Shredded chicken with some spice!

This is a recipe I discovered shortly after our daughter Aidan was born and I went back to work full time.  It is also when I discovered my L-O-V-E for the crockpot.  I needed easy meals as I adjusted to being a working/career mom.  I'll let you know when that adjustment/acclimation has happened.  I am still waiting.  I have just gotten better at faking it.  This one is simple.  It takes ingredients most people have on-hand and makes yummy tacos!  We have made the chicken in a double batch, froze the left overs, and used it at a later date for enchiladas.  For those dieting, this one is pretty low-fat.  My husband uses Green Goddess dressing on the tacos in place of sour cream.  Ole!

Shredded Chicken Tacos
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1-14 oz can reduced sodium chicken broth

1-1 oz reduced sodium taco seasoning packet

Place the chicken breasts in a 3 qt slow cooker that has been coated in non-stick cooking spray. In a 2 Cup measuring cup (or a small bowl) whisk the chicken broth and taco seasoning together. Pour over the chicken. Cook on low for 8-9 hours. Before serving, place chicken breasts in a medium bowl. Shred using two forks. Serve on warm flour or corn tortillas with shredded cheese and sour cream.

The Best Sweet and Sour Beef...in a crockpot!

I received this recipe a few years ago from our dear friend Mie.  It is amazing!  It is easy!  Did I mention it is amazing and the best sweet and sour recipe using the crockpot I have tried.  This will be dinner tonight int he Norman household.  I am very excited.  I had to share this one with you all!  I have no funny quips int he title for this blog of in this write up, I am too busy dreaming of dinner.

Sweet and Sour Beef

2 lb beef steaks
½ C. flour
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
½ C ketchup
¼ C brown sugar
¼ C vinegar
1 Tbsp soy sauce
¾ C water
1 tsp salt
4-6 carrots cut, cut into matchstick strips

Cut beef into 1-inch cubes. Mix together flour, salt, pepper, and dredge beef cubes in mixture. In a skillet, heat olive oil and brown beef cubes. Place browned beef in slow cooker and set on low heat. Add remaining ingredients, except the carrots. Cook for 4-5 hours. Add carrots and cook for 3-4 hours longer. Serve over hot rice.

Where's the Beef? It's in the Crock-Pot!

It is Monday again!  Boo!  If your house is anything like ours, chaos rules the roost on Mondays.  Between school, dance, the hubby going to work at o'dark thirty, and work, it is awonder some Monday nights that dinner gets on the table that isn't a TV dinner and a can of peas.  So, I love to break out the crockpot on Mondays.  Here is one of our favorites that is so very easy!  Enjoy!

Beef Tips and Rice


1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 c. water
1 can golden mushroom soup
1 pkg. onion soup mix
1 lb. beef tips or stew meat
Rice, cooked

Mix soups, water, and soup mix. Place beef in slow cooker and pour mixture over beef. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Serve over rice.

How do I love thee, my dearest Crock Pot??? Let me count the ways!

With Fall in the air, I have busted out the crockpot.  Okay, I am lying, it never gets put away.  I use it year round.  I love my crockpot(s).  I have 3.  Yup, you read that right.  I have three crockpots.  A medium sized and a large sized one.  I also have a large crockpot that is all blinged out for travel.  The lid clips in.  I adore them all.  Crockpots save me so much time and heartache on the nights I get home from work and have to rush out of the house again.  No fuss dinner!  So, I had to share a recipe that we threw together.  Crockpot Swiss(ish) Steak!  I had bought some stir fry steak meat for very cheap and used it in tonights dinner.  Something about using worcestershire sauce makes me think of The Muppets.  I wanted to call it Crockpot Swedish Steak, but the name didn't stick.

Crockpot Swiss(ish) Steak

1 lb. thinly sliced round steak
1 10 3/4 oz can French Onion Soup
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
1 C. chopped celery
1 1/2 tsp worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp majoram
1/4 tsp ground black pepper

In a medium crockpot (3 1/2 quart), combine all of the ingredients.  Cook on low for 7-8 hours.  To thicken, turn crockpot to high.  Mix 2 Tbsp cornstarch with 1/2 C water.  Add to crockpot and stir well.  Cook on high for 15-20 minutes, or until thickened.  Serve over hot, cooked noodles.


We really enjoyed it and I hope you do to.

In closing, I leave you with the Swedish Chef.  Wait until we have a chopped brocolli dish on here....