Making it Monday: Crockpot Chicken

What a great weekend full of fun, food and family!

Friday night I had a wonderful date with this little lady!  We ate cheeseburgers and cookies, had nonsense fun at the dollar tree, and watched cartoons in bed.  The could be classified as a perfect Friday night!

Saturday was just as much fun, but it consisted of silly string fights while tailgating and breaking out the glow sticks at a night football game with my boys!

Today is Monday and what a wonderful day it is!  Just because it's Monday shouldn't mean that you can't have as much fun as you do on the weekends. To ensure this I have a super easy and versatile recipe that you can throw into your slow cooker and let it do the cooking for you.  This way when you get home from work and school, everyone can sit down to a nice meal and head right back outside for some fun before bed!  See it's just that simple!  You're welcome!

Now get to watching the video at: 

http://youtu.be/ZI61SgcwnO8 

And start utilizing that slow cooker so you can enjoy the things in your life that matter most!

-Cool

Crock pot Chicken

1lb. Chicken (can use boneless or bone in, breasts, thighs, quarters)

1 c. red onion, thinly sliced

1 c. mushrooms, quartered

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 c. kale or spinach

1 c. chicken broth

1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes

1 1/2 tsp. garlic salt

1 tsp. oregano, dried

1 tsp. basil, dried

3/4 tsp. thyme leaves, dried

In your slow cooker add all the ingredients in the order listed.  Cook on low for 8 hours.  Serve over pasta, rice, or quinoa.  

Thoughts on Thursday: Throwback #tbt

Lots of thoughts running through my head this fine Thursday!  As I was browsing the Internet today, there is a trend on Thursdays called "Throwback Thursday" where people post pictures from the past all over social media. Which inspired me to share my "throwback" of the changes in the season. Above is a tree in my yard a few days ago and here was that same tree on  May 7th. 

Fall is obviously here. I love fall. But this picture makes me long for the new life spring brings. As I brush away a few nostalgic tears, I quickly remember all the fabulous reasons I Iove fall. The weather, comfort food, the jeans/boots/sweater wardrobe staple, and just the feeling of being cozy. I get a little more rejuvenated in the fall, more appreciative and with a full heart. 

I also cook more and find myself longing for the warm, flavorful foods of my youth. Today my thoughts are all focused on apple crisp. Last week, I made this yummy goodness for dinner with a friend. It was a perfect ending to our evening and reminded me of my mom making it when I was younger. Honey crisp apples, cinnamon and caramel are flavors I adore!!! 

I decided to make individual servings because I do not need leftovers (even though I really want them). Grab 2 Honeycrisp apples and slice thin. 

Sprinkle cinnamon liberally on the apples. Or not, whatever exites your taste buds. Spray ramekins with olive oil and fill half way with apples. Then top with 1/4 cup of caramel bites. 

Add the rest of the apples to cover the caramel. Mix quick oats with brown sugar, flour and more cinnamon. Cut in softened butter with a fork. 

Place the oatmeal topping on each ramekin. The topping will be more like a granola: a little crunchy and crumbly. (And create a little bit of a mess, because that's how this cook rolls). 

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes at 350 degrees. Top with your favorite ice cream. Cool introduced me to this delicious frozen vanilla bean yogurt and I am hooked. 

I thought I would be fancy and add one of the leaves from my tree for presentation. When you devour in, the melting frozen yogurt blends with the apples and caramel layer. Pure Fall Heaven!!!!

~Crazy

Anne's Apple Crisp

2 servings

2 Honey Crisp apples, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon

1/2 cup caramel bits, divided

1 cup quick oats

1 tablespoon of whole wheat flour

1 tablespoon of brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons of butter

1. Heat over to 350 degrees. 

2. Mix sliced apples with 1 tablespoon of cinnamon.

3. Grease 2 ramekins and fill half way with apples.

4. Top apples with divided caramel bits and add remaining apples to the ramekins.

5. Mix oats, flour, brown sugar and remaining cinnamon in a bowl. Cut in butter with a fork.

6. Top ramekins with the oat mixture and bake for 30-35 minutes. 

Take it off Tuesday!

Life is busy! Life happens!  So what are you going to do to make the most of it all while being "present?"  It's a hard question to think about because there are so many things in our daily life that go on that it just doesn't seem like we could possibly fit in ONE MORE THING!  With the social media world telling us everything we should be doing better and judging everything we do it's hard to focus on what really matters most.

