Crockpotting or Slow Cookering...whichever

You know how Oprah has her favorite things?  I have some too, and I want to share one today because I love to share awesome things with my friends.  (Also, my things are better than Oprah's things because you can actually afford them.)

My new awesome obsession is with the crockpot or slow cooker.  But mine is actually called crockpot, so I say crockpot.  I should give her a name.  Betty?  Betty Crockpot?  Anyway, I came across this blog in the past month, and I'm trying to cook in my crockpot at least once a week now.  I'd like to move up to twice a week soon.  The things I look for in a blog and in a recipe are how EASY they are.  This blog and it's recipes are easy, for reals!  I love recipes that you can throw together with most of the items you already have around and ones you can prepare in advance (holla back working moms!).  Did you know you can bake potatoes in a crockpot?  And, make banana bread?  And make crayons?  You can.  I hope you'll now go give your crockpot some love.

I'll always remember my first crockpot experience as a fond one.  And call me crazy, but I think it help cultivate my interest in cooking.  In my recipe box it's labeled "Janie Phillips Brunswick Stew," and it's amazing.  Especially the next day and with a good batch of cornbread.  My dear friend Allison made it for me once, and she swore it was easy.  So since I had recently received a crockpot as a wedding gift and she gave me the recipe, I gave it a whirl.  And, I didn't fail!  I have kind of always been intimidated with cooking, and I really think the crockpot helped me overcome that because it made me realize how stinkin' easy cooking can be if you know your strengths.  For example, my strength is following simple recipes that have a LOT of wiggle room on the timing and ingredients (with that said, obviously baking is not my strength).   

Another reason I love this blog is because the author occasionally uses the term "dude", and I do too!  And sometimes she completely fails at recipes, and I do too!  So, I feel as though we'd be pals in real life.  Anne would call us bosom buddies... anyone out there still remember/read/love Anne of Green Gables??  If so, we're probably bosom buddies too! 

Farewell my dear sweet friends,

Jodi (with an i)   

Creamy Italian Chicken

This is so easy and you can put it in the crockpot!

4-6 (depending on size) boneless, skinless chicken breast

1/4 cup water

1 package italian dressing mix

1 package cream cheese (I do 1/3 less fat), softened

1 can cream of mushroom soup

Mix together water and italian dressing. Place chicken in crockpot and pour water mixture over chicken. Cook for 1 hour on high. Whisk together cream cheese and soup then pour over chicken. Cook 3 hours on low. Before serving take chicken out and whisk the sauce to make sure it is creamy. Serve over rice or egg noodles.

If you want to do it in the oven, cook covered chicken for 20 minutes at 350. Take chicken out and pour soup mixture over chicken. Continue cooking until chicken is completely cooked and sauce is bubbly. Remember to wisk the sauce!