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Chops in the Crock Recipe & Fix It And Forget It Slow Cooker Magic Cookbook

October 21, 2015 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

*This post contains an affiliate link.

 

I love using my slow cooker! It’s perfect for cooking on hot summer days when the last thing you want to do is turn on the stove. A slow cooker is great for any day you are short on time. I love being able to put supper in my slow cooker, then spend the day homeschooling the kids, going on field trips, running errands, or visiting family & friends. It’s so nice to have supper waiting for you at the end of a long day!

 

Fix It And Forget It Slow Cooker Magic

 

In fact, I love my slow cooker so much I own three! The new Fix-It and Forget-It Slow Cooker Magic cookbook is a great addition to any kitchen. This new cookbook has 550 recipes perfect for every season and occasion, and feature more than just the usual soup, stews, and casseroles.  Highlights include Thai veggie curry, slow cooker pizza, black bean burritos, chile rellenos casserole, banana chocolate chip bars, cornbread, and expanded vegan offerings.

 

There are several full page color photos of some of the recipes.

Fix It And Forget It Slow Cooker Magic

The author, Phyllis Good, did not create all of the recipes; rather, recipes are submitted by and tested by a select group of home cooks known as “Team Fix-It” – real women cooking in Chicago, Kansas City, Washington, DC, Indianapolis, Louisville, Brooklyn, and across the country.

 

“Good cooks love to share their recipes rather than possess them,” Ms. Good says. “Readers feel surrounded by a community when they cook from Fix-It cookbooks. They take comfort in knowing that these recipes come from other people who are also working and feeding their families.” Ms. Good is propelled by the belief that slow cookers make it easy to cultivate quality time with loved ones

 

Fix It And Forget It Slow Cooker Magic

 

I have tried a few recipes from this cookbook so far, and have more on this weeks menu. Here are pictures of a couple that I tried. This first dish is Butter Chicken. It has a wide variety of spices and seasonings. I served it with rice and green beans.

 

Butter Chicken

 

This dish, Chops in the Crock, is my favorite recipe in the cookbook. So far! With tomatoes, green peppers, and onions, it’s very flavorful. I served it over rice, like the recipe says.

 

Chops in the Crock

 

 

Chops in the Crock

by Lavina Hochstedler
from the Fix It & Forget It Slow Cooker Magic cookbook
Ideal slow cooker size: 6 or 7 quart
Prep time: 15-20 minutes

4 1/4″ bone in, blade cut pork chops
salt and pepper to taste
2 medium onions, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, sliced
14.5 oz can stewed tomatoes, undrained
1/2 cup ketchup
2 Tbsp. cider vinegar
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 beef bouillon cube
2 Tbsp cornstarch
2 Tbsp. water
cooked rice

1. Grease interior of slow cooker crock.
2. Holding chops over crock, sald and pepper tops and bottoms. Lay in cooker.
3. Scatter chopped onions, sliced celery and peppers, and stewed tomatoes over chops.
4. In a bow, mix together ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and lemon juics. When well mixed, add bouillon cube. Spoon over vegetables and chops.
5. Cover. Cook on Low 2-3 hours, or until instead read meat thermometer registers 145* when stuck into center of chops.
6. In small bowl, mix cornstarch and water together until smooth. Stir into sauce in crock.
7. Cover. Cook 30 more minutes, until sauce thickens.
8. Serve over cooked rice.

*Shared with permission

 

 

Enter to win your own copy of the Fix It & Forget It Slow Cooker Magic cookbook! Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter!

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. *This post contains an affilliate link. If you click the link and purchase something, I will receive a small commission.

Filed Under: Giveaways, In The Kitchen With Linda, Reviews

In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu

October 19, 2015 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

We had some of our favorite foods this week. We also had some new foods, and some food that didn’t come out so well.

 

A roast with vegetables cooked in the slow cooker is one of my families favorite meals. Last week, we had a venison roast with potatoes, carrots, and onions.

 

The before picture:

slow cooker venison

 

The after picture:

 slow cooker venison

 

And the meal on the table. Yum!

venison roast with vegetables

 

My daughter and I made Fried Oreos. Neither of us had made them, or eaten, them before. My son has made them for the youth at church, so I knew how he did it.

fried oreos

 

The Fried Oreos came out great. It was not really what I expected. I guess I thought the cookie would still be like the cookie. Instead the cookie was all melty. One good thing is that they were so rich that you can’t eat more than a couple. Unless you are a teenager. They had no problem eating several. lol

 

fried oreo

 

We had Beef Fajitas on taco night. I cut sliced one of the roasts I got on sale. It doesn’t look like a lot of food in the picture. But it was just over 2 pounds of meat, 2 onions, and 3 (or was it 4?) Green peppers. It made enough that I was able to get 2 meals out of it!

beef fajitas

 

I have been trying some recipes from a cookbook I am in the processing reviewing. I tried the Butter Chicken recipe. It looked pretty good. I didn’t really care for the flavor, though. My family ate it up with no complaints, so I guess it was just me. lol

Butter Chicken

 

And just so you don’t think that everything is perfect in my kitchen…..

burned rice

I burned the rice! That makes me angry at myself. I hate wasting food!

