My very own CROCK POT recipes

I love cooking this time of year. Who doesn't? Crock potting is my favorite form of cooking right now considering it's easy. Also, the result is usually "comfort food". Yes, fattening, steamy, feels-good-going-down food. Last week I bought prepackaged chicken thighs at Costco (the fridge to freezer packs). I had previously purchased chicken breast with the same packaging, but it's a little bit pricier than the thighs, so I decided to try the cheaper of the two. Yes, thighs have more fat, but isn't that what makes them tastier?! Anyway, this week I tested out slow-cooking them. Barbara had made the best roast a few weeks ago and I loved the way she cooked it, so I tried it out with the chicken. She had stuck the roast in (frozen) and put cream of mushroom soup all over (somewhat as a protector from drying out) as well as a lipton onion soup mix. Anyway, she cooked it a whole 19 hours and it was SOOOOOOOO good. She had stuck it in on a Saturday night for Sunday dinner. I'm not kidding, that roast was the best roast I have ever eaten. At dinner, we were even debating on whether or not it was beef (maybe pork). Nope, it was beef. Anyway, back to the chicken...the inspiration was from Barbara, so THANK YOU! I'm so excited to cook these recipes and pass them down to my daughters!

Creamy Mushroom Chicken (by me, yes I'm a genius)

4 frozen chicken thighs
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1-2 tsp. crushed rosemary
1 bay leaf (my favorite for ALL chicken recipes)
Fresh ground pepper
1 Tbsp. olive oil

Put olive oil on bottom of pot. Set chicken inside. Douse the chicken in the cream of mushroom soup so that it is completely covered. Sprinkle the rosemary on top. Set the bay leaf on top of chicken(slightly push is down into the soup). Sprinkle some pepper over the top (to your liking).

Cook on LOW for 7-8 hours.
Trim fat (if you can find it, haha), remove bones, and cut into bite-sized pieces before serving.

This was yummy over "Near East" wild mushroom and herb couscous. (I wish we had some mushrooms and I would have sauteed them with onions to add to the flavor of the chicken.) I also made an apple-walnut spinach salad with "Girad's" white balsamic dressing and feta cheese. That's my favorite dressing for the season and almost all the time. Maybe some roasted butternut squash would be yummy with this. Hmmm, maybe next time. http://http//www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/roasted-butternut-squash-recipe/index.html


Creamy Rosemary Chicken Stew (By Me)

4 chicken thighs
1 can cream of chicken soup
4 md-lg carrots peeled and sliced into 1 inch pieces
1/2 white onion chopped
4 red potatoes cut into 1 inch pieces peeled or with skin (both are yummy)
3 ribs of celery chopped
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2-3 Tbsp. crushed rosemary
fresh/dried Italian parsley
2 tsp. poultry seasoning
8x8 square baking dish

Add olive oil to the crock pot on bottom. Set chicken inside. Sprinkle poultry seasoning directly on chicken, then cover with cream of chicken soup. Sprinkle Rosemary on top and set bay leaf on top pushing it slightly down in the soup layer.

Cook on LOW 7-8 hours. (On HIGH 4 hours if you need to shorten the cook time)

At the 2 hour mark on the crock pot, meaning two hours left, put onions, celery, potatoes, and carrots in a large pot with water covering all the ingredients. Cook on med-low heat for the remaining two hours. Once the chicken is yummy and tender, remove the bones and skin/fat. Cut into bite-sized pieces. Set aside (not back in crock pot). Check veggies. If they are all slightly tender, you did good. I personally don't like overcooked vegetables, but not crunchy ones either.

Put both cut-up chicken pieces and cooked vegetables in serving dish. Spoon the creamy mixture that was left in the crock pot over the chicken and veggies. Sprinkle top with dried/fresh parsley. Enjoy!

This is so delicious. It is unlike any other chicken stew I have made. The secret ingredient is the cream of chicken soup and always using a bay leaf.

Tastes great served with some cooked Rhodes rolls and a mixed salad.

*For both recipes, they serve 3-4 people. You can serve more people by doubling all the ingredients and using a family-sized can of soup.

Try out my recipes and let me know how they were. Let me know, too, if you have any suggestions or improvements. Good luck!

