Friday, January 31, 2014

how crock pot chili became crock pot casserole {cream cheese chicken chili}

This recipe has, evidently, taken Pinterest by storm. I'm personally anti-Pinterest, but every Pinterest user I know has raved about this one.

It was so darn easy, I was more than happy to give it a go. And anything with cream cheese in the lineup has the odds in its favor. (I dare someone to disagree with me on that.)

And then something crazy happened. The "chili" I ate when it first finished, morphed into fork-ready, casserole-ish leftovers.

Crazy, I tell you.

Lest you think that was a bad thing, it wasn't. The reheated leftovers made for a very delicious nacho-topper, and it was really so tasty, that I didn't care that it wasn't super soupy anymore. But, I may try adding some chicken broth or milk next time, just to ramp up the soup-factor.

Cream Cheese Chicken Chili
Serves 4-6

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, frozen (although I bet thawed ones would work too)
1 can Rotel tomatoes (hot or mild, your choice)
1 can corn kernels, undrained
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix
1 Tbsp. cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese (low- or non-fat, if you're feeling boring)
Corn chips of choice (Frito's Scoops are my go-to)
Shredded cheddar, green onions or sour cream for optional toppings

Place chicken and remaining ingredients in the crock pot, making sure the cream cheese is the last one in (placed on top of the pile). Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Remove chicken, shred, and return to the crock pot, stirring to combine. Serve with corn chips and optional toppings.

Has anyone else made this and experienced similar leftover mysteries? Let me hear from you.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

thankful thursday #167

{We interrupt this brief crock pot love-fest for a well-deserved Thankful Thursday.}

Remember when I was thankful during that week when my pipes froze?

Yeah. It was good practice for finding some gratitude this week of "snowmageddon 2K14." Wowsers.

I'll share the full story another time, but while people across our city were stranded on interstates, separated from families, or searching for heat and food, I was one who got lucky. And if I couldn't be grateful about what was really just a lot of little inconveniences, I'd be a loser.

Let's count the ways, shall we? So thankful today for ...

... being spared a car accident during the brief time I was on the roads trying to get home.

... avoiding the other cars that were sliding down the hill into the intersection at which I was stopped.

... the one phone call I was able to make to my coworker who directed me back to the office.

... spending my time at the office on Tuesday watching the news, rather than being the news.

... my two work pals and one nice stranger who kept me company all night at the office.

... the spare toothbrush and toothpaste stashed in my desk drawer.

... snagging the lone couch at my office for my Tuesday night bed. It wasn't soft, but it was better than the floor.

... my wardrobe choice for Tuesday, which was not-the-worst-option to sleep in.

... my awesome parka, that served as the perfect blanket.

... the boots I wore on Tuesday, so my feet stayed dry on the walk home on Wednesday.

... my house that sits only 3.5 miles from my office, so I could even think about walking home.

... the couple who picked me up in an ATV and drove me over half way home.

... leaving my faucets dripping on Tuesday morning, so I had running water when I did make it home on Wednesday.

... my neighbor who confirmed the running water for me before my trek home.

... the pork tenderloin in my refrigerator that I cooked and enjoyed when I got home.

... my gym being only one mile away, so I could walk there this morning while my car sat patiently back at the office. It was a nice outing.

... another neighbor (and work pal!) being a fellow gym member willing to keep me company on the walk there today.

... the fabulous showers at my gym, since despite my best preventative efforts, my pipes still froze overnight and I had no water for most of today (ugh).

... the temperatures today that rose above 40 to thaw my pipes.

... that serving work-pal who took me to retrieve my car.

... my car cranking on the first try, after having sat in ice for 48 hours.

... never having lost power this whole week.

It's been a full week. It's been full of twists and turns, but full of beautiful stories of humanity, too. I hope you've stayed warm and cozy, and even in the moments when you weren't, I hope you stayed positive.

There's always a reason to go on and be grateful.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

how one crock pot recipe can feed you many times over {shredded bbq chicken}

Based on my crock pot experimentation guidelines, this recipe is the jam for versatile leftovers. I cooked this chicken on a weekend, and ate it all week on salads, sandwiches, and pizzas.