That's why you need a little dose of "Take It Off Tuesday!"  I know this can be misconstrued many different ways and maybe that's why I wrote it that way.  I want it to mean whatever you want it to.  For me it's more of a deeper meaning than a literal meaning.  With all of us trying to fit more into our lives, why don't you start focusing on what matters most and take off that added stress?  Take off those added pounds if it's needed?  Take off the burden of having a home cooked meal every night.  Take off the guilt of not doing "enough!"

I don't know about you but my typical night includes a nice "quiet" ride home from work thinking about all the things I didn't get done at work or things I need to do when I get home.  Questions start out like: "Did I send that email?"  "What do I need to do first when I get to work tomorrow?" "Will I have enough time to get all that done tomorrow?"  and then they quickly switch to, "What are we going to have for dinner?  What do we have in the fridge? Cupboard?  What have we had lately?    What time is it?  Oh crap the kids will be home in 10 minutes!  What can I throw together that will make everyone happy to eat and full?  Maybe we have leftovers?  Maybe I should just run through somewhere?  I can't do that, I just went grocery shopping yesterday, I must have something.  But what? and end scene!  So maybe it's not that quiet because we are all so busy trying to fit more in that we are using every second that we are awake to think of what else we should be doing. 

A "crazy" blogger friend wrote a couple weeks ago, to "Live in the moment, not in preparation of the moment...."  Maybe we need to start taking off the stress of what we should be doing and start living in the present.

To help you do this I have a recipe that can help you be present in the moment all while focusing on health, family, and yourself!  This is a fast easy recipe that doesn't even need preparation!  It uses a rotisserie chicken that you can pick up at any grocery store.  They have done the work for you so it gives you a helping hand of having a nutritious meal that is still hand crafted at home.  All you need is to spend 15 minutes cutting and cooking veggies, and your loved one's might even like to help you out on this one.  

Being present is step one to a more literal meaning this Tuesday!

-Cool


Rotisserrie Chicken Fajitas
1 whole rotisserie chicken (about 3 cups), cooked, and picked from bone
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 red onion, thinly sliced
1 green pepper, thinly sliced
1 red pepper, thinly sliced
Tortillas

In a small bowl mix together the cumin, salt, black and cayenne pepper.  Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add the onions and cumin mixture for about 3 minutes.  Add in the green and red peppers and cook an additional 4-6 minutes, stirring until soft and done to your liking.  Add in the picked chicken, toss until chicken is warm and serve on tortillas or over rice and beans.  Top with Greek yogurt, pico de gallo, and guacamole.

"What the What" Wednesday: Fitting into Your Pants

If you have been following our blog, you know we love to eat but we still want to fit into our pants. When I was reading this article on usatoday.com; Loosen your belts: U.S. waist sizes keep expanding http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/09/16/waist-sizes-expanding-study/15723771/, it really hit me that everyone needs to be cautious of eating for health and not going up in pants size.

Having a larger waist means having a higher risk of developing a multitude of health conditions. This includes high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Men need to aim for waist measurements of less than 40 inches and women less than 35 inches. 

In the article, waist measurements have increased over the past 13 years by almost an inch or more for both men and women. The average man's waist grew from 38.9 inches to 39.7 inches; the average woman's belly expanded even more, from 36.3 inches to 37.8 inches

Whoa. Our pants are getting tight!  Not good! 

Besides eating more balanced, watching portion sizes and phyiscal activity, there is something you can do to prevent the inches from creeping up on you. Eat the right foods! 

Here is my list of how to help whittle the middle:

Monounsaturated Fatty Acids or MUFA's

Yes, eat fat!  But you need to eat the right kind and right portion size. Have up to 3 servings a day of my favorites below. 

Nuts and seeds are a great source of MUFA's. My choices are almonds, pistachios and pepitas or pumpkin seeds. A serving is what you can hold in a tight fist and always choose raw and unsalted.

Oils are great too. 1 tablespoon is a serving size. Choose from olive, walnut, sunflower seed or sesame seed. 

Avocados are dreamy in so many dishes. Add to eggs or use on a sandwich. 1/4 of an avocado is a serving.

Probiotics

I love this good healthy bacteria. As we age, that good bacteria on our gut fades and we need to replace it so we can absorb nutrients more efficiently. Probiotics also help our stomach digest food faster so the less time fat just sits in the stomach. 

Greek yogurt is a great source of probiotics. Try to choose ones without a lot of ingredients or artificial sweeteners. Not a dairy fan?  There are stellar pills available that you can take daily to replenish your good bacteria. 

