Slow Cooker Tips

I love this time of year!  In the morning and evening the is a cool crisp chill in the air, but during the day it is still nice and warm. 

I use my slow cooker all year long.  During the summer I usually have a side dish cooking to go along with whatever has been grilled up.  As the weather makes its transition, so do I.  My menu begins to get filled up with yummy comfort foods and filling soups and stews.

Here are two links with tips to make your slow cooking easier.

Adapt almost any recipe to a slow cooker recipe with this tip:

http://mykindofcooking.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-to-adapt-recipes-to-slow-cooker.html 

Make using your slow cooker easier with these tips:

http://mykindofcooking.blogspot.com/2010/09/slow-cooker-tips.html

My new cookbook will soon be available at schools, businesses, hospitals, and book fairs in cities across the United States.  Be sure to pick up a copy or two, when you see them.  They make great gifts!

Check back on Friday,
for my Slow Cooker Italian Chicken recipe! 

Follow me on my Facebook page!

Visit my friends blogs!

 GINGERLOCKS' KITCHEN, has become one of your favorite blogs! Stop by Jordan's blog and take a peek!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

Hokey Pokey Cake

1 (16.5 ounce) box chocolate cake mix
1 (5.1 ounce, 6-1/2 cup servings) box vanilla instant pudding mix
1 (8 ounce) container whipped topping
1/2 cup chopped nuts or candy pieces

Prepare cake according to package directions.

Cool cake. Using the end of a wooden spoon, poke holes in the cake.  

Prepare pudding according to package directions.  Pour over cake. 

Cover, refrigerate until time to serve.  

Spread whipped topping over cake.  Sprinkle candy or nuts over top. 

My mom used to make this cake when I was a kid.  It was always a big hit back then and it still is today.  Take this yummy cake to a potluck and you are sure to receive lots of complements. 

My new cookbook will soon be available at schools, businesses, hospitals, and book fairs in cities across the United States.  Be sure to pick up a copy or two, when you see them.  They make great gifts!

Check back on Tuesday,
for my Tuesday's Tips & Tricks post! 

Follow me on my Facebook page!

Visit my friends blogs!

 GINGERLOCKS' KITCHEN, has become one of your favorite blogs! Stop by Jordan's blog and take a peek!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

Carrot Shortcut Tip

Instead of peeling carrots for a recipe that calls for peeled and diced or sliced carrots, I purchase baby carrot carrots.

Baby Carrots are peeled and ready to use, saving me the time it takes and the mess it makes when you peel carrots.

My new cookbook will soon be available at schools, businesses, hospitals, and book fairs in cities across the United States.  Be sure to pick up a copy or two, when you see them.  They make great gifts!

Check back on Friday, 

for my Hokey Pokey Cake recipe! 

Follow me on my Facebook page!

Visit my friends blogs!

 GINGERLOCKS' KITCHEN, has become one of your favorite blogs! Stop by Jordan's blog and take a peek!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

Chicken and Mashed Potatoes

Today's recipe and post is courtesy of, Jordan of  Gingerlocks' Kitchen.  

Chicken and Mashed Potatoes, is a delicious slow cooker recipe that is 

sure to please your whole family. 

Stop by Jordan's blog.  You will love love all of her easy and creative recipes!

 Chicken and Mashed Potatoes

I've started a battle. It's a battle against summer temperatures during school. As a teacher I feel it is a bit unjust to have summer like weather while we all have to go back to school.If we have to go to school there should at least be a bit of crispness in the air. My weapon? Warm and cozy mashed potatoes and chicken gravy. No summer sun can resist all good flavors wrapped up in a bowl of deliciousness. Care to join me in this battle?

 Here's what you will need:

2-3 chicken thighs
1 1/2 tablespoons of chicken base ( I used the Better Than Bouillon brand)
3 - 4 tablespoons of cornstarch
4 medium sized potatoes
1/3 cup of milk
3 tablespoons of butter
salt and pepper to taste





Put the chicken thighs (or breasts) into a slow cooker with the chicken base and cover with water. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

Take the chicken out and wait for it to cool.

