crock pot recipes

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Crock Addict

Our Special Guest Chef Sahntie!

Hi there! I’m Sahntie, the Stay At Home Auntie of five; three boys and two girls who range in age from two to 11. None of these little rascals actually live in my house but please understand, I’m not the kind of Aunt who puts $5.00 in a birthday card and calls it a day. Over the years, I’ve assembled and administered many bottles, changed countless poopy diapers, been the target for projectile vomit, and endured the epic grocery store tantrum of 2008. Lately, I also find myself talking about bullies, friendships, hurt feelings, and even makeup and hair styles.

I was raised on a farm by the carne king and the casserole queen, yet I learned my culinary skills while running on a treadmill watching Food Network.

I’m a voluntary vegetarian. I have vegan days on a weekly basis and I’m also on the organic bandwagon. I believe that healthy and nutritious meals are the key to a healthy and energetic you. If you eat like crap, don’t be surprised if you feel like crap. I truly believe anyone can cook – just give it a try!

When I’m not cooking, I keep busy reading, listening to podcasts, running, doing yoga, and doing laundry. I’ve also been known to moonlight as a commercial print model. Secretly, I want to have my own vegetarian friendly Food Network show with the class of Giada, the speed of Rachel, the charm of Ina, and the style of Sandra. Or, I want Cat Deeley’s job on So You Think You Can Dance. Decisions. Decisions!

Buddy Brownies

It's Valentines day (and it's on a Sunday), so here's something the whole family will enjoy.

Buddy Brownies
These are made for sharing. One bowl, two spoons. They're so tasty you make want to lick the bowl clean. And they are easy too. Just mix, microwave, and enjoy!

Makes enough for 2 to share. Double, triple or quadruple it to suit your family.

What you need:
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/8 cup whole wheat flour
1/8 cups oats
2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
1 Tablespoon agave nectar or honey or 1/2 mashed banana
2 Tablespoons canola oil
4 Tablespoons soymilk or regular milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Handful of chocolate chips, butterscotch chips or a dollop of peanut butter
coconut, marshmallows or powdered sugar for topping
Microwave safe bowl
spoon(s)

What to do:
In a microwave safe bowl, mix brown sugar, flour, oats, and cocoa powder.
Whisk agave, oil, milk, vanilla, and chocolate chips into dry mixture.
Microwave for about 2:00 minutes.
Check it and microwave for 20 more seconds if it's too gooey.
Put on the topping.
Grab a spoon and dig in.

Crock Addict

Chix and Noods
~EJ
Guest Crock Addict from D.C.

In spite of living on the east coast, in a somewhat cosmopolitan locale, I can easily be spotted by not only the blue stripe in my hair, but my affinity for flannel pajama pants and hoodies. I like to think I look a lot like an eclectically hip bag lady. Although, as the wise Clinton Kelly once said, "Eclectic is a euphemism for, 'I'm a mess.'" Truer words were never spoken.

What I love most about living in the DC area is that it's a "melting pot" of people, pouring in from all over the country and around the world, working for the federal government, the military, corporate headquarters, etc...everchanging as the administrations themselves change. Here we meet, make friends, form lasting relationships, and too often say goodbye when those friends are relocated, shipped out, sent back to their home countries.

Through my widening circle of friends, I see the world and all its cultures. We open our homes, tell our stories, share our foods. For a girl coming from a blue-collar home in a small town smack dab in the middle of Illinois, this has been one of the great educations of my life. I love living here and wouldn't trade my experiences for anything (not even an all expense-paid makeover!).

I'm known among my friends for a couple of things (beyond my strange wardrobe and hair): My annual Oscar parties, and fusion cooking, whereby I pretty much throw things together and hope it works. Here's one that actually worked...

Chicken and Noodles

--1-2 packs of boneless, skinless chicken breasts

--chopped carrots

--chopped celery

--chopped sweet onion

--basil

--1-2 containers of chicken stock

--1-2 cups white wine

--salt

--fresh ground pepper

--onion powder

--1 lg bag of egg noodles (I prefer the thicker, rounder noodles)

Season chicken to taste using salt, pepper, and onion powder and place in the bottom of the crockpot. Pour carrots, celery and onion over the chicken. Add wine. Pour in chicken stock until all of the chicken is covered. Float several basil leaves on top. Cook on low approx 6 hours (or on high for about 4).

About an hour before eating, par-boil the noodles, drain, and add to the crockpot. Let them simmer and season in the broth 30 or so minutes before serving.

Delicious when served over biscuits, but would be complemented with cornbread as well.

Bon appetit!

(Broken) Heart Shaped Pizza

Pizza is Sahntie's favorite food. From just plain cheese to grilled eggplant, onion, and garlic, I make pizza 1,001ways. In fact, I've never met a pizza I didn't like. Knowing my love of pizza, one year my valentine made me a heart-shaped pizza. OK, I was in high school, so I'm sure his mom made it, but he took credit for it. And I'm taking credit for it now. Afterall, I guess he broke up with me because it's been 17 years and he still hasn't returned my call!

Forget Sahntie's heart break and get the kids involved in the romantic dinner for the family. Make this heart shaped pizza!

What you need:
Store bought crust (Sahntie likes Bobolis 100% whole wheat thin crust)
Sauce
Toppings (Sahntie likes mushrooms and green pepper)
Cheese
Pizza pan

What to do:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees
Using scissors cut crust into a heart shape
Top crust with sauce
Top sauce with toppings
Top toppings with cheese
Bake 8 - 12 minutes

After baking, slice pizza into serving sizes (while breaking the heart, consider how lucky you are to be sharing this pizza with your true valentine)

Pizza sketch by Susanne Cabrera

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