9.29.2010

Crock Pot - Pot Pie by Tamara

A few posts ago, I blogged about Chicken & Dumplings - Crock Pot Style. Well, the mother of one of my best friends in middle school (it's a mouthful right?) played around with the recipe and created a new dish for me to try out called Crock Pot - Pot Pie.  Tamara (how old and adult do I feel now that I am using her first name?!?!) sent me a message about her creation. It's great to get feedback and new recipes I can share, but it also means that at least one person is reading this. Hehehe.


Crock Pot - Pot Pie:
For more flavor, sautee: 1/2 onion, 2 garli cloves diced, 3 carrots and couple stalks of celery. Season with S&P.


I put that into the bottom of the crock pot.


Then, I sauteed the chicken pieces, I used breast and thigh. I seasoned the meat with S&P, a shake of sage and tyme, just a littel bit of rosemary. Just browned the chicken, didn't cook it all the way. added that to the crock pot.

Used 2 cans of cream of chicken (98% fat free) and added in a cup of so of chicken broth. Cooked it on low for the afternoon. I did need to add a littel flour to thicken later in the afternoon.

About 30 minutes before serving I added a bag of peas - just looking for ways to pump up the veggies!


I cooked the biscuits in the oven, split them and served them on top of the chicken mixture to make it like a crust on pot pie.


If you want to get fancy you could move the chicken to an oven proof serving dish and cook a crust on top, but who wants another dish to clean?

Seriously. I hate meals that use tons and tons of dishes. Consequently, I hate cleaning tons and tons of dishes.
9.22.2010

"We've Only Got 4 Minutes To Save The World."

I have been so swamped at work that I am not even sure where to begin this blog. Thus, it will most likely be a completely random update.


First, I love Glee. I don't think last night was a "great" premiere, but I am so excited for this season and most importantly, NEXT WEEK'S EPISODE! Why?!?! Because Britney Spears is my home girl and it's going to be a WHOLE, ENTIRE episode with Britney and Britney music. AGHHH. If I can figure it out, I may post the Britney preview video at the end of this rant.

I have been busy with work, but also planning a bachelorette party for my sister. How hard is it to plan something for someone who is almost completely opposite from you? It can be hard, but not nearly as hard as trying to plan an event in another city that I no longer live in AND trying to plan an event I will not be in attendance for. Plane tickets are crazy pricey. However, it is planned and invitations have been designed by a former sorority sister of mine. Once the invites are sent out, I will share the link to her blog and a picture of the adorable invitation. I don’t want to spoil it if people haven’t received their invite yet!

I am also in the beginning stages of planning a baby shower and I am so excited about it that I have started to research different “fall” recipes. I adore making appetizers and can’t wait to try making different things for the shower. The mommy to be is due in December and we are planning the shower for the first weekend in November. I can’t wait for it to cool down in Texas.

Until next time, WARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR EAGLE!
9.10.2010

"Drop Down And Get Your Eagle On Girl."

It's that time of the year, fall! Who cares about the fall weather - I care about what fall brings, AUBURN FOOTBALL! Although I certainly love fall weather I heart football a little bit more. It also brings pro football which means I get to participate in the fantasy football leagues. I am in two this year. Two years ago I started playing fantasy football with the boys. My husband helped me draft and :big surprise here: I lost. Like came in dead last. However, last year I wanted NO help from him and I wound up doing really well. I was number 1 for like multiple weeks in a row. This year I drafted by myself - we will see how we do.

It has been an absolute stressful month for me. I seriously need to be medicated. Work has picked up an enormous amount, but that's nothing new. That's manageable, almost enjoyable stress. Between us trying to sell our house, offers, contracts, keeping it clean more than I have ever done in my life, trying to get things in order to be in 2 out of state weddings, and planning a bachelorette party in a state I no longer live in, I could really use daily massages or take up drinking. There is a lot going on. And then there was last night........Thursday, September 9, 2010. This my friends, is the day AUBURN almost lost to Miss State. It came down to the last two minutes. We somehow managed to hang in there, but not without me having a mild heart attack. The SEC is the best conference, but I am not sure how I am going to handle watching any more games. My heart may stop by the end of the season.
War Egle!

