MSIH: Slow-Cooker Crack Chicken

I was feeling a little housebound last week and told my sis I'd make them food if she told me what she wants and sends a recipe ('cuz that's half the battle - thinking of what to make!); she sent a handful of recipes she's been saving - she says she was saving them because they seemed like recipes she could make but I'm wondering if she was really saving them waiting for me to ask hahahah. 

First up is 'slow-cooker crack chicken'. This is not a recipe that would have caught my eye, it just seems like dip to me but the blurb says to serve over potatoes, rice, pasta, rolls, etc. so it's meant to be dinner. Ok - nothing like dip on pasta for dinner but who am I to judge LOL.

Jen's review in her words:

Can’t remember what this was named- maybe Crack Chicken?  HAHAHAA.. that’s a name that sets up high expectations.

My sister told me this could be put over noodles, bread, in a tortilla, etc.

I thought that seemed weird and chose over pasta. (why on earth would I put chicken in a sauce on bread?).  After one bite I realized why.  It was thick enough to definitely be on bread or inside a tortilla. Maybe an enchilada/burrito.  It had great flavor, cheesy, with just the right amount of interesting tang.  I do have to say I think if putting over pasta it actually had too much chicken and not enough sauce.  The Chicken was very thick making a weird chicken/pasta ratio.  Good but thick.  As a filling for burrito or on a sub bun it would have been perfect.  

 

No idea what is in it but if it isn’t too complicated I would make it again. 

 

Love this. yum. 

• 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 2 packets dry ranch seasoning, or homemade ranch seasoning (click for recipe)
• 2 (8 oz) blocks cream cheese
• 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• chopped green onions for garnish (note I omitted these, didn't have on hand)

Place the chicken in a slow cooker. Sprinkle with dry ranch seasoning. Top with cream cheese (cut into smaller pieces). Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours, or high for 4 hours. Do not overcook or the chicken might dry out. 

Once cooked, remove the chicken from the sauce in the crockpot and shred with 2 forks. Return to the crock pot, stir into the cream cheese sauce. Top with bacon and shredded cheese, cover until cheese is melted. 

recipe found here recipecritic

Jill here: I made extra of this and had it for dinner mixed with whole wheat fettuccini noodles. It's definitely a lot of chicken and not super saucy, think pulled chicken consistency - I thought about adding broth to loosen it up but I didn't, just tossed it with the pasta so the noodles were coated but not saucy. We liked it and I agree, I'd make it again - maybe not over pasta but in enchiladas or over rice I think I'd really like. 

2.3.21: valentine layered cookies 

2.3.20: doctored up brownies

2.3.19: 🔥week 5

2.3.18: football toss game

2.3.17: root beer bbq pulled pork

2.3.16: cookie bites

 

Dry Ranch Seasoning

I made a recipe that my sis found for 'slow-cooker crack chicken' the other day, it called for dry ranch seasoning packets which I didn't have on hand and didn't feel like going to the store - fortunately the recipe also included notes how to make your own dry ranch seasoning so I went with that. I wasn't sure if I had buttermilk powder so that led to my emptying my baking cabinet looking for some, sure enough I did! Not sure why but it came in handy for making this seasoning blend. You can find it in the baking aisle at the grocery store if you for some weird reason don't have this laying around hahahha. 

• 1/2 cup buttermilk powder
• 1T. dried chives
• 1 T. dried parsley
• 2 t. garlic powder
• 2 t. onion powder
• 1 t. dried dill
• 1 t. salt
• 1/2 t. pepper 

Whisk all ingredients together in a small mixing bowl. Store in an air-tight container for up to 3 months. Note some buttermilk powder formulas require refrigeration after opening, if that's the case for yours then (obviously) store this blend in the fridge. 

3 T. seasoning blend = one packet dry ranch mix. If you want to make ranch dressing using this seasoning, whisk it together 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup mayo, and 3/4 cup milk.

recipe found here 

2/2/21: tip-sy tuesday room temp butter tip 

2.2.20: 🔥week 5

2.2.19: groundhog day card or decoration

2.2.18: super bowl games

2.2.17: preserved lemons

2.2.16: organizing wrapping and tissue paper

Tip-sy Tuesday: how to make a heart-shaped cake

This is not my photo or my idea, but it's such a simple way to make a heart-shaped cake for Valentine's day (or whenever you want to make a heart-shaped cake!). Simply bake a square and a round cake, cut the round one in half and place next to each other on either side of the square. Attach it with some frosting to  make the heart, then frost the entire cake - and of course add sprinkles as desired. Easy!

