ROCK OUT with your CROCK OUT -- vol.7

day 99:
monday bloggy l♥ve ya’ll!
so it’s been forever & a fuckin’ day but it’s definitely time for…

<div align="center"><a href="http://chunkygoddess.blogspot.com/" title="misadventures of a chunky goddess" target="_blank"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8uGyLRJ9HiY/TnApHBV-xVI/AAAAAAAAIE4/gaQAavBaP1A/s300/101333488_xrF8JesR_b_ImitateHDR_1.jpg" alt="misadventures of a chunky goddess" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

for those who have stumbled here for the 1st time – this is my homage to my all-time-fave kitchen gadget – the crockpot!
all of the recipes featured here are healthy (and vegan you lucky ducks) & i always include the points+ values for my fellow w8 watcher junkies!
so let’s get it going shall we?

i truly believe one of the key things to being successful on healthy regimen is planning – especially meals. i have my best success when i plan out the week ahead; giving me no choice but to eat healthy. so this morning i decided i was going to have some healthy dishes on hand & one of my all-time fave vegan/crock pot dishes is LENTILS!

and they are ridiculously easy, healthy & yumm-o!
they require no overnight soaking – you basically put them in the crockpot with 6-8 cups of water per cup of lentils.
season to taste (i use salt, white pepper, parsley, & garlic) & cook on low for 8 hours.
if you prefer them less *soupy* either cook longer or add less water. i happen to like the *juice*. i served them with a side of quinoa (the 1st time i made it!) with some sauteed onions & mushrooms in a little bit of olive oil & lemme tell ya – this is some seriously delish chow!
(don’t hate on my ugly-ass bowl – i harbor a unhealthy attachment to it – don’t judge)
½ cup of lentils = 2 pointsplus
½ cup quinoa = 3 pointsplus
for those of us on simply filling – both are power foods – so no need to count unless you are anal retentive like me & track EVERYTHING.

i also made a pot of one of my other favorite staples – the infamous weight watcher zero pointsplus soup – although i am not sure what they are technically calling it these days? i didn't use my crock pot as it was otherwise detained with lentils -- but you could totally make this soup in your crockpot as well. i have in the past & it is fabu!

you can find the recipe easily enough if you google *weight watcher zero point soup* -- there are quite a few variations but my favorite is a base of vegetable broth, stewed tomatoes, cabage, italian seasoning, parsley, celery salt, white pepper, whatever vegetables (fresh or frozen works best) you want to add.
today it was carrots, zuccini, onions, & kale.
you add all the ingredients & simmer until the veggies are tender.
it sounds basic but this soup is truly flavorful & filling!
this soup is zero pointsplus & a power food – win/win!
i know this soup has been blogged about a gazillion times – but it has seen me through many a tough week when i am struggling with staying on track & it also will kick a new diet in the ass & give ya the jumpstart ya need!

so that’s what i am eating these days.
what are you guys stuffin’ down your gullets?

peace, l♥ve & carpe diem the fuck outta today & everyday bloggy peeps!
xxoo
cyn

ROCK OUT with your CROCK OUT -- vol.6

day: 62
happy bloggy saturday!

welcome to another (long awaited)…

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i know it’s been awhile but you know i have been crock-pottin’ cuz that’s how i roll!

for those who have stumbled here for the 1st time – this is my homage to my all-time-fave kitchen gadget – the crockpot!
all of the recipes featured here are healthy & i always include the points+ values for my fellow w8 watcher junkies!
so let’s get it going shall we?

so as ya’ll know – i have had the most busy week this week & this recipe is actually from last week. (and i have one from the week prior that i have yet to post too…)
i know, i know – i am a sucky bloggah huh?
but this is one of my all time fave crockpot recipes & it is so freakin’ easy & delish!
it is in fact a w8 watcher recipe & something i have made a couple of times & everyone in my brood l♥ves it!
so without further adieu…

crockpot chicken caccitore
course: main meals
pointsplus® value: 5
servings: 4
level of difficulty: easy

