CrockPot Saves the Day

Thank goodness for the crockpot! With Kimball taking gymanstics 2 afternoons a week now (and living 30min. from the gym) the crockpot has become a necessity. I am having to move beyond roasts in the crockpot. So, here's attempt #1.

Shepherd’s Pie
1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained (I always cook all my ground beef as soon as I bring it home from the store and then store it in 1 lb. bags making dinners like this one even easier!)
1 can Condensed Tomato soup
1 can Corn, Drained
1 can Green Beans, Drained
2 C. Instant Mashed Potatoes, prepared (use either left over mashed potatoes or you can use potato pearls or flakes from your food storage)
2 C. Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/2 t. Dried Basil In a separate bowl, combine beef, tomato soup, corn, beans, and basil. Pour mixture in the bottom of a greased 3 1/2 to 5-quart slow cooker. Spread mashed potatoes on top. cover and cook on low heat 5-6 hours. The last hour of cooking ,sprinkle cheese on top of potatoes.
Makes 4-6 servings.

**While this recipe was okay, (Dallin LOVED it), Todd, Kimball and I thought it was okay. The other two - not so much. We might make it again, but as Todd said "Not for a while.)

Food Storage Tuesday

So I tried this recipe tonight and loved it. The flavors are great. I will definitely make this again; everyone but my little boys enjoyed it. Does this count as using food storage if not all of the ingredients are long/short-term storage items, but fresh in my fridge/freezer?

Lentil Soup Recipe #16662 from recipezaar.com

Wonderful on a cold snowy night served with homemade cornbread with maple butter and fried potatoes.

by Karen From Colorado

55 min | 10 min prep

SERVES 8 -10

• 1 lb dried lentils
• 8 cups cold water (I did half chicken broth/half water)
  
• 1 (16 ounce) can tomatoes, chopped
• 4-5 slices bacon, cut up
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 medium carrots, chopped
• 3 teaspoons parsley
• 2 teaspoons wine vinegar
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 large bay leaf

1. Combine all ingredients in a Dutch oven.
2. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes.

Resolutions and a New Year

This year I have set a large number of goals. I want this blog to be a record of the things that I have tried, things that worked, and things that went oomph!

These would be a few of my goals. I hope to try something every day.

1. To cook a meal using my food storage every week.
2. To try a new recipe every week.
3. To scrapbook at least one layout a week.
4. To exercise at least 3 times/week.
5. Paint at least 1 room a month
6. Connect with old friends
7. Make an effort to make new friends here.

Now, I know I had more set, but since it took me at least this long to even start this blog, I lost the list. I'll update when I remember some of the others.