BBQ Shredded Chicken
Makes however many meals you can squeeze out

3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3/4 c. ketchup
1 bottle of BBQ sauce (I used Sweet Baby Ray's)
1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/2 c. chopped onion
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1/4 - 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

Spray crock pot with cooking spray. Place chicken in crock pot. Mix rest of ingredients in a bowl, and pour over chicken. Cook on low 7-8 hours. When ready, remove chicken and shred it with two forks. Add some of the sauce, coating chicken with desired amount.

I got a little crazy with the sauce, so use it sparingly. It's much easier to add than to take away.

What crock pot recipe yields your most versatile leftovers?

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

how the crock pot is good for snowy days {southwestern stew}

Have you heard? Our governor has declared a state of emergency in Alabama because of this crazy snow and a "major forecasting error," per our local news source.

And we're in a state of emergency at our office, because we are stuck here. Literally.

This is what we're working with, thanks to the CVS across the street:


Making memories, people. Making memories.

Needless to say, I'd rather be home whipping up some hot soup in my crock pot. This recipe was a winner a few weeks ago during our first cold snap, which, for the record, was a joke compared to today.

Southwestern Stew
Serves 8-10

1-2 lbs. ground chuck (or beef or sirloin or turkey, whatever you prefer)
1 large onion, chopped
1 28-oz. can diced tomatoes
1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 15-oz. can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 15-oz. can whole kernel corn, rinsed and drained
1 c. salsa or picante sauce (any kind you like)
1 packet taco seasoning
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
2 c. water
Frito's Scoops
Shredded cheddar, sour cream, and green onions for topping

  1. Brown meat with onions in a skillet. Drain well and put into crock pot.

  2. Add remaining ingredients, stir together, and cook on low for about 6 hours. (I doubt it actually takes that long, but I don't think you can overcook it.)

  3. Serve with Frito's Scoops, and offer shredded cheddar, sour cream and green onions for topping.

Are you warm and safe in your house? I'm not.

So tell me, while I go pop some popcorn, what's your favorite crock pot soup?

Monday, January 27, 2014

how i'm conquering the crock pot {stupid easy sweet potatoes}

I have been anti-crock pot for as long as I've known what a crock pot even was.

I'm a kitchen purist, so most gadgets don't make my equipment list. If I can't make it with some combination of a solid pot, skillet, cutting board and chef's knife, the recipe is dead to me.

The crock has also seemed burdensome as it relates to storage, and I feel anxiety when too many things clutter my kitchen counters.

And as if those two reasons aren't enough, have we not all seen a piece of meat come out of a crock looking a little underwhelming? I'm not sure crocks value culinary presentation the way I do.

But I'm also a kitchen experimenter, and I decided that while my cabinet space might be at my lifetime peak, now was the time to give the crock a fair shake.

Given my past reservations, I've stepped intentionally into this experiment, using these guidelines:
  1. No meat will be cooked, unless it will be later mixed into a soup or sauce, or finished off under a broiler with a nice glaze.

  2. No recipes that feed an army. I'm not interested in leftovers for two weeks.

  3. No dishes that aren't practical for eating solo. Ideally that means that there are versatile options for a reasonable amount of leftovers.
So far this month, I've attempted five recipes, and all of them are potential repeats (my litmus test for a recipe's success). That's a pretty respectable average for the first four weeks of crocking (that can be a verb, yes?).

This week, I'll post one of these each day, and I'm starting with the simplest, and yet most revolutionizing crock pot recipe:

Stupid Easy Sweet Potatoes
Serves 4-6

4-6 sweet potatoes
olive oil

Wash and dry each potato. Rub each one with olive oil, and wrap individually in aluminum foil. Place potatoes into crock pot (stacking is fine), and cook on high for 4 hours, or on low for 8 hours. (I have a 6-quart crock pot and cooked 5 potatoes easily, and probably could have fit 7-8.)

