have to give 90%. On the worst days, you may have to give all 100%. 

It can be hard, but try to wake up each day and look at each other and remember he/she is worth giving 100% to. They are worth giving 100% to regardless of how much they are able to give back that day. God gave you this wonderful person to love, cherish that.  If you and your spouse both understand this, than your marriage will always get the 100% that istdeserves.

I will be the first to admit that I do not always follow this concept. There are days where I allow myself to get frustrated because I have had to give more than 50% for several days. There are also days where neither my husband, nor I can give our 50%. When that happens, I can feel the strain, but eventually one of us will pick up the slack and get us back on track.  I am far from a perfect wife, but I use this advice in my path to trying to be a better one. I hope it helps you, too.

I would love to create a post of various great marriage advice. What is yours?