Water with Lemon

Water is a natural way to keep things moving in your body. Add a little fresh lemon and it helps it move along even faster. Strive to drink half your weight in ounces of water a day.

Well, I am off to sip on some lemon water and snack on my almonds. Here's to not having tight pants!

~Crazy

What did Monday ever do to you?

All I ever hear is that "oh great, it's Monday tomorrow, back to work!" Or:

Or even "TGIF,".  Why can't it ever be, GGILM! (Good golly, I love Monday!"

We've all heard how much Monday is dreaded all throughout our life!  When you were younger Monday meant back to school, start of the week to homework.   Post school years Mondays meant back to work, back to "reality."  Why can't we put the bad stigma of Mondays behind us and start appreciating what we have. 

Okay I will start!  Thank you Monday for giving me a great job that I get to go to each day!  One that I get paid to do what I love and play with food at the same time!  Without it I wouldn't be able to do all the fun things with my family that we like to do.

Like having lots of cousin and family time,

Or going out to eat and sharing root beer floats with friends!

 Thank you Monday for letting me reflect on such a crazy fun weekend I had.  Going out to eat in a restaurant with 3 little kids that acted amazing!  Mohawk haircuts and acting silly,

And post dinner scavenger walk selfies!

Maybe instead of dreading Mondays we should start embracing them and reflect on what we have!  I wonder if our week goes by a little smoother and is a little brighter?  After all Mondays have feelings too!

-Cool

What the What Wednesday: 'Shrooms

Ok so I have never been a big fan of mushrooms. The only ones I would eat as kid were canned and had to be on pizza or in spaghetti. But as every good adventurous adult, I have given mushrooms another whirl and.....I really really like them! September is National Mushroom Month and this month I am making mushrooms the staple of my "Meatless Monday" meal. And for all you football fans, I thought I would experiment with a festive nacho recipe. 

Mushrooms are a great substitute for meat in any recipe because of their texture and ability to absorb flavors by whatever you chose to season them with. A nerdy dietitian fact about mushrooms is they are one of only foods with naturally occurring Vitamin D. Vitamin D is so important for boosting our immune system, helping us sleep, decreasing aches and pains and aiding in the absorption of calcium for bone strength. This is why I am trying to use mushrooms in meals more. 

To start my 'shroom recipe experiment, I used one package of baby bella sliced mushrooms, olive oil spray and low sodium taco seasoning. 

Heat pan over low heat, place mushrooms in pan and spray with olive oil (or non-stick cooking spray). Sprinkle the taco seasoning on top of the mushrooms until they are cooked to the desired tenderness, usually 7-10 minutes. They will look like this:

Seriously, that took 10 minutes. This is probably the easiest (and healthiest) nachos I have ever made. Now I found these snazzy tortilla chips at the Hy-Vee on Fleur Drive, so they are perfect for the biggest Iowa rivalry of the football season. Place them on a plate and top with your mushrooms.

The mushrooms are nice and warm, so place mild cheddar on top so the cheese gets melty and delicious. 

Now you can get creative with any toppings that tickle your fancy. I like my nachos simple, so I put red salsa on my Iowa State nachos and black bean dip on my Iowa nachos. I then topped them with a little fresh cilantro. Ta da!!!

Feel free to add diced peppers, sliced black olives, onions, guac, plain Greek yogurt (or light sour cream), whatever your little nacho heart desires! 

To give these beauties a try, stop in the store tomorrow from 3:30-5:30 pm...hopefully I don't eat them all! 

~Crazy

Making it Monday: Buffalo Chicken Dip

If you live in Iowa you know that today starts the interstate rival college football week, ending with the Iowa vs Iowa State game on Saturday at Kinnick stadium.  Even if you don't live in Iowa or are even a football lover, I'm sure you still love "football food."  I classify football food as a dish that feeds a crowd at minimal effort and is perceived well from the audience it's serving.

In honor of this week I have a super easy tailgating recipe that will blow your taste buds!  Buffalo chicken dip!!  Wahoo, rah rah rah, let's hear it for the food!  Whether your team wins or loses you will always feel like a winner after eating this! 

