MarytheKaytheBlog

From Freezer to Crockpot to Table: Easy Dinners!

I just love when I stumble onto a brilliant idea.  Which...come to think of it...is how I EVER have a brilliant idea:  By accident.

Here's how I stumbled onto this one:  I participated in a frozen dinner co-op recently, and have a freezer full of lovely frozen entrees.  However, more often than not, I found myself not using the entrees...  Why do you think I wasn't using them?  Because I always forgot to thaw them out! 

The other day I knew I would be away from the house for several hours, but needed a hot dinner as soon as we got home from soccer practice.  I peered into my freezer full of magical frozen entrees, and WISHED I had something to put into the crockpot.  I didn't know how I was going to cook a completely frozen dinner, when I was planning to be away from the house for several hours.

A-ha!  *Cue the brilliant idea music...*  I spotted a round casserole dish, and wondered if the round shape would fit into my oblong crockpot...

They sure look like a fit...  I took the completely frozen baked spaghetti casserole, and pulled it away from its foil container. 

I was amazed at how easily it pulled away from the sides, and out of the container.

Voilà!  Frozen dinner on hand.  Literally.  Get it?  Hardy har har.

Ah, a beautiful sight to behold!  It fits perfectly!  There is some empty space on the oblong ends--but it fits nicely right into the middle.

I did add 1/2 cup of water--I poured it right on top--just in case my casserole wasn't moist enough.  (I know how you girls LOVE that word.)  I put on the lid, and set my crockpot to LOW.

I was shocked that my casserole was completely thawed, and heated up within 3 hours.  That still seems impossible to me--but I promise that is how long it took on Low.  This is exactly how it looked after 3 hours. 

It just needs a little stirring, don't you think?

Ta-Da!  All done!  From freezer...to crockpot...to table...all within 3 hours.  Unbelievable!

What did I learn from this experiment? 

Always buy the ROUND FOIL CASSEROLE PANS to freeze my dinners.  That way, I have the option to cook it in the oven--or, more likely--pop it out of the container and into the crockpot!

 

What shape is your crockpot?  Do you see yourself using this idea?

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Our Weekend in Review: Soccer, Family, and a Movie

We started our weekend with a gorgeous day, and Sara Beth's lively soccer game.   Yes, that's our "little" giant there...#6.

I couldn't get enough of watching the girls on the team play.  Now, I admit that I don't know a whole lot about soccer (yet), but the girls on this team are unstoppable.  Well...as unstoppable as 1st graders can be.  These girls get in there, and take control of the ball.

There they are--a trio of girly fierceness.  (Sorry, that probably makes no sense whatsoever... )

Looks like these girls are planning their next play...

Sara Beth had her own personal paparazzi.  That's her big sister, and 2 cousins crowding around the bench.

Ah, and here's the cutest paparazzi cheering her on to victory!  Or...maybe...he's just calling the Razorbacks...  Either way, he's CUTE.

Here's the family that gathered to watch the Lightning WIN the game!!!  I love my family.  And I love that they all sat on the sidelines and cheered for Sara Beth!  (Check out Nathan watching Sara Beth--to make sure she gives his glove and ball right back!)

After the big win, we celebrated with a yummy lunch at Danna's BBQ, and an afternoon movie.  Have you seen A Dolphin Tale?  It is a heartwarming movie, which inspires friendship and love, and childlike hope and perseverance.  Seriously--take your whole family to see it!

After the movie, we headed to Nana and Pops' house, where we continued to celebrate Pops' birthday.  The kids loved hanging out around Nana and Pops' new fire pit.  Even some big kids enjoyed it... 

The grandkids sure do love their Pops!!  What is MISSING in this picture are the other 3 grandkids...  Oh, and Sara Beth is not heading to a business meeting--the girl cousins are in serious training to become future stylists and cosmetologists.

Whew!  That's it!  No wonder I am tired tonight...  But, it's a happy tired... 

What filled YOUR weekend?

