Something New Sunday - "Crack" Chicken

I am a Pinterest-addict and my boyfriend doesn't object to me trying to new recipes that I have found. I came across this recipe on Pinterest and the caption was titled "Crack" Chicken, which instantly got my attention.  Surprisingly, this was one of the first recipes that I have found off Pinterest where I actually had all the ingredients in my house.  I want to give credit where credit is due, so here is the original link where I found the recipe: http://www.mytimepassages.com/blogs/pinterest/2012/01/pinterst-winfail-bourbon-crack-chicken-crockpot-style/

“Crack” Chicken – Crock-pot Style

Ingredients:
2 lbs boneless (uncooked) chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
2 tablespoon cornstarch

2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove crushed
3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup light apple juice
1/3 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons chili sauce (you can use ketchup depending on your spice level)
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup reduced sodium soy sauce

Coat chicken with cornstarch.

 

Whisk all ingredients into crock-pot and add chicken.

 

Cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4.

 My "Non-Professional" Review: 
      I can see why they call it "Crack" Chicken cause it's highly addictive and I ate WAY to much of it (but that was fine, cause like I said, it was delicious).  It's also highly addictive because of how easy it is to make and if you are a looking for a easy-peasy recipe, this is it!! Literally, when everything can be mixed in the crockpot and you can walk away, it doesn't get much easier than that.
      I love spicy food and for me, this dish has the perfect amount (but you can always cut back the amount of red pepper that you use and use ketchup instead of chili sauce if you don't like spice). The raw chicken was fully cooked during the four hours and was really moist too.  The sauce does need something to soak-up all the yummy sauce and I thought that rice would be a perfect. Welp, I didn't have any so I did pour the chicken and sauce over penne pasta (but I do know next time I make it, I will have some rice to eat with it).


I'm gunna leave you with one last photo of my almost 'finished' product

Enjoy!!

~Kellie Anne

Tail Waggin' Kinda Love

I just love coming home from a long day at work and have this lil' guy come running towards me.  It instantly puts a smile on my face and gets rid of all my stress.  Plus, look how talented he is by carrying a ball and his teddy bear.  How many 10 week old puppies do you know that can do that?!

Happy Friday, Everybody!! :)

~ Kellie Anne

Something New Sunday - Lasagna w/ White Sauce

 "The trouble with eating Italian food is that 5 or 6 days later you're hungry again." George Miller, British writer

 

This is EXACTLY how I felt after I got done eating this new crock-pot recipe and the breadsticks I made to go with it were the perfect "Italian" touch.

Lasagna with White Sauce

Ingredients:
 1 - 8 oz box of lasagna noodles; cooked & drained
 1 - pound ground beef
 1 - chopped onion
 1 - 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes
 1 - can of tomato sauce
 1 - beef bouillon cube (I used beef bouillon granules since I didn't have cubes)
 1 1/2 teaspoons - Italian seasoning
 1 1/2 teaspoons - black pepper
 1 teaspoon - salt
 1/2 teaspoons - red pepper
White Sauce:
 2 tablespoons - melted butter or margarine
 3 tablespoons - all purpose flour
 2 cups - milk
 1 cup - mozzarella cheese
 1 teaspoon - black pepper
 1 teaspoon - garlic powder

Directions:
   Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 5 minutes; drain. (I used the non-boiling, ready to use lasagna noodles and it still turned out yummy).  Brown ground beef and onion together, until onion is tender and beef is no longer pink in center; drain.  Mix in tomatoes, tomato sauce, bouillon and seasonings (I opted out the salt, since I'm trying to cut back salt in all my cooking recipes). Pour in bottom of crock-pot and layer lasagna noodles on top (I had to break the noodles to cover the meat).
   Meanwhile, in a small bowl mix together melted butter, flour, milk, cheese, pepper and garlic powder.  Cover the white sauce over top the noodles.
   Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours or on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours.  In the last 30 minutes, turn crock-pot to HIGH (if cooking on LOW) and top with more mozzarella cheese.  Serve when cheese is melted.  Serves 10 to 12

Well, I just finished up cleaning up the dishes and let me tell you, this meal was delicious! The meat sauce was delicious (and a lot healthier then using processed spaghetti sauce) and surprisingly the white sauce was really great (and might be seen in more recipes).  I was worried during the whole time the dish was cooking that the noodles wouldn't cook properly, but I was so wrong; they were soft but crunchy on the edges like my mom's lasagna was growing up.  Mine was cooked on LOW for about 4 hours and then on KEEP WARM mode for about 45 minutes, cause the edges were starting to brown.  30 minutes before serving, I turned it back to LOW and topped it with cheese; so total cooking time for me was little less then 5.5 hours.  My parents joined my boyfriend and I for the meal and they both agreed it was superb and my dad even went back for 'thirds'.  This will definitely be a repeat dish.

