Freezer to Crockpot Mediterranean Chicken

Isn't it the loveliest of all pictures? This is another meal we enjoyed during our kitchen remodel when I was cooking in a crockpot on the bathroom counter and eating on paper plates in the basement. The activity tablecloth is on the table since the other half of the space was being used to paint a school project. Ahh - the joys of remodeling! During that remodel, I learned to love the freezer to crockpot method. It was the only way we survived the remodel with home-cooked food! It has made my life since the remodel so much easier also. I serve a freezer to crockpot meal at least once a week to free up my dinner prep time to be used shuttling kids to and from events.

Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Bars

My oatmeal breakfast bars have been such a popular recipe that I thought I would share a variation in case, like me, you get ready for a new flavor every now and then. These bars are very similar to the original recipe, but they have the distinct taste of bananas - perfect for breakfast in my opinion! These have less sugar since the bananas add moisture and sweetness. The bananas also work as an egg substitute allowing these to turn out great without any eggs.

Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Bars work great for a make-ahead quick breakfast option or also go well as an after school snack. I hope your family enjoys them as much as mine!

My Version of Sopitos

Here is the description from a local Mexican restaurant. I did my best to recreate them at home for dinner.

Sopitos

Homemade corn masa shells filled with beans and your choice of shredded beef or chicken. Topped with lettuce, cheese and tomato. Served with rice and beans, sour cream and guacamole.

Whole-grain Homemade Noodles

Homemade noodles mean true comfort food in my book. A store bought wide egg noodle comes close with a thick cream sauce over the top, but I end up feeling a need to make my own noodles a few times a year, especially during the cold winter months.

Taco Pulled Pork

This is a quick and easy way to flavor meat for tacos, tostadas, burritos, chimichangas, etc. We often use pork, but you can easily do it with chicken or beef as well. Start by cooking your meat long enough that it will pull apart. You'll find my instructions for cooking pulled pork here. I always have some unflavored pulled pork in the freezer to use as the base for meals. 

Kid's Craft: Painted Snowman T-shirt

With the kids home for the holiday, I am trying to come up with things that are fun for them to do. Painted T-shirts are a fun and quite in-expensive project. I already have quite a few colors of acrylic paint that we have collected over the years. I also have a stash of white t-shirts. I watch for them to be on sale and snatch them up to have on hand for projects like this or tye-dying or whatever else we come up with to do.

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

A bowl of this comforting chicken and wild rice soup will make anyone feel better! The addition of brown rice makes this soup just a little more healthy and the white sauce mix leaves out all the fat. That means it can count as one of your "better for you" meals you've resolved to make this New Year. I created this recipe the other night because I was in the mood for something new. Everyone at my table - all 6 of them - gave me a thumbs up and asked for seconds - that's a winning recipe in my book! Hopefully your family likes it too.

The leftovers freeze well so don't hesitate to make a large batch while you are at it. It will give you an easy day down the road.