foodie friday : crockpot whole chicken

Most of the time I like to grab a rotisserie chicken from whatever grocery store (usually about $5) and shred it for various recipes.  The flavor is good and always adds a little something to whatever I am fixing.  But they are pretty small so don't go very far.  This time I decided to grab a whole fryer chicken (about 4.5 lbs and just over $5) and cook the whole durn thing in my slow cooker (inspired by my friend ThatWinsomeGirl).  I rinsed it and patted it dry and then rubbed it with a paste of the spices I wanted for my upcoming meals.  In this case, garlic, salt, smoked paprika, chili powder, and cumin.  I put it in my 3 qt slow cooker so it just barely fit, but I wanted it to be in contact with as much of the heat as possible.  I cooked it on High for a couple of hours until it started to bubble (all juice from the chicken, I didn't add any liquid), and then dropped it down to Low for about 4 more hours or so until I had time to deal with it.  Pulling it out was a little difficult because it just completely fell apart.  The meat was so much more tender and juicy and flavorful than any rotisserie chicken I buy, and there was about double the meat I normally pull off.

First I fixed some white sauce enchiladas.  These are different every time I make them.  Sometimes I just use the chicken with some cheese inside.  Other times I have added black beans and corn.  This time I did sautéed peppers and onions with cheese and a little salsa mixed in with about 1/4 of the white sauce.  Load up your tortillas and put them in a greased pan.  The white sauce is 8oz sour cream, a can of cream of chicken, and a small can of chopped green chilis.  Spread the sauce on your assembled enchiladas and then generously sprinkle on some shredded cheese.  Bake at 400F for about 25 minutes until cheese is melted and starting to brown on the edges.  These are great with some salsa and avocado served with them.  This time using fajita/small flour tortillas, we had 9 enchiladas.  Kyle requests these regularly, and Myles is a huge fan as well!

The second night, I grabbed a box of Pasta-Roni angel hair pasta and herbs, roasted some cherry tomatoes and squash for 15 min on 400F with some olive oil and S&P, and threw in some more of that chicken.  Myles and I loved it, Kyle once again ate it just because that was what I fixed.  I will say that since tomatoes aren't in season, these were pretty sour despite their red color, so I wasn't as happy with them as I'd hoped I would be, and I was really wishing the whole time that I had remembered to grab some mushrooms at the store.  But for dinner done in 20 minutes, you can't really beat it.

I still have about 1/3 of the chicken left, so might toy with a chicken salad recipe today or something; have any suggestions? This would be great in a pot-pie or on nachos as well!

Want more food ideas?  I'm linking up at gatormommyreviews today so go check out the other great recipes!

currently

dreaming :  I was really upset at the idea of never seeing snow when we moved down here to the south. But now we have actually had a bit of snow several times, and I am already shocked at how much I feel annoyed by it.  So right now I am dreaming of the warmer southern weather that I thought we would have down here.  Of our neighborhood streets showing off their blooming landscapes.  Soon.  Soon there will be flowers again.

planning :  Next month is my brother and I's birthday month so since he lives halfway across the globe, I need to have his present ready like now to mail off.  He just got his Christmas present last week.  Thanks Shutterfly.  What do you get for someone that buys whatever they want, when they want it?  For me, I am toying with the idea of trying out Stitch Fix for the spring.  It sounds like an exciting little adventure to have once don't ya think? I may really need to break down and use Pinterest though for the best results.

making :  A lot of fake lattes at home.  I was getting annoyed with how much coffee grounds it takes to make just enough coffee for me to drink in the morning...and how little more it takes to make enough for 2 days worth.  So lately I have been fixing double the amount to drink regular coffee on the first day and I refrigerate the extra.  Then the next morning, since I don't really like the taste of reheated coffee alone, I throw in a generous splash/pour of milk to reheat, and top off with some homemade whipped cream and cinnamon for a fake latte extravaganza.

baking :  I made a big batch of cookies last week to enjoy during the staycation.  I figured out the best cookie dough recipe several years ago when we moved to Louisville, and it has been used over and over and over again to make white chocolate chip cookies for the residents.  This time I switched things up and did some white chocolate, white&semisweet chocolate, semisweet chocolate chip with raisins and walnuts.  Maybe I will eventually post the recipe.  Maybe.

watching :  What are we not watching?  Kyle and I have a ton of shows that we keep up with during the year, but I do have some that only I watch.  Currently I am keeping up with Arrow, The Flash, Reign, Once Upon a Time, Downton Abbey, and The Americans. 

I am once again linking up with Anne and Jenna!  Go say hi!

winter staycation 2015 recap

paint the kitchen.  explore the area.  go to IKEA.  switch television providers.  organize/rearrange kitchen cabinets.  go to the zoo as a family.  get time alone.  bake some cookies.  eat Henry's BBQ.  eat somewhere new.  get Kyle's car serviced.  get my car serviced.  go to the dentist.  get haircuts.  hang the newly framed painting.  repaint the chalkboard coffee table.  soak up family time.  

We managed to do most of what I had planned!  We ended up with 2 snow days in different parts of the week that I had never planned for, so things had to be shuffled around a bit.  Day one of our Staycation was spent with me climbing around the kitchen FINALLY getting paint on the walls.  It really makes such a huge difference and feels like such a big update.  For about $25 you really can't beat the power of paint.

Myles was able to experience real snow and he thought it was pretty cool.  He followed his dad around and picked up sticks for him.  It was all pretty awesome to him until we took his wet mittens off.  He didn't really like touching it for real.  We managed an afternoon at the zoo on day 3.  It was sunny up at our house and felt awesome so we packed light, and then when we got downtown, the clouds rolled in and it was rather frigid.  So we went fast; Myles didn't mind at all, he really thought the animals were awesome and had tons of fun getting to walk around the zoo on his own.  

Day 5 we tried a new-to-us restaurant, one that has been recommended several times and we pass it every Sunday on our way to church : Southern Culture.  Well-done southern food.  We had a difficult time ordering, everything sounded amazing.  We both want to go back to try out other things.  Kyle got the sweet-tea Salmon, and I ordered the shrimp and grits for Myles and I.  It was much spicier than I planned, but Myles LOVED it.  I can't wait to give this place another try!  

On Day 6 (the day we were supposed to get up to 10" of snow but only ended up with 2") we "explored the area" by making the 1.5 hr drive over to Charlotte, NC to hit up IKEA.  Myles had a blast!  I shopped while Kyle watched Myles explore and get into everything.  I liked that the store was split up well into breakable areas followed by more kid safe areas... Dining stuff followed up with rugs followed by lighting followed by bedding... so he had areas he could have a reprieve from the stroller and "explore" without us having to worry he would break something.

Day 7 was extra short haircuts for me and my mini-man with our favorite Miss Charla.  Day 8 was car repair for Kyle and a first birthday party for a residency friend, and Day 9 was chill at home worrying Myles might have another virus, with some last moment alone time for me.  Yay Target/Starbucks!

Sometimes a Staycation is what you really need, and man did we need it.  It really would have been a bad idea to try to go back to Kentucky with the weather being so unpredictable, and the ability to be productive and relax was something I really needed in my life at this moment.  Some things are just easier when you have your partner there to lend a hand.