Healthy Crock Pot Recipe: Salsalito Lime Chicken

You'll need:
3-4 frozen chicken breasts
3 jalapeno peppers (or more for heat), seeded and diced
24oz jar of picante sauce or salsa
1 small yellow onion, diced
1 teaspoon minced garlic
3 limes
1/2 tbsp each:
cumin
salt
black pepper
paprika
onion powder

Optional for serving (not all paleo):
shredded cheese
cilantro
sour cream
tortillas or chips

Directions:
Add chicken breasts to bottom of Crock Pot. Add juice from 3 limes, jar of salsa, diced onions, garlic, jalapenos, and spices to pot and cook on low for 6-7 hours.

Top with cheese, sour cream, cilantro, or tortilla chips.

We enjoyed ours on flour tortillas with sour cream. Easy peasy and delicious.

How to Cook Perfect Boiled Eggs Every Time

With these steps, you'll never get a half-cooked yolk or one of those over-cooked, gray yolks. Ever since I've learned this technique, I've had no problem making perfect boiled eggs for salads and deviled eggs. They even peel easier!

1. Place eggs in the bottom of a pot or saucepan in a single layer (do not stack or pile the eggs on top of each other) and fill water to one inch above eggs. Add a couple pinches of salt.

2. Uncovered and on high, heat eggs to a rolling boil. Allow rolling boil for 30 seconds, then remove eggs from heat and cover tightly with lid.

3. Let covered pot sit for 10 minutes without opening lid, then drain hot water from pot and add cool water and a handful of ice cubes.

You're finished!

I peel my eggs under slowly running water as soon as they're cool enough to handle, and I've never had a problem making pretty, clean peeled eggs. :)

Easy and Delicious Crock Pot Red Beans and Sausage with Rice

You'll need:

1 lb red beans or kidney beans (rinsed and soaked overnight)

1 link pork & beef sausage

3 stalks of celery, roughly chopped

1 medium onion, diced

4-5 cloves garlic, minced OR 1 tsp jarred, minced

1 green bell pepper, diced

2 tablespoons Tony's or favorite creole seasoning

2 cans chicken broth

Cooked white rice

Crock Pot :)

Directions:

Slice sausage into coins with 1/2" thickness and drain beans.

Add everything except for rice to Crock Pot. Top off with water and give it a stir. Cover with lid and cook on low for 6-7 hours.

Serve over rice.

Terrible Day at Work? Eats a Salad.

Today was rough one at work. I've had busier days and days with more issues, but today just got under my skin. I made it home over an hour later than usual, and I was starving. I surprised myself by not going straight toward the 2 packages of Keebler cookies in the pantry (that my husband has seemingly forgotten about... shh), but by reaching for a bowl, some romaine, grape tomatoes, and fresh sliced carrots. Once I sat down with my salad, I stopped to make a puzzled face directed at myself and my shocking behavior.

"Amy, are you really assuaging your cubical woes by eating a salad?" It was so, and the moment deserved to be noted. So, here it is. A blog post and a meme-style image for all 3 of my readers to enjoy.

Leftover Oranges = Good-Smelling House

We had several leftover small navel oranges this week, and I've been needing a new candle or potpourri around here. I opted to simmer the sliced oranges on the stove while I did laundry, and it smells great. I was worried the spring weather would ruin the normally fall/winter scents, but it worked! I used about 3 cups of water, two small oranges, a teaspoon of ground cloves, and 3 caps of vanilla.

I brought the mix to a bubble on high, and then reduced to simmer. Ta-da!

Stale Ideas, Fresh Food

I've got several web design projects working right now, and I have a couple logo design projects as well. With my full-time job getting busier and several personal things making life hectic, my own creativity and business flow is suffering.
One of my most clear-minded moments was during a recent 2+ mile walk with my husband around the neighborhood. Our little apartment doesn't do me any inspiring favors.
While the man of the house snoozed away on the couch, I made fresh guacamole and pico de gallo tonight. We bought some reduced fat Triscuits to keep around the house for snacking, and those two dips will work perfectly.
I'm excited to pack some of the guac and pico in my lunch tomorrow. Hopefully, my design ideas will be as fresh as my snacks this week. I'm ready to be out of this funk.
Have to be awake in 3 hours to send the hubby off to work, then I'll make my way to work as well. Yikes.

Food Diary 1/10/13: Apples and Pork Don't Mix

I decided to change the naming of these posts, since I'm obviously not doing the juice fast. Done with it.
Breakfast and lunch consisted of my regular work day meals. Omelet and salad.
For dinner, I seasoned boneless pork chops with sage, thyme, paprika, and allspice, and I grilled then up nicely.
I used the same pan to cook down 1/2 an onion, 1 pear and 1 apple. When they were caramelized, I added 1/2 cup of fresh juiced apples. I let that reduce while the chops rested.
I served the chops sliced, with the apple mixture on top. My husband swears that apples and sweet things don't go well with pork. Lol. So, I might not be making this one again.