When I use my slow cooker, it is usually to make a whole meal.  Yesterday was very warm here and I really didn’t feel like cooking anything in the oven or on the stove top.  I needed a side dish to go along with the grilled chicken I was going to make so I thought roasted potatoes in the slow cooker would be perfect.

I scrubbed all of my potatoes, sliced them and chopped my garlic and herbs and threw everything in the slow cooker. I felt good that I had a great side dish cooking and all the work for preparing dinner was finished.  The house smelled so good and when the time was up on the slow cooker, I could not wait to see how they had turned out.  I was SO disappointed!!!  The potatoes didn’t look roasted, they looked a bit mushy and now I was rushed to figure something else out for a side dish.  Now don’t get me wrong, these probably would have been fine served as they were, but they just weren’t the pretty, caramelized, slightly crisped roasted potatoes I was hoping for.   As I looked at this big crock full of potatoes, I had an idea.  I was determined to save these potatoes so I grabbed my hand held mixer, some milk and whipped them up.  These turned out to be delicious mashed potatoes and they were nice and hot when I was ready to serve dinner.

I think I may make mashed potatoes in the slow cooker more often!  It was nice to have the mess of preparing them cleaned up hours before and I didn’t have to worry about the potatoes getting cold because they were nice and warm in the slow cooker.  If you love mashed potatoes, but don’t have time during the week, try them in the slow cooker!  I am glad I made this “roasting potatoes in the slow cooker” mistake because I got a great mashed potato recipe out of it!  Have you had any slow cooker mishaps that turned into something wonderful lately?

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With garage and estate sale season upon us, it is a good idea to make a list of things that you might be interested in purchasing for upcoming crafts or projects at home.  Having a list prepared can save you time and money when you go to a sale and you know exactly what you are looking for.  I love vintage things, and estate sales are a great place to look for these wonderful treasures, but I like to have a plan for these items or else they will be just sitting around my house.  I picked up these pretty cups at an estate sale last year and didn’t really have a plan for them:(  They had been sitting on a shelf  in my garage and I noticed them again last week when I was planting flowers.  It was like a light bulb went off in my head!  These would make the prettiest little planters for a gift or even a favor for a baby or a bridal shower.  They were inexpensive and you can decorate them easily and plant what ever you like in them to fit your theme.  These cups were all the same, but I think small flowers would be beautiful in different vintage tea cups!  So onto my list for estate sales this year are vintage tea cups.  I think flowers planted in small vintage tea cups would add character to my kitchen window sill.  These pretty cups were given to the amazing mother’s who attended my Mother’s Day Brunch.  It added color to the table setting and was a nice simple gift for them to take home.  What are you looking for at estate sales this year?

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Mmmm…a taste of this warm berry cobbler will have you thinking about summer.   But don’t worry,  you don’t have to wait for berry season to make this delicious dessert.  Get out your slow cooker along with those frozen berries in your freezer and treat your family to this sweet treat tonight.  This recipe is so simple and it is from scratch- no box mixes here.  This takes only 2 1/2 hours to cook  in the slow cooker and serves 6.  Don’t forget to top this with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream!  Enjoy!

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We are heading into the beginning of spring, but it’s still a little cold in my neck of the woods so I am attempting to take the chill off with this great slow cooker meal.  If you like chili, I think you will love this simple pasta variation.  You can tweak the recipe a bit to add your favorite type of beans or special spices that you may normally use in your chili.  This meal serves 8, or you can save some for leftovers.  For our family, this meal would not be complete without freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese and a loaf of  bread:)

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Sometimes you just want pizza!   When you have a large family though, ordering out can get expensive.  This pizza dough is really easy to make, tastes delicious, and is easy on your wallet!  It  makes a nice thick, hearty crust.  If you have never made pizza dough before I think you will be surprised at how simple it really is.  The hardest part is waiting for the dough to rise.  The topping possibilities are endless too.  Our family loves classic Cheese & Pepperoni and Sausage with Onions & Peppers.  Whatever you  like on your pizza, you can turn it into a fun family event.  Try different toppings every week or have pizza and a movie.  The best part is, you can have a great pizza and enjoy your family without ordering a thing:)  Do you have pizza night at your house?

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If you are looking for a quick, easy meal tonight, then try this delicious Baked Spaghetti.  This a simple, satisfying meal that’s a cinch to make even on a busy week night.  This meal generally serves 6-8, but even though our children are small, we never seem to have any leftovers.  This Baked Spaghetti is freezer friendly too!  Just prepare as usual, top with cheese and parsley and freeze unbaked.  Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bake like usual for dinner the next night.  You’ve got to love a tasty meal that can be on the table in less than an hour.  This recipe is slightly adapted from a recipe I found in the The Deen Bros. Y’all Come Eat Cookbook.  This Cookbook is full of meals that are perfect for busy days that you just don’t feel like spending all day in the kitchen, but still want to put a good homemade meal on the table for your family.

This recipe is slightly adapted from The Deen Bros. Y’all Come Eat

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This Spanish Rice with Beef  is a great recipe that is simple and filling.  On a day when you are running short on time and energy, this meal can be prepared and on the table in about a half an hour.  Serve with a fresh salad and bread and you’ve got yourself a well balanced week night dinner!  This also tastes great topped with freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese.

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Take a rotisserie chicken, remove the skin and shred chicken with your fingers and set aside on a plate.  Set the bones aside.

In a large stock pot, heat a Tbsp. of Olive Oil, add chicken bones and heat for a few minutes.

Add the chopped onion, celery, carrots and smashed garlic and parsley, stir and saute about 5 minutes or until fragrant.

Add 16 cups of water.

Stir and add salt, pepper and bay leaves.  Stir well and cover.  Bring to a slow boil and simmer for about an hour and a half.

With a strainer over another large pot, strain the chicken broth and reserve carrots.  You will want to cut those and add them to your soup.  I like to run my chicken broth through my gravy separator to remove excess fat.

Discard other vegetables and bones.  Add the chicken broth, shredded chicken, cut carrots, and cooked noodles to the pot and cover until ready to serve.

Enjoy!

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I make these muffins all of the time.  As a matter of fact, they are my children’s favorite!  Canned pumpkin is so easy to find in the grocery store these days, so there is no reason that these cannot be made year round.  They are great for breakfast or even a quick snack.  The moist pumpkin mixed with semi sweet chocolate chips is a wonderful combination!  This recipe makes 24 muffins, so you should be able to freeze some too:)

Recipe adapted from Moneysavingmom.com

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This English Muffin bread I found over at  One Good Thing by Jillee  is delicious, easy to make and frugal.  It makes the most wonderful toast and my family actually prefers this over regular English Muffins.  You just can’t beat homemade bread and there is nothing like waking up to the smell of the bread toasting that brings everyone to the breakfast table quickly.  At our house, we love to spread butter and homemade strawberry jam on our warm toast.  Paired with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee, it makes a great breakfast.   This recipe makes 2 loaves of bread, so you can enjoy one in the morning and store the other one in the freezer for a different day.  This toast makes excellent breakfast sandwiches too.  What do you like on your toast?

*Recipe by One Good Thing By Jillie

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