Italian Cream, a Birthday, and some Yummy Food Linky Dinks

Welcome to the weekend, dearest readers!!  I hope your weekend is filled with fun and relaxation.  Mine will be filled with family time celebrating my dad's birthday.  In fact, right now my kitchen is a DISASTER ZONE of dirty bowls and cake pans because of a pretty Italian Cream birthday cake.  It's too bad my (very disciplined) dad already told me he's only eating ONE PIECE of the birthday cake...because this may be my BEST-EVER Italian Cream cake.   Sorry the picture is a little blurry...  I was too tired to take a regular picture, and just snapped one with my phone.

You wanna some linksa?  Here'sa yousa go:

 I am always a sucker for a good crockpot recipe.  This one for Crockpot Chicken and Corn Enchiladas  grabbed me from the first picture.  WOW.

Speaking of food...do you know about Food Gawker?  Oh. My. Heavens.  Enter at your own risk--AMAZING food pictures ahead!  Click on the picture to see the recipe.

I thought these band-aids were hilarious.  And, of course, one cannot mention funny band-aids without mentioning bacon...

Want to meet the world's newest Pirate?  Also known as World's Cutest Pirate?  Go give your congratulations to the Hollywood Housewife.  Is it just me, or does she look FABULOUS for just having given birth?

 

Have you seen this?  With all the talk of the NASA satellite's fall to the Earth, I thought it was hilarious!

 

 

In closing, I offer you a little gift:  The gift of music.  I know I've mentioned 8 Tracks before.  But, this time, I offer you Music to Clean By.  So, go on--clean away!

(click play.  clean.  repeat, if necessary.)

Or...just prop up your feet, eat some bon bons, and start enjoying the weekend!

Girls' Trip: Pictures always tell the story

This past weekend, I was able to go on a beach trip with some girlfriends.  Normally, I don't write about this annual trip--mostly because I don't ever want the content here to sound exclusive, or make anyone feel anything but encouraged.  I know that, for myself, sometimes pictures of exotic trips and friend gatherings--especially on Facebook--can make me feel left-out and wishing my family could travel like that.

However, I think all of you here already know my life is not glamorous.  Or to be envied.

Looking at the pictures I actually took of this recent girlfriend beach trip says it all.  Seriously--from the looks of these pictures, all we did...was eat...and lie around.

Which, in fact, is completely true.

 

See for yourself.  These are--honestly--the only pictures I took on the trip.

We do like tradition.  On the drive from the airport to the beach house, we always eat at a nearby Whataburger.  Always.  (We Missouri girls have learned that Whataburger is AMAZING.)  We always talkabout ordering the Whatburger Junior...but learned several years ago to be smart--and just order the big Whataburger.  #1 please!

 

No--this is NOT the amount of queso we bought...or consumed.  However, if we could sum up our eating habits of this trip it would be one word:  Cheese.  Finding the Velveeta Queso Blanco on our beach grocery shopping trip for the week was truly a game-changer.  White queso and chips for lunch every single day?  Yes, please.

(My hiney feels compelled to tell you that we did get up and run every day.)

 

I think it's funny that I didn't snap any pictures of the beach or the ocean.  The one non-food picture I did snap sure sums up our week:  Lying around and relaxing.  This is a picture of our feet propped up in our favorite oversized comfy chair.  Note that we each have our own blankets.  Make that 4 blankets, please. 

This is the position we sat in daily--in the mornings before heading out to the beach, and in the evenings after the sun set.  Many serious and giggly conversations took place in this very position.  As did some serious television watching.  I'd like to thank the Kardashian family for providing the entertainment.

 

A girl can't just live on cheese all week, can she?  Another tradition:  Waffle House for at least 2 breakfasts.  Not on the same day, though.  This year we learned you can get your hash browns scattered, smothered, covered, diced...Who knew there were so many options?  For us Waffle House veterans, we know that ordering at Waffle House is much like ordering at Starbucks.  Know what you want, and order it appropriately.  Scrambled, dry, over-easy, over-medium, crispy bacon, limp bacon, crispy waffles, hash browns scattered, in a to-go cup...

 

Another trip to Whataburger means...driving back to the airport to go home.  This trip to Whataburger is always bittersweet.  We do love our beloved fast food restaurant with its homemade ketchup and cherry and vanilla Cokes, but it also means we're heading home.

