latest crock pot find

This recipe was very well received. We had friends who also needed a meal that night (don't you hate when you discover that you have NO food in your fridge!) and it yielded enough food for their family of six and ours of four! We just added a quick quesadilla for their dear veggie daughter, a bag of salad and made a full pot of couscous (didn't have enough rice, which I think would have been the best side for this dish) and it fed us all...well!!! and even the kids loved it and went back for more. In case the link doesn't work, here is the recipe:

--12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, or 6 boneless, skinless breast halves
--1 cup brown sugar (it's okay. you can brush your teeth after.)
--1/4 cup lemon-lime soda (stay with me...)
--2/3 cup vinegar (I used white wine, but think regular white would be fine)
--3 cloves smashed and chopped garlic
--2 T soy sauce
--1 tsp ground black pepper

The Directions.

Use a 4 quart crockpot for this recipe.

Plop the chicken into your crockpot. Cover with the brown sugar, pepper, chopped garlic, and soy sauce. Add the vinegar, and pour in the soda. It will bubble!

Cover and cook on low for 6-9 hours, or on high for 4-5. The chicken is done when it is cooked through and has reached desired consistency. The longer you cook it, the more tender it will be.

Serve over a bowl of white rice with a ladle full of the broth.

Enjoy!!

Yummy chicken!

So...this is sooooo so simple....the latest crock pot meal!

take your frozen chicken...dump it in your crock pot....
pour over a bottle of salsa (we use pace picante medium)
turn on low for the day...
come home. turn off. pull out chicken. it just tears all apart...it's shredded amazing juicy chicken for burritos and nachos for dinner.

do it!!
if you have more crock pot meals, send them my way : ) i'll test them out on our fam. the kids loved the chicken-but i didn't tell them about it-i just made their burritos and they ate them! if i would have told them salsa was the main ingredient-i would have lost them!

enjoy!

Crock Pot Lasagna

This is a tried and approved recipe from my very casserole hating husband. He doesn't do lasagna, ever...in our marriage or pot lucks...he'll eat it just because he doesn't want to offend, but inside he just doesn't like it at all. But...I asked him if i could try this recipe on him-and he LIKED it...he even at more the next day and said "this is better the next day"!! YIPPEE!!
My dear friend from high school Christine posted this on my facebook when I did a call out to everyone to share some crockpot recipes that didn't need a lot of fuss. You do need to cook the beef first-BUT...it's quick and not intense. Here ya go!! Enjoy!!

Christine's Crock Pot Lasagna

1 lb lean ground beef ( i use ground turkey)
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, smashed
1 (28 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano
12 ounces cottage cheese (I use reduced fat)
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese or 1/2 cup asiago cheese
12 ounces lasagna noodles, uncooked
16 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
Change Measurements: US | Metric

Directions:Prep Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 4 1/4 hrs
1 Brown ground beef, onion and garlic in frypan.
2 Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, salt and oregano.
3 Cook long enough to get it warm.
4 Spoon a layer of meat sauce onto the bottom of the slow cooker.
5 Add a double layer of uncooked lasagna noodles (break to fit) and top with cheeses.
6 Repeat with sauce, noodles and cheeses until all are used up.
7 Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours.

A.MAZ.ING. chili!!

so...our dear friend Claudette gave me this recipe-and it's the most amazing chili ever!! Has a sweetness to it that is just dreamy! Enjoy!

Auntie Clod's Homemade Chili:

2lbs of lean ground beef-do not drain
2 T olive oil
1 whole onion (i chopped it up real fine cuz the kids don't like onions)
2 packages of mild chili seasoning
2 T chili powder
2 T of tiger sauce (thailand) (don't worry if you can't find it-i didn't use it and it still tastes amazing!)
Brown the above in a large mixing pot (i actually just browned mine in a large skillet then transfered it into my stock pot-BUT i'm sure her suggestion is just fine too!)

4 cans of dark kidney beans
4 cans of italian style stewed tomatoes
2 bottles of prego (or other) tomato sauce
mix in with the large pot containing the above ingredients

here is the secret ingredient : ) 1/2 cup brown sugar. (sweet and spicy!)
bring to a boil, then turn heat to low and simmer for 1/2 hour.

Enjoy!!! a perfect meal for this gloomy weather! Thanks Auntie Clod!!!

Summer Fav....

So...this summer as we've been at the new condo (i know...photos coming soon), my good friend Charity has taught me how to make a mean mojito! I made them for my friend's birthday party this past weekend and they were a hit. Here is the recipe. I also made them in old peanut butter jars that I thought would be just too fun to drink out of (and a free way to replace some of our old glasses that have broken...i LOVE drinking out of the jars-see above!!)

The Chartender (i named it after my friend, charity!) Mojito:
Shopping List:
Bacardi Rum Limon (clear rum, not the brown colored rum)
A fresh bunch of mint, not the kind that has the soil still on the stems (you can get some at albertsons I know like that)
Ice
Lime seltzer water
Sugar
Limes (about a 1/2 a lime per drink)

Directions:
10 leaves of mint and two mint stems broken at the bottom of your jar/glass
1 T and 1t of sugar
4 small lime slices slightly squeezed into the jar then dropped to the bottom of jar

Take your muddler and mash, mash, twist, twist and smoosh your limes, mint leaves and sugar all up. The goal is to have the mint leaves all broken up, the limes totally pulped and juice mixing up with the sugar.

Next pour 2 1/2 oz of Bacardi Limon Rum into jar of mashed up mint/sugar/lime mix
6 ice cubes, or whatever makes the jar fill 1/2 up with ice
invert jar into a cocktail shaker, with the jar acting as your lid/cover
Shake vigorously over the sink and make sure you hold onto the shaker and glass jar at the same time so the jar doesn't go flying off into your kitchen : ) Shake about 20 times to make sure the ice has cooled the lime/sugar/mint/rum mixture
Remove glass jar and pour the contents of the cocktail shaker into the jar
Take the lime seltzer water and pour about 1/2 glass jar worth around the interior of the cocktail shaker to get all that final mojito mixture out of the shaker and pour into the glass jar to the rim of the jar.

Squeeze a final lime on top of mojito, stir, add straw and ENJOY!!

Lemme know if you like them!! Next, it's my goal to figure out how to make the Hollywood Bowl's sangria. It's about $28 at the bowl and i'm SURE it's way cheaper at home and just as delish! I'll post the final recipe once I figure it out : )

A.MAZ.ING

Okay...a kind gentleman in one of my 709 classes mentioned that he loved Chicago style pizza. I quickly said, "Ryan LOVES that...someplace called Gioda...Gierido...something like that" He quickly said, "oh yeah...that place is epic. I found a place out here....you gotta try it!"

long story short...this said pizza place is none other than Tony's Little Italy on the corner of Bastenchury and Placentia...across the street from our elementary school and down the street from my in laws house!! this deep dish pizza was EPIC! perfection! the perfect consolation for our car breaking down (yeah...our accord finally lost it's transmission and also has a crack in the radiator or coolant crack or something....Lord-please provide!)

So...I swept my hubby and kiddos into the car and with $22 in my pocket, we got a medium deep dish pizza with cheese, pep and pinapple. i brought two apple juice boxes, a bag of carrots to split for the kids (just so in my mind, they somehow get a more rounded meal) and ry and i split a coke and spent $22 (including tip!) yahoo!!

www.tonyslittleitaly.com

1808 N Placentia Ave
Placentia, CA 92870-2300
(714) 528-2159

GO!

NEW place to eat...

If you know me well...you know i LOVE breakfast food...and especially at quant little privately owned places (although if you want to take me to breakfast, i'll go wherever!)

here is my new favorite place...Rialto Cafe. http://rialtocafefullerton.com/

do not walk...RUN to go there. 8:30am i think they open...
the coffee comes in these great anthropologie-esque ceramic mugs. i swear it makes the coffee taste better!

i ate there two times this week...both dishes were awesome. it's pricey-but the portions (especially the pancakes) are totally splitable as well as the kids portions and as far as i can tell, there is no split charge-just a charge on substitutions.

they only let you split the check two ways

the decor is darling and inspirational...

i got the wheat pancakes with their homemade granola in it (brown sugar bits of oats and cranberries...delish!) drizzled with maple syrup...$9. you get two pancakes...that basically cover the WHOLE plate. i got a to-go box right away and put 1/2 in it just so i could put the syrup on them without it dripping all over the table.

the next day i got the rialto rancheros. Ammmmmaaazzzzing. the bruschetta topping on the eggs is toDIE for.

the water is complimentary (upon request) and tastes like you are in a day spa! it has a cucumber/melon aftertaste to it. sooo refreshing on these warm days.

RYAN...TAKE me here for my birthday!!! (hint hint wink wink!)

yeah for free mondays!

so we went to chik-fil-a because we love it and were in the area.  our la habra restaurant has buy one meal get the other free on mondays...every monday!! our family ate yummy food for $12!!  yahoo!!  what a suprise and treat on our last day of summer vacation with ryan. (okay...it won't let me post the photo for some reason...i'll post it another time)

so...also...another fun thing (if you didn't already know this) chik-fil-a has the same deal (buy one get one free) on tuesday nights if you bring your kids b/c it's family night/craft night.  the kids love it and for every adult meal, the kids eat free.  yeah!  so...it can be a family night/date night while the kids do the craft, you can talk! (that is...if they do the craft themselves and don't employ your help!)

i love...

i love my friends. i love my grad program. i love wednesday girl night outs...i love the conversations we have...i love the questions they ask...i love that ryan watches the kids and knows how important my time with the girls is and is thankful to be mr. mom...i LOVE the lemon cream shrimp pasta at roman cucinas...i LOVE the tirimisu...i love family style ordering and sharing food... (GO TO Roman Cucina's in Fullerton-there is one in Costa Mesa TOO!)

