Sunday, February 19, 2012

Crockpot Sunday - February 19, 2012

Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches


This one is beyond super easy, and super yummy (and hot!).

Ingredients

Frozen chicken breasts (I would suggest about 2-3 for 2 people)
1 (big) bottle of Franks Red Hot Sauce
1 packet of Ranch dressing
1-2 Tablespoons of Butter

Cooking Instructions

1. Place frozen chicken breast into crock pot
2. Pour entire bottle of hot sauce over chicken
3. Pour packet of Ranch dressing on top of chicken
4. Cover, and cook on low for about 6-7 hours
5. After 6-7 hours, shred chickn apart with 2 forks, add a tablespoon or two of butter and mix
6. Cook on low for about 30 more minutes
7. Put on a roll/bun with whatever toppings you want. I just used some shredded cheese


Saturday, February 18, 2012

Candles By Victoria - Valentine's Order

After placing a pretty big CBV order in January, I told myself I was going to try to wait a few months before ordering again. But, of course, I gave in. Victoria not only introduced her new Love Potion No. 9 (located on page 20), but she also had a 15% off sale, so I had to order. ;)

Here is a review of what I got...

(Sorry I don't have a picture for the first one)
Love Potion No. 9 - This is such an awesome candle. It is a massage candle. Yes, a massage candle!! You light the candle, let it get a full melt pool, then pour the hot wax onto your hands or a part of your body (or a partners body) and rub it in. This particular candle currently only comes in one scent, but it's super nice. It's a wonderful soft mix of fruity, floral, and vanilla. The most perfect relaxing, sweet, but not overpowering scent.

If you're thinking to yourself, oh, I don't have a boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife to use this with - that's perfectly fine! This candle can be used on your own as a lotion for any part of your body. It's extrememly moisturizing! Treat yourself, it's worth it. It not only scents up your room as it's burning, but then scents you when you put it on!


Chai Tea Scent Shot - This is the perfect relaxing scent to me. It smells just like all the spices of a chai tea.

Lemon Pound Cake Scent Shot - This scent smells just like the name. It's a sweet lemon scent, along with a cakey note. It's soooo good!

Blueberry Patch Scent Shot (free)- Straight blueberry scent. Yum!



White Nectarine and Pink Coral Mini Jelly Jar- This is such a nice bathroom/clean scent to me, but fruity at the same time. It reminds me very much of Herbal Essences shampoo (orange bottle - frizz control).


Caramelized Pralines 8oz Jelly Jar- One of my all time CBV favorites! Such a rich, creamy caramel, nutty scent!

Spellbound 8oz Jelly Jar- I'm starting to fall in LOVE with Victoria's apple scents, and this one is no exception! It's the perfect blend of sweet apple and sweet cotton candy. It's sooo, sooo, SOOOO good!!! I don't hear too much about it on the Pouring Pot Message Board or CBV Facebook page, but I highly recommend it!


Tiffany-D Scoop Some Scent- This idea is so fun. It's a 16oz jar of soft wax. You can order it in any scent. You then use the wooden scooper to scoop out whatever amount of wax you want to put in your tart warmer. Such a wonderful way to scent a room without a flame. And, Tiffany-D, I can't rave enough about it. It took me almost a year of ordering from CBV before ordering it, and I have no idea what took me so long. Now I can't live without it! It's a beautiful blend of watermelon, honey dew, cotton candy, and vanilla.



Nutty Candied Apple 22oz Tureen in Grape and Silver Glitter- Another favorite of mine. A great nutty apple scent. So hard to decribe, but so delicious!


Singapore Sling Black Label candle- Super yummy. A great, complex combination of lemon, poppyseed, sugar, marshmallow, vanilla cake, and a little musk. I can't wait to burn this baby!

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Crockpot Sunday - February 12, 2012

Ranch Pork Chops and Parmesan Garlic Mashed Potatoes (we had green beans with it, too)


Ingredients  
  • 6 pork chops, 1/2 inch thick
  • 1 packet dry Ranch Dressing
  • 10oz can Cream of Chicken Soup
  • 3-4 lbs peeled potatoes
  • 5 Tablespoons real butter
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 6 cloves roasted garlic (directions below)
  • Milk
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
Cooking Instructions (Pork Chops and Potatoes)
  1. Place pork chops, Ranch seasoning and soup into a medium sized crock pot over high heat for 4 hours or low heat for 6 hours.
  2. Place potatoes into a large pot of cold water.
  3. Place onto stove top over high heat and bring to a boil.
  4. Once water is boiling, cook for 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender.
  5. Mash potatoes and add butter, Parmesan, garlic, milk, salt and pepper.
Cooking Instructions (Roasted Garlic)
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Place bulb of garlic with skins on, wrap lightly in tin foil and bake for 1 hour.
  3. Remove from foil and let cool for 15 minutes.
  4. Remove garlic from skins, place in a bowl and mash with a fork until completely mashed



Saturday, February 4, 2012

New Tradition - Crockpot Sunday

Over the last few weeks, I have been trying to find new recipes to use for the crockpot. And, since Sunday is usually a pretty busy day in our household, I decided to nominate Sunday to be the day of the week I cook using my crockpot. And, crockpot Sunday usually leads to leftover Monday (since it's only my husband and I) :)

I usually wake up, put it all together then by the time we get home in the afternoon dinner is served!

And you're probably thinking to yourself, I hate using my crockpot because it's so big and bulky and hard to clean up after cooking food in it all day. I highly recommend Reynolds Slow Cooker Liners. Stick the liner in your crockpot before you start cooking, then clean up is a breeze!


Here's the Recap:

Sorry I don't have pictures this time, but I promise you everything is super yummy!!!

Sunday, January 22 - Roast and Vegetables

Ingredients
  • 2-5 pound pot roast (any kind)  
  • 1 envelope ranch dressing (dried)
  • 1 envelope Italian dressing
  • 1 envelope brown gravy mix
  • Potatoes and Carrots
  • 1 to 1-1/2 cup water
Cooking Instructions

1. Cut vegetables (I used carrots and potatoes - but you can add whatever you want)
2. Place vegetables in the bottom of your crockpot
3. Put roast on top of vegetables
4. Sprinkle all three spice envelopes on top of the roast
4. Add water
5. Cook on low for 6-10 hours

Sunday, January 28 - Beef Vegetable Soup

Ingredients

  • 1-2 pound cubed beef stew meat
  • 1 can whole kernel corn, undrained
  • 1 can carrots with juice
  • 1 can green beans
  • 1 can sliced potates with juice
  • 1 (28oz) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (1.25oz) package beef with onion soup mix
  • salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Instructions

  1. Place meat, corn, green beans, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, soup mix, and salt and pepper in the slow cooker; stir to combine
  2. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours. Add water if necessary.

Sunday, February, 5 - Cream Cheese Chicken Chili

Ingredients

  • 1 can black beans
  • 1 can corn, undrained
  • 1 can Rotel, undrained
  • 1 package ranch dressing mix
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 Tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 8 oz package light cream cheese
  • 2 chicken breasts (frozen or thawed)
 Cooking Instructions
  1. Drain and rinse black beans
  2. Place chicken at the bottom of the pot, then pour out whole can of corn (undrained), rotel, and black beans
  3. Top with seasonings and ranch mix; stir together
  4. Place cream cheese on top
  5. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours
  6. Stir cream cheese into chili
  7. Use two forks to shred chicken
  8. Serve