Chicken and Veggie Stew with Dumplings

I just love my crock pot. Today, my sweet 3 yr old is still snoozing, it is damp and chilly out...just a perfect day for this recipe. While Logan sleeps-it took me 10 minutes tops to cut a few veggies and throw the rest of this stuff into the crock pot. Want good dumplings? Do not over-mix the batter and to drop the batter onto very hot, bubbling liquid. That way the dumplings begin cooking immediately and don't get soggy. You can be creative and add 1-2 TB basil, dill,parsley, thyme or tarragon to the dumplings. Just pick one please-you don't want too much green in these or they will be weird. Trust me. Fresh is much better-but dried is ok in a pinch. Just use about 1/2 the amount. I like this one pot meal-it has protein, lots of vegetables and some starches to fill up your family. 
Cook Time: 8 hours

Ingredients:
1-2 potato, peeled and chopped
3 carrots, sliced
1/4 onion, chopped (NOTE:there is only a little onion because the crockpot really intensifies onion flavor!-a little goes a long way)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup chopped celery (if you have a celery hater aka a 12 yr old-chop REALLY (*wink*) small.
14 oz. can ready to serve chicken broth
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1 fresh bay leaf(Optional-but be sure to remove later) 1 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 2" pieces
1/4-1/2 pkg. frozen baby peas(optional) 
1-1/2 cups Homemade Biscuit Mix
1 Tbsp. snipped chives or dill or one of the other herbs mentioned above
1/2 cup milk
2 Tbsp. butter, melted

Preparation:
In a 4 quart crockpot, mix potato, carrots, onion, garlic, and other veggies. In medium bowl, combine chicken broth, flour and seasoning and mix until smooth. Pour over vegetables in crockpot. Add chicken. 

Cover crockpot and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours until chicken is thoroughly cooked and no longer pink in center. Add peas and cover again. Cook on HIGH for 20 minutes until peas are hot. I forgot to add peas later-I added with other veggies and am not gonna go fish them out. They will be just fine.:)

In small bowl, combine baking mix with herb, milk, and melted butter and mix just until combined. Do not over mix.

IMPORTANT!!If you don't have any baking mix, combine 1-1/2 cups self rising flour and 1 tablespoon snipped chives(OR dill, parsley, tarragon, thyme..) in a small bowl. Melt 6 tablespoons butter and mix with 1/2 cup milk; add to flour mixture and stir just until combined. See? Crisis averted!

Drop dumplings by tablespoons onto hot, bubbling chicken mixture in crockpot. Cover and cook on HIGH for 20-25 minutes until dumplings are cooked through, fluffy, and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Serve hot and enjoy!

Groupon

Have you heard about Groupon ? I have heard of it but just jumped on board today. Think of it as a group deal for a bunch of people.  Daily (most deals look like they run about a week) a new deal will be available. The cool part is you look at deals in your area. They may be in your town or nearby city.  I was very excited to see my local fresh cheese shop for todays deal $20 of Sweet Grass Dairy for $10!! Woo-Hoo! Also available is another 50% deal for Strings and Beans-a popular music/coffee shop in nearby Moultrie. Live in Tallahassee? How bout $5 for $10 worth of Cold Stone Creamery? Check it out. No yearly fees or anything like that-just great deals every day. Are you in? I am!!! Click on the word Groupon  or the link below to check out deals in your area.

http://www.groupon.com/r/uu21052329

I AM NOT LISTENIN MOMMY!!!

Chicken Nachos and an Apology

I have been a bad blogger. I think my last post was in July. I am ashamed.So very sorry and ashamed. No excuses~I have been neglectful and to make it up to all of you, I am sharing a awesome recipe. :)
Are you excited? I hope so! I am!!! 
Great for a snack or even a meal. The past month or so, I have been trying to eat a little healthier and think most of us can make little changes to take a little better care of ourselves.


ChIcKeN NaChOs!!
About a half bag of baked tortilla chips (I like Baked Tostitos)
2 cups cooked shredded chicken (poached works well)
1 can rinsed and drained (reduces sodium 40%) black beans
1 cup salsa 
1 1/2 cup Mexican Cheese blend or Pepper-jack cheese-shredded
Sliced jalapeños (optional-but soooo good!)
Guacamole-1/4 cup (optional-but sooo-ok you get the idea)
sliced scallions(again..sooo....)




Heat oven to 350 -Line bottom and sides of large baking dish or cookie sheet w/ chips. Scatter chicken and beans over chips.Spoon salsa over beans(spoon guac if you like it over the salsa) and top w/ cheese. Sprinkle scallions and jalapeños over top.
bake at 350 for 15 minutes and serve hot! You can also dollop a little sour cream on top after removing from oven. YUM!!!

Grilled Pork Tenderloin w/ Green Tomato-Pineapple Salsa

Here is a great Summertime recipe I found in my All You Mag. A friend of mine has given me several green tomatoes-and although we love them-we are a little tired of them fried. 

