Can ya tell I'm trying to catch up? LOL

I sure did miss coming in here! Off and on with no internet over the year, or problems with the site. Shew, I am glad to be back!

More from Michelle (A Year of Slow Cooking) Fall Recipes

While I take a much-needed break from the computer, please enjoy this post from the archives! oxox steph

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I just got back from a pumpkin patch field trip with sixty kindergarteners. In the rain. I wish I could say that I planned ahead and plugged something in so I could happily (and maybe a bit smugly?) report that, "we came home to a hearty bowl full of wholesome goodness that warmed us right up."

oh how I wish I could say that.

But I can't. We came home instead to soggy tuna and rice cakes.

But you? You can totally plan ahead. These are fantastic fall slow cooker recipes that will keep your tummies full, your house warm and cozy, your family happy, and your budget in check.

Beverages

Holiday (non-alcoholic) Punch (although "Holiday" is in the title, I've been making this a lot. Wednesdays can totally be the new Holiday.)
Pumpkin Spice Latte (yummers)
Chai Tea Latte (I don't actually like this so much, but my mother-in-law loves it, and so do her friends.)

Appetizers

Brie with Balsamic Apricot Topping (just made this again on Saturday, and have been requested to make it on Thursday for my friend Jennifer's jewelry party. Oh! anyone want to buy jewelry? I think there might be an online form.)
Sundried Tomato Dip (one of the very first things I made during my challenge)
Cream Cheese, Sausage, and Rotel Dip (AKA Mommy Crack)
Pizza Fondue (liquid pizza)
Fancy Cheese Fondue

Main Courses

Apricot Chicken (the kids LOVE this)
Pomegranate Beef (from Karina's Kitchen, the Gluten Free Goddess. She is wonderful.)
Pizza Soup (because you need more liquid pizza)
Cowboy Stew (from Headless Mom)
Pasta Fagioli (copy cat(ish) from the Olive Garden. We eat this monthly.)
Coq au Vin (red wine for purple, white wine for not-purple)
Azorean Stew (from Sean at Hedonia)
Salsa Chicken and Black Bean Soup (I get the nicest thank you notes about this one)
Java Roast (doesn't taste like coffee. I promise.)
Chile Verde (I make this for guests. Often.)
Margarita Chicken (from Alanna, of Kitchen Parade)
Mongolian Beef (lots of ingredients, but totally worth it)
Korean Ribs (from Stefania, of City Mama)
Orange Apricot Pork Chops (a favorite with kids)
Cranberry Pork Tenderloin (my little buddy Austin's review is priceless on this one)
Asian Peanut Butter Pork (mmm. peanut butter.)
Sausage Vegetable Medley (we eat this an awful lot. super easy.)
Autumn Sausage Casserole (C. Beth reminded me to add this!)
Jamaican Pumpkin Soup (amazingly delicious)

Desserts

Cheesecake (I was crazily ecstatic at how this turned out. I think the neighbors could hear my squealing)
Crustless Pumpkin Pie (exactly what it sounds like!)
Apple Crisp (the people in the audience at GMA liked this)
Peach (or whatever fruit you'd like) Pie (I had canned peaches in the house)
Pumpkin Pie Dip (fondue-y)
5 Layer Brownies (use a small slow cooker for this, or your middle won't set)
Pound Cake (I can't believe I ate the whole thing)
Rice Krispies Treats (the kids can do this alone. while I nap. It's a good thing.)
Caramel Apples (great surprise as an after school snack)
Brownie-in-a-Mug (So. Much. Fun.)

Tomorrow night's dinner, borrowed from http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/ (A Year of Slow Cooking)

(I have fallen in LOVE with her site!!)


Ethiopian Chicken Stew (Doro Wat) Slow Cooker Recipe

I really like introducing the kids to new flavors, and when I came across Mary Ostyn's Doro Wat recipe in her WONDERFUL book,Family Feasts for $75 a Week (and this is for a family of 12!) I knew I needed to try it.

This is a wonderfully spicy stew/soup, and I'm thrilled to use some of very-neglected spice bottles in the cupboard. I highly recommend giving this a go. Be adventurous! You've only got one Friday, October 22 2010 in your life. :-)

The Ingredients.

serves 8

1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons butter

3 large onions, diced (or 3 tablespoons dried minced onion flakes)

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 tablespoon paprika

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, and more to taste if you'd like

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon ground turmeric

2 cups water

8 hard-boiled eggs (peeled, to add later)

The Directions.

