3 Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

What an amazing long weekend! 

In case you missed my feature post on The Vanilla Tulip, I shared a great appetizer just in time for the Super Bowl :-) 

With school starting back up tomorrow, a quick, easy and healthy dinner is the perfect item to add to your weekly meal plan. A one minute prep time is pretty awesome too! 

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Servings: 4

1 can Green chiles, diced

1 jar salsa, (about 12 oz) 

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 whole onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs 

Place chicken in the bowl of a slow cooker. Top with salsa, diced green chiles, cumin, onion and garlic. Cover and set on low. Cook for 8 hours. Remove chicken from pot, shred and return to juices. Spoon chicken into taco shells, with whatever toppings your family likes. Or use the meat to make burritos, tostadas or as a filling for enchiladas. 

Disney Family

14 Overnight Chicken Stock in the Crock Pot

Yesterday I shared a recipe for a whole chicken in the crock pot! :-) After I finished eating/freezing the meat from the chicken, I kept all of the skin, bones, and broth in the crock pot and cooked it overnight. The next morning, I had an amazing amount of homemade chicken stock! 

I froze the stock in 2 cup bags and anytime I need chicken stock I have plenty in the freezer! 

Overnight Chicken Stock in the Crock Pot

Leftover chicken bones or carcass roughly equivalent to one small or medium sized chicken
1 onion, peeled and loosely chopped
1 rib of celery, roughly chopped
1 carrot, roughly chopped (no need to peel)
1 bay leaf
1 sprig fresh parsley
1 sprig fresh thyme
Salt, to taste
(I didn't have any of the ingredients except for the Whole Chicken in a Crock Pot ingredients and the stock turned out wonderful. So don't worry if you don't have carrots and celery) 

After removing all edible meat from the chicken put/leave the bones, skin, cooking juices, etc. in the crock pot. If you are using the chicken carcass from the “The Best Whole Chicken in the Crock Pot” recipe just leave every single thing that’s leftover (except the meat) in the crock pot including the original onion and spices you used when making the chicken.
Add the onion, celery, carrot and spices on top of the bones and fill the crock pot almost to the top with tap water (leaving about ½” at the top).(I put 10 cups of water for around 6-8 cups of left over chicken bones, pieces and juice) Cook on low for 8 – 10 hours. After the stock is done cooking turn off the heat and, using a soup ladle, pass the stock through a fine sieve to remove all herbs/bones/etc. Either refrigerate or freeze the stock for future use.

100 Days of Real Food 

9 The Best Whole Chicken in a Crock Pot and a "Healthy" Linky Party

Happy "Healthy" linky party day!! :-) 

Link up with recipes, workouts, success stories, and ideas for staying on track with your New Years resolutions:-) When you link up on Elizabeth Ann's Recipe Box, your link is immediately seen on the other hostess' blogs too! :-) It is a wonderful way to discover new blogs and to share great recipes and other healthy ideas! :-) 

Here are the hostesses! :-) 

Meg from Henning Love

Allison from Cupcake Diaries

Whitney from Harvest Home!

I can't wait to see all of your ideas! :-) 

Today, I'm sharing how to make a whole chicken in the slow cooker. This is so easy to prep and a short while later, the chicken is literally falling apart, is full of flavor and is AMAZING! 

One thing that I do is serve chicken for dinner the night that I make it and then freeze the rest for later use! 

Come back tomorrow to see how I make chicken stock with the leftovers! 

The Best Whole Chicken in a Crock Pot

2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon thyme
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon cayenne (red) pepper
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 onion
1 large chicken
Combine the dried spices in a small bowl.
Loosely chop the onion and place it in the bottom of the slow cooker.
Remove any giblets from the chicken and then rub the spice mixture all over. You can even put some of the spices inside the cavity and under the skin covering the breasts.
Put prepared chicken on top of the onions in the slow cooker, cover it, and turn it on to high. There is no need to add any liquid.
Cook for 4 – 5 hours (for a 3 or 4 pound chicken) or until the chicken is falling off the bone. 
100 Days of Real Food

5 Santa Fe Salad with Chili Lime Dressing

Tomorrow some of my 'blogger' friends and I are hosting a "Healthy" linky party! :-) Link up with recipes, workouts, success stories, and ideas for staying on track with your New Years resolutions:-) When you link up on Elizabeth Ann's Recipe Box, your link is immediately seen on the other hostess' blogs too! :-) It is a wonderful way to discover new blogs and to share great recipes and other healthy ideas! :-) 

Here are the hostesses! :-) 

Meg from Henning Love

Allison from Cupcake Diaries

Whitney from Harvest Home!

I can't wait to see all of your ideas! :-) 

In the spirit of healthy eating, here is a wonderful Weight Watchers salad! 

{I didn't make the dressing but it sounds amazing!} 

Santa Fe Salad with Chili Lime Dressing
6 Tbsp reduced-calorie mayonnaise
3 Tbsp cilantro, fresh, finely chopped
3 Tbsp water 
1 medium uncooked scallion(s), minced 
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tsp sugar 
1/2 tsp chili powder  
15 oz canned black beans, rinsed and drained  
1 1/2 cup(s) cooked corn kernels, fresh or frozen  
2 cup(s) grape tomatoes   
1 medium sweet red pepper(s), cut into thin strips (about 1 1/2 cups) 
8 cup(s) romaine lettuce, cut into thick shreds (about 2 hearts) 
To make dressing, in a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, cilantro, water, scallion, lime juice, sugar and chili powder until smooth. Transfer to a jar or a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate until ready to use. In a large bowl or food storage container, layer remaining ingredients in order listed; cover and refrigerate.To serve, spoon salad ingredients into a bowl. Shake dressing and then drizzle dressing over salad; toss well to coat. Yields about 2 cups of salad and 1 1/2 tablespoons of dressing per serving.