People, when I discovered these perfect sweet potatoes came out of a crock pot, I felt like if I never had another crock pot success, I'd not care. I ate these all week with fun toppings -- butter and brown sugar; Greek vanilla yogurt and walnuts; honey and pecans -- the possibilities are endless.

Did you know this crock pot secret? Any other stupid easy ones you care to share? Link me up!

And more to come. Stay tuned.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

thankful thursday #166

Recently I wrote a post about people that ooze. They ooze love, and generosity, and all sorts of goodness that others get to receive.

That post came on the heels of a conversation I'd had on the phone with Mr. Bobby. My heart felt full, for having been the recipient of his and Miss Judy's oozing, and sad, for having not seen him in so long.

I couldn't stop thinking about our chat, so I wrote that post, and then vowed to see him the next time I was in the state of Mississippi, no matter my schedule.

I'm so grateful that chance came on Tuesday.



We met at the Trace Way, an almost-truck stop in Mathiston, Mississippi, that specializes in the quintessential meat-and-three, boasts zero atmosphere, and rounds down to the nearest dollar on your ticket.

He said to me, Now I know I come from a different time, but in my time, ladies didn't pay for their meals. I'm buying your lunch.

We talked about Miss Judy, their toddler grandsons, dreams, heaven, my house, old times. He's so dear.

I loved every second of those ninety minutes.

Do you have someone too, like Mr. Bobby? If you do, make a date and go see them. Your heart will ooze with thankfulness. I promise.

Go on, be grateful!

Thursday, January 16, 2014

thankful thursday #165

It weighs on me sometimes to be single. Not often, but sometimes.

And sometimes, I'm really grateful to be single. Also not often, but sometimes.

(And if these two states occur only sometimes, what then for the majority of your time, you may ask? The rest of my time -- the majority of my time -- is just spent living the life I have right now. Like how married people don't always think about how they're married; they are just are.)

There've been some instances, conversations, what-have-yous lately that have given me a keen sense of gratitude for this single life I have.

A sixty-something gentleman with a family told me he's going to spend two weeks away from them, so he could take a trip he's always wanted to take with a friend.

I am thankful that when I mark items off my bucket list, I'm not sacrificing time with my husband or children to do it. Because one day, a different and equally exciting bucket list will include them.

Two single girlfriends and I were exchanging proud-aunt stories about our nephews.

I'm so thankful I get to be a single aunt, if only for a season. I'd say our love for those nephews is beautifully focused, and genuine.

If you're single, do you ever feel thankful about it? Sometimes it's hard, but dig deep. Go on, be grateful!

Thursday, January 9, 2014

thankful thursday #164

It's been cold here, people.

Early this week, the wind chill on two consecutive days was zero degrees. Zero.

For most of my southern neighbors, zero degrees is too much. And it's definitely extreme.

But I love cold weather, and I have a legitimate parka. I was loving the chance to wear it and be the envy of my friends, rather than be ridiculed for my mostly-unnecessary winter gear.

Until my pipes froze.

Then the cold wasn't so fun anymore.

It wasn't so fun when my shower didn't turn on. Or when I asked my neighbor if I could brush my teeth at her house that morning. Or when I was bumming a shower off a friend the next morning.

And then, glory, the temperatures finally crept above freezing, and the pipes thawed. Running water never felt so good.

Despite the inconvenience, though, there's so much to be thankful for:

Well, running water, of course. Lots of folks around the world don't have that, and when I don't have it, it's a healthy reminder to appreciate it when I do have it.

Friends who let me brush my teeth, wash my face, or shower with their running water.

My nearby gym that has a pretty fantastic locker room. I'd have used that the next morning without blinking.

All the thoughtful people who told me after the fact their endless tips for frozen pipe prevention. I'll know for next time. (I may have been a little bitter about that initially, but now? Gratitude. Really.)

As best I can tell, no burst pipes. Miraculous, from what I've been told.

Overall, plenty of gratitude to be found amid the polar vortex.