 

 

In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu

 

Now…. to answer the question that I get asked about a hundred times a day……….What’s For Dinner?

Saturday – quick & easy- Pizza

Sunday – soup & sandwich day – Venison, Alfredo pasta, broccoli

Monday – chicken – Slow Cooker Chinese Chicken, rice, green beans

Tuesday – pizza/pasta – Homemade pizza, carrot sticks

Wednesday – Taco Night- Beef tacos with all the fixin’s

Thursday – pork or beef – Slow Cooker Savory Roast Beef, Slowcooker Mashed Potatoes (trying new recipes from a cookbook I’m reviewing. And, yes, I have 2 slowcookers!), broccoli

Friday – venison –  Venison Steaks, oven roasted potatoes, corn

 

 

For more ideas, visit Menu Plan Monday

Filed Under: In The Kitchen With Linda

Skillet Sausage Pasta

October 16, 2015 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

*This post contains affiliate links.

 

Ever since I discovered skillet pasta dinners, I have been fascinated with them. It’s a good thing my family likes them, too. Because I have been making a lot of them. I love that they are so quick and easy. My family loves that they are good!

 

Skillet Sausage Pasta

 

Skillet Sausage Pasta

 

1 pound your your favorite fully cooked smoke sausage or kielbasa, sliced or quartered

1 onion, diced

2 cups water

2 teaspoons Better Than Bouillon Chicken Base

1 – 28 ounce can diced tomatoes, with liquid

1 pound bite size pasta

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 cup heavy cream

 

Skillet Sausage Pasta

 

Lightly brown sausage in skillet. Add remaining ingredients. Bring to boil, cover skillet. Simmer on low for 12-15 minutes, until pasta is tender.

 

If your family, like mine, thinks that no meal is complete without cheese, you can top this dish with the cheese of your choice. In the pic below, I used cheddar. Parmesan cheese is good on it, too.

 

Skillet Sausage Pasta

 

Note: I use a big 12 inch Cast Iron Skillet, a smaller skillet won’t hold this recipe, either cut the recipe in half, or use another pan that will hold it. This is the pan I use:

 

*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click the link and purchase something, I will receive a small commission.

Filed Under: In The Kitchen With Linda

In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu

October 12, 2015 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

I am so enjoying the cooler temperatures of Fall! It makes me want to cook more. And my family loves that! lol

 

One of the dinners I made last week was BBQ Chicken, Roasted Potatoes, and Broccoli. This time, I used store bought  BBQ sauce. I know, I know. I do like to make my own, but sometimes quick is good! I tossed the quartered potatoes with some oil, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika, before baking. The family loved it, of course.

 BBQ Chicken Roasted Potatoes

 

Please excuse the messy BBQ sauce covered plate. I started to take a picture of my plate, but decided my husbands looked better. He had more chicken than I did. I said Hey, Can I take a picture of your plate before you start eating? He said yes! lol

BBQ Chicken Dinner

 

My family also loved the Beef Roast with Potatoes, Carrots, and Onions that I made last Friday. Of course, my family always loves this kind of meal. They would like it if we had this every week. I don’t think they would mind if I served it twice a week. They are all about their meat and potatoes. They also love carrots cooked in with the roast in the slow cooker. I thought I made enough. But, nope, my husband and I only got 3 or 4 carrot pieces each. The kids ate all the rest! Note to self: Make more carrots!!

Slowcooker Beef Roast with potatoes carrots onions

I had taken some pork loin chops out of the freezer Saturday intending to cook them that night. We ended up cooking out instead. So I am switching up the menu and having the pork tonight. We will have chicken on pork night. While I find a weekly dinner menu a necessity, I like having the flexibility to change meals around if it works better for us.

 

 

In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu

 

Now…. to answer the question that I get asked about a hundred times a day……….What’s For Dinner?

Saturday – quick & easy- Cookout! Hot dogs, baked beans, & s’mores!

Sunday – soup & sandwich day – Dinner at church

Monday – chicken – Chops in the Crock, rice, green beans (Trying a new recipe from a cookbook I’m reviewing!)

Tuesday – pizza/pasta – Macaroni & Cheese, meatballs, broccoli

Wednesday – Taco Night- Beef Fajitas, salad

Thursday – pork – Fried Chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn

Friday – beef –  Venison Roast with potatoes, carrots, and onions

 

 

For more ideas, visit Menu Plan Monday

Filed Under: In The Kitchen With Linda

Sugar Twists Review & Giveaway

October 10, 2015 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

Have you heard of Sugar Twists?

 

Sugar Twists put an end to the hassle and headaches caused by elastic, fabric hairbands. No dents or damage, slipping or snapping, and NO tearing or tugging! Sound too good to be true? Well it’s not!