ingredients
1 pound(s) skinless chicken thigh(s), cut into bite-size pieces
1 cup(s) mushroom(s), sliced (fresh, frozen or canned)
1 strip(s) green pepper(s), sliced (fresh or frozen)
1 cup(s) (chopped) onion(s), chopped (fresh or frozen)
2 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), minced
1 tbsp canned tomato paste
14 1/2 oz canned crushed tomatoes, fire-roasted
3/4 tsp dried oregano, crushed
3/4 tsp table salt, divided
1/4 tsp black pepper

instructions
place chicken in a 3- to 5-quart slow cooker. add mushrooms, green pepper, onion, garlic, tomato paste, tomatoes and juice, wine, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and black pepper.
cover slow cooker; cook on high heat for 5 to 6 hours or on low heat for 6 to 8 hours. taste just before serving and add remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt if necessary. yields about 1 cup per serving.
serve this classic italian stew plain or over whole-wheat pasta (for additional points+). for a spicier flavor, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes at the start of cooking.
i pretty much follow this recipe to a *t* except i do not use the red wine – i am not a huge fan of food cooked with wine – would much rather just drink it – heh! and i add another clove (at least) of garlic & always use the red crushed pepper.
i also use four whole chicken thighs (they cook up so tender) which does increase the points+ value & serve it with whole wheat spaghetti & a cup of the marinara sauce for a total points+ value of 12. you save about 3 points+ per serving if you choose to go sans meat. marinara sauce in the crockpot loaded with fresh veggies is another personal fave!

looks yumm-o aye?
and here is my assistant, miss skylar, who is superb @ helping out in the tootsie pop department – heh!

be sure to give this recipe a whirl – it is a bonafide easy peasy yet yummy & filling home run!
happy crock-pottin’!

don’t forget to join the *no more muffin top weekend hop* -- open until tomorrow @ midnight ya’ll!



and…
don’t forget to enter my giveaway -- just 3 days left & low entries! even if you entered already you can tweet daily for additional entries!

peace, l♥ve & margaritas bloggy peeps!
xxoo
cyn

ROCK OUT with your CROCK OUT -- vol.5

day: 39
holla my bloggahs!
welcome to another fun-filled installment of…

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this is my homage to my most favorite kitchen gadget ever – the blessed crock pot.
because even i can crock pot like a mofo!
i mean who can’t really??
and all of the recipes featured here will be healthy and/or weight watcher recipes – this is a weight loss blog after all.

so here it goes…
this week i decided to give laa loosh another try -- if you have been reading my blog you may recall that this site is where i got that debaucle of a recipe for rock out with your crock out vol.2. yeah that was a total cluster fuck. but let’s move on…

so i decided to try out white bean turkey chilli. i love chilli & this recipe had a photo that looked yummy -- win/win.
here is the recipe as posted by laa loosh…

weight watchers white bean turkey chili recipe
ingredients:
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound extra lean ground turkey (should be about 120 calories per 4 oz)
- 2 (4 ounce) cans canned green chile peppers, chopped
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- kosher salt to taste
- ground cayenne pepper to taste
- ground white pepper to taste
- 2 (15 ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup fat free half & half
- 2 – 3 cups fat free chicken broth (add as needed if chili is too thick)
- 1/2 cup reduced fat, shredded monterey jack cheese
- 1/2 cup green onions

directions:
in a large pot over medium heat, or in a crock pot on medium, combine the onion, garlic and ground turkey and saute for 10 minutes, or until turkey is well browned. add the chile peppers, cumin, oregano, cilantro, cinnamon, salt, cayenne pepper, and white pepper to taste and saute for 5 more minutes.
add one can of the beans and the chicken broth to the pot. take the second can of beans and puree them in a blender or food processor. add this to the pot along with the half and half. stir well and simmer for 10 minutes. if you are using this as a crock pot recipe, let simmer on low heat for about 2-4 hrs. top each serving with 1/8 cup of reduced fat shredded monterey jack cheese, green onions, and 1 tbsp of reduced fat sour cream (optional). recipe makes 4 huge servings.

