Crock Pot Classics: Mexican Chili Chicken

I have a confession to make: I love my Crock Pot. A lot. My Crock Pot is, however nearing the end of its poor little life. Its old. Really old. Plus, I have made more of our dinners in that thing in the last year than I have not. Who can blame me though? I can dump a bunch of things in there, turn it on and forget it. I don't have to check on it or worry about leaving it home alone. I usually don't even have to make anything to go with whatever it is in there because its like having a one pot, complete meal.

Anyway, I thought I would start sharing some of my favorite Crock Pot meals when I think of it. Now, I have to admit, I am no food blogger. I'm also not that great of a food photographer even though that is something I intend to work on over the year. So, You will have to bear with me as I figure all this out and forgive the lack of pictures in this post. Just use your imagination. I promise you will recognize the ingredients.

Speaking of which, here is what you will need to make my Mexican Chili Chicken:

• A Crock Pot (obviously)
• 2 medium-ish green bell peppers, cut into strips (I freeze bell pepper strips in bulk in the summer so I can just throw a handful or two in)
• 1 large onion, quartered and sliced into strips (I also freeze diced onions and add a handful. Depends on how big you like your onions in things.)
• 8 Chicken breasts or thighs (bone-in tastes best)
• 1Tbsp chili powder

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• 1 jar chipoltle salsa (16oz)
• 1/2c ketchup
• 1 tsp liquid smoke flavor (or to taste)
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp cornstarch
• 2 Tbsp water
• Noodles or rice (Whichever you have/ like. Either is good)

Once you have gathered the items above the line, assemble them all in the pot. Veggies on the bottom, then the chicken, chili powder and salsa on top. You can sprinkle a little bit of ground cumin in on top of the chili powder too if you want. It makes it a little more chicken-y. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours. It really does make a difference in the chicken though so if you have the time, cook it on low for more moist, flavorful chicken.

After the allotted time, check to make sure the meat is cooked with a meat thermometer or how ever your mama taught you to. After that, I go ahead and make the noodles or rice to go with it. That way its ready in the serving dish for the next step. Go ahead an mix the ingredients below the line together as well and set them to the side. You can skip the cornstarch and water if you like, they just make the sauce a little thicker. I would suggest making it without and adding it at the end if you decide its too thin.

Take the chicken out of the pot and place on top of the noodles or rice and cover with foil to keep it warm. I usually put the whole dish in a warmed but turned off oven for to keep it warm but I like my food to be quite hot. Turn the Crock Pot up to high.

Now, mix the ketchup mixture into the liquid in the Crock Pot and let it cook for a bit. I usually let it cook about 15 minutes or so. Much less and it doesn't get warm enough, longer and it might burn. Uncover your chicken and whatnot and pour the sauce over the whole shebang.

Eat. Yum.

Thats it. Easy peasy, no? This is what I would call medium spicy. If you like things to be a bit more spicy, I would suggest adding a little cayenne pepper or hot sauce to the ketchup mixture at the end. If you add it before you cook the chicken, it tastes... odd. Later is better.

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Adventures with Pop Rocks

2012 List

Here we go again ladies and gentlemen! Every year for the last 8 years, Tommy and I have had a list of things to accomplish. For the last 3 I have blogged about them for you all to see, learn from, or hold against me (2010, 2011). Hopefully more the last two than the last. Still, the premise is simple: 12 things, 12 months, 12 posts.

1. Travel. Its time for this little family to do some vacationing again. Near or far, its time to get the lead out and head out of town. Heck, I would prefer out of state but I would take out of metro. Who knows, we may even find ourselves a new home! Gatlinburg!

2. Redo my kitchen. If the kitchen is the pulse of the home, mine is flat lining. The dishes and lack of decor left over from our newlywed days are seriously wearing thin on me. The plates and such are pretty but not my style and with as much time as I spend cooking, I deserve a nice space. Completed 12/18!

3. Clear out some old kids things. Ideally I would like to put a ton of items in a consignment sale. Its time to let go of some of the things from their past, no matter how much it pains me. Completed!

4. Read a book. The whole thing. I am an information and book junkie and it has been a long time since I got a whole book done without forgetting. I read Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson! / I also re-read The Help by Kathryn Stockett! (I totally didn't post about these because.. seriously? I read a book. Yay me.)

5. Host a dinner party. I don't care if its just a few people or a hundred. The last gathering we had at our house was after a funeral and its time to correct that juju. Plus, its time to put some of those Pinterest ideas to work!

6. Complete the 30 Random Acts of Kindness challenge. A good friend of mine did this last year and I was inspired to do the same. If nothing else, its a good karma booster. Completed in November!

7. Get D involved in an activity outside the house. I have been struggling with signing him up for dance classes for awhile but its time for him to get out there and get some exercise. So, I am going to look into some trial classes on a bunch of different things and go from there. Hopefully it will be a quick decision. He started Preschool! / And T-ball and Soccer!

8. Revamp my wardrobe/ look. Seriously. Its rather sad. Its been years since I bought new shoes. I don't even want to tell you how old most of my tshirts are. So, yeah. Its time. (Hold me. I'm scared!) I lost 30 pounds! / I cut my hair! / I got my eyes updated!

9. Visit the World of Coca Cola in Atlanta. I have never been to the new building and I think we would enjoy it. Plus, its right next to the Olympic Park fountains so the kids get to have some fun too! Completed in December!

10. Work on my photography. I have gotten so terribly lax on learning and trying to make things look good. I went from selling a few pieces to hardly touching my camera. I am far from a photographer but its something I enjoy. Rather than another failed 365 attempt, I decided to just take some time, or maybe a course, on learning to do it right. I need to make time for my hobby if nothing else.  Check out the Photo Mojo Challange!

11. Go on a family bike ride. Of course, everyone but me has a bike though so this is kind of a two part type deal. First: Buy me a bike. Second: Family bike ride. Bonus: Take a picnic

12. Spend some time dancing in the rain with just my husband. We used to dance in the rain every chance we got. After having kids, it seems to be one of the things we let go of. Of course we still jump in puddles with the boys but its just not quite the same. He gave up on me. / So I did it with my boys instead.

 Last year I completed them all. Let see if I can do it again!