Crock Pot 101

If you're a working girl like me and you don't own a slow cooker, you are nuts! Here are four reasons why I'm a crack pot with my crock pot, and you should be, too:

1. Your boyfriend/husband/roommate/mooch friends will think you've slaved all day on a delicious meal for them, when all you did was plug-in your crock pot.
2. The food cooks all day while you are at work - and tastes better when cooked slowly and evenly like it does in your crock pot.
   
3. You can make whole meals (Moroccan chicken, Chili, Beef Wellington...to name a few), a delicious homemade, pasta sauce with balls or even desserts!
4. Other than the crock pot, there are virtually NO dishes to clean at the end of the meal. Hooray for soft, moisturized hands!

RECIPE: Chicken Cacciatore

Ingredients

3 skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp. olive oil

1/2 tsp salt

Dash pepper

1 tbsp onion flakes

1 green pepper, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup red wine or chicken broth

1 15-oz can tomato sauce

1 4-oz can sliced mushrooms, drained (or 1 c. fresh)

1 bay leaf

1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried oregano

2 tbsp pimiento, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

Directions

1. In a large skillet, brown chicken in oil on both sides. Set aside.
2. Combine ingredients, except for chicken, in slow cooker.
3. Add chicken on top.
4. Cover; cook on Low 7-9 hours.
5. Serve over white rice or spagetti.

Repeat after me: I will not be made a slave in the kitchen!

scooters, vacation, fall

So, I guess I drew the short straw and get to post the first civilian blog!

I have to admit that blogs are a new form of writing for me, and I’m not sure I’ll be good at it… I also feel a little hypocritical or guilty that I’m taking the time to do this instead of working on something I could submit for publication, which has been my new year’s resolution for the past ten years.

Anyway, let’s talk about what’s on all our minds: GNR’s new album. It’s terrible. It sounds nothing like the early stuff—and no wonder, it is a totally different band. Come on, Axl, shake out the braids and get your shit together. How can it take anyone nine years to produce that garbage??

Next topic: snow. Hate the slush, hate the cold, hate the bad roads, hate everything about it, hate it.

Global warming: “warming” up to it.

Baby seals: helpless, cute, should not be clubbed to death.

Women with too many babies: ridiculous, fame-hungry, should be clubbed to death.

A-rod: deserves Maddona.

Ed McMahon: feel better, buddy.

Giant or colossal squid: would love to see one alive (though not up close and personal).

Thug life: not for me.

Elves: helpful, friendly, great lawn ornaments if used in moderation.

-Lisa

Winter rage & the effects of S.A.D.

Yesterday I hid behind the fridge in our kitchen and crammed 4 consecutive pieces of coconut crème chocolates (you know those Russell Stover’s) into my mouth in a gluttonous rage. Why the rage? Winter does not seem to want to end. I miss the hot sun and flip-flops and fruit smoothies and my friends. My new, Connecticut friends, whose names are TLC, MTV, Fox, and Hagan Daas, leave me feeling unmotivated, sad, and bloated.

I decided I would make some New Year’s resolutions (hey, better late than never):

#1. Discontinue my secret nightly routine of gorging on bon-bons. My inner thighs will thank me later.

#2. Save my eyesight by reducing my weekly TV consumption and unplug the drug!

#3. Learn to play the guitar even if it means calloused finger pads, stunted nail growth, and hang nails.

#4. Convince my Vermont friends to move down to Connecticut by launching a fierce online campaign, using scare tactics, and promising them the world (hey, it worked for Obama – I’m just kidding, guys, come on! I braved all your Bush-isms…)

#5. Resist the urge to break into a run towards my local tanning salon.

-JM