This time I ordered a Whatachicken--just so I could quote, "How's yer Whatachicken?"  That quote just makes me SMILE.  Please please please tell me you've seen the movie 8 Seconds.

 

Now...these next 2 pictures I didn't actually take.  My friends did.  However, I did HAVE to show you our VERY EVENTFUL arrival at the airport for our departure.

Note to self:  CHECK the DATES on your airline tickets.  Go on--look at the dates.  Do you notice anything strange?

Um, yeah.  Evidently, we were planning a VERY SHORT trip to the beach.  Arrive October 6th and return home THE SAME DAY.  The funny thing was that we ordered these FREE (Frequent Flyer) tickets on the phone with an American Airlines agent.  We were very specific about our arrival and departure dates--she must have just typed in a wrong number.  She booked all 4 of our tickets at the same time, redeeming our Frequent Flyer miles.  She then sent us confirmation e-mails, with our E-tickets attached.

Not ONE OF US noticed the return date was the same as our arrival date.

Until checking in, when the agent told us, "You don't have a reservation for today."

WHAT????

However, after MUCH looking, and talking, and explaining, and calling her higher-ups, and (thankfully) kindness and smiles--the very sweet Becky worked it out for us, and booked us out on the last flight of the night.

Even though we were NOT looking forward to spending several extra hours in the airport, we WERE THANKFUL not to have to purchase 4 new FULL-PRICE tickets home...or what would have really happened--renting a car and DRIVING THROUGH THE NIGHT to get home.

So, thank you, Becky--for--at your own discretion--putting us on that last flight!

After she had printed out our new tickets, and we had all breathed huge sighs of relief, we asked Becky if she minded if we posted her picture on Facebook with our new tickets?  Even before we got out the word "Facebook," Becky had picked up the tickets, fanned them out, and was smiling for the picture.

We couldn't stop giggling about her instant picture pose!

What's YOUR idea of a perfect getaway trip?  Does it include as much cheese and lying around as mine?

Quirky Things I do Before Jogging

 
 Do you have certain things you do before you jog?  Or before you exercise?

Well, call me crazy--or more specifically "OCD"--but I have a little list of things I must do before I head out the door to jog...

 

Obviously, I put on my jogging clothes, and tennis shoes

Then, I must do these things, and usually in this order:

Go to the bathroom

Blow my nose...or more specifically, completely "clear" my nose

Drink a glass of water out of my bathroom sink

Put on Carmex lipgloss

Put lotion on my hands

Grab my Droid phone, plug in ear buds, and head out

 

Now...most of the stuff makes sense...but the lotion on the hands?  Even I don't understand my need for that...but it is a necessary step.

What about you?  What little things do you do before exercising?

Household Hazards of Wearing a Scarf: Take Two

In honor of the glorious fall--scarf-wearing weather!!--I thought I would re-post this VERY IMPORTANT WARNING regarding the wearing of fashionable scarves...

This warning is for fashionable women everywhere who partake in the wearing of the oh-so-chic neck scarves.  Little do you know, Women of the Scarf (WOTS), that those very same accessories which bring you so much joy and confidence, may also bring injury...injuries so terrible that they may not be spoken on this family-friendly network.

In lieu of those terrible scarf injury descriptions, we have provided a pictorial reference.  Please, please print out these photos, and place them in those areas around your house you deem the most dangerous...to the scarf.

Our safety preparedness team has taken the ultimate precautions in producing these Scarf Re-enactments. WOTS, please DO NOT try this at home.  In an effort to educate the fashionable public, Scarf Professionals were used to pose these shots.  Again, DO NOT try this at home!! 

(No animals were harmed during this re-enactment)

  

BEWARE OF THE DANGEROUS SCARF AROUND THE HOUSE:

Danger danger, Will Robinson!!!  Do you see the scarf dangerously inching herself towards the searing red stove?  STEP BACK FROM THE STOVE.

"AAAAHHHHH!!!  Hot oven, hot oven!!"  That pesky scarf is not only slinking towards the red hot element, she is also dirtying herself on the greasy oven door.  Bad scarf.

