Author Archives: Valerie

• Crock Pot Creamy Tomato Soup

  Posted on by Valerie in Recipes, Side dishes, vegetarian.

  I understand that the red label of canned tomato soup is probably very patriotic and that eating grilled cheese and tomato soup is one of our commandments or laws or requirements as Americans. I support that, I do. But– I don’t think my grilled cheese sandwich deserves to bathe in a mixture of weird canned […]

  Post Tagged with bay leaf, black pepper, celery seed, diced tomatoes, garlic, heavy cream, onion, oregano, rosemary, salt, sugar
  Continue Reading...
  No Comments.
• 

  My Favorite Gadgets

  Posted on by Valerie in How To..., Product Reviews.

  Forget that Mary Poppins crap, my favorite things have nothing to do with rainbows or kittens. In every room of my house, I’ve been known to simplify, down-size, update or re-organize. But my kitchen (insert content sigh here!) it’s full of cutesie, single purpose items, that coordinate, decorate or accentuate my meals. I LOVE kitchen […]

  Continue Reading...
  3 Comments.

• Crock Pot Creamy Corn

  Posted on by Valerie in Side dishes, vegetarian.

  Not to be too corny, but I’m a big fan of corn. I love fresh local corn on the cob in the summer, corn chowder soup in the winter, corn muffins, popcorn at the movies, canned cream corn, kettle corn at the apple festival, even cooking with corn oil. I’ve got some great leftover meat […]

  Post Tagged with butter, corn, cream cheese, jalapenos, milk, onion, parsley, pepper, salt
  Continue Reading...
  No Comments.

• Crock Pot London Broil

  Posted on by Valerie in Dinner, Recipes.

  My head had been swirling with a mix of the traditional children’s song about a certain London Bridge and the contemporary naughty version of the song by a certain Mrs. Black-Eyed Pea. While I might not have the cute sequin British flag on a pair of boy shorts, I think my London Broil is a […]

  Post Tagged with beef, carrots, garlic, ketchup, olive oil, onion, pepper, potatoes, red wine vinegar, rosemary, Worcestershire sauce
  Continue Reading...
  7 Comments.

• Crock Pot Blueberry Cobbler

  Posted on by Valerie in Recipes, Side dishes, vegetarian.

  Forget dinner– let’s skip straight to dessert. What could possibly be better than dumping everything in the crock pot and having your entire house filled with the glorious, sweet, satisfying smell of freshly baked dessert?! Cooking dessert in the crock pot requires a little more attention to detail than the normal dump-and-go meal prep, but […]

  Post Tagged with apples, berries, Bisquick, blueberries, brown sugar, butter, cherries, cinnamon, eggs, flour, half and half, milk, peaches, pears, quick oats, sugar, vanilla
  Continue Reading...
  4 Comments.

• Crock Pot Chicken Caesar

  Posted on by Valerie in Dinner, Recipes.

  It’s not the ides of March, but I feel the need to honor our dear friend, Julius. After an intense workout this morning, I feel like an Olympian! I am in need of good, lean protein, so I came home and started a healthy pot of meat and veggies with some great flavor. This recipe […]

  Post Tagged with caesar dressing, chicken breasts, green beans, potatoes
  Continue Reading...
  No Comments.
• 

  Crock Pot Orange Tofu

  Posted on by Valerie in Dinner, Recipes.

  I think it’s a wonderful community celebration when a baby is born. Friends and family gather to welcome the sweet little child and help the new parents with meals and errands and extra hands for diaper changes.  Tonight, it’s my turn to bring dinner to some friends and I’m pretty sure that they already assume […]

  Post Tagged with brocoli, Cabbage, dairy, garlic, green beans, honey, olive oil, onion, orange juice, paprika, peas, rice vinegar, snow peas, soy sauce, tofu, vegetarian
  Continue Reading...
  No Comments.

• Crock Pot Vegetarian Bean Dip

  Posted on by Valerie in Recipes, Side dishes.

  We’re going to a party this weekend and everyone is supposed to bring a side dish to go with a taco bar main course. It sounds like lots of fun (hoping for margaritas, good music and salty lime tortilla chips) and I figured I’d make something in the crock pot that would be hot and spicy, […]

  Post Tagged with black beans, chili powder, colby jack cheese, cumin, jalapenos, olives, refried beans, salsa, sour cream
  Continue Reading...
  No Comments.

• Crock Pot Sloppy Joes

  Posted on by Valerie in Dinner, Recipes.

  Here’s your mission if you choose to accept it: make dinner for four adults and two kids when you are staying at a friends house, you found one pound of ground turkey in the freezer and there is a pantry of assorted cans. And…. GO! While visiting friends this week, I figured it was only […]

  Post Tagged with apple cider vinegar, black beans, black pepper, brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, green pepper, ground turkey, onion, salt, tomato juice, tomato paste, vegetable juice, water, worchestershire sauce, yellow mustard
  Continue Reading...
  1 Comment.

• Crock Pot Fish Chowder

  Posted on by Valerie in Dinner, Recipes, Side dishes.

  This recipe has evolved from an amazing chowder that I once had at the Columbus International Festival in Ohio. I think it was the Scandanavian table that was honoring their long-standing countrymen’s careers of treacherous trips on the ocean. I think it was really to honor the countrywomen’s careers of having boatloads of fish to […]

  Post Tagged with bacon, bay leaves, carrots, celery, corn starch, fish, garlic, milk, onion, pepper, salmon, salt, shrimp, tilapia, vegetable broth, zucchini
  Continue Reading...
  No Comments.