Pinterest Project Update: 8 Slow Cooker Meals in 1 Hour

We have now tried all 8 meals from the 8 Meals in One Hour pin floating around Pinterest.  Read all about my experience thus far below:

Introduction Post about Prep Process
Recipes and Shopping List from SixSistersStuff.com
Meal Update #1
Meal Update #2

The last four meals that we tried were {mostly} good with one failure that couldn't even be consumed. 

I apologize for not taking more pictures.  Dinner time is the worst time for my brain {hunger, fussy baby, tired} so I kept forgetting to take personal pics.  FAIL!

Cilantro Lime Chicken - Success!

Image via Six Sisters' Stuff

This meal was really good.  In fact, it's one that I've already made again.  You can eat it by itself or serve it with warm corn tortillas like we did.  I also used a lot more lime juice than the recipe called for and added some guacamole when I served it. 

Beef Stew - Good

Image via Six Sisters' Stuff

This meal was just okay.  There was nothing wrong with it and both Jason and I ate it, but we just weren't wowed.  Maybe because it's hard to get excited for stew in 90 degree weather.  It gets points for being easy though.  Next time to modify I would use more meat and less peas.  I may have gone overboard on the peas. 

Maple Dijon Glazed Chicken - Epic Fail

Image via Six Sisters' Stuff

 

Yuck...something went terribly wrong!

 

I am in no way blaming Six Sisters for this recipe disaster as I'm sure it was 100% user error, but something went wrong!  I followed the directions on how long to cook, but I came home to black chicken breasts in a puddle of brown glaze.  Not appetizing at all.  I tasted it to see what the flavor was like and that wasn't good either.  My only guess is that I cooked it way too long and maybe needed to add some water to the crock pot.  Had I been home to check on the progress throughout the day the crisis would probably have been avoided.  Needless to say we ordered pizza that night.  Proceed with caution on this one. 

Chicken Cacciatore - Success!

Image via Six Sisters' Stuff

This was the last meal we tried and after the maple chicken incident, I was a little apprehensive.  I cooked just like the instructions said, but didn't thaw the chicken completely this time.  I came home after work to a perfect meal!  I served it over spaghetti just like they suggested, but not other sides.  Jason thought it needed more seasoning, but I thought it was perfect (I just used salt and pepper to taste).  Our nanny and her daughter ate the leftovers the next day and raved about it too.   Will definitely make this one again soon. 

Pinterest Project UPDATE: 8 Slow Cooker Meals in 1 Hour

We tried another 2 meals this week (that' now 4 of the 8).  It's safe to say that since we are halfway done, this is a Pinterest Project success and definitely worth you 1 hour or so.

Introduction Post about Prep Process
Recipes and Shopping List from SixSistersStuff.com
Meal UPDATE #1

French Dip Sandwiches - Success!

Photo via Six Sisters' Stuff

I forgot to take a picture of this meal because I was running out the door, but it turned out just like the picture in the recipe.  Both Jason and I loved this one.  We ate the sandwiches with chips and fruit...there really was fruit this time!  The recipe made enough for leftovers the next night plus lunch for our nanny.  Major bonus!

Black Bean Taco Soup - Success!

Photo via Six Sisters' Stuff

I forgot to take a picture again...sheesh!  You can tell that when it's time to eat there is only one thing on my mind.  It look exactly like the picture above.  This is not the best taco soup you will ever eat, but it certainly does the trick!  It gets major points for being so easy.  We will for sure be making this one again.  Once the soup is ready you can add sour cream, cheese or avocado to it.  We just added a little cheese and called it a day.  I did not make any sides with this.  The soup has it all and is very filling. 

Have a great weekend! 

P.S.  Giveaway coming up on Monday!!!

Almond Joy Obsession

I love Almond Joy candy bars and lately they have been everywhere!  In my office, in my house (Jason's obsessed too) and everywhere in between. 

We just got back from Vegas (numerous trip posts coming soon) where I devoured enjoyed an Almond Joy Martini at Sugar Factory and this morning I tried the new Almond Joy coffee creamer by International Delight, which I highly recommend!

So Full

I went to lunch with the fellows from the IT department at work today.  They wanted to go to Razoo's and order "The Jaws Seafood Platter."  Not wanting to be a girl about it, I went along with the plan...

$52.00 worth of fried goodness...shrimp, hush puppies, catfish, fries, crawfish, oysters, and gator (my first time eating this).  Please note that 5 of us shared this.  I did not attempt to eat the entire thing by myself, although I still don't think I should eat for the rest of the weekend.   


Before

After



The Burger Club

Visit #2 - Smash Burger

The Burger Club hit the town again two Fridays ago to try out another burger place and to celebrate Ashley's birthday!  Since we have noticed Smash Burgers popping up all around Houston we thought it was necessary for us to educate ourselves on what this place was all about...

We learned that it is called Smash Burger because they literally smash the meat up while cooking it.  Fun!  I liked the simplistic menu...you can get different types of burgers and different types of fries-pretty basic!

They offer Smash Fries which are french fries with a garlic seasoning, onion strings (Bob's fave) and Veggie Frites (vegtable sticks with olive oil and seasoning on them for the health conscious consumer)...we tried them all of course!  

All in all: great burger, okay fries, boring atmosphere, but cool baskets.  To me it felt like a typical chain restaurant - good food and service, but not enough character.  I think my fellow burger club members agree...

The Burger Club

{Mon'Sher, Me, Ashley - not pictured: Ed, Bob, Sarah}

A few of my friends including, Ashley from Newlyweds and Nesting, decided to start an unofficial "Burger Club." We found an article in Texas Monthly that lists the top places for great burgers n' fries and we noticed lots of these places were right here in Houston! We also reference the Texas Burger Guy for suggestions!

So, we have set out to try all of these places, plus a few others and we will let you know what we think...

We have already given Five Guys a try...amazing! This chain can be found in lots of cities besides Houston. Trust me- get the junior burger. It is plenty! I loved the fact that all they have on their menu is burgers, fries and hot dogs. Loved the fresh jalapenos and brown bag of fries.

Our first official, Burger Club visit was at Christians Totem. All I can say is WOW. The burgers are excellent. I am not usually an onion ring girl, but they are known for them. When in Rome! A must...

Before...

And after...

Ed's eyes were bigger than his stomach...

Rookie mistake!

Sarah was in love...

All in all, we gave Christians Totem Two Thumbs Up...

My Attempt at Being Domestic

A few weeks ago, before orientation consumed my life, I got the domestic bug. I went to the grocery store and actually pre-planned menu items. I successfully made a pot roast and stuffed peppers! This is big for me to do during the week because between working full-time and being in graduate school, I am wiped out by the end of every day, then my weekends are spent playing catch-up.

Anyways, I even got the itch to make some cupcakes! I know, cupcakes aren't exactly a gourmet feat, I have never made them before. I made strawberry cupcakes with vanilla icing and red velvet cupcakes (Jason's favorite) with cream cheese icing.

They turned out great and it gave me a chance to pull out all of my cupcake related items that I got as wedding gifts (Thanks Karin, Jessica and Nicole). I even pulled out my favorite Lenox Butlers Pantry Cake Stand...thank you Grammy and Vic!