Well, look who jumped out of the oven and into the frying pan...er, pan full of soapy bubbles.  Silly scarf, tricks are for kids!

 

WARNING:  The next pictures may be especially disturbing to some viewers.  Please use discretion.

The kitchen's not the only place that pesky scarf gets into trouble...  When working around toilets, be especially vigilant:  The scarf loves nothing more than skimming over the smooth porcelain to grab a quick dip in the cool water...  You certainly don't want anyone asking, "Where'd you get your clothes...from the...toilet store?"

And always, ALWAYS beware when practicing with your 1894 Winchester Lever Action around the house.  The scarf always says, "A gun is a tool MarytheKay, no better or worse than the woman who uses it."

 

We hope this Public Service Announcement was helpful to you.  Use extreme caution when wearing the scarf...or when accessorizing with anything fashionable.  Accessories are fun, until someone gets hurt.  Then, it's not fun.  It's un-fun.   

Please talk to you kids about scarves.   Talking to your kids about the dangers of the scarf isn't as hard as you think.  It just may save a life...or a really cute scarf you bought at Old Navy for like $12 with a 10% off coupon.

Thank you, and goodnight, good people.

(For more Household Hazard fun, click here!)

A Jogging Question

 I know I've mentioned here before that I am training for a 5K, using the C25K method.  However, I think the way I am using that method should be called:  C25K in Just! One! Year!!!  Good grief, I may be the slowest trainee in the world.  (Third try's the charm, though...I'm over halfway through!)

Slow and steady wins the race.   Yes?

I do have a question, though.  I hear that runners (ahem, JOGGERS) should breathe in through the nose, and out through the mouth.  Does that distinction really matter?

I have always been a mouth breather.  Even as a young child, and with drool running down my chin.  I'm sure you know what my parents and their friends must have though of this poor drooly chin girl, who also didn't speak much until her 2nd birthday.  Let's just say...Yes, they actually had me "tested" to see if I was normal.  (I am happy to say I passed with flying colors!  Evidently, I just didn't have much to say in those days.)

When I was beginning my orthodontic care as an elementary age child, the orthodontist noticed my mouth breathing, and gave me exercises to practice breathing through my nose.  I am proud to say he corrected much of the mouth breathing--except when I exercise.

Which brings me to the important question.  When I am exercising, I never feel like I can get air into my lungs fast enough through my nose.  I can physically do it--but I feel much more comfortable breathing in through my mouth.

Will this mouth-breathing affect me long-term, as a jogger?  If so, could you please explain why?

(Was this WAY MORE information about my mouth and nose breathing than you ever wanted?  Sorry about that.)

Apple picking is better than...the other kind...of picking

I have no idea why I needed that title.  Probably because it makes me giggle.  Probably because I have junior high humor. 

(Stay with me until the end--when I give you a YUMMY recipe for chunky applesauce!)

Remember that I told you we went on a little family vacation last week?  Oh, I know you couldn't possibly have forgotten my thrilling Pioneer Power post.  Well, for a couple of days during our South Dakota vacation, we drove over to Minnesota to see our aunts and uncle.  (No, no, no--2 separate families, thank you.)

We always love visiting Bob and Ginger's beautiful Minnesotan farm!  We especially love visiting in the fall--when it's time to PICK APPLES!  They have Haroldson and Sweet Sixteen apple trees. 

I'm sorry, but isn't she just a cutie pie?  Sara Beth took her apple picking duties very seriously.

We had the best time picking apples--the whole family together!  You can see Grandma and Grandpa here, as well as Ginger's legs.  Oh, and Lady the wonder dog.  She helped pick...or fetch is probably a better word.  You can tell she is just waiting...for someone to toss an apple for her to chase and catch.

Oh, those high apples didn't get away from us--Bob pulled the tractor up, and put Dave and Ginger in the bucket to reach them!  Too bad Bob didn't mess with Dave and Ginger more...and put the bucket ALL the way UP.  (At least I don't think this is all the way up on a tractor bucket...I'm such a clueless city slicker.)

