the joy of crockpots.

usually on sundays we have a crockpot meal. we had 2:30 church last year and it was SO nice at 5:30 to come home to dinner already ready (or mostly, you know). now we have 10:30 church, and while it's not as much a necessity, who doesn't love a crockpot meal? the meat is tender, all the flavors have melded together beautifully...man, makes me hungry just thinking about it!

some quick tips:
*you can put in meat frozen or defrosted
*always cook your meal at the lowest temperature possible
*you don't HAVE to brown meat before
*when your meal is done cooking, switch to "warm" setting
*resist the urge to take the lid off!
*use a crockpot liner--makes clean up a cinch!

here's what could be in my crockpot on a sunday:

beef stroganoff

stew meat (1 lb or so)
1 can tomato soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 package of lipton onion soup mix

sour cream (add at end)

1. add stew meat (I usually brown first) and soups to crockpot
2. stir
3. put lid on and cook on low for 6-8 hours (if you brown, you only need 4 or so, but still on LOW)
4. add sour cream
5. serve over egg noodles

meatless spaghetti sauce (AKA marinara)

jar/can of spaghetti sauce (we spice it up so much, get the cheap kind!)
1 can diced tomatoes
onion
garlic (I use the kind already chopped, but you could use fresh!)
salt
pepper
italian seasoning

1. put spaghetti sauce and diced tomatoes in crockpot
2. dice onion and add
3. add 1 tsp. or so of garlic (I really like garlic!)
4. add salt, pepper, and seasoning to taste
5. heat on low for 4-8 hours (as many as you have!). the trick is to let it simmer forever.
6. serve over rotini (or your favorite pasta).

that's the first edition of crockpot recipes!:) more next time...

sunday nights.

for some unknown reason, on sunday nights my sweets cravings become extra strong and I end up generally making some sort of treat.

last week was banana bread. I posted the recipe here.

this week was sugar cookies. I emailed my friend ranisa for a recipe. it was a good one! then I used the frosting my mom got from an old friend.

cookies

1 1/4 cup sugar

1 cup butter flavored Crisco (this is the key-just butter makes the cookies too crisp)

2 eggs

1/4 cup light corn syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups flour

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

mix sugar butter, add eggs, add all wet ingredients, then add mixed dry ingredients. Wrap in cling wrap and put in fridge for 1 hour. Roll out and cut with cutters. I think the key to having great sugar cookies to have them be thick. I don't care for them crunchy. 375 5-9 minutes, watch close as soon as the edge starts to look the slightest bit golden remove from oven.

frosting

2 lbs powder sugar

1 cup butter

1 cup shortening

1/2 cup milk (I think this much milk makes the frosting too runny, so I add about half this, and more as needed)

1teas vanilla

1/2 teas almond extract
(the recipe makes a TON...so half it)

this frosting is awesome on cupcakes!

also last weekend lance and his brother sean made this yummy cake. oh. my.

welcome, welcome!

I'm passionate about a few things. my husband, my cute baby, my family...and food. I like lots of other things just fine (pilates, kickboxing, running, clothes, baths...etc). and so while my other blog consists of all the other stuff, THIS is my blog dedicated to food. I'll try to update it often, and because I'm kind of a scattered person, the posts may be also.:)

I often send myself emails (cool, huh?) with links to recipes, ideas I want to try, things I need to remember...so hopefully this blog will eliminate the need to self-email. haha.

for now I'll post this week's menu. we don't follow it religiously, but we do have all the things we need to make these items, and for the most part, we eat them. if we don't get to something, it'll probably end up on next week's menu. I'd LOVE it if you'd post yours too!

sunday:
chicken & bean burritos
*with those really awesome tortillas you buy at costco that you cook yourself! yum.

monday:
sandwiches

tuesday:
del taco 3 tacos/$1 night (haha!)

wednesday:
ravioli with marinara
*you have to get the fresh, refrigerated kind...bertoli?

thursday:
fajitas

friday:
out

saturday:
homemade pizza
*albertson's french bread dough for the crust. yup, you can buy just the dough.

I realize I planned mexican three times this week. we like mexican.:) next week I'll try to branch out a little more.