Use a 6-quart slow cooker. Empty the tomato can into your cooker. Put in the chicken thighs, and add the lemon juice. Now add butter, onion, and ALL of the spices. Pour in the water. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or high for 4 to 5. Your soup is done when the onions are soft and translucent and the chicken is cooked through and begun to fall apart. Ladle into a wide-mouth bowl and place a whole hardboiled egg into each dish.

The Verdict.

What great soup. The depth of spices is really unique---you get a powerful punch of tomato and lemon at first, but then the warmth from the spices fills your whole belly. Mary says to make it authentic you should really use 1 TABLESPOON of cayenne instead of 1 teaspoon. Holy toledo, I'm too much of a wuss for that!

Thank you so much, Mary, for sharing your recipe and your wonderful book.

I'm sharing some of my favorite stock-the-freezer and meal planning ideas over at Smithfield.com. Chime in to share your favorites!

Make It Fast, Cook It Slow

by Stephanie O’Dea

• Amazon
• Borders
• Barnes & Noble
• IndieBound
• Powell's

SC Real Estate help

If you live in or around the Columbia, SC area and need two wonderful realtors, check out: http://sherer-realtors.blogspot.com/ Verdie is a Broker and use to be the manager of the Chapin Century 21 Bob Capes Realtors office in Chapin. Phil & Verdie both now work for Coldwell Banker United in Irmo. They have sold property as far up in the state as Newberry, and all the way down to the coast of Mount Pleasant. They have been in real estate for almost 40 yrs combined; that's a lot of experience! Use it to your advantage : )
Tell them Delle sent you!

What about you??

Saw this on another page but really don't want to have to fool with Linky right now, so just play if you like, or not! ; )

{one} grilled or fried?Grilled
{two} if you could change one thing about where you live, without worrying about money, what would you change?make the house bigger. It was built for my grandmother, who's long since gone, and with my son getting older (will be 14 in Feb), the house is getting smaller!
{three} what is your favorite time of day?late morning, early afternoon
{four} what’s your favorite cereal?Blueberry Miniwheats!!
{five} do you open your mouth when you put mascara on?of course!
{six} if you could make any fictional character come to life, which would it be?hmm, who would I love having follow me around because I made him/her real? ... Capt Jack Sparrow (with Johnny Depp as him of course, you can't have Jack w/o Johnny, I mean, come on!!
{seven} what are your favorite pizza toppings?I have 3 fav pizzas: 1] pepp, onion, large chunks green pepper that I can pull off (I just like the cooked-in flavor), sausage, mushrooms... 2] the old Taco Pizza from Godfather's from Idaho (I lived there for 2 yrs and loved that pizza!, even the 20-topper was awesome)... 3] there's a chicken and blackbean pizza place somewhere in Charlotte, loved it!
{eight} are you a heavy or a light sleeper?medium
{nine} what is your favorite board game?I use to love several, now I could care less. I did see the commercial last night for a new game from Cranium that I might pick up. It's about sketching.
{ten} what star/celebrity do most people say you look like?when I was a kid, I got 'Brooke Shields' because of my eyebrows. Now I get Rosie, and anyone that looks similar to her

I'm back! Ready for a cool GIVEAWAY?! : )

http://publixcouponqueen.blogspot.com/2010/10/bayberry-lace-review-giveaway.html

Chicken Quesadillas & Fiesta Rice

Chicken Quesadillas & Fiesta Rice

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 1 pound), cut into cubes
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cheddar Cheese Soup
1/2 cup Pace® Chunky Salsa
OR Pace® Picante Sauce
10 flour tortillas (8-inch), warmed
Fiesta Rice*

Heat the oven to 425°F.
Cook the chicken in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until well browned and cooked through, stirring often. Stir in the soup and salsa. Cook until the mixture is hot and bubbling.
Spread about 1/3 cup chicken mixture onto half of each tortilla to within 1/2 inch of the edge. Brush the edges of the tortillas with water. Fold the tortillas over the filling and press to seal. Place the filled tortillas onto 2 baking sheets.
Bake for 5 minutes or until the quesadillas are hot. Serve with the Fiesta Rice.

*Fiesta Rice: Heat 1 can (10 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Chicken Broth, 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup Pace® Chunky Salsa in a 1-quart saucepan over medium heat to a boil. Stir in 2 cups uncooked instant white rice. Cover the saucepan and remove from the heat. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Serving Suggestion: Serve with chocolate chip cookies.

From a flyer of Recipes for Campbell's soups, dated 1998