Check out the video if you would like or just follow the recipe below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNjtH2Wlsto&list=UUsmwo9grv25f6hT7CipnI9A

-Cool

Buffalo Chicken Dip

1 rotisserie chicken, picked and diced

1 (8oz) cream cheese

1/2 - 3/4 c. Frank's red hot sauce

1/2 c. Ranch or Blue cheese dressing

1/2 c. Cheddar cheese, shredded

1/2 c. Pepper jack cheese, shredded

1/2 c. Blue cheese crumbles (optional)

In a medium size crockpot combine the chicken, cream cheese, franks red hot, dressing, cheddar cheese, and pepper jack cheese and heat in high for 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours.  Stir when all melted together and top with blue cheese crumbles if you like. Switch crock pot to warm and serve with carrots, celery, tortilla chips.

From the Kitchen Friday: Living Simply

Good morning everyone from my very own kitchen for this Friday post. I was reading a blog I was introduced to this week,fortheloveofahouse.blogspot.com, and the author was discussing a recent book she purchased, Ted Kennedy Watson’s, Style and Simplicity:  An A to Z Guide of Living a More Beautiful Life (for more information, please see his blog:tedkennedywatson.com). The author of the book says “Living in the moment, not in preparation of the moment, is my prevailing thought. Living creatively is not meant to be about money; rather it is about being creative with the choices that present themselves during the day.”  I couldn’t agree more.  Right now, the dawn is breaking and I decided to enjoy living in the moment with a few beautiful things in my life with a few of my favorite ways to start the day.

 

As I sit at my kitchen table, I am having my favorite tea out of my grandmother's china with a beautiful bouquet of flowers AND I am writing (insert purely blissful smile right here). This is what I call “living creatively with the choices that are presenting themselves to me.”  Today I am choosing to have this morning of quiet and peacefulness, while enjoying the beauty in my life, right here, right now. I can't remember the last time I drank my tea from her china. I feel lucky and humbled of all that is right in front of me.  Once in a while, it’s ok to blow your own mind.

 

Tea is the way I start out each day. Not only do I know it is healthy for me, but I do feel like it really is what gets all my neurons firing properly. There is a rise in tea popularity in the United States and I feel we are seeing a little shift from coffee to tea. Most Americans enjoy the beverage chilled versus warm and most like a flavored herbal versus a black tea. My favorite is Caribou Coffee’s Hot Cinnamon Tea, all year around. I do have green tea on occasion but this is my daily go-to. I wanted to share with you my wisdom of“why tea?”

 

Allergy Eraser

A substance in green tea stops the allergic response. Tea may be helpful against pet  dander, pollen and dust. If you suffer allergies, it is recommended you drink more tea.

 

Age Defier

Checking hair loss, age spots, the condition of skin around the eyes and other indicators of aging, scientists found that mice that were fed tea displayed fewer signs of aging than mice that were fed water, with oolong tea showing significantly better results than green tea.

 

Tummy Tamer

According to a new study, green tea appears to accelerate calorie burning -- including fat calories. Researchers suggest compounds in green tea called flavonoids may change how the body uses a hormone called norepinephrine, which then speeds the rate at which calories are burned.

 

Beauty Brew

Drinking two or three large cups a day of green tea helps bolster the body’s defenses, especially as you age. Tea has been named, China’s “Fountain of Youth”

 

Heart Disease Risk

Harvard researchers found that drinking at least one cup of black tea daily was associated with a 45% decrease in heart attacks.

 

Lower Cholesterol

Components of tea appear to reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood by interfering with the absorption of fat and cholesterol.

 

Reduce Stroke

A study done in the Netherlands showed that men who drank five cups of black tea daily reduced their stroke risk by 70%. Can’t drink five cups a day? Even two cups

daily can reduce your risk by a whopping 46%.

 

Fights Cancer

Tea appears to be good at fighting cancer, especially gastrointestinal tract cancers. Tea is very high in antioxidants which protect our body from cell-damaging free

radicals.

 

Hunger Helper

A series of Swiss studies found that tea can give your metabolism a boost and help you lose weight. Not a lot of weight, but maybe one to two pounds. Scientists suspect that the polyphenols in tea join forces with caffeine and help to unlock the body’s fat-burning process.

 

Magic Medicinal Cure

People who drink five cups of black tea a day for two weeks transform their immune system T-cells into “Hulk cells” that pump out 10 times more cold and flu virus-fighting substances.

 

For my final “From the Kitchen Friday” thought, another quote by Ted Kennedy Watson:  “Seeing the small details requires slowing down a bit and being aware of your surroundings.” I am so glad I am seeing the small details for the first time in a long time, surrounded by beauty and a flavorful cup of tea.

 

~Crazy