serving size is about 1 cup
each serving = 4 points+

okay – lemme just say that i obviously followed the crock pot directions & i used a separate pan to saute the meat, onions, garlic, etc. i also omitted the cilantro as i detest it – bad cilantro experience once – and substitued parsley. i like parsley. i also hand mashed the beans – as i loathe cleaning blenders & such unless absolutely necessary. and i also added a little corn starch at the end to thicken the chilli as it way too soup-y for my tastes.
i also served the chilli over some brown rice for added points+ value – because well, we like rice with our chilli.

the verdict:

yummy but not very chillish???

as bri said – it has more of a sweet caribbean flavor to it & i fully attribute that to the cinnamon. i think i would omit it if i were to make this recipe again – that might give it more of a chilli flare.
but that is just me.
bri loved it & so did my sons.

it is definitely filling – one cup with a half a cup of rice was more than enough for me. and i loved the reduced fat cheddar & green onion garnish!

although...i am a little miffed that this dish in no way remotely looked like the photo -- which upon further investigation i found out that this site does not use their own photos... hmmm.
label me unimpressed to say the least.
but whatever.
i just like when the dish ends up tasting and looking as promised.
sorry laa loosh but me thinks ya failed me yet again.
at least this dish was edible.

i know i have kinda been on a soup binge – sorry i l♥ve soups/stews/chillis – and fall is in the air (sorta as we have had very warm unseasonable weather here in rhode island).
i promise to up the ante next week & make an actual dish!

in other non-crock pot related news:
still going strong on the 30 day shred (tab above with my little chronicle) as is my girl nicole over @ 4 boys and 2 divas. she now vlogs (so cool & i wanna be a copycat & vlog one of these days) & i give her super mad props for putting it out there and keeping it real. nicole – you rock & should be so fuckin’ proud of yourself!
please go check out her vlog & give her some major bloggy l♥ve (and a follow) – she deserves it for doing this challenge with me!! xxoo!

also i linked a super coolio blogfest/hop on my mama blog the purple goddess. as of posting this there are 200 bloggers/blogs involved – go link the fuck up!

i think that’s all i got?
i gotta hit the gym for a last minute hard-core workout. i have my weigh-in/meeting tomorrow. and i am not even going to pretend like i know what is going to happen because every time i think i do – i am painfully wrong! so i am letting it be. i know i followed the plan & worked my ass off this week with jillian michaels & at the gym.
all i can do is trust the process… so i am trusting the process!

spread the bloggy l♥ve, eat your veggies, and love yourself!
xxoo
cyn

i l♥ve a challenge

day: 31

holla bloggerhood!!

so something fun… errr challenging today, it is technically a challenge so let’s call it that (like talking about myself is a challenge…)!

my most fave redheaded blogger a daft scots lass has graciously bestowed this unique challenge upon me. and seven lucky fellow bloggers will also be given this same challenge – keep reading ya lucky plonkers (as ms.daft scots lass would say).
and as the daft scots lass herself said – don’t make me come look for you!
trust me – you don’t want a crazy-pms raged- would knife ya for a snickers bar-bloggin’-chick (that would be me) on your ass!
basically this is a challenge to help ya dig up posts from the past (or not) and share them with your readers new & not-so-new (old isn’t a very nice word ya know). now because this particular blog is only a month old – well friday it will be (wow) – i might have to pull something outta my ass. won’t that be fun?
here goes…