While the chicken is cooling, combine the cornstarch in 1/4 or so of water. Then add this to the chicken broth and turn the slow cooker to high.

While the mixture comes to a boil, shred the cooked chicken into small edible pieces.

 Chop the cleaned potatoes, and place them into a pot and cover with water. Boil them until they are very tender.

At this point you can add the chicken back to the gravy mixture and return the slow cooker to low heat. Taste the gravy. If you want to add more chicken base or salt and pepper, do so now.

Once the potatoes have cooked, add the milk and butter. Mash them with either a masher or electric mixer. If you prefer a thinner or thicker mashed potato add more or less milk. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Spoon the mashed potatoes into a bowl and serve the gravy over top.



Take that summer!

Stop by Jordan's blog for more yummy recipes: http://gingerlockskitchen.blogspot.com

My new cookbook will soon be available at schools, businesses, hospitals, and book fairs in cities across the United States.  Be sure to pick up a copy or two, when you see them.  They make great gifts!

Check back on Tuesday, 

for Tuesday's Tip and Tricks post! 

Visit my friends blogs!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

New Blogger

I love reading blogs!  You can learn something new or get inspired by the content.  My son's adorable girlfriend, Jordan, has just started a blog called, GINGERLOCKS' KITCHEN.  Her recipes are creative and delicious!

The most hits my blog has ever received, was when I posted a recipe that Jordan had given to me.  It was for a, Creamsicle Cake.

I am having a barbeque on Wednesday and I am going to make Jordan's, Rice Salad.

I can't wait to try her Ding Dong recipe. 

And who wouldn't love a healthy and unique Fruit Dip.

GINGERLOCKS' KITCHEN, is sure to become one of your favorite blogs! 

I know it's one of mine!

My new cookbook will soon be available at schools, businesses, hospitals, and book fairs in cities across the United States.  Be sure to pick up a copy or two, when you see them.  They make great gifts!

Check back on Friday, 

for one of Jordan's yummy recipes! 

Follow me on my Facebook page!

Visit my friends blogs!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

1 box devil’s food cake mix

1 (16 ounce) sour cream

3 eggs

11 snack size Reese’s peanut butter cups

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons chopped peanuts

Lightly spray or oil 9 1/2 inch bundt pan.  Mix sour cream and eggs. Add to cake mix and mix until smooth. Place 12 scoops of batter into bundt pan and spread evenly.  Place peanut butter cups over batter in pan.  Top with remaining batter.  Microwave cake on high for 11-14 minutes until cake tester comes out clean.  Remove to cooling rack and let cool for 10 minutes. Loosen cake from sides of pan and turn onto platter.  Microwave peanut butter on high for 30 seconds or until melted. Pour over cake.  Melt chocolate chips and oil 20-40 seconds or until melted. Drizzle over cake and sprinkle with chopped peanuts.

This cake took Honorable Mention in a Chocolate Dessert contest at the Iowa State Fair.  My friend Darrellyn, hosted the contest and shared this delicious recipe with me.  I love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, in this easy recipe.

My son's beautiful girlfriend, Jordan, has started a blog.  It is called Gingerlock's Kitchen.  She creates delicious and easy recipes that you will love.  

Stop by her blog and take a look: http://gingerlockskitchen.blogspot.com

My new cookbook will soon be available at schools, businesses, hospitals, and book fairs in cities across the United States.  Be sure to pick up a copy or two, when you see them.  They make great gifts!

Check back on Tuesday, 

for Tuesday's Tip and Tricks post! 

Visit my friends blogs!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

Tuesday's Tip & Tricks: Baking Tip

The kids are back in school and soon the weather will change and the urge to bake will hit me again.  Baking can be tricky.  There are so many things that can go wrong.

It help insure great baking results, leave the eggs and butter at room temperature overnight. Your baked goods will be fluffier and there will be less lumps when mixing.

My new cookbook will soon be available at schools, businesses, hospitals, and book fairs in cities across the United States.  Be sure to pick up a copy or two, when you see them.  They make great gifts!

Check back on Friday, 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake recipe! 

Follow me on my Facebook page!

Visit my friends blogs!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!