Let thy food be thy medicine??? Huh?

        Confession: I used to silently giggle at coworkers who lovingly called their diets a lifestyle, and I now admire such dedication and strive to better myself and improve my family's overall health and environmental footprint.  There are still some things that I'm not completely sold on when it comes to revamping our diets and way of life, but I am willing to invest the time to research all facets and make a wise and informed decision.  See, I'm a very opinionated person, and if you know me personally, you are probably violently nodding in agreement.  BUT, when it comes to non life and death matters, for the most part I am quite reasonable (just don't ask my husband =)  )  I realize that there are 2 sides (sometimes more) to a fence, and everyone has to take their own path and make their own choices/decisions in life.  While some choose to completely avoid meat all together, I have chosen to cut back, and add more variety in our diets.  Others have even cut out animal by-products such as eggs, cheese, butter, etc... I have to say, that I LOVE cheese, and butter, and I enjoy the occasional egg here and there too... So that would not work for me!  I also believe that these foods were meant to be consumed, aswell as animals (to an extent) because God put them here for us to enjoy as companions but also as food (usually not at the same time.............).

        To me, any lifestyle/diet change doesn't have to be all or nothing.  So many people think it does, get overwhelmed and discouraged, and give up.  This is what scared me at first, but when I realized slow and steady changes, that we could deal with worked better, I felt so much more encouraged to do this thing and make changes for the better!  If you know that you aren't eating as healthy as you like, you feel that you're taking too much medicine/pharmaceuticals for too many ailments that seem to keep making you feel worse, and you just to improve your life/health in general, then what's stopping you?  I believe that if you want something bad enough, you'll go for it until you get it!

        Baby steps are your key here, and research, research, research!  Firstly, Netflix and YouTube are AMAZING resources that you can use to your (and your family's) benefit!  My husband for one, does not enjoy reading books/researching online/etc... so I try to get him to watch documentaries with me instead.  It's actually easier on me too now, with a small baby, to watch something rather than find the time to read about it.  A few really good documentaries to get you started are Forks over Knives, Fat, Sick, & nearly Dead, & Food Matters.  That's just the tip of the iceberg,  but it's a good start, and gives you an idea of all of the hidden dangers out there.  Part of my brain is rocking in a corner, in the fetal position screaming "WHY DID YOU WATCH THAT!! WHY DID YOU FILL ME WITH SCARE TACTICS, NOW I AM SCARED TO EVEN BREATHE OR LEAVE THE HOUSE OR DRINK WATER OR LOOK AT A BABY CARROT!!!!"  but alas, it's better to know -  because when you know better, you do better!

        Yes, now that I know the dangers of food dyes, GMOs, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Soy, etc... I think twice before every purchase... Yes, I still do buy some of these things, because they are cheaper and my family is used to them.  Yes, it scares me and I worry more than I used to when I was in the dark (ignorance is bliss, aye?)  BUT... I have made some positive changes, I have been more careful about what we buy,  I now make more things from 'scratch', I plan to start a garden this year, I try to help other people with my new-found knowledge (without overwhelming them to the point where they run away screaming and crying - that only happened once....I think..), and I feel better equipped to make healthy choices for my family.

        I still enjoy Cola, although I know the dangers of soda.  I justify it because I used to drink 2-4 cans of soda per day, and now I only have several glasses a week (if that, sometimes we just don't buy it, if it's not around to tempt us, we don't drink it!)  We have switched to farm eggs, rather than store-bought eggs, for quite a few reasons, one being the fair treatment and diet of the chickens - as well as supporting local business!  My son and I no longer drink cow's milk, we switched to Almond, which I actually think tastes BETTER!  My husband wasn't an easy sell for that, and is still drinking cow's milk *blegh*.  We also still buy the occasional loaf of bread (I don't have a bread machine yet, and rarely find enough time/will/gumption/motivation/energy to make homemade bread - although I LOVE it and find it so delicious UGH *note to self stop being lazy pleasethanks*.  Cereal, and Knorr Pasta are two of are pantry regulars also, cereal because my son loves it for breakfast... and pasta for quick/easy side dishes on rushy-rush nights.... I know, it takes about the same amount of time to make actual pasta, but it's one of the things I usually coupon for, and stock up on for the mean time.

