Quickie Friday: Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken

A lot of the crockpot recipes that are in my comfort zone include cream soups.  In an effort to change that, I went this route, and am glad that I did!

Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cloves thinly sliced garlic
4 frozen, boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 can diced tomatoes (I used garlic and oregano seasoned tomatoes)
red pepper, salt, and black pepper to taste

Set your crockpot on low for 8 hours, and enjoy a warm, light dish when you get home.  I served ours over orzo mixed with parmesan and spinach.

In other exciting news, we got new plates for the wedding, so the pics will continue to improve.  HOORAY!

These totally fake stingray sandals from F21 are good news, too.

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When Mr. Mustachio (aka Daniel) got booted from Project Runway this season, I pouted over not being able to see more of his stingray accents.  These will scratch that particular itch quite nicely (and cheaply!)

Two Bean Sausage Chili

So what do you think of the blog's facelift?  I would love to hear from my readers; I think it's much more true to my personal style (black!  simple!  black!) and allows the food to be more of the focus.  I'm also going to work on better-incorporating the shoes into the post, by picking shoes that relate to the recipe at hand.  Ready? 

Two Bean Sausage Chili

1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can great northern beans (drained and rinsed)
1 lb hot ground sausage, browned
1 bottle beer of your choosing (can be substituted with water)
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
2 cans diced tomatoes (I used "chili" tomatoes, that had chili powder added)
2 jalapenos, diced (seeds removed if you're afraid of the heat)
to taste:  white pepper, cayenne, salt, cumin, oregano, rosemary, chili powder, garlic

Dump EVERYTHING into the crockpot, turn the heat on low, and watch the magic happen!  Seriously, 6-7 hours on low (4-5 on high) and this chili will be ready for game day (Tuesday).

I top my chili with plenty of cheese and lots of finely-diced red onions.  Typically I add oyster crackers to the mix, as well, but we were fresh out and I didn't miss them.

Chili with a kick calls for shoes with a kick, don't you think?

Christian Louboutin via Barneys

If these don't fit the bill, I'm not sure there are a pair out there that do!

Slow Cooker Not-Fried Refried Beans

When I came across this recipe for refried beans that weren't at all refried, I had to pin it.  Immediately.  And tell everyone I knew about it.

Refried beans are one food that I can say I firmly and adamantly HATED as a child.  "All rice, no beans," I would declare during every, single Mexican meal I consumed.

And while my love of rice continues, my love of refried beans grows stronger by the day.  I added four jalapenos to these beans (not one as the recipe suggested.  We all know I like my food spicy), but otherwise followed the directions exactly.  When it came time to drain the beans, I got a full soup-bowl full of liquid out and set it aside (but I didn't figured you'd want to see a picture of bean juice.  Am I right, peeps?!).

The beans were so soft, after removing most of the liquid, that I was able to mash them easily with a wire whisk.  I left them slightly chunky, but obviously mash to the consistency you desire.

We enjoyed these beans with shredded chicken (also cooked in a crockpot (not the same one as the beans, obvs.) [4 frozen chicken breasts, two jars salsa verde, low, 9 hours, shred.  Voila!]), diced onions and red cabbage, tortillas, and topped with queso fresco.  This meal was so delicious and satisfying, not to mention low in calories, that I can assure you it will be on heavy rotation in our house.

In the vein of my "all good things come from pinterest" meals, I bring you shoes that I found on pinterest.

Jean-Michel Cazabat via Endless/Amazon

I don't have anything else to say about these other than that they are the perfect black shoe and I DESPISE that Endless is now a part of Amazon.

Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers

Let me preface this post by informing you that you will not get a photo of the final product.  To say that these stuffed peppers are nothing to look at in their final, edible form would be an understatement.

This recipe, which I discovered on pinterest, naturally, did not indicate that one should pulverize the vegetables in a food processor to begin, but that is exactly what I did (not intentionally - but I got distracted and things happened).

I had to really smoosh my peppers into the crock pot. but smoosh them I did, and they fit just like the recipe said they should.