1. my most beautiful post – hmmm – i am not sure if any of my posts could be classified as *beautiful* but i do think that the beauty of my blog is it’s brutal honesty. the fact that i have my actual weight out there in the blog-o-sphere for anyone to read is just miraculous! never in my life (other than doctors, brian & my mom) has anyone known my actual weight. not even my besties!
2. my most popular post – easy -- hands down – my ROCK OUT with your CROCK OUT series. even when i fuck up royally – you guys love reading about my crock pottin’ adventures!
3. my most controversial post – oddly enough weigh-in vol.2 when i went up a little in weight. yeah, i was frustrated and ranted pretty nicely but come on – i am a analytical bitch by nature – venting and over-thinking is my thang! i don’t wanna ruin the suspense – because i have a post in mind in regards to an email i received about this post. but i will say this much – the words *eating disorder* were used in said email. sigh.
4. my most helpful post -- i cannot name just one – because i have had such positive feedback from so many of you! i cannot express how much that means to me. this blog and the overwhelming positive feedback sparks me into my success thus far – true fuckin’ story! so every one of your comments are helpful & i can only hope i spread that spark to someone else?
5. a post whose success surprised me -- the fact that any of this drivel is read surprises me – seriously! but i have to admit that i didn’t think the ROCK OUT with your CROCK OUT would garner so much bloggy l♥ve? guess ya'll wanna crock pot like a mofo too?
6. a post i feel didn’t got the attention it deserved -- i am an attention whore (admittedly so) – any attention is good attention. but i just didn’t feel the crock pot l♥ve on my other series tanning booth confessions -- maybe it was that time i mentioned finding a grey hair in places your mama never warned ya about? heh!
7. the post that i am most proud of – i l♥ve this whole blog – it is a labor of true love & something i look forward to writing and engaging with. but i think my effin’ epiphany was a real *break-thru* for me & of course weigh-in vol.1 was awesome because of my ah-may-zing first weigh-in! i lost 5.2 freakin’ pounds!

so now for the lucky plonkers (l♥ve that word – gonna google it shortly!) that get to pass on the bloggy l♥ve!
1. the dancing paralegal -- marie my dear blog-o-sphere friend who has had my bloggy back from wayyyy back! this world traveling fellow weight watcher junkie says it like it is & that’s why i l♥ve her!
2. from flab to fab -- she goes by hot coco, workouts every day, and is such a motivation – need i say more?
3. leah – the kind weight watcher -- hands down one of my most fave blogs eva! she is honest, vegan, and like her name says, kind! a gem of a blogger & human being; truly!
4. a shot of laughter -- such a cutie-pie with a fun, fun, fun blog! she has a candy corn martini recipe for fux sake! (waiting patiently for the weight watcher version)
5. because i have to. “i’m not weird; i’m gifted” -- rachel is a friggen hoot – she is honest, raw, & real – just how i like my bloggers!
6. batcrap crazy -- she rocks, her blog rocks, ‘nuff said! no really, when i grow up, i wanna be her! heh.
and last but never least…
7. mommy bags -- this gal and her coolio blog makes me literally laugh out loud. add to the fact that we are the same age with a toddler – i feel like she is my sister from another mudder and fodder! major bloggy l♥ve for this chica!

there ya go – if you choose to accept this mission please have fun & i hope it leads ya on a cool journey into your own blog and brings insight as to why we crazy bloggers do what we do!
if not -- no worries!

btw…
plonker -- the term plonker started out as a reference to someone who was forever drunk on cheap wine (cheap wine is nicknamed plonk) this person was usualy a homeless person, or poor person.
today the term plonker is a very light hearted insult. its not even seen as an insult, its like calling someone a wally. its in no way ment maliciously. you call someone a plonker when they say or do something stupid.
bob - why didnt my food cook ?
john - you never turned on the oven, you plonker.
(thank you urban dictionary)

oh and oops – guess you aren’t plonkers – well, not all of ya at least.
heh!
great, now i want some plonk!

spread the bloggy l♥ve, eat your veggies, and love yourself!
xxoo
cyn

ROCK OUT with your CROCK OUT -- vol.4

day: 30

<div align="center"><a href="http://chunkygoddess.blogspot.com/" title="misadventures of a chunky goddess" target="_blank"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8uGyLRJ9HiY/TnApHBV-xVI/AAAAAAAAIE4/gaQAavBaP1A/s300/101333488_xrF8JesR_b_ImitateHDR_1.jpg" alt="misadventures of a chunky goddess" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

welcome to rock out with you crock out!!
this is my homage to my most favorite kitchen gadget ever – the blessed crock pot.
because even i can crock pot like a mofo!
i mean who can’t really??

and all of the recipes featured here will be healthy and/or weight watcher recipes – this is a weight loss blog after all.

so here it goes…

i have spent the past week looking for the perfect crock pot recipe .
and they are everywhere – balls to the walls crock pot recipes! only most aren’t what i would deem as *healthy* -- and yeah, that defeats the friggen purpose!
and the healthy ones i have seen done a bajillion times before…
yawn!

