Rockin the Crockpot

So it has finally turned cold here in the greater Chicagoland area.   So I love the idea of coming home to hot meal every night.  I especially like the idea of it being hot and ready when I get home from work.  If only there was an invention that would help with such a thing.  Haha..

Every week I share with you a new recipe, sometimes it's mine, sometimes it's one I've come across.  So I decided that February would be Crockpot month, featuring some new recipes to try. 

Week 1 - Beef Veggie Soup
Week 2 - Ham and Scallop Potatoes
Week 3 - Southwest Chicken
Week 4 - Loaded Baked Potato Soup
Week 5 - Chocolate Pudding Cake (you always have to finish with dessert)

Click here to check out all of my recipes of the week...

What is your favorite Crockpot recipe?

~Cyn

Sweets for your Sweets

Need a last minute treat  for the Valentine's Day treat?  Try these Peanut Butter Hearts.

These cookies could not have been easier to make.  From start to finish you will be done in less than an hour.   Here's how...

Start out with a Peanut Butter cookie mix, or if you are looking to make homemade, there is a great recipe here.  Mix up your dough, and I would recommend, popping it in the frig for about 15 minutes, just to let it set-up.  While that is setting up, pour your sprinkles into a bowl, if you don't have red sprinkles, sugar will work just as well.  Grease your baking sheets, and set your oven for 375.

This is also a good time to start unwrapping your candy.  In this recipe I used some heart shaped Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.  Other ideas, would be kisses or star shaped chocolate candies.  Start with unwrapping 24, and then unwrap as needed.

Once your dough has set-up for a few minutes, you will want to shape the dough into balls and dip the 'top' in the sprinkles.

The cookies will need about 8 minutes in the oven, but keep an eye on them, you want them browned but not burnt.

Once they come out of the oven, place the heart in the middle of the cookie while these are still hot, remove from the baking sheet right away and move to a cookie sheet.

Let cool and Enjoy!

~Cyn



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Friday Fun Day

I'm playing hookie today, okay not really I took a day of vacation for today a couple of weeks ago.  Sometimes you just need to have alittle break.  So what to do today.  So far, I'm made it to the sofa with my coffee, and now Max is on my lap and I have a feeling I'm stuck here for awhile.  In order to be productive I'm going to put together my day off to-do list.

Errands - which we all know are easier on a Friday, then Saturday morning....

Grocery Store - yuck!
Bank

At  Home

write a guest post for another website
write out some recipes
dust the living room
vacuum - everywhere
clean the microwave
clean the burner covers
clean the washing machine
catch-up on the laundry

I'm tired just thinking about it.  So for now I'm just going to sit here and finish the Lifetime movie I'm in the middle of, while Max finishes his nap on my lap.

Happy Friday Everyone!

~Cyn

#20SongsILove

Another trend I couldn't resist on Twitter...Here we go...these are in no particular order...

#20 - 'Little Moments' - Brad Paisley - this was our wedding song
#19 - 'Famous in a Small Town' - Miranda Lambert - one line
            'We've been stars of the town since we were 17' if you grew up in a small town, you get it
#18 - 'You're the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly' - Loretta Lynn & Conway Twitty - classic country
#17 - 'Are you Gonna Kiss Me or Not' - Thompson Square - sweet, just a sweet song
#16 - 'Take it on the Run' - REO Speedwagon - Frat Party. Ohio State.  Enough Said.
#15 - 'Bawitdaba' - Kid Rock - if you have seen him live you totally understand this
#14 - 'Lucille' - Kenny Rogers - reminds me of my Grandma, not because she ran out on us, but  
         because that was her name

