OK Canadians!
If you still have turkey dinner leftovers in your fridge, this is your warning. You want to finish up what you can for dinner tonight and then freeze or throw out the rest. Tomorrow is officially cootie-ville! :)
I had turkey dinner leftovers for lunch, and we'll be having some more for dinner. I've asked my husband to 'do' the turkey today (get the meat off the bones) and I'll be starting bone broth in the crock cooker when he's done and chopping the meat and freezing in baggies for other meals.
Thank you for joining me, and I hope I can help you! It really is fun to be a Homemaking Diva!!
Love,
Valerie :D
Please comment or send your questions to me on the Homemaking Diva Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/HomemakingDiva or by email at homemakingdiva@hotmail.com
Showing posts with label crock cooker tip. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crock cooker tip. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Countdown to the Holidays - Are you Ready?
Well, tomorrow is Turkey Day for me. Doing what I can now to make tomorrow easier.
I made the marshmallow salad (family tradition, NEEDS to be made 1 day ahead) and the white bean dip (from Saving Dinner, CAN be made a day ahead), I also chopped up a large cucumber, carrot, some celery, and a yellow bell pepper, and put them in a large zipplerware (ziploc + tupperware = zipplerware) container covered in water in the fridge. They're for dipping in the white bean dip, I'll fish them out with a slotted spoon tomorrow :)
That's three things ready and done. I also washed all the dishes and did a 15 minute tidy. Now I can relax, play with my sewing stuff, read, and hang out with my husband. (Which are great things to do on a holiday weekend!)
Tomorrow, I'm making the garlic smashed red potatoes in the morning, and having them on keep warm in my crock cooker all day (with a little butter over the top). Plus I'll cut my bread for stuffing before we leave to pick up my in-laws.
Sometime around noon will be time to preheat the oven, make the stuffing, and prep the bird. When the turkey's halfway done (or so) I'll make the pumpkin pie and pop it in the oven, too.
Gravy and the green beans are the only things that'll need to be done last-minute and they're both pretty easy.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you for joining me, and I hope I can help you! It really is fun to be a Homemaking Diva!!
Love,
Valerie :D
Please comment or send your questions to me on the Homemaking Diva Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/HomemakingDiva or by email at homemakingdiva@hotmail.com
I made the marshmallow salad (family tradition, NEEDS to be made 1 day ahead) and the white bean dip (from Saving Dinner, CAN be made a day ahead), I also chopped up a large cucumber, carrot, some celery, and a yellow bell pepper, and put them in a large zipplerware (ziploc + tupperware = zipplerware) container covered in water in the fridge. They're for dipping in the white bean dip, I'll fish them out with a slotted spoon tomorrow :)
That's three things ready and done. I also washed all the dishes and did a 15 minute tidy. Now I can relax, play with my sewing stuff, read, and hang out with my husband. (Which are great things to do on a holiday weekend!)
Tomorrow, I'm making the garlic smashed red potatoes in the morning, and having them on keep warm in my crock cooker all day (with a little butter over the top). Plus I'll cut my bread for stuffing before we leave to pick up my in-laws.
Sometime around noon will be time to preheat the oven, make the stuffing, and prep the bird. When the turkey's halfway done (or so) I'll make the pumpkin pie and pop it in the oven, too.
Gravy and the green beans are the only things that'll need to be done last-minute and they're both pretty easy.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you for joining me, and I hope I can help you! It really is fun to be a Homemaking Diva!!
Love,
Valerie :D
Please comment or send your questions to me on the Homemaking Diva Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/HomemakingDiva or by email at homemakingdiva@hotmail.com
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Countdown to the Holidays! Planning for Sanity
Thanksgiving is going to be here soon, so I'm doing my best to be prepared. Hopefully by the time you read this, I will have purchased my turkeys. I am bound and determined to find some at a good price, so I will be going to Walmart for a THIRD time, first thing at opening this morning (I'm writing this last night). You'd think Walmart would realize that they should stock up on items that are on at a really good price; I mean, if you keep running out of the turkeys that are on sale, maybe you should start ordering MORE?? Maybe?
Sorry. Rant over :)
I did sit down and finalize my Thanksgiving menu and update my planner page.
My favorite trick (and one you'll love too!) is to make the mashed potatoes (whatever kind you like at your place) EARLY. Then put it in the crock cooker with a little butter over the top on 'keep warm' until dinnertime. One less thing to do later. Just be sure to test run your crock pot first (you can make a potato chowder if you want afterwards) you don't want scorched potatoes on the big day! I got that tip from Leanne Ely who got it from Flylady.
I've got a few things to do each day from Thursday to Monday (including tidying the house in babysteps) so I'm not doing everything at once. Sounds like a plan to me!
Thank you for joining me, and I hope I can help you! It really is fun to be a Homemaking Diva!!
Love,
Valerie :D
Please comment or send your questions to me at homemakingdiva@hotmail.com
Sorry. Rant over :)
I did sit down and finalize my Thanksgiving menu and update my planner page.