Note - this is probably obvious and I'm not trying to insult your math skills, but the half circles will nicely fit along the square cake if you bake both layers in the same size/dimension pan. For instance - an 8" round and an 8" square, or both of them 9"...you get the picture. If you don't have the same size then I'm sure you can do a little cake surgery to make them fit together!

2.1.21: pleated paper heart

2.1.20: Miss Lori's winter wreath

2.1.19: Jen's baby poop party dip

2.1.18: squat challenge

2.1.17: triple berry muffins

2.1.16: repurposed frame

Valentine Wreath

Miss Lori heard my request (more like plea) if anyone wanted to guest blog and sent me this project she did for Valentines Day wreaths - what a great idea, crafty and thrifty = love it!  As always - thanks for sharing, Miss Lori! Here's what she did to make store-bought hearts into something really special, in her words: 

As usual, when it gets crazy cold here I do some crafts! I picked up two hearts and two rolls of ribbon from the Dollar Tree, added a couple things from my stash and whipped these up for my front doors! I had the beautiful wreaths from LeDonna up for the holidays and decided to change to Valentine decor for a bit.💗I love my pink all year long!

(before) decorated for the winter holidays...doesn't her front porch look pretty?!

after - all set for Valentines!

1.31.21: 🔥week 5

1.31.20: napa (cabbage) salad

1.31.19: wire scottie overhaul

1.31.18: Tesha's Texas Caviar 

1.31.17: hair bump trick

 
1.31.16: pretzel hugs 

🔥 Around the Campfire (week 5)

Dear Campers ~

Here's the recap for the last week of 'rerun-uary' posts - the longest stretch I've ever done repeats but let me tell ya', sometimes life gets crazy and there is just no time to be creative. I've had a January. 

Every day this past week I did a post of other posts that were posted on the same day thru the years (how many times can I use the word 'post' in one sentence you ask?):

1/23: 🔥 week 4 recap

1/24: candy cane hearts, avocado toast, changing up a side table, lamb stew, body wash

1/25: beaded mask leash, cauli parm, spirit gloves, anniversary card, stuffed squash, stamped floor mat

1/26: cabbage leaves, Ron's moms dinner, heart garland, gemstone soap, honey lime dressing

1/27: galumpkis, diy not dui craft, words, slime, displaying recipes

1/28: ham salad, micro tip, mimosas, guest room prep, glass cleaner, enchilada casserole

1/29: air fryer avocado, lemon rosemary chicken, curly willow, paper pouch, roasted tomato soup

Thanks for being good sports about reading all my repeat posts (or if you haven't been a good sport then thanks for not telling me that you haven't been hahha). Coming up this week I have a couple good Valentine crafts from Miss Lori to show you so stay tuned! 

Sincerely ~

Jill

camp counselor

1.30.21: creamy chicken soup

1.30.20: tbt cardinal salad

1.30.19: chocolate mint crackles

1.30.18: baked ham and cheese sliders (and other Super Bowl ideas)

1.30.17: heart cork wreath or trivet

1.30.16: sweet sunrise mocktail

Thru the years: January 29

Last re-run for the month - what was posted on January 29th thru the (camping) years:

1.29.21: air fryer avocado

1.29.20: lemon rosemary chicken (starting with a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken, easy!)

1.29.19: curly willow branches

1.29.18: folded paper pouch

1.29.17: creamy roasted tomato soup

1.29.16: homemade playdough

Thru the years: January 28

Continuing with the theme of posts posted on this date in past years:

1.28.21: old fashioned ham salad

1.28.20: TT microwaving tip

1.28.19: DIY glass cleaner

1.28.18: salsa verde pork enchilada casserole

1/28/17: mimosas

1/28/16: guest room tips (organizing and getting ready for guests)

Thru the years: January 27

Ever wondered what was posted on this date in 2016? Gotcha covered: 

1.27.21: galumpkis (stuffed cabbage rolls)

1.27.20: Mason jar cork jar (DIY not DUI)

1.27.19: 🔥week 4

1.27.18: words ~ your story

1.27.17: slime

1.27.16: displaying recipes

Thru the years: January 26

Enjoying the trip down camp memory lane? Here's what happened on January 26th in years past:

1.26.21: TT separating cabbage leaves

1.26.20: 🔥week 4

1.26.19: Ron's Mom's dinner (aka 'the okra dish')

1.26.18: Brooke made gemstone soap

1.26.17: Valentine heart garland

1.26.16: honey lime dressing

Thru the Years: January 25

What happened on this date in past years at Make My Day Camp? 

1.25.21: beaded mask leash

1.25.20: cauliflower parmesan 

1.25.19: spirit gloves (sew pompoms onto glove fingertips)

1.25.18: anniversary card

1.25.17: Kyle's sausage stuffed acorn squash

1.25.16: stamped floor mat