Sunday, November 22, 2009

Crock-Pot Chicken

We went and saw New Moon as a family on Friday night, it was fabulous! Everyone's read the book but Abbott, so I think he felt a little left out but he said he really liked the movie! It makes me want to read Eclipse again! Unlike the Cullens, my crazy family doesn't eat red meat (with the exception of hamburger), so I can't make a roast or brisket for dinner... I'm always trying to figure out new ways to make chicken. This is by far one of the easiest dinners ever! It takes 10 minutes in the morning to throw everything in and by dinner time it's all ready to go!

Ingredients
2-3 pounds chicken, a whole chicken or whatever cuts you prefer (I use frozen chicken breasts)
1 large bag of peeled carrots
5-7 peeled potatoes
Salt and pepper

Directions
Put the carrots in the crock-pot and sprinkle on salt and pepper. Now, put the potatoes in the crock-pot and sprinkle on salt and pepper. Last, put the chicken in the crock-pot and sprinkle on... you guessed it, salt and pepper ,-)
Cook on low for 6-8 hours. When it's done you can pull out the chicken, potatoes, carrots, and use the leftover broth to make a gravy!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

S’mores Bars

Justin grew up living on a couple acres so he could go out any weekend, strike up a bonfire, and have s'mores! It was amazing! I'm always eating the toasted marshmallow before I can sandwich it between chocolate and graham crackers. We live in the city and we can't have a bonfire... and grilled marshmallows always seem to taste like lighter fluid (ok, everything I grill always tastes like lighter fluid)! These s'mores bars are a yummy fun alternative, and they're easy to make!!
Ingredients
8 cups (10 oz) Golden Grahams cereal
2/3 cup light corn syrup
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups (12 oz) milk chocolate morsels
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups mini marshmallows
Extra cereal and marshmallows for sprinkling on top

Directions
Spray a 13×9 inch pan with cooking spray or line with non-stick foil. Pour cereal in a large mixing bowl so that it’s ready to go.
Heat corn syrup and butter together in a saucepan set over medium. When mixture begins to boil, add chocolate chips, reduce heat to low or turn off completely, stir until melted. Stir in vanilla.
Pour chocolate mixture over cereal, coating it thoroughly, than fold in the marshmallows, 1 cup at a time. Press mixture evenly into a pan, sprinkling extra cereal and marshmallows on top for contrast, and then let stand until firm – about 1 hour or stick them in refrigerator so they’ll firm up quickly. I did that because I was impatient, and it worked out well. In fact, I liked the bars better cold!

Andrew made a video of him and our cat (Abby) playing, they are so cute together!