Honey Garlic Crockpot Chicken

4 skinless, boneless chicken thighs

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup ketchup
1/3 cup honey
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried basil1
 tablespoon sesame seeds-optional
1 chopped onion-optional
1 chopped bell pepper-optional                                                


Put chicken thighs at the bottom of the crock pot.  Frozen chicken is ok.
Combine soy sauce, ketchup, honey, garlic basil & seeds in a bowl.  Whisk.
Pour mixture over chicken.
Cook on low for 8 hours.

Serve over rice or quinoa.  Add extra sesame seeds if you wish.

This was really easy (minimal chopping) & all of the ingredients were  household staples.  I will make this again.  I could have added an onion and bell pepper for more veggies.  I had leftover sauce. I saved this for a BBQ marinade later in the week.

Crockpot Potato Soup

                       

10 red potatoes, cut into cubes                                                                            

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3/4 cup real bacon bits

1 small red onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced                                                                            
**2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules

1 tablespoon ranch dressing mix **See recipe                     

2 teaspoons dried parsley                                                   

1 teaspoon seasoned salt                                                   

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
**3 cups water (I used 3 cups of homemade chicken broth)
1 cup half-and half    
1 cup shredded chicken (optional)                                            

1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, or to taste

1/4 cup chopped green onion, or to taste 

Ranch Dressing Mix

 To make it, simply combine and store in an airtight container: 1/4 cup dried chives 1/4 cup dried parsley 1/4 cup dried dill weed 2 tablespoons garlic powder 2 tablespoons onion powder 1 tablespoon salt 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
 

 Directions

1. Put potatoes in the bottom of your slow cooker crock. 
2. Scatter flour over the potatoes; toss to coat.
3. Scatter bacon bits, red onion, garlic, chicken bouillon, ranch dressing mix, parsley, seasoned salt, and black pepper over the potatoes.
4. Pour water into the slow cooker.
5. Cook on Low 7 to 9 hours.
6. Pour half-and-half into the soup; cook another 15 minutes.
7. Garnish with Cheddar cheese and green onion to serve.

Serve with a wedge salad.

This was another A+ crock pot meal.
I rarely eat bacon, so this was a real treat.
This was a real hearty meal as we get into fall.
It tasted great re-heated the next day.

Crockpot Apple Oatmeal

Ingredients

• 2-3 apples, peeled, cubed (be sure to peel the apples)
• 1 cup of steel cut oats
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 3 cups milk (I used 1%)
• extra brown sugar

Instructions

1. Start by peeling and chopping the apples and put them in the crock pot
2. Add the oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, and milk to the crock pot
3. Stir
4. Cover your crock pot and turn on low for 3 hours
5. Optional-stir every hour
6. Turn crock pot to warm for the remainder of the night
7. Sleep well
8. Wake up, stir oatmeal
9. Put oatmeal in individual bowls, sprinkle additional brown sugar on top of each bowl, and enjoy!

 This was an excellent breakfast.  I could have cut the recipe in half for just the 2 of us. 

Italian Sausage Pasta Sauce

3 Italian sausage links, sliced (I boiled and took off their casings for lower fat content)                     

1 cup finely chopped onions (2 medium) 

*1 cup of diced bell pepper

* 1/2 cup of diced anaheim pepper

*1 teaspoon fresh basil leaves                   

1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves          

Dash of salt            

6 cloves of garlic, minced               

6 oz can of tomato paste

handful of diced mushrooms

*1 jar of homemade tomato sauce

*1 jar of homemade pasta sauce                       

Add ingredients to crock pot.  Cook for 10 hours.

*Some of the fresh veggies came from the back yard.  Tomato sauce & pasta sauce were made several weeks back & frozen.

Add to favorite cooked pasta, over rice, or in a hoagie bun.      

 

 

                  

Dishwasher detergent

1 cup of washing soda (cleaner)

1 cup of baking soda (cuts out grease)

3 packages of unsweetened lemonade drink mix (added cleaning power, antibacterial and smells awesome)

1 cup of salt

1 cup of water

Mix all ingredients with a spoon.  Break up large clumps.  It's ok if it is a little lumpy.  It dissolves in the dishwasher compartment.

Review:

It is a little clumpy but it works. We have an inexpensive dishwasher so dishes do need to be rinsed first. 

I made my own washing soda by putting 1.25 cups in the over at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. 

I tried making detergent tabs out of ice trays but they broke apart. Once you add the water the mixture will harden pretty quick. Once it dries you can break it up eaily into smaller pieces that fit in the dishwasher compartment. I use 1 tablespoon in the compartment. You can also use vinegar as a rinse agent. If dishes are really dirty you can ass another tablespoon in the silverware caddy.

I will not be buying dishwasher detergent again.  I made this at the end of August 2014.  It is the middle of Oct and we have barely put a dent in the stash.  We do dishes every day.
This batch should last though the end of the year at least. 

  

Can Cream of chicken substitute

3 tablespoons of butter or oil
3 tablespoons of flour
1/2 cup milk
3/4 cup chicken broth
Dash of pepper
Chicken pieces, if desired

Melt butter
Add flour and whisk to reduce clumps
Add milk and broth. Continue to stir on low heat with whisk until desired thickness.

Who knew I would learn to cook this year? I am never buying cream of anything again.

Homemade Waffle & Pancake mix

Makes 12 to 15 pancakes

1 cup all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled)
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, or vegetable oil
1 large egg
1 teaspoon of vanilla
half cup of blueberries or chocolate chips
1 small Mashed Banana    
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Assorted toppings, such as butter, maple syrup, confectioners' sugar, honey, jams, preserves, sweetened whipped cream, or chocolate syrup

Preheat oven to 200 degrees; have a baking sheet or heatproof platter ready to keep cooked pancakes warm in the oven. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, butter (or oil), and egg. Add dry ingredients to milk mixture; whisk until just moistened (do not overmix; a few small lumps are fine).
2. Heat a large skillet (nonstick or cast-iron) or griddle over medium. Fold a sheet of paper towel in half, and moisten with oil; carefully rub skillet with oiled paper towel.
3. For each pancake, spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons of batter onto skillet, using the back of the spoon to spread batter into a round (you should be able to fit 2 to 3 in a large skillet).
4. Cook until surface of pancakes have some bubbles and a few have burst, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip carefully with a thin spatula, and cook until browned on the underside, 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer to a baking sheet or platter; cover loosely with aluminum foil, and keep warm in oven. Continue with more oil and remaining batter.  Serve warm, with desired toppings.

Optional for more yumminess: