OK so full disclosure:  It's been a crazy week/weekend full of sports and I just didn't find time to create/try a new recipe to feature for today...SOOO I went back into the archives and found this one that we love for week's just like this - originally on blog last November but hey who's checking :)

In a large crockpot with a liner add:
6-8 chicken boneless/skinless breasts
1 bottle italian dressing
1 jar mild peperonchini (do not drain first - add whole jar)

Cook on low 8 hrs.  Remove chicken and shred.  Add some of liquid (discard peperonichini) from crock to keep moist.  Serve on buns of choice with bbq sauce or sauce of choice.  Tangy and delicious!

Found this recipe in a cookbook while visiting a friend last week...made it last week and was super easy and tasty!

This week's recipe is courtesy of my Facebook follower Missy Smith who passed on this great comfort food - family friendly meal.  

• Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings
  
  6 boneless/skinless chicken breasts
  3 Tbsp butter
  2 cans cream of chicken soup ( I used cream of chicken with herbs)
  1 can cream of mushroom soup (I used cream of Mushroom with roasted garlic)
  1.5 cups of chopped onions (I used frozen)
  3 (10 oz) pkgs of buttermilk biscuits - torn into pieces
  Chicken broth
  
  1. Place chicken, butter, soups and onion in slow cooker. I added some spices as well - cumin, seasoned salt, pepper, parsley. Fill with enough chicken broth to cover the chicken.
  
  2. Cover and cook on HIGH for 6 hours. After 3 hours add the torn biscuit dough to the pot. Continue cooking for the remaining 3 hours.
  
  3. When finished - take out the big chunks of chicken and shred.
  
  Enjoy!
  
  
  

Another week of sports so into the crock pot the following went today for easy dinners this week:

Into a lined crock:

1 package boneless/skinless chicken thighs

1/4 c each of: honey, low sodium soy sauce, apple cider vinegar

1/2 c. diced pineapple from can

2 T. Spicy mustard

Squirt of ginger and garlic paste from tube

Cool on low 4-6 hours, shred chicken and serve with sauce from crock in tortillas with green onions or toppings of choice for an easy meal on a busy night.

Being organized is simply this: knowing what you have and being able to find it when you need it. Really - that's it - nothing more and nothing less...whether it's a closet that's been pared down and made picture perfect for a house going on market for sale or the workshop area in the basement that got overrun during a remodel. I help you make sense of things again and get you back to "being organized"

It's the start of another busy but fun week filled with clients and sports for the kids.  I'm smiling because my crock pot is full and cooking dinner for me while I'm out doing other things.  Here's what cooking today:  Line your crock and add:  
1 package boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 can no salt added corn (dump in don't drain)
1 can rotel
1 can white beans, drained & rinsed
1 8oz package cream cheese (can use chive and onion also)
1 pouch ranch mix - My new FAVE is Mrs. Dash as its salt free, no MSG or other chemicals.  Look on a reg packet and you'd be mortified what's in there.  1 tsp. Cumin and Chili Powder each
Hot sauce to taste

Cook on low 4-6 hours.  Shred/Break up chicken and serve with toppings to suit your taste. Great for lunches too :)

Well kids are back to school so we've been trying to come up with some new lunch ideas.  They need to be quick, tasty and healthy.  The Buffalo Wings my boys love don't meet any of the above so I created a version that is for the crock pot that is lunchbox friendly.  Line your crock and add simply a package of boneless, skinless, chicken thighs  - free range chicken preferred and a half bottle of your wing sauce of choice.  Cook on low for 6 hours.  The chicken will be falling apart and easy to shred.  I made a batch last week and then made wraps for lunches.  Using a whole wheat fajitas size wrap we smeared bottom with chive and onion cream cheese, added chicken and topped with ranch or blue cheese dressing. The possibilities are endless for your wraps based on your taste :)

Well my boys went back to school today! I've been working with clients over the summer but was on crock pot blogging summer vacation. I'm happy to say I've had time to try all types of new recipes and this one is great for a hearty super healthy breakfast alternative to your oatmeal. "Bananas Foster Quinoa"

When possible use organic items...

Normally I say use a crock pot liner but for this recipe skip that. Start a medium size crock on high and add 2T butter in bottom. Let melt down and swirl around crock to help coat. Add 1 cup quinoa, 1 c water, 1/2 c half n half, 1/2 c almond milk or low fat milk. Mash two very ripe bananas and add to bananas: 1tsp Apple Pie Spice, 1T vanilla extract & 3T brown sugar. Add banana mix to quinoa in crock and stir. Add 1/2 c chopped walnuts to crock. Turn crock to low and cook for 4 hours. Serve warm with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup and fresh blueberries is a great add in! This is packed with protein and just yummy!! 6-8 servings.

It really IS Christmas in July today - for me at least!  I've been having several issues with my desktop computer and my access to my weebly website editor so I haven't been able to post in a MONTH!  Thank Heavens today I sat down and dealt with computer support/tech support related to several things and at least I'm somewhat up and running again!  So back to my blog post...
Christmas/Chanukah in July??  Seems crazy but this is the BEST time to work on a great idea for the holidays...It's hot outside so spend some downtime inside and make those phtobooks you've been meaning to get to - they make such super gifts but not if you are scrambled trying to make them in November.  ALSO one of my favorite ideas and something I did several years back - Make a family cookbook using your favorite photobook site.  You can scan in the old recipe cards with the beloved handwriting of someone you love, scan in old/new photos, and use the text box to write out the recipe if you need to for easier reading.  I did one of these a  few years ago and gave out to several family members. I kept one for myself and love having all my family's long treasured recipes in one place!  Remember if you need help organizing your photos or making the books - I help with that too! 
You can click on the pdf to see what my recipe books looks like :)

Most people have an oversized cabinet often over built in ovens that may not be used to its potential. Before, my client stored a few oversized and rarely used items in hers. After, with the help of a couple of inexpensive shelves and pan rack we've grouped all the clients' baking pans and related items in one spot using every inch of the cabinet. We also freed up loads of space in other cabinets that were once housing the misc items. Rethink how you use your cabinets and make sure that you are grouping items together so they are easily found even if used rarely and that you use every square inch of available space.