so i decided to take a favorite healthy recipe of mine (okay it’s goya’s as it right on their packaging – but i did tweak it a bit!) – 16 bean soup!

i will let the recipe do the talkin’ (i know you are shocked that i let anyone or anything get a word in edgewise huh?)
without further adieu…

16 bean crock pot soup
ingredients
12 serving(s) goya 16 bean soup mix, 1 package
1 medium onion(s), chopped
2 stalk(s) (large) celery, chopped
1 large carrot(s), chopped
1 leaf/leaves bay leaf
2 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), chopped
2 tsp olive oil
6 serving(s) jennie-o turkey store extra lean italian sausage, chopped
1 tsp table salt, to taste
1 tsp black pepper, to taste

instructions
soak & drain beans according to package.
brown turkey sausage in oil with chopped garlic until crispy. drain and set aside.
in crock pot combine beans & remaining ingredients (minus turkey sausage) with 6 cups of a water. cook on low for 6 - 8 hours or until beans are tender.
40 - 60 minutes before serving add browned turkey sausage. let soup stand for 15 -20 minutes before serving.
can be served over brown rice for additional pointsplus values. serving size = 1 cup. pointsplus® value: 6
this recipe is easy, yummy, & super healthy – perfect!
easily made into a vegan dish too – only omit the sausage – the beans make their own stock.

my kiddos blew us off in lieu of burgers and ice cream @ friendly’s – can you imagine? who could pass up this dish?
but bri & i loved it and i had mine with ½ cup brown rice bringing my pointsplus value to 9.

this was my convo between my 2 year old picky-butt daughter:
me: skylar wanna try this soup mommy made?
skylar: i put the leaves in! (she is a bay leaf pro btw!)
me: i know and you did fabulously – but how about some bean sou…
skylar: (running away , screaming with arms flailing) nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
(it was really that long of a *no*)

in unrelated news : not to brag (ha, yeah right!) but i have been kickin’ butt @ the gym this week! i think i am slowly becoming one of those peeps who not only likes exercise but looks forward to it?
*jaw drop*
and not to sound silly but last night when i was *werkin owt* i felt strong.
strong? is that the word i wanna use?
i dunno but that word best conveys how i felt.
i felt strong and tall – like my posture was better than it has been in eons.

i feel the old me in there somewhere – and i have missed that crazy bitch.
(no really, she is crazy as hell!)
she is clawing her way out and lemme tell ya – she is pretty fuckin’ miffed that i have let myself get this outta shape. i think she is just waiting for the right moment to jump me and kick my ass…
and i cannot wait!
i need my ass kicked!
spread the bloggy l♥ve, eat your veggies, and love yourself!
xxoo
cyn

ROCK OUT with your CROCK OUT -- vol.3

day: 23
hiya bloggy peeps!

<div align="center"><a href="http://chunkygoddess.blogspot.com/" title="misadventures of a chunky goddess" target="_blank"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8uGyLRJ9HiY/TnApHBV-xVI/AAAAAAAAIE4/gaQAavBaP1A/s300/101333488_xrF8JesR_b_ImitateHDR_1.jpg" alt="misadventures of a chunky goddess" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

welcome to rock out with you crock out!!
this is my homage to my most favorite kitchen gadget ever – the blessed crock pot.
because even i can crock pot like a mofo!
i mean who can’t really??

and all of the recipes featured here will be healthy and/or weight watcher recipes – this is a weight loss blog after all.

so here it goes…
first i gotta brag… cause that’s what ya do when ya gotta big crock!

kapow!

look at this brandy-new massive 7-quarts of hot kitchen gadget-ry!
and i got it all for my bitches (that’s you by the way) because… size does matter!

anywho --
tonight i made crock pot minestrone!
a recipe that my weight watcher leader tricia handed out last friday at our meeting (that nano second i was paying attention instead of being pissed off).
she snagged it off of skinnytaste -- an ah-may-zing site – go perv it when you can.

crock pot minestrone soup
gina's weight watcher recipes
servings: 6 • serving size: 1 1/2 cups • old points: 4 • points+: 5
calories: 215.7 • fat: 0.7 g • protein: 8.7 g • carb: 42.0 g • fiber: 6.7 g

