Slow Cooker Thursday - Thai Chicken

It's Slow Cooker Thursday at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. I was at M's last week and jotted this one down out of one of her crock pot cookbooks (don't remember which one). Anyhow, I tried it this week and it was very tasty.

THAI CHICKEN

2.5 lbs chicken pieces***
1 c. hot salsa
1/4 c. peanut butter
2 T lime juice (approximately 1 lime)
1 T soy sauce
1 tsp minced fresh ginger

Place chicken in crock pot. Combine salsa, peanut butter, lime juice, soy sauce and ginger. Pour over chicken. Cover, cook on low 8-9 hours or on high 3-4 hours. Serve chicken over rice; sprinkle with peanuts and cilantro.



***I actually used boneless chicken thigh fillets and cooked on low 3-4 hours.

Snow, snow go away!

When we moved to Wisconsin in 2003, we were actually kind of sad that we didn't get more snow. We always pictured it as a Currier and Ives winter wonderland. Even when we moved to NE Wisconsin last year, I was surprised we didn't get more "lake effect" snow. Well, I am hereby placing everyone on notice that I AM SICK OF SNOW!!!!

Bring it on, spring!

Cheaters never win

Wow! I am so glad Kyra is a sound sleeper because there was some serious hootin' and hollerin' going on at this house last night! I can't say that I was excited at the prospect of this year's Superbowl. I think it's the least excited I've been in recent memory. Still, I held out hope that the Giants would at least make it as competitive as the final game of the season because I just flat-out don't like the Patriots and all the "undefeated season" talk was wearing on me shortly after the Colts lost to the Patriots. I think what gets to me the most is that the league turned their head to serious allegations of cheating by the Patriots. I really take issue with an organization that allows their head coach to conduct himself in such an arrogant manner. So, the Giants get the last laugh and all is right in my football universe.

Menu Plan Monday - February 4, 2008

Here's this week's edition of Menu Plan Monday

Monday: BBQ Chipotle Pork Loin (Market Day)
Tuesday: Thai Chicken
Wednesday: BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza
Thursday: Hungry Girl Crab Meat Quiche
Friday: Fajitas

But she still doesn't want to miss church!

Well, we had a fun morning - NOT! We drove to church this morning and right as we pulled into the parking lot and I turned off the car, Kyra threw up! YUCK!!!! At least she wasn't in the nursery yet! So, we turned the car around to head home yet the whole time Kyra is screaming "I WANT TO GO TO CHURCH!" While I admire her willingness to go, momsense prevailed and she came home to take a bath and get a dose of Tylenol. (Of course, I did bring her back a new VeggieTales from the church library when I went back for second service).

And lest we forget the other "player" in this drama, Ian gets a hi-5 for his commentary on the way home: "I think I'm going to breathe through my mouth now." I love that little guy!

I hope I can do that one day!

Monday through Friday, I wake up at an obscene hour (5:00 a.m.) to haul myself to the Y for some exercise. There are many days where it's just all too appealing to stay beneath the warm covers and sleep in, but I know that if I don't go, I'll end up sleeping in more than I end up working out so I press on.

Anyhow, every morning there is a group of "senior" women who arrive at the Y before I get there and are swimming laps. They then take their coffee in the women's lounge afterward and swap stories about days gone by. It's really fascinating to hear them talk.

Yesterday as I was leaving, one of these ladies was getting ready to go out to her car but it was slick so I offered to help her to her car. She was very appreciative and in the short walk to the car she told me how she had also shoveled her walks that morning. I only hope that one day when I am her age I have the wearwithall and ambition to not only get up and shovel 4 inches of snow BEFORE coming to the gym and exercising at 5:00 a.m.! Truly inspiring!

Finally! The Perfect Sugar Cookie Recipe!!!

I am the type of baker that if you put a sugar cookie recipe in front of me, I will try it because I have yet to find one that meets my picky standards. I think I've been spoiled by receiving one too many Cookies By Design bouquets in my lifetime. How are their cookies so moist and thick anyway?

Ok, back to my original point (I do actually have one). Any sugar cookie recipes I have tried just seem to end up too crispy or the dough doesn't roll out smoothly. So, I stay on my quest.

Now, prior to Ian's birthday, he asked me to make frosted sugar cookies for his classroom treat. It just so happened that sugar cookie "lollipops" were featured on the cover of this month's issue of Woman's Day magazine. So, I gave their recipe a whirl - and by golly! IT WORKS!!!

So, without further adieu:

SUPER AWESOME SUGAR COOKIES (my name, not theirs)

1 stick butter, softened
1/2 c sugar
1/4 c brown sugar, packed
1 large egg
1-1/2 tsp vanilla
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1-3/4 c flour

Beat butter and sugars in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg until blended; add vanilla, baking powder and salt. Gradually add flour and beat until just smooth. Shape dough into a disc. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour. Heat oven to 350. Roll out dough to 3/8-inch thickness. Cut out with cookie cutters. Transfer cookies to non-stick baking sheets (I used Pampered Chef Rectangle Stone). Bake 12-14 minutes until cookies are golden brown at edges. Cool on sheet about 5 minutes; transfer to cooing rack and cool completely. Roll, cut and bake remaining cookies.

MY NOTES: I really think beating the butter and sugar for 3 minutes makes a huge difference. Also, I used really big cookie cutters so I only got about 8-12 cookies per batch so you may want to double the recipe if you need more. I used a buttercream frosting recipe that I am not totally "sold" on yet so the quest for the perfect sugar cookie icing still continues on!