Too Hot To Cook ~ Crockpot Edition ~ Spicy Stew

Today's recipe is a "featured" recipe from Noah's Mommy over at Project Mommyhood :

(she also has a rockin baby boutique blog : Noah Baby Boutique
Go check them both out.


Now it's time for our recipe.


2 pounds beef stew meat
1 can (28 ounces) Progresso® whole tomatoes, undrained
1 cup frozen small whole onions, (from 1-pound bag)
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 envelope (1.25 ounces) Old El Paso® taco seasoning mix
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (11 ounces) Green Giant® Mexicorn® whole kernel corn with red and green peppers, drained


1. Mix beef, tomatoes, frozen onions and chili powder in 3 1/2- to 4-quart slow cooker.

2. Cover and cook on low heat setting 9 to 11 hours or until beef is tender.

3. Stir in taco seasoning mix, using wire whisk. Stir in black beans and corn. Cover and cook on high heat setting 15 to 30 minutes or until thickened.

Makes 6 servings

Note: This recipe was tested in slow cookers with heating elements in the side and bottom of the cooker, not in cookers that stand only on a heated base. For slow cookers with just a heated base, follow the manufacturer's directions for layering ingredients and choosing a temperature.

Special Touch
Serve this stew topped with shredded Mexican cheese blend and chopped fresh cilantro leaves for an extra-special touch.


Sounds scrumptious, doesn't it?


What is your Too Hot to Cook no fail recipe?


Leave me a comment & you may be featured in an upcoming Too Hot to Cook post!!!


Late!

Wordless Wednesday~Vanilla Ice! Ice! Baby!

Vanilla Ice!
Ice!
Too cold!
Too cold!


Late!

Channeling your inner George Clooney

Introducing Man of Distinction.
Mr. Cheeks


Someone has decided to become the male fashionista of the household.
Someone likes to pick out his own clothing.


Sure through out the day that clothing may become so corroded w/ dirt & filth that the mama must go the Gods of Clean & beg forgiveness
BUT
Mr. George Clooney Jr up there will look good while getting dirty.


For instance, today, he was going to wear his orange tank top with the motorcycle on it was the shirt of choice
UNTIL
he realized it rested to high on his neck
&
was apparently choking him.


He settled for his Elmo Bee keeper shirt w/ khaki shorts
&
wait for it,
wait for it,
his dinosaur shoes.
I think I am going to have to chisel those off his feet.


So, tell me, do you have a little fashionista running round in your house?


Late!

What am I? 17?!!!??

See those lovely bandaids up there.
Spiderman to be exact.
I have one gracing the left side of my neck.


Why you ask?
Well, Bobster thinks it's hysterical to hold me down & give me hickeys.
Oh yea.
You read that right.
Hickeys.
At my age.


I was screaming at him to get off of me.
It's not like I can push him off.
He's 6'2 1/2 & "big boned" (then again, aren't we all...sigh).


I yelled at him that I have to work a respectable job where the white trash tattoo he is giving me isn't going to fly.
He laughed.
Told me to cover it up with cover up.


Right.
If that only worked.
Perhaps I will just tell everyone I was burned by a curling iron.
Believable, no?
My hair is stick straight so everyone will just automatically believe that excuse.
Just like a 17 yo girls parents believe it.


So, if you happen to see me today, just know that the white trash tattoo was placed there by Bobster, when he was joking around....not fooling around if you get my drift!


Now tell me, does your significant other torture you like this as well?


Late!

Ugh & Ouch

Back when I was preggers w/ Cheeks I was diagnosed by having gallstones.
Well I never had attacks so I forgot & then if I did remember I thought, oh they must have read the xray or u/s wrong.

Yes, yes, they didn't read it wrong.
Why?
I am having gallstone pain.

While I realize it's relatively mild for now & I pray it stays that way til I get to my doc next week, it is still a stabbing, breath taking pain by my ribs on the right side.

This started about a week or so ago.
The pain would increase when I ate, especially if it was high fat (aka fried).

I started to put two & two together yesterday.
Asked a few people who had stones & they said "Oh yes, sounds like they are acting up!"
Then I looked up my symptoms on line.
Probably the worse thing you can do b/c not only do I have stones I think I have scurvy & diptheeria.
I digress.

Last night, the pain decided to play a new trick on me & when I would move in my sleep or move standing up quickly, it would decide to make itself knows.
Ouch!

So please pray for me this holds off until Thursday when I have an appt. w/ my dr.
I don't fancy a trip to the hospital.

I looked up what not to eat w/ stones.
Yep.
I should be dropping weight like no one's business.
Gone is my morning bagel, hello yogurt...good thing I like yogurt.

If you have any suggestions for help w/ the pain, lemme know.

Late!