Our little munchkin

I just love Maycee, nothing new saying that :). Last week we discovered that she had teeth! We had no idea she was even teething! But I will say that a few weeks ago I was ready to rip all my hair out because she was being quite difficult. I guess that explains it. But we love her two little teeth. It is absolutely precious! Our little girl is growing up. And, aside from crawling tons, she is pulling herself up. In fact, the other day, she pulled herself up one step into the entry way. It was a piece of cake! Fortunately, we haven't had to chase her up the stairs yet but I wouldn't be surprised if she is attempting the stairs before Thanksgiving. TIME FLIES! Where has it gone? Our baby girl will be a 1-year-old in no time at all and there are Christmas decorations in the stores. Wow.
Cute little teeth!!!

One more thing about Maycee....she is a little owl. She makes the Zoolander face and makes a "who" sound. HILARIOUS! She was really into that sound a few weeks ago. She just cracks me up. She is always doing something to get me to laugh. Oh Maycee, you are loved!

Halloween Post...

Scroll down to Nov. 1st....that's when I began the post. FINALLY they're all up. Enjoy!

Trevor Dayley Photography Workshop

I went to an extremely helpful photography workshop given by Trevor Dayley. What a talented photographer. Every hour spent there was totally worth it. I learned how to better use my DSLR camera as well as some editing tips. A model came so we could practice our techniques. The pictures turned out fabulous of her. And so now, I'm finally where I want to be with furthering photography. My intentions have been to be able to capture special memories of my children and extended family. But, who knows, maybe I'll do it as a side profession. I'm sure that's what it will come to.
And I'm so thankful to have this opportunity for the next few months as I prepare for nursing school to be able to have such a fun outlet.

Here's my history: I remember as a girl, Chris (my bro) took photography in high school. I don't remember his pictures, BUT I remember having the desire to do it too! In junior high, where I had the opportunity to take photography, I ceased it. And in 8th grade, I recieved the outstanding photography student award! Keep in mind this was out of the entire school (grades 7-9). Not too shabby, eh? Seems silly, but it's a start. I got caught up in athletics and student government therefore I didn't continue developing my talent.

Through out my life, though, I have always been drawn to the arts. As a very young girl (age 6 or so) I took watercolor lessons from a wonderful old lady who was a great artist. I loved it! I learned so much about color and the importance of contrast, etc...even at a young age. But here's the problem, I jump from interest to interest. I moved on to piano (which I still play, fortunately) and then finally I came back to drawing in high school. Sadly, my teacher never gave what I thought exceptional grades (the A+'s). I was discouraged. He seemed biased as to WHAT art it. I don't take criticism well, considering I never tried improving my artwork in the class. Looking back I wish I had!

Anyway, I love art...whether it be visual or auditory (music). I have a great appreciation for it. So I hope as others view my art they may have an appreciation and look at it in a respectful manner. I have confidence that my work will only improve and the reputation that proceeds it!

I watermarked because these are my original work. Thanks Kalynne for being a great model. You're stunning!
http://www.trevordayley.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/modernphoto

We Voted Today

We voted today. The END....

Maycee's first Halloween!

We had a blast celebrating Halloween with Maycee. I especially enjoyed making her adorable costume. She's so cute! And she did not like her costume very much when it came to crawling. I, too, dressed up like a ridiculous woman from the 80's. Shem, well, he decided to be a student, I guess we'll call it that. Yes, he did not dress up. I guess I'm still a kid in many ways and he's the adult. But it sure was fun. We had plenty of family time and enjoyed seeing the little cousins get together. We kicked off the weekend by going to Schnepf farms on Friday night with Mark, Shanna, Nixen, and grandma Wanlass. The next night we went to their Trunk-or-treat festival for their ward. Shem entered in his pumpkin carvings and won first and second place! Haha, that's his favorite thing to do this time of year. And Sunday night, we hung out with the Couch side and took Maycee and the cousins trick-or-treating! So much fun! I look forward to next Halloween when Maycee is walking around door to door. Such a little cutie! Happy Halloween!

Hanging out at our ward chili cook-off.


Her first face painting! Haha

{high ISO + low lighting = grainy photos}

Aren't they adorable together? Taking baths after a fun night!

Nixen! CRAZY hair!! :) So sweet!

This is Maycee's favorite pose lately. She dislikes me taking pictures of her.

Having fun with my extreme make-up and wardrobe.

Love the dirty tights and shredded sleeves...it was hot so I had to cut off Maycee's long sleeves. Oh well I suppose.

CAYLEB!

Emmalee!

Colin!

(he's "autumn" and Sienna is "spring") CLEVER!!

Sweet cheeks LAUREN!! As a little lamb!

Sienna and Chris! Her tutu was ADORABLEEEE!!!! Sharina, great job on their costumes!

Trick-or-treating on Halloween night! We had a blast! Thanks for the memories everyone. Love you all!!