Amazing chicken with only two ingredients!

    We are already into the week of Thanksgiving.  How? It feels as if we should only be in July.  This week makes me think of all that I am blessed with.  In my long list of what I am thankful for, sits my slow cooker.  My slow cooker makes life easier, and helps me create delicious meals that taste as if I slaved over the stove all day.  After eating tonight's dinner, I am even more thankful for this genius invention.  I know... you are wondering about this amazing chicken with one 2 ingredients.  Here you go...

BBQ and Pineapple Chicken

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 bottle of honey barbeque sauce
• 1 can of crushes pineapples

Simply place the chicken in the slow cooker...pour the bbq sauce and can of pineapple on top.  Let it cook on low for 6-8 hours.  

    This is definitely one of my favorite (and easiest) slow cooker recipes.  And Kenny loved it too!  Tomorrow I am making my Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken.  Another great recipe with simple ingredients, and that cooks while I work.  So much to be thankful for. :-) 

They will be thankful for your turkey dish this Thanksgiving!

   With Thanksgiving less than a week away, I want to share a super easy and delicious turkey recipe that I made for my work meeting yesterday.  It has a nice flavor, it is moist and it is the perfect dish for this time of year.  The other reason that I really like this dish is because after going to 2-4 different Thanksgiving gatherings the typical turkey can become boring.  AND, this is also a relatively healthy turkey option.  


Simple Slow Cooker Cranberry and Orange Turkey

• 2 boneless skinless turkey breast halves (3 pounds each)
• 1 14oz can jellied cranberry sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 envelope onion soup mix
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 orange, sliced

Place turkey breasts in a 5-qt. slow cooker. In a large bowl, combine the cranberry sauce, 1/2 cup water and soup mix. Pour mixture over turkey.  Place orange slices on top of the meat. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Remove turkey and keep warm.

Transfer cooking juices to a large saucepan. Combine the cornstarch and remaining water until smooth. Bring cranberry mixture to a boil; gradually stir in cornstarch mixture until smooth. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Slice turkey; serve with cranberry sauce, and garnish with orange slices. Leftovers may be frozen for up to 3 months.

     Just like my Cookie Dough Dip and Mom's Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole, people were asking for the recipe.  Many of them commented on how they loved the mixture of the orange and the cranberry.  If you would prefer a more orange taste, you could use orange juice instead of water when you create the mixture.  The only downside, this is a more expensive dish to make because of the turkey.  I purchased 2 packages of turkey breasts and they were $9.99 each at Kroger.  $20.00 doesn't exactly break the bank, but when you add in the other ingredients and you may have other things you are making as well it can all add up.  I think it is worth it!  Mmm!  Enjoy! And Happy Turkey Day!

You cannot go wrong with this side dish!

     Gathering with family, friends or for work usually means cooking (or purchasing) a side dish to bring along.  No matter what the occasion, I know the PERFECT dish to take.  This dish is relatively easy, and I guarantee that multiple people will ask you for the recipe.  My Mom has been making this dish for the past couple of years, and it is great any time of day.  Usually she will make it as a side dish to go with dinner when we all go to the cabin, and then we will eat the leftovers with our breakfast the next morning. 

 

Mom's Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole

• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 10 1/4 ounce condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/2 cup finely chopped green pepper
• 1/4 cup butter melted
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 32-ounce (or close) package frozen loose-pack hash brown potatoes thawed
• 1 cup crushed corn flakes (I put in a baggie and crumbled up)
• 1 tablespoon butter melted

 

In a large bowl combine cheese, soup, sour cream, onion, peppers, 1/4 cup butter, salt and pepper.  Mix well.  Stir in the thawed hash browns.  Place mixture into a greased 9x13 baking dish (I use the disposable aluminum pan).  Bake mixture for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. 

 

While the mixture bakes, place the corn flakes into a sandwich baggy and crunch up the cereal.  Melt 1 tablespoon of butter.  Toss together the corn flakes and the 1 tablespoon of melted butter.  Sprinkle over the top of the potato mixture.  Bake for an additional 15 minutes.

    This delicious side dish serves about 8-10 people.  If you are serving a larger group, consider making 2 pans.  Don't worry...it will be eaten!  Mom suggests that if you are not serving the dish right away to let it cool a bit before serving.  If you take the dish out of the oven and cover it up, the corn flakes may become soggy.  I will say, that if you forget to buy the sour cream like me, you can substitute cream cheese (mix with a little milk first).  