        A lot of the health problems that we experience in this country are due to our poor American diets (among other things), and can be prevented/reversed if we would just take the time and energy to prepare real, wholesome, hearty meals from natural ingredients, and stay away from boxed and processed foods as much as possible.  The best advice I ever got for grocery shopping was "Don't take your husband or kids"  but no seriously, the best advice I got for visits to the grocery store was "Shop around the edges!"  and it makes sense!  Fresh produce and most 'staples' and basics are around the perimeter of the store, where most junky, preservative-laden and boxed foods are down the aisles.

        Basically, you need to be realistic and make small changes that work for you, or everyone will be miserable and your healthy food will slowly rot in the crisper drawer, turning into a pile of green mush with blue and grey fuzz, for you to find 2 months later when you finally get around to cleaning your fridge only because the condiments stick to the shelf when you try to pick them up.... not that that's ever happened to us or anything *coughbrusselsprouts*  Butttt... yea!  Use your brain, not your eyes/stomach, and you'll do fine, kid =)

Super Bowlness Wings™

        First of all, I hope you're wearing socks while reading this, because they are about to get knocked off.  And, if you're not wearing socks, well, I don't know what will happen... so please go get some socks... I'll wait...

        Alright, are you wearing socks now?  Great, we can begin!

        Before I divulge my deepest darkest secret recipe (it's more coveted than Bush's Baked Beans - atleast I like to pretend that it is, and I didn't tell my dog how it's done, so I'm pretty well protected there...)  I have a question.  What color are your socks?  Just joking!!  It's actually a much more personal, and you don't have to answer outloud, you can keep it to yourself.  Think back in your life, to how many times you've ordered wings.  Coulda' been Buffalo, BBQ, Honey-BBQ,  Spicy, Sweet & Spicy, Buffalo Ranch, Sweet & Sour, Chipotle, Cajun, Honey Garlic, Teriyaki, Thai Chili, Mild, Medium, Hot, Firey Pits of Hell, OMGWTFBBQ, or any other flavor one could possibly conceive... Now think of how much you've probably spent in your lifetime on all of those wings!  The average wing (in dirty jerzee, atleast) will run you anywhere from as much as $1.19 each to as little as $.25 each.  Typically the more you order the lower the price goes.  $5.99 for 5 wings, and $15.99 for 30 at my local pizza joint.  $.25 is usually only seen during a special such as 'Happy Hour' at your local watering hole, and even then that's abnormally low.

        Considering the economy we are in, I don't know about you, but I can't justify selling a kidney to support my latest appetizer addiction.  I've been craving wings HARDCORE lately, and no I'm not pregnant =)  I am, however, breastfeeding, which I have read can lead to intense cravings as well!  Anyhow, enough bunny trails, onto the good stuff.  They say (who are they by the way? let me know if you find out...)  that necessity is the mother of invention, and boy oh boy is that true!  I NEEDED some wings for the Super Bowl.  (Note:  I watch the Super Bowl for the commercials and the food.  We planned to order some pizza & wings for the big game, but after looking at the "sales" flyers we were slightly disappointed, realizing that we wouldn't be able to remortgage our house in time to purchase everything our hearts (ie: stomachs) desired.  This is where the light bulb came on.  This is where greatness is born.  THIS is where miracles happen, my friends.  Yes, it's that serious.

        OK, so after doing a brief internet search (3hours17minutes worth roughly) I came to several conclusions.

1. Google is stalking me and my purchases, and likes to rub my Amazon Wish List in my face on nearly every banner of every webpage I visit.
2. My nursling likes to pop off every 15 seconds and check to see what I'm doing online.
3. This is the only one that pertains to this topic so pay attention.  None of these recipes would do!

        Now, as many of you know, I like to re-purpose things, and this includes recipes!  I don't really consider it stealing because I find several recipes that I love, and combine the best of all of their delicious world's, and then I add my own spin, and Voila!  It's mine! =)  In this instance, my mother-in-law and I created this delicious recipe together!

        I'd like to introduce you to my Super Bowlness Wings™.  This is obviously a play on words, a clever one that I totally created myself, and I like to pretend that I trademarked it by putting a ™ after the name, however I didn't shell out the cash for that, so I'll just hope no one steals my thunder until I can afford the actual ™.  Also, I just want you to know that they can be made Bone-In or Bone-Out.  The only difference is the bone.  Honestly.  How beautiful is that?

        Now that you're salivating, your stomach is growling, and you're just about ready to lick your screen, I will give you what you came here for.

Not quite as saucy as the final product should look.... I think this was near the end of the batch!