 

Sugar Twists

 

I’ve been using Sugar Twists in my hair for about 2 weeks now. I love them! I have to wear my hair up out of my way in a pony tail while I am working, or it drives me insane. Whenever I go out anywhere, I always pull the hair elastic out, as I prefer to wear my hair done when out. Which means my hair would always have the dreaded hump in the back. Enough that my teenage daughter will always tell me I should put my hair back up. lol

 

Sugar Twists

 

Now, thanks to Milk and Sass’ Sugar Twists, I can have my hair just the way I want it. With no hair hump to embarrass my teenage daughter!

 

I also had my other daughter, who has long, thick hair try the Sugar Twists. She said the Sugar Twists held her hair in a pony tail very well. I wish I had had Sugar Twists when my three girls were little. They would have made our lives, and hairdo’s so much easier!

 

Sugar Twists

Sugar Twist are only $7.95, and each box has 6 bands  Available in a rainbow of colors, from neutral to neon, Sugar Twists are a must-have for active moms and children alike.

 Sugar Twists Review & Giveaway

 

 

Sugar Twists are available in six color combinations: Caramel Toffee, Chocolate Mocha, Neon Candy, Pink Candy, Pink Marshmallow, Glitter Candy, and Cotton Candy. All those color choices mean there is a color perfect for everyone, and for every occasion.

 Sugar Twists
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Milk and Sass just launched a special pink package called “Candy for a Cause,” where a portion of proceeds will be donated toward the cause. Additionally, we’re having a social media campaign and for every person who uploads/shares a photo with the hashtag #CandyForACause, the brand is donating $1 per photo to Susan G. Komen  You can check out the BCA package at: bit.ly/CandyForACause

Sugar Twists Giveaway

 

How would you like to win your own set of Sugar Twists?

One winner will received 6 packages of Sugar Twists!!

To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Sugar Twists Giveaway

 

“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Filed Under: Giveaways, Reviews, Uncategorized

Finding Noah

October 5, 2015 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

Man has been searching for the final resting place of Noah‘s Ark for over 2,000 years.  There have been many attempts, but few have been able to fully explore the one place specifically noted in the Bible: Mount Ararat.
In Finding Noah, you will travel to Mount Ararat which is located in Eastern Turkey. Agri Dagh or “The Painful Mountain” is the tallest mountain in the region and lies in the very center of a centuries old, geo-politically unstable hot spot.  With constant threats of deadly rock slides, hidden crevasses, and glacial ice falls, the Kurdish Rebel held mountain poses great risk to any explorer, let alone those performing a thorough scientific investigation.
Finding Noah begins with the Biblical and world history of Noah’s Ark. The history includes mentions of Noah’s Ark in other religions and cultures, not just Christian. My husband and I both learned a few new things while watching Finding Noah. The history covered is fascinating.
Finding Noah
Join director/producer Brent Baum and the Finding Noah film crew as they follow an expedition of intrepid explorers on a perilous trek up to Mt. Ararat’s desolate summit.  Using state of the art technology and real-time satellite imagery, this team of archeologists, scientists and professional mountaineers will begin a grid work of exploration unlike any before, hoping to finally resolve the age-old question:  did Noah and his Ark actually exist?
I watched Finding Noah with my husband, our 16 year old daughter, and our 15 year old son. Our 29 year old son came in part way through. We all found how they went about their scientific tests very interesting. While documentaries tend to be viewed as boring, there is nothing boring about Finding Noah. It held the interest of all of us. We all enjoyed watching Finding Noah.
Shot in never-before filmed locations in the harshest of conditions, this unprecedented feature-length documentary shows just how far men are willing to go to discover the truth.  Narrated by Academy Award nominee Gary Sinise, Finding Noah is more than a quest for answers, it is a testament of the human spirit, where belief and the need for exploration transcend risk and limitation.
Finding Noah is in theaters for ONE NIGHT ONLY – October 8!
You will NOT want to miss this new documentary! Finding Noah has something for everyone – the Bible, history, science, adventure, and the most amazing views!
Finding Noah Small
 
For more information about Finding Noah, visit:
 
Official Website
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube Channel
To Purchase Tickets

*Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): I received a product sample for review purposes. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. My opinions are my own.”

Filed Under: Reviews

Homemade Baking Powder

October 5, 2015 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

My daughter started to make pancakes the other day and found out we didn’t have enough baking powder. I had heard of homemade baking powder before, but had never made it myself. I quickly mixed some up and my daughter carried on with the pancake recipe. The pancakes came out great!

 

Here’s how I made my own homemade baking powder.

 

Homemade Baking Powder

 

Homemade Baking Powder

 

1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar

Mix the two together thoroughly. This makes one tablespoon of baking powder.

 

See how easy that is? It needs to be used immediately, so don’t make extra. If you don’t need a tablespoon of baking powder, you can cut the recipe in half.

 

Making your own Homemade Baking Powder is quick, easy, and can save you a trip to the store.

Filed Under: In The Kitchen With Linda

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For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 3:16-17 NKJV


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