Too Hot To Cook

First let me preface this with the following:

When you put the keywords "Hot & Sweaty" in swagbucks or google to search on images....OH! You see it all.

Now onto our post.

I haven't had much submissions to be featured on our Too Hot to Cook Thursdays.
If anyone has a recipe, please let me know & you will have the chance to be featured on an upcoming Thursday post.

Today I thought we would just visit some ideas to do when it's Too Hot to Cook.

Let's see......

1. Take out. My personal fav b/c it's no fuss, no muss. Of course when you have no money, taking out can be a bit iffy.

2. Grill. Or as I sometimes like to call it "Burn, baby, burn!" (I have over grilled in the past)

3. Salads or pasta salads.

4. Sandwiches/wraps (anyone have good ideas for wraps?)

5. Breakfast for dinner.

6. Cheesesteaks. (I made these in less than 4 minutes last night & they were pretty darn tasty)


Well I have come up with six, now you give me some ideas.

Late!

Smile! You're on Candid Camera

*Side note*

Saturday I watched Brandon.

After a few hours of play Brandon turns & says to Cheeks:

"I'm Brandon"

Cheeks in turn says

"I'm Mr. Buchman"

Well someone just got told!

Ha!

Late!

Countdown~~~~~

Ten things I did yesterday:

1. Straightened the house.
2. Went to work.
3. Answered a billion phone calls.
4. Cooked bbq chicken & corn.
5. Put one extremely, overly tired 2yo to bed at an absurdly early hour.
6. Folded laundry.
7. Made lunches.
8. Used Phels Napa soap on some shirts to get the stains out.
9. Watched the gossip shows.
10. Talked to my parents.

Nine things I am doing today:

1. Waking up Cheeks
2. Running between rain drops to get to the van.
3. Stopping at WaWa
4. Going to work
5. Answering a billion phone calls.
6. Going to the bank at lunch
7. Cooking pasta for dinner
8. Trying to get to the store for a present
9. Collapsing into bed.

Eight people I talked to yesterday:

1. Bobster
2. Julie
3. Teri
4. Darryl
5. Pam
6. Rob
7. My mom
8. My dad
   

Seven fun things in July:

1. The 4th
2. My birthday
3. My sister's birthday
4. One month til Cheeks bday
5. Going to Bobby Flay's for my bday
6. The nice weather
7. Playing outside

Six Signs of Summer around our home:

1. AC continually running
2. Shades & curtains drawn so Bobster doesn't burst into flames when the sunlight hits him
3. More "Too Hot to Cook" meals
4. Smelly feet
5. Sand from the campground tracked through out
6. Sidewalk Chalk

Five things I hear repeatedly over the summer:

1. I wanna go to the campground
2. I'm going racing Saturday night
3. It's too hot out.
4. Someone's at the pool!!! Someone's at the pool!!!
5. For the love of God, it's like Africa hot.

Four things I heard that have brightened my day:

1. I love you.
2. Love you too Mommy
3. You are awesome.
4. Happy Birthday

Three happy thoughts

1. It's summer
2. I have 3 great children
3. Fall is almost here (my fav season!)

Two ridiculously inane things that make me say "Really?"

1. That the woman who called me yesterday to do business actually ate her breakfast & talked with her mouth full while on the phone with me.
2. That "I'm going to get a sandwich" at 11pm is code for something else. Hello! I know the code.

One great quote:

1. Never eat more than you can lift ~ Miss Piggy

You're turn.

Come link to me in the comments with your list!!

Late!

Bobby Flay...all the way!

Last night Bobster took me here:Bobby Flay Steak in Atlantic City @ The Borgata, it was for my bday.


Let me just tell ya.....best meal I ever had!
Swear to the Gods of all Coach handbags, it was divine!


We started by sharing the starter of Buttermilk Fried Onion Rings w/ crumbled blue cheese & cherry tomatoes. My goodness the tomatoes were out of this world & the blue cheese was as fresh as fresh could be.


For our entrees Bobster got the ribeye w/ one of Bobby Flay's signature grilling sauces to dip in. WoW! I got to taste it & it was fabu.


I ordered the Lobster & Surf skewers. The portion wasn't overly large but the taste was. It was Fantastic!!!! The filet was so tender it was like butter & the lobster was yummy. It came with a horseradish & mint sauce to dip in. OMG! Best sauce EVER.


We split a side of twice baked potatoes w/ goat cheese & sour cream.
YUM.


We skipped dessert so I could gamble $10.
Yep.
$10.
I lost it in about 25.8 seconds.


So my advice is if you in Atlantic City head over to Bobby Flay, you will not be disappointed!!!! Your wallet will be lighter but you will not care because the food is that freakin good.


Tell me, what's the best meal you ever had?


Late!