- White Bean Dip and Veggies
- Turkey
- Stuffing
- Gravy
- Garlicky Smashed Red Potatoes
- Nutmeg Green Beans
- Marshmallow Salad (family tradition)
- Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Cream
My favorite trick (and one you'll love too!) is to make the mashed potatoes (whatever kind you like at your place) EARLY. Then put it in the crock cooker with a little butter over the top on 'keep warm' until dinnertime. One less thing to do later. Just be sure to test run your crock pot first (you can make a potato chowder if you want afterwards) you don't want scorched potatoes on the big day! I got that tip from Leanne Ely who got it from Flylady.
I've got a few things to do each day from Thursday to Monday (including tidying the house in babysteps) so I'm not doing everything at once. Sounds like a plan to me!
Thank you for joining me, and I hope I can help you! It really is fun to be a Homemaking Diva!!
Love,
Valerie :D
Please comment or send your questions to me at homemakingdiva@hotmail.com
Friday, December 23, 2011
Almost Christmas!
OK people, it's the day before Christmas Eve!
Challenge #1: This is the LAST day that you WANT to do any shopping, so triple-check your fridge against your list (if you don't have a list, you want a basic plan/idea of what you will eat from now until at least breakfast on the 27th). And check your presents if they're not done and get going! You want to enjoy Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day with family. Besides, many places will be closed, have weird hours, or be packed because they're the only ones open.
Challenge #2: Take something OFF your list! Make one less side for Christmas dinner, do one less activity, clean one less area (just close that door). YOU need enjoy Christmas also :)
Challenge #3: Pre-prep! What can you do today so you don't have to do tomorrow? What can you do tomorrow that you don't have to do Christmas Day? What can you do in the morning so you don't have to do right as Christmas Dinner is being served?
I have most of my wrapping done, just the gifts for my nieces and nephews left, but they're for the 2nd, and I HAVE the gifts. I'm hosting Christmas Dinner with my in-laws Christmas Eve. I'm making Saving Dinner's white bean dip today and one of my sides today. I'm going to make the mashed potatoes in the MORNING and put them in the crock cooker with a little butter over the top on 'keep warm' (this is a FABULOUS tip, but you really should TEST your crock before you try this for a meal, different crocks have different temperatures and as Leanne Ely says: 'Your mileage may vary' you don't want them to scorch). I'm also going to arrange my 'goodie tray' while the potatoes are boiling (and stick it covered in the garage).
So that means I'll only have one SIMPLE side to make while the turkey is 'resting' and I'm making the gravy :)
Saving Dinner's Christmas Morning Strata has become a tradition for us. (I usually half the recipe because we're only 2 people and then we eat it for a few days - love the toaster oven for re-heats!) It's super-good, decadent but easy AND you prep it the night before, and just pull it out of the fridge and bake in the morning! LOVE that!
Here's to a less stressful time! Merry Christmas!
So anyway, thank you for joining me, and I hope I can help you! It really is fun to be a Homemaking Diva!!
Please comment or send your questions to me at homemakingdiva@hotmail.com
Have great day!
Valerie :D
Challenge #1: This is the LAST day that you WANT to do any shopping, so triple-check your fridge against your list (if you don't have a list, you want a basic plan/idea of what you will eat from now until at least breakfast on the 27th). And check your presents if they're not done and get going! You want to enjoy Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day with family. Besides, many places will be closed, have weird hours, or be packed because they're the only ones open.
Challenge #2: Take something OFF your list! Make one less side for Christmas dinner, do one less activity, clean one less area (just close that door). YOU need enjoy Christmas also :)
Challenge #3: Pre-prep! What can you do today so you don't have to do tomorrow? What can you do tomorrow that you don't have to do Christmas Day? What can you do in the morning so you don't have to do right as Christmas Dinner is being served?
I have most of my wrapping done, just the gifts for my nieces and nephews left, but they're for the 2nd, and I HAVE the gifts. I'm hosting Christmas Dinner with my in-laws Christmas Eve. I'm making Saving Dinner's white bean dip today and one of my sides today. I'm going to make the mashed potatoes in the MORNING and put them in the crock cooker with a little butter over the top on 'keep warm' (this is a FABULOUS tip, but you really should TEST your crock before you try this for a meal, different crocks have different temperatures and as Leanne Ely says: 'Your mileage may vary' you don't want them to scorch). I'm also going to arrange my 'goodie tray' while the potatoes are boiling (and stick it covered in the garage).
So that means I'll only have one SIMPLE side to make while the turkey is 'resting' and I'm making the gravy :)
Saving Dinner's Christmas Morning Strata has become a tradition for us. (I usually half the recipe because we're only 2 people and then we eat it for a few days - love the toaster oven for re-heats!) It's super-good, decadent but easy AND you prep it the night before, and just pull it out of the fridge and bake in the morning! LOVE that!
