Crockpot Italian Chicken

Crockpot Italian Chicken - This is another one of those tried and true recipes in our household that I like to turn to when I haven't planned anything else. My sister gave me this recipe several years ago.  It is tasty, filling, inexpensive, can be eaten year-round, and the best part is that it can be thrown into the slow cooker and be forgotten about. 

Crockpot Italian Chicken

Recipe adapted from southernfood.about.com

Total Time: 7 hours

Ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts  (fresh or frozen)

1 to 1 1/2 cups Italian Dressing (Store bought or homemade. I prefer homemade and use the Italian Dressing recipe from the Our Best Bites Cookbook.) 

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

4-6 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced (I've also used fingerling potatoes or red potatoes)

4-6 medium carrots, peeled and sliced

Optional: Celery, Bell Peppers, any veggie that sounds like it would taste good after being cooked in a slow-cooker.

Preparation:

Place chicken on the bottom. Add cheese, veggies and dressing. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until chicken is done and veggies are tender. 

DIY Suede Donut Purse

Over the weekend my mom gave me a big box of suede that she was getting rid of. Today my five year-old and I decided that it would be fun to try a project together. She wanted a purse, and when I asked her what kind she said a donut. I am not sure if that had to do with the fact that we were eating breakfast while we were having this conversation, or if she really did want a donut purse. Either way it turned out really cute and she loves loading it up with stuff and carting it around. We just winged it when we were making it, and below is a list of steps we used.

Chicken with Yogurt - A meal made using pantry staples.

This is one of my go to meals when I haven't been shopping in a long time and have not planned dinner. I almost always have the ingredients on hand because they are all pretty basic pantry staples. I got the recipe from my mother-in-law several years ago and it is a meal that my husband grew up eating. It is a very filling meal and is very simple and easily thrown together at meal time. I usually serve this chicken over rice but quinoa is delicious too. 

Chicken with Yogurt

1/4 cup sliced or chopped almonds

1 T butter

4 chicken breasts

1 T butter

1/2 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp dill weed

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 cup water

1 cube chicken bouillon

1 medium onion

1/2 cup plain yogurt (I've also used Greek Yogurt and it works well also)

1 1/2 tsp cornstarch

1/4 cup cold water

-Cook almonds in 1 T melted butter until golden brown.

- Cube chicken and brown in 1 T butter until golden brown. Reduce heat and sprinkle with paprika, salt, and dill.

-Mix 1/3 cup water with bouillon. Pour over chicken. Add onion and simmer covered for 30 minutes.

-Remove chicken from pan and stir yogurt into the liquid remaining in the skillet.

-Mix cornstarch and 1/4 cup cold water and stir into the yogurt mixture.

-Heat to boiling and boil for one minute, stirring constantly. 

-Pour sauce over chicken and sprinkle with almonds.

Celebrating the 4th of July

We had an incredible weekend celebrating American Independence Day. With family, food, fireworks, fun, and time exploring the beautiful country around us, it was the perfect weekend. The holidays are becoming more and more fun as our kids get older. Here are a few pictures of the fun we had.