The Good Home Cook Book

Recently, I was privledge to get to participate in reviewing "The Good Home Cookbook", thanks to the lovely people at Abrams Books.


Can I just say....totally love this book!
I have a slight obsession with cookbooks so I am always looking for new one.
This one fits with my collection great.
To be honest, I would probably replace my Betty Crocker cook book with this.


The book covers it all.
With over 1000 recipes, it should.
You get recipes ranging from Breakfast (German Pancakes) to Drinks (Switchel!).
Plus there is a section for utensils & equipments, cooking terms, freezing & thawing & much more (like Holiday Menu ideas...Hello! I always need help in this realm of my cooking).


Recently I made the Spaghetti w/ Olive Oil & Garlic (found on pg 260).
Bobster really liked it.
I thought it was a bit spicy
BUT
like any recipe you can enhance it to your tastes.


The recipes provided by real home cooks, with tidbits & stories along the way.

It has a great index if you are looking for something specific & a conversion chart for those of us who can't convert ounces to grams & so on (um, I would so fall into this category).


This book would make a great wedding shower gift or a just starting out gift.
Even experienced cooks would appreciate this book.


So if you are in the market for some yummy, new ideas in the kitchen, get this book!


Do you already have this book? What do you think of it?
If not, tell me what your fav cookbook is from your library!


Late!

Am I.....

The only one who wants one of these:



That's right.
The Cricket Expression.

I will watch this infommercial every time it's on.
Just this morning.
Instead of watching the news & getting informed, I watched the Cricket infommercial & thought "oooooh, aaaah, I need that!"

Sure I have to drag my scrapping supplies out of every nook & cranny of this place, b/c I live in a shoe and I probably haven't scrapped since January b/c of being tired & what not
BUT
I need the Cricket. (whew! Boys & girls, can you say "Run on sentence!")

I just watch this one over & over again & think how cool everything they make is.
Totally love this!
Must have one!
Some day, right?

I am also a big fan of the infommercial for the little steamer I think it's called.
It's with an older lady with big hair & some guy.
It's a round, red unit & she makes sliders & omelets & pizza out of leftovers, in like seconds!!!
Must have one of those as well.
Sigh.

So my question is......what "must have" item do you need from an infommercial?

Late!

39? No you mean 29!

Oh Snap!

How did I get to be 39?????????

Well, happy birthday to me. (and Torreh!!!)

Late!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Grr!

Polly Parrot

Do you have one?

See that adorable, yet messy face up there?

He is our Polly Parrot.

Hence the following:
Driving with the family.
Bobster gets cut off.
He passes the offender and calls him "Douchebag"
An elegant word that is not used often enough.

About one minute later, Cheeks was being tortured by a sibling & to get him off his back Cheeks called him.....
Yep.
"Douthebag" (He can't say is ch's that well).

Makes a mother proud.
Heart just swelled with pride.

Of course, my heart swelled again at the playground.
There's my angelic little boy, steering the wheel on the race car yelling "Damn It!"

Obviously, Bobster & I really need to start to watch what we say.
Sometimes our temper gets the best of us.
I definitely don't need Cheeks arriving at daycare & calling another child a "Douthebag"
Not good!

Do you have a Polly Parrot?

Late!

Total Spave!!!!

I so spaved today!
Thank you Rite Aid for having a kick tushie sale.
Well it was kick tushie when coupons were used.

Here's the 411 (I am so down on my teen lingo, am I not? LOL).

Anyway missing from the above pic is 2 3 Musketeer bars.
They are in my snack drawer at work.
I had a B1G1 coupon for them from the Mars Real Chocolate Promo that is going on through out the summer.
Well they were also on sale at Rite Aid for B1G1.
So I got both for free.
Score!

Next up.
Dawn Dish Detergent.
On sale for .99 cents each.
I had .20 cents off coupons...2 of them.
Came to .79 cents each.

Now the Bounty Paper towels were also BIGI @ $1.29 ea.
I had $1.00/2 coupons.
So .29 cents for both or in essence .15 cents each.

Grand total for 4 paper towels, 2 dish liquids & 2 candy bars:
$2.36!
Hello!
Total spave!!!


My girlfriend at work went with me & used her B1G1 free coupons to score this:

For .06 cents.

Um, yea......06 cents!

We both totally spaved!!!!!

How have you spaved lately?
Share a good deal with me!

Late!

Too Hot to Cook ~ Champagne!!!

Today's recipe comes from Val @ Frugal Family Fun Blog (one of my fav blogs...I follow & read her updates everyday...the girl has mad skillz @ creating imaginative play for little ones!)


Val left this recipe in my comments & it sounds so yummy & hello, EASY! I had to share it with all my loyal readers....all 2 of you :>)


It's for the crockpot & here it is!!!!