#13 - 'Wasting Time' - Kid Rock - to quote the man himself 'it frees your mind'
#12 - 'Out Last Night' - Kenny Chesney - memories of Summerfest
#11 - 'Knee Deep' - Zac Brown Band - thoughts of what the future should be
#10 - 'Drink in My Hand' - Eric Church - guilty pleasure
#9 -   'Bless the Broken Road' - Rascal Flatts - reminds me that all the frogs were worth it for my prince
#8 -   'Only Prettier' - Miranda Lambert - everything you have ever wanted to say to snotty girls
#7 -   'Honey Bee' - Blake Shelton - great song - great video
#6  -  'Tik Tok' - Ke$ha - see #10
#5 -   'Cocky' - Kid Rock - it's great when you are in a bad mood
#4 -   'A.M. Radio' - Everclear - love to jam this when I'm driving
#3 -   'Whiskey Lullaby' - Alison Krauss & Brad Paisley - best line in country music 'She put him out,
           like the burning end of a midnight cigerette'
#2 -  'Every Rose Has it's Thorn' - Poison - because Hubby hates it when I sing it
#1 -  'You Might Think' - The Cars - stalker song. love it

What are your 20?

Enjoy
~Cyn

Product Review - Prima Pasta

We can all use alittle help now and then.  Since I had a coupon and my grocery store was running a buy one, get one free deal, I thought that I would give the sauces from Pasta Prima a try.  There was so much to choose from, they have a ton of products out there, but I decided to start with the alfredo sauce, mostly because I hate to make it from scratch, but I love it.

So I made a quick dinner of Chicken Alfredo the other night, and it was wonderful.  The sauce was thick and creamy.  I did add alittle cracked black pepper while I was heating it up, but that is more about me, then the sauce.

Pasta Prima has many different types of sauces and pastas, they are 100% natural and they are a company with a green philosophy.  The next one on the list for me is the butternut squash ravioli. Check out their website here for all the information and products. 

Enjoy!
~Cyn

When the Bride Needs a Shower

We have like a ton of weddings of this year.  I have to tell you, I'm pretty excited.  My family has even has the honor of throwing a shower for one of these weddings.  I haven't thrown a shower in a long time, so that got me thinking that maybe it's time for alittle refresher on the rules.

Who should throw one?  This is tricky, some people think that it should be the bridesmaids, some people think it should just be family.  The correct answer is either.  The shower we are planning is for my cousin, who happens to be my Mom's god daughter, so that is perfectly acceptable.  I don't think that the bride's mother (MOB) should be responsible for throwing one, she should be able to sit back and enjoy that the day along with the Bride.  Other than that, I think that almost anyone associated with the Bride can host one.

Who should you invite?  This is always hard.  Of course, anyone who is invited to the wedding is eligible.  But, you should really invite immediate family (aunts, cousins, grandmothers) and those friends who you are close to.  I also think that it's good idea to invite women that are new to your circle of friends (think the best man's new girlfriend) so that everyone can get to know each other before the wedding.

To Theme or not?  If the wedding has a theme incorporate it.  In my experience it is much easier to plan around a theme that just around colors.  If the wedding doesn't have a theme, think about giving the shower one, maybe an afternoon tea or laundry and linens.  Coordinate your invitations and decor around that theme.

What to serve?  Finger foods work the best.  Something that will not fall, when the paper plate is balanced on Grandma's lap when she is trying to make a veil out of toilet paper.  What to drink?  I would limit it to one custom drink (think champagne with raspberries) and then just cola and water.  If you have children coming, make sure you have a few drink boxes on hand.

Games?  I'm not a huge fan of games, but I think there should be at least one.  Something simple, I like '20 questions about the Bride' which helps everyone get to know her, or if you have members of the Groom's family involved, change it to '20 questions about the Happy Couple'

Just a few more things to remember...

-Invitations should be mailed, not emailed.
-You should not throw a shower for a second wedding, just plan a special girls night out instead.
-Couples showers are not fun.  Plan an engagement party instead.
-Do NOT ask you guests to address an envelope for the their thank you note, you had their address to invite them, you have their address to send a thank you.  To the Bride - you are not that busy, they took the time to shop for a gift for you, you should take the time to address an envelope.

Now you are ready, go out and plan! 

Did I miss anything?  Need help getting started?

Leave me a note below!

Later
~Cyn

SOPA

I know that everyone else took down there site, but honestly, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get it back up, so I decided not to post, but then I decided I should post something. 

So here is my quick post.  Educate yourself on SOPA, it is the beginning of a slippery slope.  Contact your Congressmen (or woman) here is where you can find them.

Later~
Cyn