I've had my eye on a PRN social work job at a local hospital for a couple of weeks,
and last week, they called
I interviewed.
They offered me the job that day!
What what?!!
It's not full time(which I want)
it's flexible(which I need)
it's within mom radius from the kids school(Child vomiting? Mommy on the way!)
and it's going to allow me to get my intern hours done for my MSW program(which is essential)
check, check, check, check!
I am supah excited.
I was more excited until I remembered that I still need to cook for these fools everyday. This realization ratchets up the difficulty level a few notches when I am not home all day.....especially since it's baseball season.
There is a finite window of time wherein I have to get them home from school, fed, clothed in baseballiness and then we head out to the fields wherein we usually don't get home until so laaaaate.
I typically serve dinner at around 3:45.
No really.
3:45.
This changed my life about 6 years ago when I figured this out.
Prior to the change the kids were coming in the door from school famished and proceeded to eat every snack that resided within the confines of this house.
A couple of hours later dinner would be ready and gasp! No one would be hungry.
Yeah....that doesn't so much work for me.
So it occured to me that if I roll back dinner time to shortly after they get home they will instead fill up on dinner, not snacks.
It works.
It's a beautiful thing.
Dinner at 3:30/3:45, on to whatever sports are occurring that evening, then a snack or dessert if I had made it that day after the game/practice/whatever event here.
They snack very little now and eat dinner a very lot. (Man that college degree was good for my grammar)
So I need you.
I need your recipies.
You know how we all have our go-to recipies?
Help me Rhonda, I need more.
I'll share mine you share yours?
I already have my standards like chicken pot pie, chili, tacos, spaghetti that I can throw together.....
And I know I can get lost of the abyss that is pinterest recipes but I want to hear from my real life peoples, what do you make that's fast that you love? Favorite crock pot recipes? Working moms what do you do?
Here is one of the kids(and all their teen friends) favorites.
I make this and somehow 5 more teenage boys will show up at the dinner table.
It is quite possibly the most unhealthy thing you can ever eat.
But it's quick.
Easy.
A crowd pleaser
And it's made of things I usually have on hand.
And when 6'2 friends of your teenage boys come up to you after basketball games asking if they can come over next time you make it you know you're on to something.
Winner, winner, chicken dinner.
DORITO CHICKEN CASSEROLE
- 1 (14.5 ounce) package Doritos, crushed
- 3 cups chopped cooked chicken (I grab a rotisserie chicken and shred it)
- 1 (15.25 ounce) can corn, drained
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided (I use sharp cheddar)
- 1 can Rotel
- 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 8 ounces sour cream
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Spread crushed chips out into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Stir chicken, 1 cup Mexican cheese blend, Rotel, cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, and sour cream together in a bowl. Pour chicken mixture over crushed chips into the baking dish.
*I do not put the crushed chips on the bottom as the recipe instructs. I found that they burn before the rest of the casserole is hot. So I bake everything else and then crush the chips onto the top, cook an additional 4-5 minutes to crisp the chips and serve over rice. *
Go ahead.
Try it.
You and your expanding waistline yet oh so satisfied taste buds can thank me later.
It's off the chain yo.
Ok your turn,
bring it on sisters.
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meatball subs--buy the frozen meatballs from Costco or wherever and toss them into the crock pot with a jar of spaghetti sauce. French rolls and some shredded cheese and there's dinner. If you're feeling fancy, assemble them first and then bake them in a pyrex.
ReplyDeletepulled pork--toss a pork tenderloin or pork roast (again Costco has good deals) into the crock pot and cover with water, chicken broth, or a light beer. Cook until it easily shreds and mix with your favorite BBQ sauce. Serve between your favorite rolls. ( We like ciabatta rolls buttered and lightly grilled first but that adds time.) Serve with cole slaw and baked beans.
I can't imagine the quantity of food you must make! Can you take a picture and post it once? I love food! Congratulations on the new job!! -- Joy
Yummy! Yummy! And sure! I'll take a picture soon! It does hit me every now and then as I line up the ridiculous amount paper plates every night(sorry environment....I cannot keep up with real dishes....I hang my head and admit defeat) that there are a lot of them. Thank you for the suggestions, I'm so on this!
DeletePizza Chili.. this will feed 8 of us-- but I'd double or triple it if I were you!
ReplyDelete2 pounds ground beef
1 pound spicey sausage
1 red bell pepper
1 onion
some garlic some cayenne pepper and chili powder and salt and pepper (i don't measure-- just add more to kick your butt or less if you are a wuss)
1 can chili beans
1 can red kidney beans
16 oz pizza sauce
1 oz salsa
pepperoni
mozz. cheese for topping
some water
saute veggies and garlic
brown the meat
dump in crock pot
drain and rinse beans.
dump
chop pepperoni.
dump
dump everything else that has yet to be dumped.
stir
let cook
add water as needed to thin it out a bit.