So in case you are wondering how football can be such a big deal, you can read below to see what football season at Auburn is like. I have gotten this email before, but also saw this on The McMommy Chronicles

Women's Accessories:
NORTH: ChapStick in back pocket and a $20 bill in the front pocket.
SOUTH: Louis Vuitton duffel with two lipsticks, waterproof mascara, and a fifth of Captain Morgan/Crown. Money is not necessary - that's what dates are for.


Stadium Size:
NORTH: College football stadiums hold 20,000 people.

SOUTH: High school football stadiums hold 20,000 people.




Campus Decor:
NORTH: Statues of founding fathers.
SOUTH: Statues of Heisman trophy winners.


Homecoming Queen:
NORTH: Also physics major.
SOUTH: Also Miss America.




Cheerleaders:
NORTH: If you are slightly coordinated, you make the varsity squad.
SOUTH: You begin cheer camp at age two, complete with ballet, dance, & gymnastic training.




Getting Tickets:
NORTH: 5 days before the game you walk into the ticket office on campus and purchase tickets.
SOUTH: 5 months before the game you walk into the ticket office on campus & put your name on the waiting list.


Friday Classes After a Thursday Night Game:
NORTH: Students and teachers not sure they're going to the game, because they have classes on Friday.
SOUTH: Teachers cancel Friday classes because they don't want to see the few hung-over students that might actually make it to class.


 
Parking:

NORTH: An hour before game time, the University opens the campus for game parking.
SOUTH: RVs sporting their school flags begin arriving on Wednesday for the weekend festivities. The really faithful arrive on Tuesday.

Game Day:
NORTH: A few students party in the dorm and watch ESPN on TV.
SOUTH: Every student wakes up, has a beer for breakfast, and rushes over to where ESPN is broadcasting "Game Day Live" to get on camera and wave to the idiots up north.


Tailgating: NORTH: Raw meat on a grill, beer with lime in it, listening to local radio station with truck tailgate down. SOUTH: 30-foot custom pig-shaped smoker fires up at dawn. Cooking accompanied by live performance by "Dave Matthews' Band,who comes over during breaks and asks for a hit off a bottle of bourbon.

Getting to the Stadium:
NORTH: You ask "Where's the stadium?" When you find it, you walk right in.
SOUTH: When you're near it, you'll hear it. On game day, it becomes the state's third largest city.

 

Concessions:
NORTH: Drinks served in a paper cup, filled to the top with soda.
SOUTH: Drinks served in a plastic cup with the home team's mascot on it, filled less than halfway with soda, to ensure enough room for Captain Morgan/Crown.

 

When National Anthem is Played:
NORTH: Stands are less than half full, and less than half of them stand up.
SOUTH: 100,000 fans, all standing, sing along in perfect four-part harmony.

 

The Smell in the Air after the First Score:
NORTH: Nothing changes.
SOUTH: Fireworks, with a touch of Captain Morgan/Crown.

 

Announcers:
NORTH: Neutral and paid.
SOUTH: Announcer harmonizes with the crowd in the fight song, with a tear in his eye because he is so proud of his team.

 

After the Game:
NORTH: The stadium is empty way before the game ends.
SOUTH: Another rack of ribs goes on the smoker while somebody goes to the nearest store for more bourbon; Planning begins for next week's game.

9.02.2010

Caroline's Crazy Crack Potatoes


So this is definitely not the best picture, but cut me some slack. I took it with my iphone half way through the meal because I had completely forgot about it. It may look like a hot mess (I will confess, I am horrible with presentation), but it melts in your mouth. Please allow me to introduce you to your newest craving, Caroline's Crack Potatoes.


Caroline's Crack Potatoes:
Red potatoes
Ranch dressing
Shredded cheese
Bacon pieces (6 cooked pieces or a small bag of the bacon pieces for a salad - NOT bacon bits)

In this addicting yet very simple recipe you begin by slicing the red potatoes. In this picture, I probably used about 10 or so potatoes. Leave the skins on and boil for roughly 15 minutes. Once you drain the potatoes, put them in a baking dish and cover with ranch dressing (I probably used a little over a half cup - I didn't want to smother them). Sprinkle cheese and bacon pieces on top. I usually go ahead and mix everything together. Finally, put it in the oven (350 degrees) for about 7-10 minutes until it is bubbly enough for you. Voila!
9.01.2010

"Run Run Rudolph!"

So this is what I saw Monday evening when I got home from work.
Yup. That's the boy who lives across the street. He is shooting a fake deer set up against the fence with a real bow and arrow. Only in Abilene.