1/2 onion, chopped
1 cup carrots, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (15 oz) can white beans, drained, rinsed (cannellini or navy)
3 cups fat free chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarians)
1 oz chunk of good parmesan cheese rind
1 fresh rosemary sprig
2 bay leaves
2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup chopped fresh italian parsley leaves
salt and fresh pepper
1 medium zucchini, chopped
2 cups chopped fresh or frozen (defrosted) spinach
2 cups cooked small pasta like ditalini or elbows (al dente)
extra parmesan cheese to top (extra pts)

(here are my shopping-on—budget ingredients)
rinse and drain beans. puree beans with 1 cup of the broth in a blender.

(i mashed in lieu of blender and it was fine)
in a crock pot, combine broth, tomatoes, pureed beans, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, herbs, parmesan cheese rind, salt and pepper. cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

(looks awesome and smells so freakin’ good)
forty minutes before the soup is done cooking, add zucchini and spinach. cover and cook 30 more minutes. add cooked pasta, cook 10 minutes more. remove bay leaves, rosemary sprig, parmesan rind and season to taste with salt and black pepper. ladle soup into bowls and top with extra parmesan cheese.

(i served with a crusty italian bread for extra points and some vegan parmesan on top for extra points)
i omitted the parmesan rind (seriously do people have this stuff lying around i ask you???). i also used tiny bowtie pasta and dry herbs (sadly as i fucking killed my herb garden a month ago).
i also found that this needed the full 8 hours of cooking time – although i doubled the recipe (was really way too much food) and because i am still tweaking my new crock pot.
(i gotta caress it like a new lovah and learn it’s turns on and such… apparently this bad boy likes to take his time --- purrrrrrrr, yeah baby!)

this is a super easy über delish recipe!
hearty, fresh, healthy, low in points and perfect for the impending fall weather (although we are still sweating balls here in rhode island and i am doubting fall will ever come our way?).
the 1 ½ cup serving (with the slice of bread) was more than enough to satisfy my amazonian hunger.
and perfect for my vegetarian/vegan friends!

two thumbs and a spoonful of minestrone up!
my family agrees -- they better – we have minestrone for days!

i believe my *can crock pot like a mofo* status is officially reinstated.
that’s right!

now go on – crock pot something why dontcha.

spread the bloggy l♥ve, eat your veggies, and love yourself!
xxoo
cyn

ROCK OUT with your CROCK OUT

day: 16

hello bloggy peeps!
another edition of rock out with your crock out – w00ts!
my quest to find easy -- yet healthy -- crock pot recipes that are lurkin’ out there in cyber space just waiting to be discovered and made into a favorite.
and trust me; this ain’t always so easy!
plus i gotta feed three hungy big-ass male types and my trap – so consider this a quest second to finding the fountain of youth!

in my search for a new recipe for this week i went to a tried and true favorite site as a repeat offender on weight watchers -- laa loosh. it has a vast list of weight watcher friendly recipes and even offers the points+ value. (unless it is an older recipe in which you will have to enter into the recipe builder on weight watchers online -- a pain in the ass i might add – but worth it if you are a anal retentive tracker like me!)

so i am always looking for something new that is not only healthy but something my brood will eat. what i found was creamy chicken and mushrooms macaroni crock pot recipe.
yeah, yeah, yeah okay i admit – it doesn’t even sound healthy – but it tries really freakin’ hard. plus when all else fails – i am not above slippin’ something green and leafy in there to at least get a veggie and some vitamins in.
and i was willing to give it a whirl in the effort to get brian (my lovah) to eat anything fat-free. he does *light* but fat-free is against his religion. and who can blame him – cause come on it doesn’t taste the same – i don’t care what anyone says!
i digress…
so here in the recipe – copied & pasted word for word via the site – link above will take ya right there even.

creamy chicken and mushrooms macaroni crock pot recipe
ingredients:
1 (10 3/4 oz.) can healthy request cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup land o lakes no-fat sour cream
16 oz. skinned & boned uncooked chicken breast, cut into 20 pieces
1 cup (one 4oz. can) sliced mushrooms, drained
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 1/3 cups (3oz) uncooked elbow macaroni
salt and pepper to taste
directions:
spray a slow cooker container with butter flavored cooking spray. in the prepared container, combine chicken soup & sour cream. stir in chicken, mushrooms, and onion. add uncooked macaroni. mix well to combine. cover & cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. gently stir again just before serving. enjoy! makes 4 servings.

