I’m flattered when people compliment me on how well I balance my career and motherhood. But I can’t front, it’s MAD hard. Now that Princess is eating more, she’s quick to put in her menu requests. The other night she asked me for chicken. Just a few months ago I couldn’t pay her to eat a tiny piece of poultry. Needless to say, I had to take full advantage of this and strike while the iron is hot.
As far as dinner goes, I have a pretty set schedule. I usually make Sunday dinner, which lasts until Tuesday. I’d throw something together for Wednesday and Thursday. Friday is pizza night, and Saturday we alternate. Sometimes we’ll either take Princess to our favorite family restaurant or I’d whip something up. The bad weather combined with school and work has made these last couple of weeks a bit hectic. With finals around the corner, it’s only gonna get worse. So, I have to step my cooking game up and figure out a way to save time.
I dusted off the crock pot my sis gave me. Let me preface by mentioning that I’ve never used one before, and I don’t have any recipes. In fact, I had no idea how to work this thing. To avoid burning down the house, I read the manual.
Thankfully, my hubby took the chicken out of the freezer, which meant that the bird was pretty well defrosted by the time I got home. I cleaned and washed the chicken with lemon juice and vinegar. When it came time for seasoning, I literally added all the spices from my kitchen cabinet and threw in some veggies from the fridge. I was way to tired to even think.
Here’s a quick rundown. Sorry, I didn’t include measurements.
Lawry’s Seasoning
Jamaican curry powder
Thyme
Onion
All spice
Barbeque Sauce
Black pepper
Garlic
Green Beans
Celery
Carrots
I placed everything in the crock pot, covered it, and put just the insert into the fridge overnight. All I had to do the next morning was turn that baby on high! I dropped Princess off at daycare, enjoyed a good workout, and completed a quiz for school.
This is the final product!
It took four hours to cook. Don’t let this pic fool ya! It was yummy and flavorful! I was pleased at how much I was able to get done while it cooked. This should last for at least a couple of days. Now I can get some work done. There’s no perfect balance between career and motherhood. But, I do what I can to make it work.
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| Princess loved the chicken, but passed on the veggies |
Have you ever used a crock pot? Got any recipes you wanna share? Hit me up!
Weather Anchor Mama
Never, but will definitely try it out! It actually looks yoummy, and that smile on Princesses face says it all. 🙂
Yums! I have had a crockpot for 5 yrs and never used it………………….sigh
That looks absolutely amazing! Now I’m craving some stew!!
I’m a huge crock pot fan! I’ve used it since I was single just to save time and money. I have a much larger one now that I have a family and love America’s Test Kitchen’s weeknight chili recipe. We do pulled pork, Japanese stew in it as well as Thai dishes (we like to try recipes from the crock pot mini-mags at the grocery store check-out!).
It’s great! That’s what I’m having for dinner tonight with some rice.
I know what you mean. Every time I plan to use it, something would come up.
Thanks! Now I’m trying to figure out some more recipes to try now. Got any ideas?
I gotta try that! Thanks! Thing is… We don’t eat beef. I’m not anti pork, but don’t really eat that either. I gotta try and find other recipe ideas though.
My crock pot is my best friend!!! Now that I’m back in school it makes a huge difference between turkey sandwiches and a hot meal for dinner. You should try oxtails. Cam LOVESSSSSS them and they fall right off the bone. I’m not a fan of cooking chicken in it because I find it comes out rubbery but stews, chilli’s, and pretty much anything with red meat comes out great!!
Really? I’m not a red meat fan. But Paul does like Oxtail though. Maybe I’ll try that. Any other non-meat ideas?
I didn’t know you’re back in school. What are you studying?
You can do mac and cheese and bean stews too. Check out this site: http://www.365daysofcrockpot.com
I use mine faithfully, more so in the colder seasons. I’ve made ribs, pork chops, chicken, chicken noodle soup, beef stew, and I even baked a cake in it lol.
What?! I didn’t know you can bake a cake? How long would that take?
This is one of the crock pot recipes on my blog. Check out previous blog posts to find more at http://bkwilliams-catskidsandcrafts.blogspot.com/
CROCK POT PORK LOIN
Center Cut Boneless Pork Loin 4.26 lbs. at $1.99 per pound was $8.68
Frozen Orange Juice (small can) was .88 cents
2 White Onions .67 cents
Honey 6 ounces approx. $1.00
4 Sweet Potatoes/Yams medium size 2.68 lbs. at $1.19 per pound was $3.19
1/2 teaspoon salt
—————————–Total with tax was $15.69 or $2.62 per person for 6 servings
Peel and cut onions into 4 pieces put in the bottom of the crock pot
Put pork loin on top of onions
Wash and cut the ends off the sweet potatoes, cut in 4 pieces each, put around top of pork
Salt
Mix equal parts partially thawed frozen orange juice and honey drizzle over pork and potatoes
Turn crock pot on high and cook for 8 hours and it will be fork tender
this recipe looks and sounds delicious! love that picture of Princess at the end too! my blogger profile photo is of my Skyler from Thanksgiving in almost the exact same pose, and similar expression too! haha