        Ingredients:

• 40 chicken wings (frozen & defrosted or fresh) OR chicken breast cut into 'wing' size
• 8-10 cups of vegetable oil in a deep fryer
• 2 cups of flour
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon of garlic powder
• 1 cup of red-wine vinegar
• 1 chipotle pepper (in adobo sauce) and 2 tablespoons of the sauce
• 1.5 tablespoons of chili powder
• 1 tablespoon of smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon of white sugar
• 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons of honey mustard
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 1 stick of butter, chopped in eigths
• 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
• 1/4 cup of filtered, cold water

        Directions:

1. Heat up your oil in the deep fryer now, so it's nice n hot when you are ready!
2. Mix flour, salt, pepper, & garlic powder in a large bowl.  Add wings, toss around until coated well.  After that, you can either leave them in the bowl, or transfer to a cookie sheet/plate until ready to fry - and place them in the fridge to chill a bit while you do the next step!
3. Add chipotle pepper & adobo sauce to a blender until smooth puree.
4. Mix red-wine vinegar, adobo puree, chili powder, & sugars to a medium saucepan, and bring to a simmer.  Simmer 30 seconds.
5. Add honey mustard, honey, and butter.  Stir until melted.
6. Mix together cold water & cornstarch.  Mix into sauce w/ a whisk just until mixture thickens a bit.
7. Set sauce aside.
8. Bring out your wings.  Fry about 5-6 at a time, for anywhere from 3-5 minutes until golden brown and crispy.  Remove to brown paper bag, paper towels, or a rack to drain.
9. At this point you can douse the wings in the sauce a little at a time, as you finish frying them, or you can wait until they're all fried.  They stay hot for quite awhile =)
10. Enjoy!

Back to basics

        When most people hear things like cloth diapering, homemade soaps, and home remedies replacing conventional medicine, they think back to stories maybe their parents or grandparents told... A simpler time, when you couldn't just hop in your gas-guzzling sports car and drive 30 feet to the nearest shop for pretty much anything, when men brought home the bacon and women stayed home and cooked said bacon, and when folks made decisions for their families based upon experience and knowledge rather than trusting what they said on TV.

        I've been tinkering in the "natural realm" for several months now, and while most consider many of these things 'alternative', it's actually quite the norm. Before we had 60+ brands of laundry detergent to choose from, an entire aisle devoted to curing your cough, and throw-away/disposable everything, our ancestors SOMEHOW managed to live. *perplexed* While it's true that while many of today's modern conveniences have made our lives simpler, more enjoyable, and given us more "free time", there is a double edged sword hidden amongst the lillies.

        Now, I'll unashamedly admit, I like to keep a small stock of "easy meals" on hand for nights when I'm just not feelin' it... Sometimes this is a freezer stock of homemade meals, but not always, however, you'll be hard-pressed to find me serving dinner from a box more than twice per month... Don't misunderstand and think that I'm trying to say that you're a horrible person if you feed your family convenience food more often than not, or whatever other conclusion that you might read between the lines and come to. I'm simply saying that when you know better, you do better. Rewind several years and you'd be talking to a major contributor of income for the local taco joint, Mcdonalds, and Hambooger Helper. Mainstream Media / TV / Magazines tell us that these "wholesome meals" will leave your family full, satisfied, and nutritionally complete. Catchy jingles, eccentric cartoon mascots, and phrases like "All Natural Ingredients", "Organic", & "Mom Approved!" make us feel all fuzzy in the cockles of our hearts while serving this food to our families - but the fact is, manufacturers pretty much have free reign when it comes to advertising/labeling. There are all sorts of loopholes to be jumped through, so we have to trust ourselves when making a purchase, not the Fat Cats trying to line their pockets.

        I'll be completely honest here and say that I don't see us ever becoming 100% natural or whatever phrase you would describe someone eating and doing all the right things to live said lifestyle - reason being, if we hold ourself to such unrealistic expectations (truly, does ANYONE actually "get there"?) we will become disappointed, discouraged, and more likely to give up. My plan is simple: Keep researching tirelessly, never give up or settle, use mommy superpowers (aka instinct/common sense) to uncover the truths, take it a day at a time (easy does it, small changes), and keep a blog of our experiences and findings for both personal use and to help others heading down the endless path of healthier, easier, frugaler (I made that up), and more basic living =)