Here's Lady the wonder dog!  She's such a sweetie.  I tossed quite a few apples for her to chase.  You can tell she's looking at me thinking, "Uh, put down the camera and toss some more apples."

These girl sure love their Aunt Ginger.  There's Uncle Bob on the tractor!  Everybody say HI, BOB!  Note the 4 full buckets of apples.  Can't you just picture all the homemade applesauce and apple pies those babies are going to make?

Riding back to the house...in style.  I mean, why walk when you can ride in a snazzy golf cart?

Everybody knows that after you pick...you have to peel and slice.  And, like the little one there...you have to EAT.

Here's Becca learning to use the apple peeler.  We had 3 slicers going to take care of all those apples.  I'm very sad I didn't get a picture of Aunt Jean.  She was a part of all the family fun!

 Shoo we!  All that picking and peeling and slicing made us tired...  What a wonderful day it was.

Oh, but before I turn out the lights...let me give you a wonderful way to eat apples this fall.  Have you ever MADE your own applesauce?  I gotta tell you--homemade (WARM) applesauce kicks the tail of store-bought applesauce.  Plus, it's simple--and your house will smell AMAZING while the apples are cooking on the stove.  One day, I cooked some applesauce just to SMELL it.  I sure did.
 

Ginger sent me this recipe, and it looks amazing.  I've never made applesauce with brown sugar--but I sure am going to try! 

 Chunky applesauce
 
8 cups chopped peeled tart apples-- ( I did not chop- used half slices from the peeler) 
1/2 c packed brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp vanilla extract
 
In a dutch oven, combine apples, brown sugar and cinnamon
 
Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 30-40 minutes or until apples are tender - stirring occasionally.
 
Remove from the heat- stir in the vanilla
 
Mash apples slightly if desired.
 
Serve warm or cold..
(like on ice cream???!!!)
 
I love it warm--

(Thanks, Ginger!)

Okay, and one more thing before I go...I hope to post my NEW recipe for apple pie next week!!!  Oh, y'all, I have been on a lifelong quest for the perfect apple pie.  I grew up eating the hands-down BEST apple pie in the whole world--baked by Miss Alene.  Sadly, I never got to ask Miss Alene about her recipe before she died, so I've been trying different recipes, trying to replicate it.

I tried a new recipe on Monday, and it is as close as I've ever gotten to a Miss Alene pie.  I want to make it one more time to make sure...but y'all--this pie crust and pie is TO. DIE. FOR.  So, be watching for that recipe.  In the meantime, you might as well head to the store and buy some lard.  Yep, I said lard.

Are there any recipes from your childhood you've been trying to replicate?

My Double Standard: A Well-Dressed Man

All right.  I'm going to put myself "out there" today.  I'm going to tell y'all something that I should probably just keep to myself. 

But, guess what?

I'm not going to keep it to myself.  I'll probably regret it later.  But, for now, this subject intrigues me.  In fact, it has intrigued me for a while now. 

Well, I might as well get on with it:  I have a double standard for women fixing up and wanting to look pretty, and men fixing up and wanting to look good.

Here's my double standard:  I don't always trust a man that looks really good, and really well-dressed.  Women?  It doesn't bother me one bit how "put together" a woman is...trendy clothes, highlighted hair, lots of make-up, trendy purse, trendy shoes--you go, girl! 

But a man?  What's that dude trying to hide?  Who's Mr. Cool trying to impress, huh?  It's not that a well-dressed man bothers me...It's more about the degree to which he is "fixed up."  It's more that a man who is well-dressed, AND has his hair gelled, AND has trendy facial hair is just too much for me.   Nope, I don't trust him.

Maybe it's a 3 strikes, and you're out...on MarytheKay's Don't Trust 'em List.

Trendy clothes - STRIKE ONE, but you're still okay.  Hey, good for you for trying out that v-neck t-shirt.  Frankly, seeing your chest hair has ruined my appetite, but more power to ya for trying to rock the fashion.

Trendy hair - STRIKE TWO, still okay, but you're pushing it.  Hey--a little gel sure beats the comb-over, right?