I used ground turkey in my recipe instead of beef or pork, and I also left out the tomato paste in favor of dumping a can of tomato sauce over the top of my peppers.

I set my crockpot to cook on low for 9 hours, then threw some cheese on top when I got home from work for a little extra something.  The peppers were good, but I have one caveat:  you really need to season the stuffing MUCH MORE than the recipe says.  They were bland.  I added extra seasoning to mine, and they were still bland.  And nobody wants a bland pepper.  Otherwise, they were super-filling and easy, so I plan on trying them again.  I will report back.

These, however, are in no way, shape, or form bland:

B Brian Atwood via Bergdorf Goodman

I am loving the subtle color-blocked snakeskin and think these would be amazingly versatile.  Happy birthday to me?!

Quickie Friday: Cheesy Spinach Dip

I am a lover of all things spinach.  Combine that with cheese and you have a winning combination, in my book.

I threw a block of 2% velveeta, 10 oz. of frozen spinach (thawed and squeezed dry, of course), a block of fat free cream cheese, and two cans of Rotel (the habanero kind) into my crockpot with cayenne and white pepper (plus a little salt) and set the whole thing on low.  Let me tell you, peeps, it was DELISH.  And couldn't have been easier.  We had this dip with whole grain tortilla chips and whole grain pita bread slices, and it was perfect.

On Wednesday I signed up to take my first class at Above the Barre Fitness and I am super excited.  I know not, however, what to wear, especially on my feet.  A little googling led me to these:

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Have any of you ever taken a barre class?  Any tips or tricks?  I'm going in blind . . . and completely out of shape.

Quickie Friday: Crockpot Chicken Fajitas

Fajitas in a crock pot.  Need I say more:

Throw a bunch of onions, a bunch of peppers, and whatever fiesta-ish spices you have in your house (I used cumin, cayenne, a little oregano, chili powder, white pepper, and garlic salt) in the crockpot with 4 frozen chicken breasts and 4 cups of chicken broth, turn it on low and let it go for 8-10 hours.  Shred the chicken, throw it on a tortilla with whatever fixins' you like, and have a margarita cuz dinner's ready. 

Oh wait, before you eat, please run to Target and get some of these:

I have no idea what a boot sweater is, but I'm cracking up that that's what these things are called.  Go forth and conquer with your boot sweaters, peeps, and please report back.

Slow Cooker Turkey Meatball Stroganoff

This recipe arrived in my inbox one fine day, a few weeks back, and I couldn't resist giving it a shot.  Having never been a fan of traditional stroganoffs, however, I decided to make a few changes and make this extra spicy.

I used spicy brown mustard instead of dijon, and added plenty of white pepper and tobasco to my sauce to make it as spicy and flavorful as possible.

I also had a hard time finding light french onion dip, so I used the heavy stuff.  That was a decision that, while not good for the waist-line, I definitely recommend, because the flavor was tremendous.

And I've never met an egg noodle I didn't like, so while I would've preferred to serve this atop some sort of healthy somethingorother, the egg noodles were an obvious choice.

My inner horseback-riding-loving North Dakota girl totally came out when I saw these boots:

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These are totally the boots that fashionable Ash would have worn to horse camp, lo those many years ago.  And she would have rocked the shit heck out of them - so much so that I think I need them now, to reconnect with my youth.  My birthday is creeping up, and feeling 12 again wouldn't be so bad (without the things that made being 12 so awkward, that is).

Crockpot Taco Soup

The title of this post is a lie, as this soup can hardly be called soup . . .

Anything with that much meat is chili . . . amiright?!  Seriously.  This is, by no means, soup.  But when I found the recipe for this "soup" (which was similar, but not identical, to this recipe) I figured I'd give it a whirl.

And it doesn't hurt that one of my regular opinions about food is that "if you can top it with tortilla chips and sour cream, it must be delicious."  The chips and sour cream also cut the spice nicely, and made the "soup" even more filling than it would have been, otherwise!

And speaking of things masquerading as things they are not, let's talk about these:

Brian Atwood via Bergdorf Goodman

Is it a bootie?  Is it a pump?  Is it a sneaker or a ballet slipper?  Or is it some sort of weird feline hybrid snaking its way up your leg to cut off all circulation to the ankle?