:)
oh my goodness yum.
Dude. Duuuuuude. You SO speak my language. Printing now.....
DeletePioneer woman cooks sour cream noodle bake! So easy and sooo good!
ReplyDeleteSo can I like give you a hug? I used to make this and loved it....and then completely forgot about it!!!!!! Of COURSE sour cream noodle bake!!! Hello! Printing out recipe now. You. Are. Awesome.
DeleteWe have a giant rice cooker so we make a huge batch of rice, toss some dried black beans, water or chicken stock, and seasoning in one crock pot, and some chicken (usually frozen) or pork loin in the crockpot with seasoning. Rice bowls for (breakfast, lunch, and) dinner!
ReplyDeletePork ragu - pork loin in the crockpot with canned tomatoes, diced onions, carrots, and garlic, a little bit of tomato paste. Serve over potatoes or noodles or rice or bread.
BBQ meat of choice - meat. Bbq sauce. Crockpot.
Ummmm yes. Just a hundred times yes. Thank you!!!
DeleteOne of our new favorites that they will all eat :)
ReplyDeleteOne pound or two cooked sausage (any kind will do)
I add onions, garlic and grn peppers when cooking it but totally optional
One or two jars of Marinara sauce
One package of Cheese tortellini
Here comes the hard part throw it all into the crock pot on low in the morning and by dinner time (3:35) serve with some cheese on top, completely optional Easy Peasey !!
So glad you are blogging again, Kristi
Thank you Kristi, this sounds great!! Question: Do I use frozen cheese tortellini?
Deleteno just from the cold/dairy section is what I use
DeleteCrockPot Taco Soup
ReplyDelete--1 15 oz. can of kidney beans
--1 15 oz. can of black beans
--2 15 oz. cans of pinto beans
--2 15 oz. cans of corn
--2 15 oz. cans of diced tomatoes
--1 10 oz. can of tomatoes and chiles
--1 packet taco seasoning mix
--1 packet ranch dressing mix
--1 lb ground turkey or hamburger (optional)
--shredded cheese and sour cream for embellishment (optional)
Directions:
Brown meat, drain fat, and add meat to crockpot.
Sprinkle seasoning packets on top of meat.
Drain and rinse the beans and add to crockpot.
Add the ENTIRE contents of the corn and tomato cans.
Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours (preferred) or on high for 4-5.
Serve with chips, a handful of shredded cheese, and a dollop of sour cream.
This makes a LOT. We get a couple meals plus some left over. I often put it in the crock pot and refrigerate the night before, then just take it out and turn it on in the morning.
Totally. Going. On. The. List. Thank you Diane!!!
DeleteJust found this one:
ReplyDeleteEasy Crock Pot Potato Soup
Ingredients:
1 30oz. bag of frozen diced hash browns
1 32 oz box of chicken broth...
1 can of cream of chicken soup (10 oz)
1 pkg. cream cheese (8 oz, not fat free)
3 oz bacon bits
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Put the potatoes in the crockpot. Add in the chicken broth, cream of chicken soup and half of the bacon bits. Add a pinch of salt and pepper.
Cook on low for 8 hours or until potatoes are tender.
An hour before serving, cut the cream cheese into small cubes. Place the cubes in the crock pot. Mix a few times throughout the hour before serving.
Once the cream cheese is completely mixed in, it's ready to serve.
Top with cheddar cheese and some additional bacon bits.
Enchiladas:
1 can enchilada sauce
2 cans refried beans
mozarella cheese
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray two 9x13 inch pans.
Mix 2 cans refried beans with a little bit of enchilada sauce.
Put on tortillas and roll up.
Put in pans. (8 to a pan)
Pour the rest of the enchilada sauce on top.
Cover with mozarella cheese.
Bake at 350 for ~30 min (covered with foil) until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve with chips and salsa
First of all, welcome back; I've missed your blog posts! Secondly, congrats on your graduation and new job!
ReplyDeleteCrock Pot Lasagna
1 lb. ground beef
1 med. onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
29 oz. can tomato sauce
1 cup water
6 oz. can tomato paste
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dried oregano
8 oz. pkg. lasagna noodles, uncooked
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1-1/2 cups small curd cottage cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1. Cook beef, onion and garlic together in a saucepan until browned. Drain.
2. Stir in tomato sauce, water, tomato paste, salt and oregano. Mix well.
3. Spread one-fourth of meat sauce in ungreased slow cooker. Arrange one-third noodles over sauce.
4. Combine the cheeses. Spoon one-third of mixture over noodles. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining meat sauce.
5. Cover. Cook on low 4-5 hours.
* I'm not a big fan of fresh garlic, so I substitute 1/2 tsp. of garlic salt and eliminate the salt. I also buy chopped frozen onion to cut time.