Today was actually a two recipe Something New Sunday, as I made Pesto Breadsticks (seen in picture above), but it's getting late so I will try post that recipe tomorrow. 

Goodnight Folks and Enjoy!!

~Kellie Anne

My lil' guy is 2 months old today! :)

On December 23rd, my boyfriend and I got a new puppy for each other for Christmas.  We had found a breeder for a mini dachshund and after looking at a couple different litters, we selected on a dapple male.  It wasn't my choice to get a dachshund but my boyfriend, Aaron, insisted on that breed and when I saw his unique markings I just had to say yes.  Well, Oscar (or Oscar Meyer the Wiener Dog, which is his full name) turned 2 months old today! :) 

I never thought I would be one of those crazy dog people who would celebrate random moments in my dog's life, but I'm telling you, this little guy has changed my whole perspective on life.  So far, after just a few shorts weeks of having him, I can already let loose after a long day at work as soon as I see his little ears flop as he comes running toward me.  I can't wait to see what else this little guy has to show me in the future.  I love you Oscar! :)

Something New Sunday - Biscuits & Gravy

So, I am already failing at this whole daily blogging thing since it's been four days since my last post. Sorry peeps, thou I'm not sure if there is anybody really out there reading this (haha). #epicfailing if you ask me

Anywho, I wanted to start something new in 2013 (besides this blog). I have tons of cooking books in my house and have found tons of recipes on Pinterest that I want to recreate. And what better way then to start off the new week then with a new recipe; hence the title 'Something New Sunday'. My goal is to post a new recipe that I've never made with pictures from my non-professional looking kitchen and reviews from whomever eats the meal.

'Somewhat Homemade' Biscuits & Gravy

 

 

It was Christmas Day and I was over at my boyfriend's parents place and I randomly got the craving for biscuits and gravy. When I let everyone else know about my craving, I was told about this great little 'cheater' method of getting that great biscuits and gravy taste but without all the work. Sounds like my kind of recipe. :)

 

Two simple items to make the gravy.  Like I said, it's kind of a 'homemade' ;)



Both items can be found at your local grocery store
 

Start with a package of Bear Creek Creamy Potato soup mix.  Yes, I know its a soup mix but when you add less water then the soup recipe calls for, you get a thicker, gravy like mixture.  Instead of 8 cups of water like the soup would need, I only did 7 cups.  Bring water to a bowl, add soup mix and let simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes.  Remember to stir occasionally, so the soup don't stick to the bottom of the pot.

 


The soup does have little pieces of potato in it (which I thought it was a nice added touch)

You also need to brown 1# of pork sausage in a skillet.  I used Farmland Pork Sausage without any added MSG (so it's kind of healthy).  If you wouldn't want all the calories of pork, you could definitely use turkey sausage or a substitute of your choice.

 

Obviously you can't have biscuits & gravy without the biscuits.  Well, I thought I had canned biscuits in my fridge but I didn't so I improvised with Pillsbury crescent rolls.  Bake as direceted.



Once the soup/gravy is cooked and at desired thickness and the sausage is no longer pink in the center and fat has been drained, add the two together.

Cook for about 5-7 minutes to make sure that the sausage gravy is throughly mixed and hot. 

Take a couple of hot biscuits and smother (and I mean smother cause this stuff is GOOOOD) the biscuits in the sausage gravy that you have made. 

Overall review is that this stuff makes a pretty hearty breakfast.  I didn't add a whole lot of seasoning to the sausage and just a little pepper to the soup/gravy while it was cooking.  Please feel free to add comments/questions and I will try my best to answer as soon as possible.  Also, since this is my first recipe post, I'd like to have some tips on how I can make it easier for others to follow my steps.

Enjoy!!
~ Kellie Anne

 

My 1st Blog Post...EVER! :)

Hey y'all! :)

I am new to the blogging world and this is my first post, so bear with me here. It was a few months ago that I decided to start a blog, but I wanted to start it in 2013. You know, its a new year how bout start a blog on January 1st.  Welp, it's January 9th and here is my first post (but I'm always running a little bit behind like that).  

There is no specific theme that goes with my blog. Honestly,  I want to just post things that come to mind and posting daily is part of my goal with this blog.  Here are things I plan on talking about on my blog:

• Recipes (I LOVE to cook & bake)
• Fashion (I LOVE to shop and put 'looks' together)
• Workouts (I HATE working out, but I want to help others who hate working out)
• but most of all complete RANDOMNESS

I'm not looking for this to be a super popular blog, but I do hope that you (the person reading this) comes back often to see whats new.

~Kellie Anne