>> This has been one of those weeks where I have NO IDEA where it went. One week ago, Chelsea was here and we were eating breakfast at Mel’s, and now an entire week has gone by. How is this possible? I guess when your days are so jam-packed, they tend to fly.
>> I cannot put down Gone Girl, which is a problem. I have a paper due on a book (on death anxiety) that I’ve barely cracked open, and yet I cannot put down this weird book. Think my professor would be okay with me writing the paper on Gone Girl?
>> I’m excited for this weekend for a lot of reasons, mostly the sleep, but also because Saturday night, Michael and I are going to Movies in the Parc. We’ll watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s on a blanket while having a picnic. I’ve always wanted to do this, ever since seeing The Wedding Planner years ago. I love living in a city that offers this type of thing!
>> Fall makes me happy. It’s starting to cool down, and I swear, my attitude and energy levels instantly perk up in the fall. The heat and humidity have worn me out. I know I’m not alone in this, and cannot wait for hot chocolate, boots, and cinnamon-scented everything.
>> I’m looking for some good crock pot recipes that are semi-healthy/low-calorie. I have NO TIME during the week to cook. I’m not just talking about having a little bit of time here and there. None. Zilch. So I need my crock pot to cook for me. Please help!
Happy weekend!
UPDATED TO ADD: The colors on my nails are Maybelline Color Show “Green with Envy” and Maybelline Express Finish “Grape Times.” The glitter is ”Rainbow in the S-Kylie” from the Nicole by OPI Kardashian line. All the polishes are Chelsea’s; I would never buy anything Kardashian-related. Okay, that’s a lie. Anyway, I’ve consulted The Google and apparently the dupe for the glitter is Milani Jewel FX “Gems,” which can be purchased for about 1/2 the price of OPI at CVS, Walgreens, and Target. The more you know!
Molly says:
Pork carnitas are pretty easy and healthy. We do them all the time–I just buy the cheapest pork cut on sale, sometimes it’s carnitas and sometimes it’s a loin roast or something like that. Stick it in the crock pot with spices (cumin, pepper, whatever you want) and a little lime juice. Cook on low all day.
Serve with corn tortillas (healthy) and a sauce made with: 1 large can drained whole tomatillos, 1 jar Goya brand reciato, a splash of lime juice and salt—blend. It tastes like enchilada verde sauce. I hope you can get tomatillos and reciato in LFT!
Jami says:
I haven’t tried it yet but I’ve seen plenty of recipes for roasted chicken in the crockpot. It’s easy to do in the oven, but it’s gotta be nicer to come home to it already done at the end of the day.
I’ve had Gone Girl in my Amazon shopping cart since it came out. I just haven’t decided if I want to get it or not. I even placed an order last night and didn’t purchase it. This makes me want to finally order it!
Kayla says:
Yeah, jump on the crock pot bandwagon! The best!
Liz says:
I NEED that glitter polish you have on in that photo. Where can I find it?!
Also, I stayed up until almost 1am reading Gone Girl. I’m tired this morning but TOTALLY WORTH IT. I can’t wait to read more this weekend.
I’m jealous you have a crockpot. I totally need one for the same reason of those days when you just don’t have time/want to cook.
Valerie says:
I am so glad you’re enjoying “Gone Girl!!!” A friend at work suggested it to me over the summer and I could NOT put it down!!!
Jessica says:
What colors are on your nails? I love them!
I have a really good crockpot chili recipe on my blog.
Have a great weekend :)
Nichole says:
Try dashingdish.com she has a crock pot option under the recipes tab. Love her site!
Kim says:
Lauren, this isn’t a crockpot recipe but sooo easy. Sweet Potato Stew:
2 or 3 sweet potatos
1 to 2 cans kidney beans (I prefer light red)
Water
Veggie or chicken bouillon (I prefer veggie for this)
Thai Chili Paste (to taste)
Cut up your sweet potatos into chunks (could totally do this on the weekend and store a gallon ziploc baggie in the fridge til mon or tues)
Put into your water with your bouillon (I think I used 2 or 3 cubes last time I made it)
boil, then simmer for awhile (1/2 hour? Until chunks are tender).
Add your can(s) of kidney beans. Then add your thai chili paste (start at a tsp or two and go up frojm there depending on your spice factor)
Simmer a bit longer until your beans are tenderish.
Serve with bread if you want.
You won’t miss the meat, sooo filling. And so high in fiber & vitamin A. Great for fall! (and with cutting the sweet potatos on weekend, super fast except for cooking time but can do other things while soup is simmering, or make on weekend and store in fridge until mon or tues).
Hilary says:
I’m with Jami … get a whole chicken (free-range is preferable!) and slow roast it in the crock pot. You can stuff it with fresh rosemary sprigs, but I usually just throw the bird in the pot and be done with it.
The juices become your homemade chicken broth.
After all the meat is gone (you’ll get more than one meal out of the bird), put the leftover, bones and all, back in the crock pot, add fresh water and simmer for at least 12 hours for additional broth. I simmer mine for a full 24 hours because that makes the bones extremely soft, then pulverize it all in a blender for our dog. The ground up chicken bones are fantastic for the dog … along with whatever meat, skin, etc.
Sara says:
I have a crockpot cookbook and we have used a few recipes. A classic would be chicken, a bunch of veggies like carrots potato green bean onion etc, low salt chicken broth. We used chicken breasts and trimmed off the fat and it becomes so tender after cooking all day. Yum.
Nicole says:
I’m about to make your crockpot dreams come true.
http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2005/12/light-and-healthy.html
Stephanie O’Dea started this blog with the self-given challenge of making one thing in her crockpot per day for an entire year. The result? SKILLIONS of crockpot recipes. For each one, she gives it to you straight and tells you when she thinks it was a total flop or what could have been done to make it better. She’s a firm believer in not having to do a lot of prep work to put together a crockpot meal either.
Last night, actually, I did her latest recipe — a cranberry dijon roast. It was AMAZING.
You should check out more than just her light and healthy section, too. She’s uses the crockpot for a LOT of things. Everything on her site is also gluten free and there’s a huge vegetarian section. When I was cooking for the college kids on Sundays after church, I used her recipes every time {since there were quite a few vegans or vegetarians and two who were gluten free}. I was so thrilled with the ease and variety of recipes that I wrote the woman an email to thank her. She replied back and was very sweet. She is my crockpot hero. You’re welcome.
Audge says:
This is weird but I was actually diagnosed by a Doctor when I was 17 (after watching my dad die) from death anxiety / trauma. Its really effed up….
Julia says:
Cute nails! I’m gong to read Gone Girl next! Sounds dangerous though. I need to pick a week when I don’t have a lot going on!
Jill says:
Crockpot Chicken Taco Chili, from Skinnytaste. It’s in my crockpot now and it is already smelling delicious. It is a hit in my house…I’ve also taken it to work before, where it was also a hit!
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2008/11/crock-pot-chicken-taco-chili-4-pts.html
Vanessa says:
Isn’t Gone Girl crazy?! Once I got to part 2, I could not put it down. I just had to know what was going to happen!
Nora says:
Fall weather, or at least cooler temperatures = happy Nora! It’s just a fact.
I have a good chicken taco recipe that is crock pot approved and it’s healthier than most crock pot recipes, provided you don’t love cheese too much on your tacos =) I will track it down and email it to you if you like!