Here's to a less stressful time! Merry Christmas!
So anyway, thank you for joining me, and I hope I can help you! It really is fun to be a Homemaking Diva!!
Please comment or send your questions to me at homemakingdiva@hotmail.com
Have great day!
Valerie :D
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Losing It With Leanne Challenge Day 5
I'm using that crock cooker!! On tonight's menu is shredded beef. MmmmMMMmmm!! Man, it was easy and delicious! I was a little wary because it called for soy sauce and I don't like soy sauce (and of course I forgot the tip to substitute Worcestershire sauce until I'd already put the soy sauce in, so I used both) but man, oh man! I never should have doubted Leanne! It was fabulous!! I'm eating great and I'm on a diet!! - Go figure!
I did my meat trick that I mentioned in Day 1 of the Challenge I had an almost 3 pound roast, but I only needed 2 pounds for this recipe, but later I'm going to be making another beef recipe that calls for 3/4 pounds, so I cut a little less than a third off the roast for the other recipe, trimmed the fat like I was supposed to and, since I was a 'gicky' anyway with touching all the raw meat and having a 'contaminated' knife and cutting board, I cut the extra third of the roast into the 1-inch cubes that that recipe calls for. When I'm ready for that one, I'll only have to dump the meat out of the bag, I won't even have to touch it! :D
OK, here's a Crock Cooker tip for you: Get your manual and look up this statistic for YOUR slow cooker! My crock cooker's temperature settings are such that 1 hour on high equals 2 hours on low. What does that mean? Well, I was running a little late and I put the roast on at 7, and I was going to need it for 12, but the recipe calls for 6 hours on low, but I only had 5 hours.... so, for one hour in the middle of cooking, I turned it up to high, then turned it back down to low to finish. Then I could take an hour off the timer, because that hour on high did twice the work! Now, unless you have a recipe that has times for low and high, you won't want to change the temperature for too long. This dish was 'designed' to be cooked on low, so if I had cooked it for 3 hours on high, it might not have turned out so nice... Just sayin'. So go look up what the stats are for your crock and the next time you get your cooker turned on a little late, you won't have to sweat it! (And if you don't know where your manual is, google it!)
I didn't do my wii exercises, but I did do another coat of paint in DH's office, and that totally counts.
Oh! I totally got my sides backwards this week. I should know better. You're supposed to cook your sides in the order they'll go bad, and I did it completely backwards! LOL. (Squash and Brussels sprouts last longer than lettuce and spinach.) Oh well. My Romaine is in pretty sad shape, but everything else is holding up OK. I'm gonna be having salads as my sides for the next bit though.
So anyway, thank you for joining me, and I hope I can help you! It really is fun to be a Homemaking Diva!!
Please comment or send your questions to me at homemakingdiva@hotmail.com
Have great day!
Valerie :D
I did my meat trick that I mentioned in Day 1 of the Challenge I had an almost 3 pound roast, but I only needed 2 pounds for this recipe, but later I'm going to be making another beef recipe that calls for 3/4 pounds, so I cut a little less than a third off the roast for the other recipe, trimmed the fat like I was supposed to and, since I was a 'gicky' anyway with touching all the raw meat and having a 'contaminated' knife and cutting board, I cut the extra third of the roast into the 1-inch cubes that that recipe calls for. When I'm ready for that one, I'll only have to dump the meat out of the bag, I won't even have to touch it! :D
OK, here's a Crock Cooker tip for you: Get your manual and look up this statistic for YOUR slow cooker! My crock cooker's temperature settings are such that 1 hour on high equals 2 hours on low. What does that mean? Well, I was running a little late and I put the roast on at 7, and I was going to need it for 12, but the recipe calls for 6 hours on low, but I only had 5 hours.... so, for one hour in the middle of cooking, I turned it up to high, then turned it back down to low to finish. Then I could take an hour off the timer, because that hour on high did twice the work! Now, unless you have a recipe that has times for low and high, you won't want to change the temperature for too long. This dish was 'designed' to be cooked on low, so if I had cooked it for 3 hours on high, it might not have turned out so nice... Just sayin'. So go look up what the stats are for your crock and the next time you get your cooker turned on a little late, you won't have to sweat it! (And if you don't know where your manual is, google it!)
I didn't do my wii exercises, but I did do another coat of paint in DH's office, and that totally counts.
Oh! I totally got my sides backwards this week. I should know better. You're supposed to cook your sides in the order they'll go bad, and I did it completely backwards! LOL. (Squash and Brussels sprouts last longer than lettuce and spinach.) Oh well. My Romaine is in pretty sad shape, but everything else is holding up OK. I'm gonna be having salads as my sides for the next bit though.
So anyway, thank you for joining me, and I hope I can help you! It really is fun to be a Homemaking Diva!!
Please comment or send your questions to me at homemakingdiva@hotmail.com
Have great day!
Valerie :D
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