        Besides the whole health aspect of living a simpler life, I actually enjoy this stuff!  It's funny because when my mom comes to visit, and she sees me cooking/baking/cleaning with baking soda & vinegar, she sometimes will remind me that I never took an interest in any of this "housewife stuff" as a young girl.  She tells me how I refused learning to cook with her, and she doesn't have to tell me how I was never one for helping with house chores - I remember that much!  I'm not sure what caused the change, and it wasn't motherhood because I had my first son at the ripe young age of 17...  Things never really happened for me until I was pregnant last year with my daughter (who is now 8 months old) and Nesting hit hard!  I just felt like I was possessed by the spirit of Betty Crocker in the kitchen, I heard the call of the laundry pile wooing me from down in the cellar before the basket was even full, my kitchen sink had to be shiny and dry unless it was currently in use, the cobwebs adorning our 8ft. ceiling - OK well I didn't go THAT far.... those are still there sometimes =)  But you get the point!  Anyway, I'm glad it happened, and I'm thankful that I was able to leave my job to be a Stay-at-home-mommy, because I now have the energy to make those dreams happen!

        If you have any questions or suggestions please don't hesitate to leave a comment, and I'll get back to you as soon as possible! I would say email me, but let's be real, I have over 3k emails and I rarely ever check them. Thanks =)

Homemade Jambalaya

Homemade Jambalaya

Ingredients:

• 1 c. Penne (or other pasta noodles) cooked according to package directions
• 1/2 package Hillshire Farms Smoked Sausage
• 1/2 c, chopped onions
• 1 c. chopped green & red bell peppers
• 1/4 c. chopped celery
• 2 tsp. oil
• 3. tbsp bacon grease (I always have some on hand, frozen in a mason jar in my freezer)
• 1. tbsp butter
• 4 small potatoes diced
• 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 1/4 c. small cubes sharp cheddar cheese
• Parmesan cheese
• Franks Red Hot Sauce - or other hot sauce of your choice

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, melt down your bacon grease, butter, & oil.  Add potatoes, and toss until coated.  Put on the lid, and cook on Medium/Medium-High for about 10 minutes, until potatoes start to soften.
2. Remove lid, and cook on Medium-High, tossing occasionally, to brown and crisp up.
3. Meanwhile, put your sausage, onion, peppers, and celery in a skillet, cover with a lid, and cook on medium high for about 10 minutes until veggies soften.  Remove lid and continue to cook until the meat browns slightly.
4. Add your diced tomatoes and a few splashes of hot sauce to the sausage mixture, and stir until it's all heated through.
5. Salt & Pepper everything, and sprinkle Parm cheese liberally over the sausage mixture.
6. At this point, you may mix the potatoes in, or you can serve them seperately if you wish.
7. After plating the dinner, top with some sharp cheddar cheese cubes.
8. Serve with dinner rolls and/or a salad =)  Enjoy!

Clams in Red Sauce w/ Homemade Garlic Breadsticks

Unfortunately I did not get a photo of last nights dinner because I was too busy shoving it into my face with both hands. No lie! I asked my husband if it tasted so good because I was starving (I don't eat much all day, between the baby and cleaning the house I forget to eat!), or if I really am as awesome of a chef as I thought! He agreed that it was very delicious.

Scroll doooooowwwwwwwnnnn for the recipe if you'd rather avoid my rambling =)

Where did I get the inspiration for this dish you ask? Well several years ago, my husband and I went on what I like to call a dream vacation, AKA a Cruise! If you've ever been on a cruise, you would understand what I mean when I say there are MOUNTAINS of food. They will keep feeding you until you burst, literally, I think I saw a news story one time where that happened.... I'm sure it wasn't pretty! Anyway, while I was slurping down snails, frozen strawberry soup, and volcanoes of chocolate heaven, my husband was enjoying a delectable dish that consisted of clams, red sauce, and various other things that he cannot remember but insists it was one of the best meals he's ever had! It must have been if he still talks about it years later!

Occasionally I would try (not very hard I admit) to replicate this for him. You see, while making our weekly shopping list/meal plan, I always consult my husband with a "What would you like to eat this week dear (please pick something that's on sale)?" and he always replies with a "I don't know", "I don't care", or a "...(zoned out playing Black Ops)", SO, I make my list based around weekly specials/sales/what seems yummy! Occasionally, like I said, I would come across a can/jar of 'Red clam sauce' in the grocery store, a little lightbulb would go off in my head, and I'd hope and pray it didn't taste like the last 3 'Disappointments in a can". Alas, it did, so like any good wife I'd empty half of my spice rack into the pot in hopes to salvage a half-decent dinner, and say better luck next time!

Well all that changed about a week ago, I had an epiphany. My husband's grandmother makes Clam-Pie, which is basically Chicken-Pot-Pie but with Clams. And let me tell you right now, that woman can COOK HER SOCKS OFF! I think she'd give Julia Child a run for her money in all honesty.

