Thursday, February 25, 2016

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili



This recipe can be found in many forms floating around the Internet.  It's a popular recipe among Weight Watchers.  Here's my version.

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

1-2 chicken breasts
1 can bean of choice, drained - pinto is my favorite
1 package frozen corn
1 jar salsa
1-2 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning or packaged taco seasoning

Place all ingredients except taco seasoning in slow cooker.  Cook on low 5-6 hours.  Remove chicken and cut into pieces or shred.  Return to pot and add taco seasoning to taste.  Serve plain or over rice.  Good with homemade bread!

UPDATE!!
I made this without chicken and subbed in two crumbled veggie burgers and an extra can of beans.  My family still liked it and I may have liked it better!  My husband thought it was chicken.  For a vegetarian or vegan meal this is a great option!



You might also like:

Lazy Applesauce

Sweet and Sour Kielbasa

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Striped Double Crochet Blanket




Here's a blanket using double crochet with single strand of yarn that I am currently working on.  I got some of the pastel multicolor yarn on sale some time ago and I thought it would look nice with blues and yellow.  This is yet another example of a blanket simple enough for a beginner, yet nice enough to give as a gift or display in your home.

When I am done with this blanket I may finish it up with a single crochet border.


 UPDATE!!




I did end up doing a single crochet border.  I tried a couple different times with different colors and had a hard time figuring out exactly what I wanted.  The dark blue and yellow didn't quite work and I ended up using the light multicolor yarn.  I like how it turned out.







If you're looking for double crochet blanket patterns, check these out!

Double Crochet Scrap Blanket











Coffee and Blue Jeans - Thick and Comfy Crochet Blanket

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Pink and Gray Double Crochet




Here is a blanket I recently finished.  I think it turned out really cute.  I have made many others like it before, and you can see one here or here with a pattern.  The two-strand double crochet blanket is so quick and easy and the fun really comes in the color combinations.  I hope you like what you see!











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Coffee and Blue Jeans Afghan












Boyish Stripes Afghan

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Mexican Barley Soup

Image found here.


This is an original recipe I came up with not long ago when I wanted to make something healthy and delicious. It's a great option if you do meatless Mondays.

Mexican Barley Soup

Ingredients:

4 cups water
4 beef bouillon cubes
1 can chili beans
1 14 ounce can stewed tomatoes
1 cup cooked barley
2 Tablespoons homemade taco seasoning 

Bring water and bouillon to a boil.  Once bouillon is dissolved, add remaining ingredients and heat through.


Nutrition Information:
Serves 6
1 serving =
200 calories
2 grams fat
39 grams carbohydrate
9 grams fiber
8 grams protein

Nutriton information calculated using caloriecount.com.


You might also like:

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili

Whole Grain Crispies

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Image found here.


If you are looking for a cheap alternative to the expensive taco seasoning packets you can buy at the store, you have found it!   Not only is the price right, but the flavor is amazing without all of the questionable ingredients.  Next time you are making tacos, or using taco seasoning in one of your recipes, just use this.  You won't be disappointed.

I can't remember where this recipe came from, but I'm so glad I found it!

Taco Seasoning

Ingredients:

1/4 cup chili powder
1/4 cup ground cumin
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup salt - my favorite is Himalayan pink salt
1 teaspoon ground pepper

Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until mixed well.  Use as you would packaged seasoning.  Three tablespoons mix equal 1 packet store-bought seasoning.


You might also like:

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili


Tuesday, February 2, 2016

The Best Buttercream Icing


Image found here

In order to decorate deliciously pretty cakes, you need the perfect buttercream.  This is a recipe my mom gave me and I use it every time I decorate a cake with roses or other details.  It tastes great, is easy to work with and a cinch to color.  Here's the recipe!

The Best Buttercream Icing

Ingredients:

2 cups shortening
1/2 cup heavy cream
8 cups powdered sugar (one 2-lb bag)
1/2 cup (one stick) softened butter
2 teaspoons vanilla

Beat shortening until smooth.  Add butter and cream until fluffy.  Add 1/4 cup heavy cream and vanilla.  Mix well.  Add sugar slowly and continue mixing.  Slowly add remaining cream until right consistency is reached.

Makes enough to frost a 9-inch 4 layer cake or a large cake made with two cake mixes.

A cake I frosted with this recipe.

Another cake frosted with The Best Buttercream Icing.


You might also like:

Barbie Cake

Cake and Roses