    I took this dish to my work pitch-in yesterday, and by the end of the meeting there was an empty pan on the table.  Multiple coworkers requested the recipe from me.  I also took my Cookie Dough Dip along, which is an easy dessert to make for any occasion that will get lots of attention as well!  I hope this helps you out as you probably have quite a few gatherings coming up due to the holidays.  Enjoy! P.S. Thanks to my Mom, Margie for sharing the recipe with us!

   

Cookie dough dip? Okay!

     My latest addiction to Pinterest has introduced me to a great deal of craft ideas and recipes.  When my friend Christin invited me to a Pinterest Craft Night I could not pass it up!  Some of you are probably wondering what a Pinterest Party involves... Christin set up a personal work station for each person to work on a craft project, and also asked everyone to bring a food or dessert item that they saw on the Pinterest website.  It was really great because you can get some wonderful ideas about craft that you would like to make, and you get to try all sorts of recipes! 

    I personally chose to take the supplies for 3 different projects, and I actually completed two while I was there.  I will share these projects with you later... since they are Christmas gifts I cannot ruin the surprise for now!  BUT, I will share the recipe for a delicious Cookie Dough Dip that I made for the party!  This dip is not only easy to make, but it is so yummy!  It is the kind that you cannot help but get seconds, or thirds!  Waist line: beware!

Cookie Dough Dip
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup toffee bits 

Mix the cream cheese and butter together.  Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.  Serve with chocolate graham crackers. (Toffee chips optional of course... but it gives it an extra delicious kick!)

   It may seem like  a no-brainer... but my tip with this recipe is to let the cream cheese sit out for 30 minutes or more before making it.  I did not consider this, and my hand was so sore when I was finished because it was so difficult to stir.  I would also suggest sprinkling some chocolate chips on top too as a garnish (maybe a few in the middle).  When one lady arrived to the party, she asked me if it was bean dip because of the consistency.  But she quickly became interested when I told her what it was.  It was a hit!  Everyone seemed to really enjoy it.  One lady brought her daughter, and she had to get after her for eating too much of it.  Also, my friend Christin made sure I left the extras there when I left!   This will definitely be added to my recipe book, and will show up at many gatherings in the future.  Enjoy!   

When is the best time of year to go to Disney?

     When planning a trip to Disney, one of the most important aspects that we consider is the time of year that we go.  If you go during the wrong time... you are faced with unbearably hot weather, and/or crowds so high that you not only miss out on doing many things that you want to do, but you also end up wanting  to punch someone in the face from all of the strollers and long lines.  One or both of those situations combined together can make for a miserable trip, and feeling as if you wasted your money.   With only 75 days to go until our next trip, I decided to share our thoughts on when it is best to visit. 





Our Favorite Times To Visit

• January/February - minus MLK Day weekend and Valentines Day weekend
• September/October/Early November - minus Labor Day weekend and Halloween 

Why We Prefer These Months

• Lower Resort Prices
• Specials (in January we are receiving the Dining Plan for free)
• Less crowded
• Less heat
• Comfortable transportation (you aren't crammed on a bus or monorail like sardines)
• Easier to get (and change) restaurant reservations
• You can still catch all of the beautiful Christmas decorations in early January, including The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights (LOVE).
• Late September and October you can catch Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.
• Early November you can catch Epcot's International Food and Wine Festival.

The Down Side to Low Season

• Some attractions close for maintenance (you can check before you go).
• Shortened Park Hours (but you still have Extra Magic Hours).
• Less Special Events (less fireworks and parade options)

Many Others Like

• The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Some say that the crowds at this time are moderate depending on the day.  You get the benefit of all of the Christmas decorations and events, but may have to deal with chillier weather.
• The time between Spring Break and Memorial Day weekend.  

Do NOT Go During This Time

• Spring Break (President's Day weekend to mid-April) - crowds, crowds and more crowds!
• Mid-June to Mid-August (especially not July 4th) - crowds AND heat!

     In the Summer of 2009 we went as a family to Disney in June.  We had a great time, but I also have a lot of memories of extreme heat and ridiculous lines.  I told myself that I will NEVER do that again.  EVER.  When Kenny and I have kids, I have plans to take them either during Labor Day weekend or Christmas break.  It is not worth it to us to pay all of the money and be stuck in the heat with that many people.  You could go during any time of the year and make the best of it... just do your research before you go so there are no surprises.