Just for Erin...

I told my newlywed friend Erin that I would post some of my favorite crockpot recipes for her(EVEN THOUGH SHE IS NOT OFFICIALLY FOLLOWING MY BLOG YET!) so here is one...

Crockpot Rotissere Chicken

The leftover chicken is phenomenal the next day in chicken and blackbean quesadillas!


1 whole chicken, skinned (4-5 pounds)
3 tsp salt
1-2 tsp paprika (I like a little more)
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp dried thyme (optional)
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp black pepper
pinch of chili pepper (probably not necessary doesn't nec make it spicy but adds flavor)
4 whole garlic cloves (optional i used 2-3 tsp of the chopped garlic that comes in a jar in the prod section)
1 yellow onion, quartered (optional i only used about a half of an onion)

Skin the chicken and get rid of the neck and other stuff from the cavity. This takes a while, and is gross. You have to do this to keep the chicken from being slimy and greasy and gross. .In a bowl, combine all of dried spices. Rub the spice mixture all over the bird, inside and out. Plop the bird breast-side down into the crockpot.If desired, shove garlic and onion inside the bird. Do not add water. Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours, or on low for 8. The meat is done when it is fully cooked and has reached desired tenderness. The longer you cook it, the more tender the meat. so yummy!

please pray...

Please pray for a very special family who are near and dear to my heart. They had a devastating loss, a family member who took his own life and left a wonderful woman and two beautiful children. Please keep them in your prayers.

a new job...

So excited i found out i got a new job today! Three big pluses: so close to home (live 5 minutes) days WOO HOO!) and it's six to six so i can be home for dinner every night!! of course the new job apprehension is always there! they are letting me off for our already planned family vacation but will i be able to get off for the little stuff? either way so excited!

btw P doesnt want to live with us anymore I didnt think they were supposed to start that until they were like fifteen and she's only four! she's hilarious she wants to live wherever she will never get a spanking or a time out! they say the funniest things at this age!

a nice weekend off...

This weekend I was actually off the whole weekend and we had a very nice relaxing weekend. Saturday mike golfed in his company's annual golf tournament and the kids and I attended cooking class at Young Chefs Academy, too cute! They made strawberry slushies and soft pretzels. The pretzels they liked but the slushies both kids said were to spicy! I think they meant icy as in cold, but it was cute so I didn't correct them! Then Sunday we all went to the beach as a family! Mike and I reminisced about the days when all we needed for the beach was a towel! It was a good time none the less! My children love the beach! It is the one place that they don't fuss and fight! They don't need to be entertained, there is no whining! They just play and play! It is soooooo nice!

Crazy weekend crammed with quality family time...

I wasnt feeling to well at the beginning of the weekend so I wasn't really sure how it would go but we ended up having a very nice/busy weekend. We did the traditional dye the eggs thing with the kids which they loved! See above!

Then Sunday of course the easter bunny had come so we had basket time, then church where the kids were moderately good. Then we traveled to brandon to mimis (yummy!) for breakfast with mikes family. Then home to change clothes and pick up my baked treats to take to my moms for lunch and an easter egg hunt! By then we were exhausted but made a last minute decision to swing by my aunts house to see my cousins and aunt and uncle. whew! so tired the kids conked out by seven and i wasnt far behind them! overall it was nice but I am beat!