serving size = 1 cup
each serving = 9 weight watches points+

okay – first of all lemme say this much – martha fucking stewart i am not –- so recipes in general are not my forte’- hence why i am doing a crock pot feature.
anyone can crock pot – even me – and as my profile says – i crock pot like a mofo!
but let me stop there and let the recipe do the talking…

so i got all my ingredients together – i have to double the recipe because no way in bloody hell would this feed my guys. (i opted for whole wheat elbows & 98% fat free cream of chicken soup -- but kept everything else to the *t*)

i mix it all together – and here is where i get a little scared.
something just didn’t look right.

right?
but hey what do i know – there were no photos (shoulda been my first clue and a rule from now on – no photo; no make! ).
about two hours in i take a peek and it really doesn’t look right. very dry and umm kinda gross.
so i do what any non-martha-fucking-stewart type would do.
i break out…

yeah, chicken broth fixes anything right? it’s like the duct tape of the pantry, no?

two more hours and now i am swearing.

me: umm what the fuck is this shit in my crock pot?
brian: i dunno? why?
me: because i dunno where my pasta went and i am about to lose my shit.
*looks into crockpot*
brian: oh yeah look at that shit, weird!

no word of a lie – not one elbow. not even a blooming trace of an elbow. and those little bastards were brown as hell and there isn’t even a brown speck!
i am befuddled!
and before you ask – yes, i followed the recipe exactly as it was written
well -- minus adding the chicken stock.
which I add more of because it just a pot of goo with the random chunk of chicken and a rare mushroom in it.
ew!
i add more chicken stock.
i add peas.
more chicken stock…
and this is what i get…

the only way i can think to describe it is that it was kinda, sorta, but not really like a half-assed pot of chicken in dumplings minus the dumplings and the tasty veggies.
yeah i tasted it – i had to.
it was starchy – of course – it had a 2 2/3 cups of annihilated pasta in it.
*sigh*
boo hoo!

so i did what any red-blooded non-martha-freaking-stewart type would do…
i called domino’s for my family…

and this for me.
yeah oatmeal for dinner.

it’s okay – i am a freakazoid and lurve oatmeal.

but needless to say – creamy chicken and mushrooms macaroni crock pot recipe was an utter flop. actually flop is too nice of a word and to call it a flop is an insult to decent flops!
it was starchy random chicken vile!
blech!
so yeah – don’t try this recipe – it suckeths!

nothing against laa loosh.
i have tried other recipes and had great success.
but nothing has ever been this bad.
ever!

remember the rule – no photo; no make!

i promise to find an actual edible recipe next time…
no really, i will – i have a crock pot like a mofo reputation to protect!

spread the bloggy l♥ve, eat your veggies, and love yourself!
cyn

warning:guard your skinny clothes

day: 15

hello blogdom!
can you believe i am just getting home from the gym?
yeah @ 11:30pm…
but most nights during the week i don’t get there until 9:30ish and i by the time i workout and tan (i know – so snooki) it’s late.
plus my gym buddy is my mom – and this is the only time our schedules gel.
it’s a small price to pay really and far better than not going at all.

my mom is a hot shit.
she is 63 and has had two hip replacements and she will run circles around you all considering. she might not kill it speed wise but miss thang has endurance!
we are very close and i love her to pieces but she also makes me nutty… heh.
don’t all moms?
i know my oldest son would like to duct tape my mouth on more than one occasion.

