Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken

The ingredients:


1 onion, sliced
1 carrot, sliced
1 stalk celery, sliced
1-1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup Catalina Dressing
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tsp. grated ginger root
1 can (8 oz.) pineapple chunks, drained, liquid reserved
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 each green and red pepper, cut into strips
The instructions:

PLACE onions, carrots and celery in slow cooker; top with chicken.

MIX sugar, dressing, soy sauce and ginger; pour over chicken. Cover with lid.

COOK on LOW 7 to 8 hours (or on HIGH 3-1/2 to 4 hours), increasing the heat to HIGH for the last 30 min. Stir cornstarch into reserved pineapple liquid; add to slow cooker with pineapple and peppers. Cook 30 min. or until peppers are crisp-tender and sauce is thickened. Serve over rice.

I omitted the ginger root and added more pineapple, carrot, celery, and less onion than what was called for in the recipe. Then we, of course, made rice to go with it. I just used instant rice, since I already had it from the recipe for last night! The combined efforts of Drew, myself, and the slow cooker paid off- it was delicious! The thigh meat was better suited to this recipe than I think breast would have been so I'm glad I stuck with that ingredient.

Foil Pack Chicken Fajitas

Ingredients:
1 1/2 c instant rice
1 1/2 c water
1 tbsp taco seasoning
4 small chicken breast halves (1 lb)
1/2 c Salsa
Strips of Green and Red Bell Peppers
1/2 c Mexican style shredded cheese



Another throw together recipe. You make foil packs out of heavy foil and spray with cooking spray then combine rice, seasoning, and water into each pack. Top with remaining ingredients then cook at 400 for 35 minutes. Put the foil packs in or on a pan, though!

Delicious!

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Ravioli Bake

Ravioli Bake:
- 2 lbs frozen raviolis
- 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 can spaghetti sauce
- 2 cups Italian Cheese Mix



This was incredibly easy to make as it pretty much is a throw together recipe. You pour a layer of sauce mixed with diced tomatoes, then ravioli, then cheese, then repeat and top with more sauce and cheese. Bake for 30 min at 400 degrees covered then uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

It was okay, I'd recommend more sauce and no tomatoes, though. It was super tomato-ey!

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Location:SE Troutdale Rd,Troutdale,United States

Ohhhhh geez...

I got a new job and got a little busy (those of you who know me will not be surprised by this fact). However, A Year of Recipes WILL happen. Most likely with the help of my rommate and friend of 8 years (!), Drew! September 1st, 2011 through August 31st, 2012 will be the year so check back on Thursday!

Something productive...

I'm nearing the end of my current nannying job and those who know me know well that I hate feeling idle. Though I already have a lot on my plate (moving, school, a one year old, job hunting...), I really wanted to find something that was just mine to do- the way that work has always been just mine. Thus, this blog.

I envision cooking a different recipe each day. It may be dessert, dinner, or even a simple snack. It might be kid-friendly or maybe it will be something over the top that I've never made before. I'm not really sure, yet, and I'm excited to see where the blog will take me. I'm well aware that food blogs are now the norm, but hey this is for me, right? If I get any followers that'll just be a plus!

Anyway, that's my introduction to what this is all about. I hope to post my first recipe later tonight and the "year" will end next June. After it's completion, maybe I'll do a year of something else...

Also, if anyone IS reading this and has a recipe they'd love to share with me please post it! I'm game for (almost) anything.