What's in the Cookie Jar? And Recipe Link Party

Well, there's nothing in the cookie jar.....but I did make this wonderfully yummy Chicken Tortilla Soup!  I leave the baking to one of the other krazychics, Renee.  She's a much better baker than I.
I found this recipe out of......wait...wait....your never gonna believe it.....Rival Crock Pot, Recipes for Every Occasion.  I'm always looking to make something new.....same ol'  same ol' just gets sooooooo BORING! Besides, I'm a hockey mom and on those nights of practice, well we don't get home till 7p, so who really wants to cook at that time.  I love my crock pot, and when I say "love" I really mean LOVE in all CAPS!
So I tried and I conquered! It turned out fan-tab-u-lous!  I will definately be making this again and soon!

Chicken Tortilla Soup
4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs ( I used breasts)
1 can (4oz) chopped mild green chilies, drained
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 yellow onion, diced
2 cans (15oz each) diced tomatoes, including juice
1/2 to 1 cup chicken broth
1 tsp cumin
salt and pepper to taste
2 TBL chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Juice of 1 line
4 corn tortillas, sliced into 1/4 inch strips
1/2 cup shredded monterey jack cheese
1 avocado, seeded, peeled, diced and tossed with lime juice to prevent browning

1. Place chicken in crock-pot slow cooker
2. Combine chilies, garlic, onion, tomatoes, 1/2 cup chicken broth and cumin in a small bowl. Pour mixture over chicken.
3. Cook on High for 3 hours. (I did 6 hours) When chicken is tender use the tines of 2 forks to shred the meat. Adjust seasonings adding additional broth if necessary.
4. Just before serving, add tortillas and cilantro to crock-pot. Stir to blend.
5. Serve in soup bowls, topping each serving with cheese, avocado and a squeeze of lime juice.

Enjoy! ***Candie****

Fun Valentines Art Project, Posted by Winters Wonderland

My friend over at Winters Wonderland found this in a magazine, stated below.  And I thought what a fun idea to share with all of our viewers too!  Very kid friendly project.......well I wouldn't let my kids use the iron.....but making the shavings and cutting out would be great for them.  Thanks Heather!

Fun Valentines Art Project

Compliments of Martha Stewart. These look fun, I am going to make them with the kids tomorrow. Happy Heart making!



Directions: Begin with a 12-by-16-inch sheet of waxed paper. Fold it in half along its length; unfold. Deposit wax-crayon shavings (made with a handheld pencil sharpener) evenly but not thickly across one half of the paper. Fold the clean half of the paper over the shavings. Crimp the three open edges with a 1/2-inch fold to hold the shavings. Protect your ironing surface with kraft paper. Place the waxed paper on the kraft paper, and cover it with another sheet of kraft paper. Iron lightly on medium heat, checking after every few passes. Stop when all the shavings have melted; let cool. Next, trace and cut out hearts of various sizes. String each heart with a silk thread for hanging.

What's in the Cookie Jar?

So, I wasn't very inspired this weekend and got no cooking done, but I did manage to crank these delicious morsels of heaven out and let me tell you, you should all stop what you are doing right now and make a batch!! Here's the receipe for Scotcheroos:

• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 6 cups Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® cereal
• or 6 cups Kellogg's® Cocoa Krispies® cereal
• 1 package (6 oz., 1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate morsels
• 1 cup butterscotch chips

Directions

1. Place corn syrup and sugar into 3-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until sugar dissolves and mixture begins to boil. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter. Mix well. Add KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated. Press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Set aside.

2. Melt chocolate and butterscotch chips together in 1-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Spread evenly over cereal mixture. Let stand until firm. Cut into 2 x 1-inch bars when cool.

And here's what they look like:

Basically just a fancy Rice Crispy Treat, but it's got Peanut Butter & Choc in 'em so naturally they are marvelous.  Maybe next week I will be a little more prepared and have this post up before 2 p.m.!?!

Anyway, let me know what your making this week!
~hugs~
Renee

Recipe

Here is the link for the Sausage Stars....didn't show up before, I'm sure it was user error!! haha

Super Bowl food

Happy Friday my friends!! I can't even express how glad I am this week is just about over (for those unfortunate ones still at work) It's been LOOOOONNNNNGGG! Just wondering what your doing for the big game and what your makin to munch on. We are going to our neighbors house and am bringing these delicious goodies called Sausage Stars..... if your interested. Look yummy so we'll see!! Will be cooking up a storm again this weekend preparing meals for next weeks dinners, it really made things so much less stressful this week. Any receipes you wanna forward on for us to try wld be awesome too!!
Hope you all enjoy your weekend and don't forget "What's in the cookie jar?" for Monday!! Get to baking people!!
~hugs~
Renee

Valentine Craft

I don't usually decorate for valentines day, but this year I decided why not. So, I just did a little something above our mantle. My oldest helped me do the heart garland. I used my cricut to cut out the heart shapes and then took a scrapbook hole punch and punched the hearts on both ends. Then I put a brad thru them to make the garland. It was super easy and fast. My son and I had fun making it.

~Lindsay

Coffee Table

I have been coffee table free for almost 3 years now. When my oldest started walking they were a total nightmare. My boys have always lead with there heads and the coffee table always won. So, I got rid of all of them and now I am slowly bringing them back. I didn't want to pay alot of money, but since it isn't exactly yard sale season I thought that my very talented Hubby could make me one. So he Did. It is basically Two pieces of plywood and 4 chair legs cut to size. The whole Giant coffee table cost us only $100.00 with paint and all. It is 3ft by a little over two feet. I absolutley love it! It goes very nice with everything. I have distressed it a little and antiqued it a bit, but I am still looking for the right glaze for the top.

Now I need to work on decorating the massive thing!

~Lindsay