Weigh in, peeps.  I need you on this one.

Quickie Friday: Bean-y Chicken

What do you get when you throw four chicken breasts in a crockpot with some chicken stock, cumin, garlic, cayenne pepper, white pepper, a jar of salsa verde, and (a few hours later) some white beans?

Bean-y chicken.  Or at least that's what I called it.  Served over quinoa, this dish packs a protein punch and is super easy to make.  And it's low-calorie and high in fiber, so it will fill you up.  It's the perfect week-night meal (and the leftovers make a great lunch), even if it isn't that easy on the eyes.

The easy-ness on the eyes of these shoes is debatable.

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Say what you will about J.Simp. (and Lord knows people have been saying many things about her lately, what with being knocked up for an eternity and then getting $4 mill. for no longer being so and losing weight), but sista knows how to make a fun pair of shoes.  These are no exception, and I find them adorable.

Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches

Even before I got back into eating beef, I loved a French Dip sandwich.  It was for the bread, really, and the gooey, stringy cheese.  And the sauteed onions.  The beef was always secondary.  This crockpot version, though, made me change my mind.

A couple of packets of french onion soup mix, LOTS of garlic, and enough beef broth to cover the roast of your choosing is all it takes.  And eight hours on a low setting.  Your kitchen will smell magical, I guarantee it.

I went ahead and caramelized some onions to go with the beef (which I was able to shred in the crockpot after about 5 hours), toasted some hoagie rolls, and added provolone (melted in the oven before adding the toppings, naturally).  The caramelized onions provided a sweet contrast to the garlic and onion in the beef broth.  These sandwiches were not lacking in flavor in any way, shape, or form.  And they were easy!  It doesn't get much better than that!

Now that I have found (and purchased) the most perfect pair of shoes, ever for my wedding, it's time to focus on the rehearsal.  I have no idea what I'm going to wear, but planning my ensemble around the shoes seems like a good idea.  I welcome any and all suggestions, starting with these:

Yves Saint Laurent via Barneys

I would not feel at all bad spending some cold, hard cash on these bad boys, as I know I'd wear them again and again.  And it's possible that I could find tons of dresses to go with them.  It's a starting point, if nothing else.

Quickie Friday: Crockpot Ravioli "Casserole"

I thought I found this recipe and pinned it to my Foodie Finds board, but apparently I'm mistaken and have no idea where I found the recipe on which this dish is based.  Since I change every recipe I ever read, I'll just go ahead and tell you, peeps, how I made this delicious crockpot dish.

Brown one pound of ground beef with one onion, red pepper, a little Italian seasoning, garlic, and a little garlic salt.  Throw it in the crock pot with one big old can of tomatoes (I went with the San Marzanos, which I crushed prior to adding them to the crockpot) and turn it on low for 6 hours or so.  Then add 16 ounces of cooked bowtie pasta, ten ounces of spinach (I used fresh but frozen would work, too), half a cup of mozzarella cheese and a quarter cup of Parmesan.  Let it simmer for another hour or so, then enjoy!

Is it just me, or do cheap shoes keep getting better and better looking?

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I'm sure these are unGODLY uncomfortable and would fall apart after a few jaunts to the beach, but they look pretty good in the meantime, if you ask me.  And, even better, I'd be over 6 feet tall!  A double whammy of awesome!

Crockpot Chicken a la Criolla

I stumbled upon this recipe during one of my long evenings at work (long evenings which are particularly wonderful for recipe-searching).  I only managed to snap one picture, but suffice it to say that the recipe was tasty and, for anybody who uses Weight Watchers, low in points!

My pictures are improving slightly, no?  Wait until you see some that I snapped during my Superbowl cooking festivities; things are getting better, peeps!

Also improving:  my shoe options for the wedding.

Giuseppe Zanotti via Neiman Marcus

The light blue color isn't even remotely on my radar, color-wise, but I LOVE the colors together.  And the swirling kind of looks like ocean waves, right?  Right?!