i love so many more things, but last wednesday was pretty great. i love you cate, abbie, charity, lauren, kim (and amy and grace and dez and the other charity who were not there that night...) let's book the next one!

food...

do you like food? i happen to LOVE food and LOVE new places. people actually ask me often for referals on everything! breakfast, coffee, lunch or dinners...even dessert! so...if you ever need a place/recommendation, write me and i'll give you one!! i'll figure out someday when i have time to add a link on restaurants. here is a taste of my top picks...

breakfast:
brownstone cafe-downtown fullerton
anything there is amazing and the quaint atmosphere is almost other worldly. you feel like a mini vacation when you sit outside near the fountain, sipping coffee, eating the yummy anything (skillets are great, the french toast is dessert, it's just all yummy!)
go there!

Haute Cakes-costa mesa
if you want to people watch and see the OC that is portraited on tv, this is the place to be on saturdays!! it's amazing!! everyone is beautiful!! BUT...the food is AMAZING! by far, my favorite place to eat breakfast and lunch. HANDS DOWN!!! mid week its mellow and not so crowded by silicone and juicy sweat outfits... : ) what to order...oh my...brioche french toast bejewled with berries and hot real maple syrup...my favorite scramble there-pierre's scramble. it's scrambled eggs with feta cheese, carmelized onions and leaks. i have no words for how much i love this scramble. i may go this morning in fact because as i type this i am drooling!! fresh orange juice, strong coffee, top choice. beware of pricing...it's a bit pricey (it is newport beach unfortunately!) but its' so worth it. courtyard seating...you could even get a homemade cupcake or pastry and coffee and sit and enjoy the sun. there is also a great gardner/florist adjacent to the restaurant that is inspiring and totally overpriced, but buying a couple flowers is always a treat. my favorite morning-haute cakes, walking down the way to butera and wandering through the furniture store for inspiration (insanely pricey, but amazing ideas to duplicate!) and buying a coffee to go and walking around balboa island. sigh...

Lunch:
haute cakes as well as brownstone. both have great food!! brownstone-order the famous tomato basil soup. amazing!! haute cakes order the brie and pear sandwich. it's sweet with balsamic vinegar and just unique and awesome!
let's see...market city cafe on birch street...i LOVE their salads. caprese salad...mixed green salad with the soft fresh mozz. cheese and balsamic tomatoes with an arnold palmer YUM!!! then you can walk up and down birch street and shop!!

Dinner:
oh man..how do i narrow it down...
japanese:
midori-this little place in la mirada has such great deals on sushi and teriaki chicken...and quick service. i think they are believers or at least like "the fish" 95.9 because its what they play in the background. awesome prices and i spilt teriaki chicken between me and the kiddos and it's only 7 bucks!!! ry and i split the washington roll and you get free miso soup. the ambiance is nothing to write about...but it's yummy and quick!

italian:
by far my favorite food. i am a food network giada junkie!! but...where to go...MAGGIANOS!!
i am not one for chain places, i like to find little places...but their food is soooo splitable and soooo amazing i would be remise to leave it out. order the $10 appetizer of mushroom al forno for your entree, it's the perfectly creamy baked ravioli i've ever had and the perfect portion. the maggiano's salad (iceberg lettuce, pancetta, red onion, bleu cheese and some amazingly light sweet dressing that binds it all together!!) is the best thing to start out with. dessert...tiramisu. splitable...creamy, the best around in my opinion (and i try this dessert everywhere i go!) if you don't like ravioli, joey d's rigatoni is another favorite and even ordered 1/2 portion is splitable. make a reservation and you won't have to wait hours to enjoy this place!! costa mesa in the parking lot of south coast plaza next to sears.

roman cucina...amazing! a little loud...but unique and dark (great date night place!). do NOT order anything else but the lemon pasta. if you are not a fan of shrimp, then ask for chicken. this is SOOO worth the lactose intolerant tummy ache!! this lemony creamy goodness is the best and i have no other words to describe...just try it!! splitable too.
dessert-order the cannoli. ry's favorite cannoli around is this one. the tirimisu is not bad either, but maggiano's is still best. i order the italian wedding soup instead of the salad b/c it's very heavy on parmesan cheese. but, if you like parmesan cheese, this salad will be your favorite!! two locals-costa mesa and DT fullerton. GO!

mexican:
el farolito-placentia
this place i've gone to since i was 7 and now all the kids i knew who bussed the tables now run the family biz!! the best and most crowded hole in the wall mexican food around. if you have the guts...shrimp diavolo. order sour cream and milk on the side to calm your mouth down. the nachos supreme appetizer are a meal themselves...order with sour cream and guac on the side and seriously, everytime you order this the nachos will look different. piled mile high with carne asada, cheese, beans, etc...it's the best.

okay...so...that's my fav places so far. i know i have more. but...so far that's it!