Sweet 'n Sour Chicken Over Rice

If I make light recipes for dinner, does that mean I can eat all the cheesecake and ice-cream I want???? No? Well, that sucks!

We tried this recipe the other night. I love crockpot recipes on nights when my little guy has karate. When I got home, all I had to do was cook the rice. Easy! We all liked it too! It's another light recipe from "Fix It and Forget It, Lightly".

If you want light, but don't want to sacrifice taste, give this a try.

Sweet 'n Sour Chicken Over Rice
Makes 6 servings

1 lb. baby carrots

1 medium onion, cut into wedges

6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

20-oz. can unsweetened pineapple chunks

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 Tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce

2 tsp. chicken bouillon granules

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

3 Tbsp. cornstarch

1/4 cup water

3 cups cooked long grain enriched rice.


1. Layer carrots and onion in slow cooker. Top with chicken.

2. Drain pineapple, reserving juice. Place pineapple chunks over chicken.

3. Mix together pineapple juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, chicken bouillon, salt, ginger, and garlic. Pour over top.

4. Cook on low 6-7 hours.

5. Combine cornstarch and water. Gradually stir into slow cooker.

6. Cook 30 minutes longer or until sauce is thickened.

7. Serve over rice.

Enjoy!

Macaroni and Cheddar Cheese in the Crockpot

 

 

I've been trying to cook our family some healthier dishes lately.  Eating light does not have to be boring.  I promise!  I'm not saying I'm going to get all boring on you.  I'm still going to make some sinful recipes.  I'm just going to add some light into the mix!

Last night's dinner was BLT's with turkey bacon.  I decided to try a new mac and cheese recipe in the crockpot.  It was really good!  It was so much easier than my usual mac and cheese recipe too.  We had Karate graduation last night so this was the perfect quick meal.

I got this recipe from "Fix it and Forget it Lightly".  There are a lot of great recipes in this book.  I do recommend it!

Macaroni and Cheddar Cheese

2 1/2 cups fat-free or 2% milk
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp. salt
dash of pepper
3 cups low-fat cheddar cheese, shredded or cubed
8-oz. pkg. macaroni, cooked al dente

1.  Combine all ingredients except macaroni in slow cooker.

2.  Cook on high for 1 hour.

3.  Add macaroni.  Cook on low 4 more hours.

I do have to say, my crockpot runs very hot and I didn't have to cook the macaroni for four hours.  It was more like two. 

Enjoy!

Cookin' with the Deens

A couple of years ago, I had started an online cooking club called My Girl Paula.  Life got busy and I had to stop the club, but I've decided to start up something new.  It's called Cookin' with the Deens.

Check it out!  I think it will be a lot of fun.

S'mores Croissants

It has been quite a while since I have blogged here.  I have been busy with lots of other things, so my poor blog went on the back burner.  I'm pleased to say, I'm am back in my happy place.  I love blogging.  And I have missed seeing the goings-ons with my bloggy friends.

I have had tons of Pinterest recipes I have wanted to try.  These S'mores Croissants were one of them.  I figured since they were quick and easy, I would get my little boy to do them with me.  If you have a "little", I would suggest having them help you with these.  Was lots of fun!

All you need are a can of cresent rolls, marshmallows and some chocolate chips.  TIP:  I would use more marshmallows and chocolate chips than it shows in our pictures.  Okay....so I know they might leak a little more, but we could hardly taste the marshmallows.  Nevertheless, they were YUMMY!

Leave me a little note and let me know if you try these. ;-)

Enjoy!

Napolean Cake for Food Around the World

 

 

This month's Food Around the World theme was France.  It was actually my suggestion.  All I could think about was French Pastries!  Yum!

I decided to go with this Napolean cake recipe.  It's not really a cake per se, it's more like a Napoleon!!  I used the concept of the recipe from Foodista.  I say I used the concept, I mean I really didn't use all of the recipe.  I decided to go with The Cake Boss's recipe for pastry cream.  I had never tried it before so I was happy I had the excuse to. 

Let me tell you......THIS......THIS......is THE best pastry cream I have ever had.  And it really did taste just like a Napoleon.  My husband was a little disappointed it didn't have the vanilla/chocolate fancy schmancy design on the top so I think I will do that next time.  But trust me....you don't need it.  It's fine like this. 

If you would like to see what everyone else made, take a visit to Food Around the World blog, hosted by Kelly!

Penne A La Betsy - Pioneer Woman

I have really been on a Pioneer Woman kick.  I have her first cookbook, The Pioneer Woman Cooks.  But I just bought the newer one, Food From My Frontier.  Can I just tell you that I love all of her recipes.  They are so simple and delicious.  I am never disappointed.

When I made her recipe for Penne A La Betsy, it was no different.  We loved it!  Especially my husband who loves anything shrimp.  It is easy to put together and yumeeeeee! 
If you would like to try it, the recipe is also on her site, but I got it from Cookbook #1.  I highly recommend purchasing both of her cookbooks.  The pictures are beautiful.

What I've Been Up To

So let's see...in the past couple of years I was an oral surgery receptionist, a nursing student, an oral surgery receptionist again and now I have decided to do what I love.  Can you say mid-life crisis?  Except I'm not really in mid-life.  I'm only 40. 

I have been decorating cakes for over 12 years and finally decided to make it a business.  Florida had enacted the Florida Food Cottage Act which enabled me to do this.  I have been getting about two orders a week so far and loving it.

My official website is www.alwayzmakincake.weebly.com.

Let me know what you think!