Did you survive the big chill? With or without running water? Go on, be grateful!

Monday, January 6, 2014

holiday photo recap

I don't know about yours, but my Christmas vacation has a pretty outrageous anticipation quotient. Lots of planning, strategizing, organizing, packing. It feels kind of like building a tower.


And then in what feels like an instant, it's over. Like this:


But, between the build-up and the tear-down, we do manage to create some fun memories.

For one, I'm always happy to see my bros.


Little Man loved getting kisses from our dog, Dodger.


(Not sure how the bear felt about that.)

Then I skipped off to Charleston for a weekend to celebrate a friend's birthday, and I absolutely could live in the loft we rented.


That kitchen was pretty fab, and the windows!


(If you're in the market for a reasonable rental in a primo location in downtown Charleston, hit me up. You should consider this place.)

We toured Mt. Pleasant on segways, which is, hands down, the best way to explore a city. That is, if you can lay down your pride and embrace your inner dork.


Because there is no getting around it. You will look ridiculous.

I hope to go back one day and eat at this fun restaurant, The Wreck.


Talk about a dive! And just beyond that, right on the water, the colors of this shrimp boat were so festive.


From there, I drove to Virginia to see my friend Lori. I loved this old tobacco warehouse in her hometown.

And this walking trail by the river was so rustic and peaceful.


It was darn cold, but lovely nonetheless.

Every picturesque moment of this Christmas break was appreciated. I hope you can say the same!

Friday, January 3, 2014

some goals

I've made some successful new year's resolutions in the past.

In two different years, I gave up fried foods, and managed to pass on Chick-fil-A #1's and chicken biscuits for an entire year. That was tough.

Tougher was the year I vowed to drink 365 glasses of milk. I hate milk, like super-hate it, and so this was a healthy resolution that challenged my self-discipline. While successful, it never got any easier to (literally) swallow.

So yes. I've made, and kept, resolutions.

But I'll tell you what's what: Starting on those resolutions is a lost cause when I'm not home in my routine.

I mean, there is no way I'm passing on homemade biscuits at a family meal for New Year's dinner. That's just sacrilege.

As far as I'm concerned, the new year begins when I'm back home and facing my routine again, with my feet back underneath me after a glorious break from it all.

And today's the day.

This year, "goals" came up in a conversation as a preferred word over "resolutions," so in honor of that, here are some goals I'm aiming for in 2014:

bad habit to break // Snoozing my alarm. I am the. Worst.

habit to form // Monthly "family" dinners with friends around a table, lingering and chatting with no agenda.

a new skill I'd like to learn // Writing a grant application. (Or mastering my new crock pot, which I probably have a much better shot at doing.)

person to be like // I already fight hard against the comparisons game. I think I'll just try to be like me.

good deed to do // Host a brunch for some senior adult ladies from my church.

place to visit // Italy. And it's happening, people.

book to read // My reading list is so long right now. George W. Bush's Decision Points has been on there awhile. I might tackle that one this year.

food to try // Quinoa. I don't know why it scares me so.

do better at // Designating time each day when my iPhone is not within reach or sight.

Which of these categories resonate with you? What are you hoping to achieve in 2014?

Thursday, January 2, 2014

thankful thursday #163

Although my holiday is not quite over, my road trip is. I feel so full, having visited with some dear friends and family; having seen some new parts (to me) of the country; and having eaten a ridiculous amount of food along the way.

Good times.

And for the record, those twenty-some-odd hours in the car by myself were quite glorious. I chatted to friends on the phone if I felt like it, listened to some podcasts, sang along to my favorite tunes, prayed some. It was nice.

There were two downers along the way: a speeding ticket (oops), and a rock that popped my windshield (I'm lucky it took eight years for that to happen). But in the spirit of gratitude, I'm thankful that my ticket fine is minimal, and that the dink in my windshield hasn't yet spread. Here's hoping I can get that fixed before it does.

Two minor casualties over 1700-ish miles? Success, I'd say.

Are you safe and sound after holiday travels? Go on, be grateful!