Creamy Tortellini Soup

A few weeks back, we experienced a "cold spell" where the evenings were getting down into the 40s and I was both going to bed and waking up FREEZING.  Those who have met me know that FREEZING makes me irritable, and the best cure is more cowbell a hot bowl of soup.

This creamy tortellini soup is made in the crock pot (there I go again with slow-cooker recipes!  Sheesh!) and easy as can be.  I freely admit that I added well over the 6 cups of spinach, which changed the flavor of the soup in a not-altogether-pleasant way, but when I removed some of the spinach it was FABULOUS.

I feel like, with these shoes, one thing could've stood to be removed, as well:

Proenza Schouler via Barneys

From the front, and even from this point of view, I love this shoe; but then I see it from the side, and the weird little kitten-heel-that-wants-to-be-part-of-the-wedge-but-isn't gets me.  And loses me completely.

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Once upon a time, peeps, I didn't start each and every recipe on this blog with the words "slow cooker."  That was, of course, pre-graduate school and two jobs.  Now that I'm officially post-graduate school (WOO HOO!) I hope to decrease the number of times my recipes involve a crock pot.  But today is not that day.

This recipe, which requires exactly four ingredients, could not be more simple.  One can, each, of drained corn and black beans, one cup of salsa (or more, if you like salsa.  I used about a cup and a half of HOT salsa), and a few chicken breasts (3-4 large would be ideal).  Throw 'em in the slow cooker on low for about 5-6 hours, and the chicken will be shred-able and taco-ready, with no trouble whatsoever!

The F and I had these in both whole wheat, low carb, blah blah blah soft shells and hard corn taco shells.  Both delicious.  Throw a little low-fat cheese on top, and you're good to go!

These shoes, in all of their gorgeous glory, would be TOTALLY good to go for my wedding if they combined any of the following colors:  cobalt blue, jade green, or pewter.

B Brian Atwood via Saks

Sadly, they are two of my least favorite colors.  Mr. Atwood, if you can hear me, PLEASE throw a girl a cobalt/jade/pewter shoe!  PLEASE!

Uber-Spicy Slowcooker Chili

The F and I are not ones to shy away from spicy food (the spicier the better, we always say!) and this recipe, found here, did not disappoint on the spicy front.

The recipe calls for 10 jalapenos, but I opted to use seven because, here in Florida, our jalapenos are bigger and hotter than most.  (I am DEFINITELY glad that I made that call.)

The recipe made enough chili to feed a LOT of people, but since it was just the F and I, we portioned it out and saved the leftovers for lunches and suppers.  Be warned, though, it only got hotter as it sat in the fridge (and the crockpot)!

I topped the chili with oyster crackers and a four-cheese blend (which helped tame the heat) and it was awesome.  The recipe would be easy to tone down for those who don't like their food to singe the tongue, but I would definitely make it again just as it is!

Ever since I tried these on, I can't get them out of my head.  But I am determined NOT to buy my fab wedding shoes until closer to the big day.

Miu Miu via Bergdorf Goodman

But with shoes like this available, I'm going to have a hard time resisting for so long!

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

I would apologize for my absence, peeps, but the truth is that I'm not sorry (new readers, I apologize for starting you off on such a snarky note . . . and welcome!) because I have been working 7 days a week, up to 11 hours a day, and I am EXHAUSTED.  On the bright side, I found a wedding dress, which means that the number of healthy recipes on this blog is likely to increase.

But this isn't one of them.

This recipe (which I found here) for spicy chicken sandwiches in the crock pot is so easy, requires 4 ingredients and can be done in 4 hours (8 if you're like me and throw your chicken in the crock pot frozen). 

Enter a toasted bun and pepperjack cheese, and you have yourself one helluva (super easy) sandwich.  They may not look like much, but they taste wonderful.

This, peeps, is one helluva shoe:

Fendi via Neiman Marcus

I had the distinct pleasure of trying on these FABULOUS shoes on Saturday, and they are nothing short of spectacular.  If my wedding were in the near(er) future, these would be in my closet for my big day.  But they say patience is a virtue, so I'm not making the big day shoe purchase quite yet!