Trendy facial hair - STRIKE THREE.  JUST WHO are you trying to impress, Rico Suave?  And just why do you think facial hair floating all alone on a chin makes you more soul-ful?

Remember--it's not the facial hair that gives 3 strikes, it's the combination of ALL 3 THINGS together.

Know what I mean?  I know it's shocking that a thought inside my brain might not make sense...  So, I'll use some examples to help illustrate my point.

 

 
George Clooney - Trendy clothes, strike one; Trendy hair, eh...sort of strike two; Trendy facial hair?  Nah, not usually.  2 Strikes = I trust George Clooney 

 

 

 

 
EXCEPTION:  When he wears the 5 o'clock facial stubble on purpose.  Those days, I would not trust George Clooney.

 

 
John Krasinski - Trust him.  What a nice fella.

 

 

 

 

Johnny Depp - Oh, no.  3 strikes, totally.

 

 

 

 

 
Pa Ingalls - What do you think?  Trust him completely.

 

 

 
Sorry, fella.  3 strikes. 

 

 

 

 

 
Yoda - Trustworthy, he is.

 

 

 

Umm, no.  1 strike and he's OUT.

 

 

 

 

What do you think?  Am I just crazy?

How to clean Chaco and Teva sandals (and BEFORE and AFTER pics!)

 (Oh boy, am I going to embarrass myself with these before pictures...)

Once upon a time there was a girl who got a pair of Chaco sandals.  She loved those Chacos with all her heart.  They made her feet very happy.  She wore them nearly every day when the weather was nice.  She wore them so much, however, that they got very dirty and ugly.  She occasionally rinsed them off in the sink or shower, and once or twice swished them around in the (chlorinated) swimming pool to clean them. 

One day, Chaco girl realized just HOW DIRTY her beloved Chacos had become.  Looking down at her dirty blue Chacos made her feel very sad inside.  She knew something must be done to clean them.  And soon.

She searched around on the internet, and found out that cleaning them was actually easy!  "Hooray!" said Chaco girl. 

Chaco girl knew that if her dirty Chacos got clean again, she would share the news with the whole wide world...

So, here I am--at the request of Chaco girl--to show you how she cleaned her beloved Chacos...and how you can clean yours, too!

WARNING:  Do not view this picture if you are eating, or have a sensitive stomach.  Also, pregnant women should proceed with caution, as should small children sensitive to bad smells.

 

Chacos BEFORE cleaning:

 

HOW TO CLEAN CHACOS (and Tevas):

1. Place non-leather sandals inside a mesh bag (optional--just helps protect other clothes), and wash in washing machine on warm.  Use any non-bleach detergent, and wash with some towels or sheets.

2.  If sandals are especially dirty, use soft (old) toothbrush or scrub brush, and using warm water, gently scrub the footbed, as well as any straps that are especially dirty.  If an old toothbrush is not readily available, just use your husband's.  Be sure to put it back when you're done.

3.  Slide the underneath part of the strap out, and wash.  When sandal is clean, slide the strap back to where it was.  (This is called "flossing" the straps.  Sometimes grime and bad smells can be hiding on the strap inside the footbed.)

4.  My sandals were so dirty that I washed them in the machine a 2nd time.

 

All right, good people, are you ready for the AFTER pictures?

 

Chacos, after cleaning!  See how they sparkle?!

(Note the tiny drops of white spray paint on the straps...Do NOT spray paint in your beloved Chacos...)

 Go on--scroll back up to look at the nasty BEFORE pics.  Don't they look beautiful now?  So sparkly clean, and so good-smelling now.

Chaco girl says to tell you to scoop up your Chacos right now and toss them into the washer.   "Toss, toss, toss!" she says.  "Clean those Chacos for the good feet of all mankind!"
 
SPECIAL NOTE:  Do NOT wash your Chacos in the dishwasher.  First of all, that's nasty.  Secondly, the high temperatures may de-laminate your sole...which would in turn, de-laminate your soul.   (Get it?  Hardee har har.)  But, de-laminating soles is not funny, and should never be kidded about. 

Just curious--what's your FAVORITE SHOE in your closet? 

(Obviously, you already know mine.)  *grin*