2 med green tomatoes-cored/chopped
1/2 small onion, chopped
1 tea. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1/4 fresh pineapple/about a cup(ok to sub canned-but try to get fresh)
1/4 cup cilantro/fine chopped (optional)
whole pork tenderloin(about 1-1 1/2 lb)
clove of garlic-thinly sliced
salt/pepper

Combine 1st 6 ingredients and chill till ready-can be made a day ahead covered and refrigerated.
Make small slits in tenderloin-insert garlic slices until well studded.Season w/ salt and pepper.Grill until reaches 160degrees F-lightly browned and no pink inside-about 40 minutes.Let pork rest 10-15 minutes.
Season salsa w/ a little salt and pepper-top w/ cilantro if desired.
Slice tenderloin thin and serve with cold salsa.

Light Summer Pasta and Laughter

After a FABULOUS evening with two of my most favorite people, I felt inspired to share a great recipe for a  tasty, meatless pasta dish. This is a light yet filling meal, perfect for a balmy summer evening. Pair it with good friends who make you giggle and maybe a crisp green salad for the perfect meal. I am lucky to have such friends-friends who remind me that when parenting three wild boys gets overwhelming-there is always a chair at their table for me. Thanks Rebecca and David...


SPINACH, SUN DRIED TOMATO and ARTICHOKE PASTA

• 12 ounces Pasta (any Short Shape Like Penne, Or Bow Ties)
• 12 ounces,Marinated Artichoke Hearts
• ⅓ cups Oil-packed Sun Dried Tomatoes, Thinly Sliced
• 1 Tablespoon Sun Dried Tomato Oil
• 5 ounces Baby Spinach
• 3  Green Onions, Sliced Into 1/2-inch Pieces
• ½ cups Feta or fresh Mozzarella Cheese
• Salt And Pepper

Preparation Instructions

In a large pot, cook the pasta according to package directions. Remove the pasta from the water and drain just shy of al dente. (The pasta will finish cooking in the sauce.) Turn the burner down to medium heat.

Return the pasta to the pot and add the artichokes (including all of the liquid from the jar), the sun dried tomatoes, and the sun dried tomato oil. Stir everything together until the artichokes are heated through and the pasta has absorbed most of the liquid, about 3 minutes.

Add the spinach and cook until wilted, stirring frequently, about 2 minutes.

Transfer the pasta mixture to a large serving bowl. Add the green onions and cheese. Stir to combine.

Season to taste with salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper.

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On a ride in T'ville-we saw this...hummmm..."FRYIES". Maybe the "D" stands for the grades they made in school!! Oh My Goodness. hahahaha....
Here is my sweet middle child with his silly mom at the red light-we were having a great Sat.

Easy Jumbalaya

Want a new recipe? I decided to build on a box of Red Beans and Rice I had in the pantry. It turned into a Sausage jambalaya that was quite tasty. Along with a Spinach salad-it made a healthy and filling meal for my 4 men and myself. We even had leftovers for my lunch! This is a cheap meal too- costing a little over $1 a serving It really was delicious. My oldest, Zach, said it was better than the jambalaya he had when we were on vacation at Callaway Gardens.

Ready? OK!! here we go...

Ingredients:

1 TB oil (olive or Veg is fine)

1 to 1.25 lb fresh mild sausage

1 small or half med. onion (chop small dice)

1 small bell pepper and 1 small jalapeno pepper-take out seed and veins(very small dice)

1 box Zatarain's Red Beans and Rice

1 can whole tomatoes-do not drain-use liquid

few dashes hot sauce

black pepper-to taste

1)Brown cut up sausage in 1 TB oil with onion and peppers in a big frying pan. If you don't like onion-just leave out. Add can of tomatoes (undrained), hot sauce and a sprinkle of pepper. Let simmer while your Bean/rice cooks (15 min)

2)Cook Beans and rice in separate pot as per package directions. In place of one cup of water-use a cup of liquid from your tomato/sausage mixture. This is important-or you will end up with too much liquid in the end. We wouldn't want that., now would we? Cut back the cooking time about 5 minutes. Don't worry-it will cook more in step 3.

3) pour bean/rice into sausage/tomato mixture and cover. Cook on low 10 minutes stirring often.

Enjoy! If you don't like or can't eat onions or peppers-then leave then out! Feel free to use what ever type onion/pepper/tomato you have on hand. If you want more spice-try the hot sausage and /or up the hot sauce.

NOTE: hate or can't eat sausage? Try Chik breast instead!! Also adding/subbing 1-2 lbs shrimp would be wonderful. Just be sure to add the shrimp during last 2 min of cooking and don't overcook them.

SwagBucks

Anyone want to earn free points for searching the web and entering codes? It is legit, easy, fun , free....all that good stuff. Give it a try-they don't ask for credit cards or anything else questionable. In a few weeks-I have almost enough for a free $20 gift card to either Target or Amazon. If you are on Facebook-it is even easier to do. One friend saved up enough for a laptop. Think green stamps of the 70's-but much better. Just click on the link on the right-after you feed the fish. :)