OK so my husband goes "Why don't you ever make clam pie?!"
and I'm like "... I can do that sometime, just let me find a recipe"
and he's like "Just call mommom and ask her how she makes it!! I want it to taste like hers!"
and I'm thinking 'Iwannadoitmyselffffff *Stewart from MADTV voice*' but I say "OK" -> See, I have this complex where I don't want people to think there's anything I can't do!! I don't know where it came from, but I'm slowly letting go of it in order to be the best me I can be! So I am letting other people teach me stuff and admitting I don't know everything!

She says "Why don't we make it together! That way I can show you and you can learn from doing!" (which is soooo much better, I'm definitely a hands-on type person!)
So she brings the ingredients over and blah blah blah.... Long story shor---- Well still long but not as long as it could be =) ---> We have some extra ingredients left over, and several days later that lightbulb in my head dinged again, and this time it felt more like one of those lights at the football field as night approaches! BAM!

 So here we go =) It turned out AMAZING! Next time I make it I want to play around with the idea of adding some shrimp into the mix aswell!

Clams in Red Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1-2 cans of 6.5oz Chopped Clams in Clam Juice
• 8oz Clam Juice
• 3 Cloves Garlic, minced
• 3tbs Olive Oil
• 2/3 c. Dry White Wine
• 1 Cubanelle Pepper minced or sliced very thin
• Red Pepper Flakes
• Salt / Pepper to taste
• 1.5tsp dried Thyme
• Linguine or other pasta
• 1 Large tomato - blanched w/ skin removed, & chopped.
• 1 can (16-20oz pasta sauce - store bought or homemade)

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large deep skillet over med-high heat.
2. Add garlic and cubanelle pepper and sautee for 1 minute until garlic is fragrant.
3. Pour in wine, red pepper flakes, and thyme.
4. Cook ~5minutes until the wine has reduced to 1/3.
5. Add Clam Juice & Canned Clams and bring to a boil.
6. Reduce to a heavy simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
7. Add tomato & sauce, & simmer for 25-30mins until thickened.  Add salt & pepper to taste.
8. Serve over prepared Linguine or other pasta of your choice.

Homemade Garlic Breadsticks

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 c. flour
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 2 tsp. sugar
• 1.5 tsp baking powder
• 2/3 c. milk
• 1/2 stick of salted butter, melted to liquidy goodness.
• Parsley
• Parmesan Cheese -> try to get the good stuff if you can =)  if not, the shaky kind will do.

Directions:

1. Mix all flour, 1/2tsp. garlic powder, sugar, & baking powder in a bowl.  Add milk until a soft ball of dough forms.  Dump out onto a floured surface, & knead several times (no more than 10, you don't want to make it tough do you?)
2. Roll out dough to 1/2in. thickness, and using a dough cutter, pizza cutter, exacto knife, or whatever you got, cut into even 'sticks' about 3/4in. width.
3. In a bowl, mix together your melted butter, remaining 1/2tsp garlic powder, and parsley.
4. While your dough is laying there all cut up and vulnerable, slather it real good using a pastry brush (or your kid's watercolor brush - shh I won't tell) with your butter mixture.
5. Carefully slide a flat object under the uncooked breadsticks, and gingerly transport them to a greased cookie sheet where you will flip them so they are buttered side down.
6. You got it.  Butter the other side now.
7. Pop those babies in a 450 degree oven for 10-12 minutes (check them after 8, everyone's oven is different!)
8. When they come out immediately slap the remaining butter on them (just eat some Cheerios in the morning - it'll cancel this out, trust me!) and while they are still hot, sprinkle some freshly grated Parmesan Cheese on top!

Enjoy!

Homemade SwissBurger Helper

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        You know that feeling you get when you have NOTHING planned for dinner, you open your freezer in a panic and there's a frozen lump of hamburger staring at you so you grab it and shuffle to the pantry for inspiration, but all that you find is an empty box of Apple Jacks, 28 cupcake liners scattered about, and a box of Hamburger Helper Mix with an ungodly expiration date sometime in the next century (that can't be healthy...)?  And then do you know the feeling when you make up that Hamburger Helper, and as it's nearing completion your husband shouts from the other room, "Wow, dinner smells amazing I can't wait!" and as you dish it out the kids are tripping over nothing (you keep your floors clean right?)  to get to the table fast enough because it's their favorite meal of all time???  No??? Me neither.... That's why I've slowly been shying away from boxed/processed foods, and making things from real (mostly.....) wholesome ingredients.