but ahem back to me…
so tonight i did 30 minutes on the eliptical again and i swear to all that holy that i thought my tits were gonna sweat right off me.
i was huffin’ it and all i am gonna say is this -- all you sexy gals shopping at my beloved tjmaxx (i am cheap and on a budget) best guard those skinny bitch sizes cause i am coming after them and i know how to shop like a mofo on a mission and i will find all the cool clothes!
oh i will…
oh yes – i fully admit that smaller clothes motivate me!
(among other things like health, longevity, this blog, and you phenomenal yet slightly mental peeps who read my drivel!)
there is no effin’ shame in vanity my friends.
(told ya i adore sex & the city and wanna be carrie bradshaw when i grow up)

plus…
i am sick to death of shopping in the ali baba tent section and still looking like shit.
honestly – a big ass top does not make you look thinner.
i hate that mentality.
because it perpetuates the denial i tend to suffer when it comes to how i really look and what i really weigh. hiding what i know it under that big top or baggy pants but too chicken shit to confront it.
but that is a whole other blog post.
the psychology of my fat.

boo hiss what a downer i am being aye?
but sometimes ya gotta be reminscent of that which got you where you are…
i never want to forget because i never wanna be there/here again!

so just a head’s up…
rock out with your crock out tomorrow -- w00ts -- trying out another new recipe and it is super easy peasy again.
l♥vin’ it!
i promise the pics will be better this week. sometimes i rock the camera and other times you can tell i prolly forgot and am staging photos. not saying that is what i did last week (that is totally what i did) but you know how it is.

happy monday ya’ll – let’s make this week spectacular by owning it, rocking it, and loving it!
spread the bloggy l♥ve, eat your veggies, and love yourself!
cyn

*** thanking google images unless noted***

***just wanna say that i totalllllly suck at replying to comments sometimes -- i have a crazy ass toddler who i am potty training, two teenagers, my lovah, oh and me (i am a full-time job alone!) -- that gets me slack right? anywho -- i read every single word and l♥ve you all for taking the time to just write let along write such nice things. and i always return the follow and the like -- it is the courteous thing to do and i fully support my fellow bloggers and am madly in love with this community -- the good, the bad, and the ugly!

mwahsssssssssssssssss***

ROCK OUT with your CROCK OUT

hello blogdom!
welcome to the very first edition of ROCK OUT with you CROCK OUT!!
this is my homage to my most favorite kitchen gadget ever – the blessed crock pot.
because even i can crock pot like a mofo!
i mean who can’t really??

and all of the recipes featured here will be healthy and/or weight watcher recipes – this is a weight loss blog after all.

so here it goes…
i got this amazing recipe from a great blog mel gets fit i found recently – actually this recipe was her very first post i ever read and along with this kickass recipe she claimed, and i quote…

“this is, by far, one of my all-time favorite crockpot recipes. i know it sounds like an odd combination of ingredients, but it really is tasty, promise.”

i was sold and here is my version of mel’s cranberry crockpot chicken. (links take ya right to her blog – do check her out and give her some due love)

cranberry crockpot chicken
recipe type: entree author: melgetsfit.com prep time: 10 mins cook time: 6 hours total time: 6 hours 10 mins serves: 6
ingredients
1.5 pounds uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast
14 oz canned cranberry sauce, whole or jelly
1 cup kraft fat free catalina dressing
1 packet dry onion soup mix
instructions
spray the crockpot with non-stick cooking spray.
mix together all ingredients in crockpot except for the chicken, then add the chicken and mix to coat with the sauce.

cook for 6-8 hours on low.
serve with rice or pasta (not includes in pointsplus value).
weight watchers pointsplus™ value: 7

okay i am just gonna get to the point – this recipe is über delish.
savory and sweet and the chicken is so tender -- hence why it looks a little wonky in the final pic i took.
but the best part – it is beyond easy.
there is nothing to chop or prep. if you can open a box and operate a can opener you are officially a crockpottin’ pro with this recipe.
and folks seriously – this is how all crockpot recipes should be. the whole premise is to plop it in, set the temp, go off without a care in the world, and come back to food fit for the gods.

this recipe totally delivers that and we are but mere mortals.
i loved it
brian loved it
and my two teenage sons loved it
our two year old daughter would rather eat dirt -- okay not true; she wouldn't eat this or dirt.

despite the picky eating habits of a toddler -- this meal was a success!

easy, delish, and a healthy option -- win/win/win!

and there ya have it...
eat your veggies and love yourself!
cyn

pssssst... gotta a killer recipe ya wanna share -- spill it or we can definitely link up somehow! thanks!