Take a whole chicken and cook it in the cheapest bottle of champagne that you can find.
Add some chopped white onion and a little fresh parsley.
Cook about 8 hours.
Serve with rice and green beans.


So, go visit Val & tell her I sent you.
Before you go, leave me a great Too Hot to Cook recipe in my comments & you could be featured in an upcoming Too Hot to Cook post!!!


Late!

Wordless Wednesday ~ So how YOU doin!?

Um....

Today is the the viewing for Michael Jackson.
It's taking place at the Staples Center in L.A.
A state that is bankrupt. Has nooooo money.

So, the Staples Center is being used.
Basically an entire police force is being used for crowd control. (so criminals ,feel free to run amok in LA!)
Not to mention other employees that will be there.

Is all the necessary?

Really, don't get me wrong. I feel sorry for the Jackson family (minus Joe Jackson, he's a putz!). They lost a son, a child. I couldn't get over that if it were to happen. Michael was young...50...almost 51. I feel sorry for his children. They lost the only parent they know, at such young ages.

Do I think the Jackson family should have made tickets to his viewing a lottery?
Do I think they should allow anyone who can get a ticket to view him?
NO!

I understand that Jackson was a pop icon.
I like some of his songs.
I understand he did a lot of good in this world.
I also understand he had child molestation counts against him that were settled "out of court."

What I don't understand is why the spectactle?
Did Ed McMahon get this?
Did Farrah?
How about Karl Malden?

No.
They were viewed, buried & put to rest.
End of story.

Death isn't your final show, you final star.

I think that having this Jackson viewing is a circus for all of us to watch.
Let the man rest.

Honestly, I don't care who you are, I never want to go to viewings.
Ever.
I do go but hate every minute at them.

I just feel that this is a lot of money going towards something that the world can do with out.
Did Ronald Reagan get this fanfar when he died?
No.
Did Ray Charles?
How about our local news reporter, Gary Papa?
He was an icon to the Philadelphia area yet his family did it privately.

If you are a fan of MJ & agree with this viewing, great.
I respect your views.
If you agree with me, awesome, if you don't, so be it.

So I will keep the Jackson family in my prayers that they are able to get thru their grief.
I just still wonder if perhaps all this $$$ being spent today on this "circus of a viewing" couldn't have been donated to one of the charities Michael supported & his family had a ceremony for themselves & friends. No fans.

Late!

Monday, Monday, I would sing the rest of the lyrics but um, I don't know them

Here we are.

Survivors of July 4th, 2009.

Whew!

Made it through.


Lots of time spent outdoors since the weather couldn't have been more perfect.


Got to go see Fireworks.

Everytime one would go off as it ended Cheeks would yell "Do it again!"

Cheeks got to spend lots of time with Brandon, my sister's boyfriend's son. He is about 8 months older than Cheeks.

Finally we topped of the holiday with some chocolate covered pretzels.

Why so serious?

How was your weekend?

Late!

Too Hot to Cook ~ Featured Recipe from my sister

This is my sister:
She blogs here My Rambles

This is her recipe for when it's too Hot to Cook outside (like today...ick!)


3 cans of Campbells CHEDDAR CHEESE soup
A head of fresh broccoli
chicken breast.

Put one can of soup on the bottom to coat the pot, than add the chicken & the broccoli w/2 more cans of soup.

Cook for about 8 hours and serve w/egg noodles or rice!

There ya have it folks...another great & easy recipe.

Share a recipe in the comments & you maybe featured in an upcoming Too Hot to Cook post this summer.


Late!

Jersey Corn - It can't be beat

I have thank the Westmont Farmer's Market for having some Jersey fresh corn tonight.
I saw some tweets about it on Twitter (follow me...mkw70) & asked some local girls if they knew how much per ear.
Well .50 cents per ear was the price so I went after picking up Cheeks from daycare.


The market is held on the side street in that upper pic.
It was really nice albeit small.


Ok by me tho.
They had the corn that I wanted
&
Fresh rhubarb which I have been dying to get my hands on to make something yummy
&
They was a bakery stand selling cookies so Cheeks was happy as well.


Let me tell you, the corn was so friggen yummy!
Nice & sweet.
And this is the 1st time I ever cooked corn on the cob & had no idea it turned yellow when it was cooked. I thought it was yellow all the time. This was the sweet corn that starts out white but in the water for a bit & yellow it was.
Don't laugh @ me!
You have all done something or thought something silly in your lifetime too. Tee hee.


I highly suggest if you are in the area or in NJ anytime soon, make sure to get some of our corn.
It ROCKS!


What do you like to buy at your local Farmer's Market?
Do you support local food?
I'm interested in knowing.
Do tell.


Late!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Climb Every Mountain!

Sesame Place.
This was how you got to the top of the slide.
Clever!


Late!