        Now, I'm not knocking Hamburger Helper or anyone who eats it, and I won't lie I occasionally jump on the high-sodium train myself and rock this out for a last minute meal idea.  But. . . like I said, baby steps!  I'm doing so much better lately!  Like I said in my previous post, I've been experimenting with creating my own recipes lately, because sometimes I like to clear out my pantry without the use of C4!  This leads to some interesting and fun concoctions, of which I'm about to share another with you!

        What would a new recipe be without a name?  A name can make or break something.  Imagine if Leonardo DiCaprio's mom had decided to name him Herbert.   Or what if Taco Bell was named Wanna-be-mexican-food-that'll-have-you-farting-flames?  Ok that's a bit extreme, but my point is, people pay millions of dollars for OTHER people to name things for them, so it must be pretty important, yes?

        Anyhow... I wanted to stick with the 'Hamburger Helper' sounding theme for this one, since it's basically a homemade version of just that.  So I'm going to call it.... SwissBurger Helper!  That one took me awhile... Ok on to the recipe!

Ingredients: 

• 1lb ground turkey, chicken, or beef
• 6oz penne, elbow macaroni, or pretty much any small cute noodle is fine!
• 8oz Swiss Cheese (you can buy a block or pre-shredded) shredded
• 2 c. Milk
• 3 tbsp. butter
• 1/4 c. flour
• Salt & Pepper
• 1 sm. onion, chopped

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, but 2-3minutes less, you want it a bit chewy because it will also cook in the oven.  Drain.  Set aside.
2. Brown your ground meat and drain grease very well.
3. Sautee' your onion in 1 tbsp. of butter until carmelized
4. In a small saucepan, melt 2 tbsp. of butter, mix in flour, add milk and swiss cheese, stirring constantly until a thick and smooth sauce is created.  Add salt & pepper as desired to taste.
5. Mix sauce in with the noodles, then add your onion and browned meat aswell.
6. Put everything into a casserole dish, and bake on 350 for 25-30minutes until hot and bubbly.
7. You can add a topping if you like.  Some ideas are:

• Crushed French's Fried Onions
• Crushed Ritz Crackers
• Seasoned Panko Breadcrumbs
• anything else crispy would be good too =)

Let me know if you enjoy this recipe!  Again, it's a homemade version of Hamburger Helper, so it's not a gourmet meal or anything!  Probably don't want to serve this one for Christmas Dinner!

Cheesy Crock Pot Chicken

Sometimes the best things in life are surprises!  This can be extremely true or extremely untrue when talking about food!  I've made some delicious award-winning (according to my panel of judges - my family) creations by messing around in the kitchen with random ingredients.  However this has also occasionally resulted in some horribly, disfigured creations that our dog wouldn't even eat.

While the latter is a pretty rare occurrence, there's always that ping of fear as I wait with my finger on speed-dial to the nearest pizza joint, for my newest creation to finish cooking.

Luckily tonight's dinner was a pleasant surprise, and my husband (who I consider my biggest critic - damn Italians, spoiled by good family cookin'!) even said it was great!

PS: On a side note, I found French's Fried Onions in Cheddar flavor in the store last week, I was extremely excited to take them home and try them!  Yes I sometimes snack on them straight from the container while making dinner.. don't judge me!

Ingredients (2-3 servings):

•  5-6 Chicken Tenderloins (I used frozen)
• 1 can Cream of Chicken
• 6oz Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese
• 1/2 C. Milk
• 1 C. Frozen Broccoli
• 2-3 All-Purpose Potatoes, cubed
• Salt & Pepper
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• French's Fried Onions (Cheddar flavor!)

Directions:

1. Turn your SlowCooker to High, and add frozen chicken tenderloins.
2. In a small bowl mix: Cream of Chicken, Milk, Water, Ricotta, Salt & Pepper
3. Pour overtop of chicken tenderloins. 
4. Let this cook for about an hour, covered.
5. Turn heat to Low, add potatoes, and continue cooking, covered, another 2 hours.
6. Add Broccoli, and continue cooking, covered, another hour.
7. Serve with a spoon (You'll want to get plenty of that delicious sauce on your plate!)
8. Sprinkle generously with Shredded Cheddar & French's Fried Onions.
9. Enjoy!

Let me know if you tried this recipe and if you enjoy it =)  Also if you have any tips, suggesitons, or questions, feel free to ask!