Weight Watchers 

1 Hoots and Salutes

{if you aren't familiar with Hoots and Salutes, trust me, it is a good thing}

I have amazingly talented friends.
And I am over the top proud of them.  .  . 

so, today I wanted to introduce you to a few!
Maybe you will add a couple of necklaces to your wish list, discover a piece of art, or find a new fashion inspiration.
Either way, in know you will be amazed! :-)

{art}

My precious little in Kappa, Sally Taylor, is one of the most talented artists that I know. Nate and I would love to have a piece of her artwork in our home one day. Sally is a native of Dallas and has studied in Texas, New Mexico and Italy. 

Casey Wiegand and I went to Baylor and Kanakuk together and she is another incredible artist. I am so  lucky to have a original piece that she made for me last year. Casey is incredibly beautiful on the inside and out and her humility and love of Christ draws others to her!  

Miller Gaffney, another Baylor Kappa, is a world renowned art advisor and is currently on Market Warriors on PBS, Monday evenings at 9. Her upbeat personality and sweet spirit makes her a joy to be around. 

{jewelry design}

Jennifer Welker and I have known each other since she was born! A former Texas cheerleader turned jewelry designer and mom of two, Jennifer's charms have graced the necks of Jenna Bush and Pippa Middleton. Jennifer not only has a flare for jewelry but also for fashion and looks like a million bucks every time she walks out of the house! :-) 

Cannon Lewis and my grandmothers were friends but we didn't meet until she got to Baylor and went Kappa! Her beautiful designs have been seen on Reese Witherspoon and Louise Roe. Cannon is widely talented and I love her choice of precious stones to go in each piece. 

{photography}

Summer Spooner and I were also Baylor Kappas together and she is a highly sought after photographer in Dallas. She books up months in advance and is especially known for her newborn pictures. Summer's laid back nature gives her clients such a peace and makes the entire experience so enjoyable! :-)

Sarah Snider and I were cheerleaders together in high school and close friends! She is based in Houston and her photography business covers newborns, families, weddings, and anything in between! Sarah has such a fun and upbeat personality, she has literally never met a stranger! :-) 

{fashion}

Caroline Knapp's husband and I went to high school together and he was one of my favorite guys in his grade! :-) When I met Caroline, I was immediately drawn to her sweet, southern demeanor. But this southerner has taken NYC by storm. Caroline's extremely popular fashion blog has led her to rub elbows with David Yurman and Nate Berkus!

{party planing} 

Christi Bennett and I have known each other since kindergarten! From her wedding to just a simple Stella and Dot open house, you know that if Christi has a hand in it, the party is going to be incredible! Christi also has a flair for fashion, is beautiful and always looks so put together!

Are you amazed?
Next weekend I'll share some more friends that constantly awe me with their talent! :-)
Happy Saturday! :-) 

9 How to Lead a More Organized Life

I had a sweet friend ask me last week, "How do you do it all?"

{Isn't it incredible to hear other people's view of your own life?}
I have friends like Casey and Jennifer who really do 'do it all' . . .
but me. . . I'm just normal. .
After realizing my friend was being serious, I thought others might want some ideas on how to make your life more organized . . .
or at least life in the kitchen! :-)

1. Wake up early

I wake up early (like 5 am early) on most days. In the mornings, I love to have my quiet time, drink my coffee, make breakfast, start writing or post my blog for the day, read a couple of blogs, answer emails, and get dinner started if I'm making a crock pot meal.

2. Make a list of things you want to get done today! 

Make a list of what you want to accomplish today. (or for you night owls, make a list the night before) Plan when you are going to workout, run your errands, start dinner, etc.

3. Make meals easier! 

Spend a Saturday making a couple freezer meals and that way, if you do have hectic day, you can just throw one in the crock pot. And use your crock pot. A couple of minutes of prep time and dinner is ready 8 hours later!

4. Use a meal plan 
Once a week decide what you are going to make/pick up for dinner each night. Make a store list from your meal plan and go to the store once a week. Having an organized kitchen is imperative! Making a store list is always so much easier when you can see what you already have and what you need!

5. Give yourself grace.  
You aren't perfect. Some days you will fail.
But tomorrow is always another day :-) 

3 Clean Eating Herb Baked Butternut Squash

Although I miss the yummy fruits of spring and summer, I always enjoy the change in our meals to incorporate winter fruits and vegetables! 

Butternut squash is one of those fun winter vegetables that you can do so much with! 

(Just do a Pinterest search for butternut squash recipes and you will see all of the options! It is incredible) 

I recently started following The Gracious Pantry and tried her take on baked butternut squash! 

Not only was it healthy, the squash was flavorful and delicious! 

Clean Eating Herb Baked Butternut Squash 
1 butternut squash 

Olive oil
Garlic powder
Marjoram
Parsley
Onion Powder
Salt and Pepper to taste
Cut the squash in half. Clean out the seeds, peel and slice to chunks. Put chunks in a bowl and then sprinkle herbs and spices on top. Using your hand, toss the squash so that each piece is covered with herbs. Spray Pam or pour some olive oil on a cookie sheet. Dump the squash onto the cookie sheet and spread out until the squash is in a single layer. Bake at 350 until soft (around 30 minutes.)
The Gracious Pantry