Stuff Parents Need - Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

16 Lamb Recipes to Expand Your Culinary Repertoire!

October 14, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 4 Comments

Lambs are quite possibly one of the most adorable animals on the earth. But you guys, I’ve got to keep it real. Lamb is also DELICIOUS.

I know! I feel bad about even saying it. But it is SO true! I only ever get lamb when I’m at a restaurant that offers it, though, because to be perfectly honest with you, I don’t have any lamb recipes in my collection.

I’m thinking some of you out there might be in the same boat, so let’s fix that problem right now!

Mini Moussaka Cottage Pies by Healthy Seasonal Recipes
Thai Green Curry Lamb with Cashew Sauce by Healthy Seasonal Recipes
Lamb Souvlaki (Grilled Lamb Cubes cooked Greek Style) by Kalyn’s Kitchen
Garbanzo and White Bean Soup Recipe with Lamb and Rosemary by Kalyn’s Kitchen
Save Your Marriage Supper by Stockpiling Moms
Grilled Lamb Lollipops by Call Me PMC
Crock-Pot Irish Lamb Stew by Crockpot Ladies
Crock-Pot Lamb Chops by Crockpot Ladies
Lamb with Champ and Mint Peas Recipe by Cooking, by the seat of my Pants (CbsoP)
Lamb and Yogurt Soup by Cooking, by the seat of my Pants (CbsoP)
Feta Stuffed Lamb Burgers by Cooking, by the seat of my Pants (CbsoP)
A Lamb Feast by An Edible Mosaic
Homemade Lamb or Beef Stock by An Edible Mosaic
Lamb Tikka Masala by An Edible Mosaic
Lamb Stew by Hezzi-D’s Books & Cooks
Lamb Pita Sandwiches with Tzatziki Sauce by Hezzi-D’s Books & Cooks

Want to see the entire 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes series? Just click the banner below to see the full list!

Tilt & View Animal X-Rays: Totally Awesome Gift Idea!

October 13, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 26 Comments

Special thanks to Learning Resources for providing the Tilt & View Animal X-Rays set for review and giveaway. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

You have simply got to check this out, friends!

What we have here is a lovely image of an owl on a card. But if you tilt it a little bit, you’ll see this:

What an awesome way for kids to start learning about bones! This is the Tilt & View Animal X-Rays set, offered by Learning Resources. It comes with 18 double-sided cards (each card has additional information about the animal being viewed on the back side).

I can tell you from experience that this set captures the attention of children and adults, alike! It makes a fantastic “on the go” toy, too, as it can easily slide into mom’s purse or take up very little room in the car, but hold a child’s interest for quite a while.

It is priced at $17.99, which is super reasonable and makes it a very strong contender for an item to purchase multiple copies of for the gift closet (we average one birthday party each month…gotta be prepared!).

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win your very own set of Tilt & View Animal X-Rays!
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Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

20 Recipes I REALLY Want to Try: 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes

October 13, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

I don’t know about you guys, but this 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes is making me want to forget about my current pants size and just EAT. ALL. THE. THINGS. Nom nom nom! So much yummy…so little time.

Speaking of which, today I wanted to showcase some of the delicious finds that are simply languishing on my Pinterest boards (you are following me on Pinterest, right? The application process for being Pinterest besties is still wide open, so come on over!). What I have listed below is at the very top of my list of recipes I want to try in the near future (or at least it was before this series started…now that list is about 15 times as long!). Maybe some of you can beat me to trying out these recipes and let me know how they turned out!

Beverages

Orange Push Up Smoothie, Averie Cooks

Vodka Root Beer Floats, Minimalist Baker

Crazy Awesome Sangria, Mochachocolata Rita

Appetizers

Asian Corn & Avocado Salsa, Scaling Back Blog

Mediterranean Layer Dip, Have Recipes Will Cook

Baked Butternut Squash Chips, A Couple Cooks

Pizza Dip, Closet Cooking

Sides

Crispy Sweet Potato Fries with Sriracha Dip, The Art of Doing Stuff

Black Bean, Corn and Edamame Salad with Cilantro and Lime Dressing, Tastefully Julie

Pineapple Fried Quinoa, Lunchbox Bunch

Main Dish

Steamed Pork and Summer Squash Dumplings, Adventures in Cooking

Penne with Roasted Asparagus and Balsamic Butter, Food and Wine

Chorizo and Sweet Potato Enchiladas, Budget Bytes

Slow Cooker Pork Tacos with Tomatillo Salsa, 365 Days of Slow Cooking

Balsamic Glazed Steak Rolls, Picture the Recipe

Squash and Sweet Potato Pancakes, Big Girl Small Kitchen

Dessert

Slow Cooker Moist Chocolate & Caramel Cake

S’mores Shake, Bombshell Bling

Chocolate Peanut Butter Buckeye Cake, Buns in My Oven

Pecan Pie Cake, Sweet Jeanette

Anything on your “must try” list? Send me a link!

Want to see the entire 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes series? Just click the banner below to see the full list!

Delicious Mexican Dishes to Please One and All! (31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes)

October 12, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

Special thanks to Mary for gathering up some AWESOME Mexican food recipes for us to enjoy! Be sure to check out her blog (info at the bottom of the post) for more terrific recipes and other fun musings!

I love Mexican food. No, really. I mean I super-duper, mild-or-spicy, everything’s-better-in-a-tortilla LOVE IT.

When I was pregnant with our first child, I ate so much Mexican food my husband was convinced our baby would be born looking for the chips and queso. (He wasn’t totally wrong, given the fact that we celebrated her first birthday by eating at our favorite Mexican restaurant – and treating her to tiny bits of chips and mild salsa!)

And while I have my favorites, I’m not really discriminating when it comes to Mexican restaurants. Fast food, national chains, authentic local restaurants and holes in the wall – I love them all.

But of course I can’t eat out every night, can I?

Luckily, between the internet and my imagination, I can make a new Mexican dish every night if I want to. (And you know I want to!) Today I’m honored to share a few of my favorite recipes for Mexican food with you. Thank you to Tiffany for the invitation!

Tortilla Chicken with Salsa Verde
Originally published at Giving Up on Perfect

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 egg
1/2 cup tortilla chips, crushed
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup salsa verde
1/4 cup pico de gallo
4 slices or 8 tbsp shredded white cheese

For cilantro sauce:
Bunch of cilantro
2 tbsp oil
Ripe avocado, chopped
1/4 cup salsa verde

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine panko and chips. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then coat with egg. Dip chicken into panko mixture until well-coated. Fry the chicken in a couple tablespoons of oil over medium heat (just a couple minutes on each side, until browned). After chicken is fried, place in baking dish and bake for 15-25 minutes. Sprinkle cheese on chicken and bake for a few more minutes until it melts.

While chicken is baking, combine cilantro, oil, avocado and salsa. Mix with food processor (or, sadly, with electric beaters if you are currently without a food processor. I do not recommend this, as it may result in avocado being sprayed all over your kitchen. Beware.).

Pour a couple tablespoons of salsa verde onto each plate, and place chicken on top. Spoon cilantro sauce and pico de gallo over the top, and enjoy!

A few notes: The original recipe was for just two pieces of chicken, but I found that I had plenty of ingredients for four. Also, the original recipe suggests Mexican cheese or provolone; I used Monterey jack because it’s my favorite. Finally, I don’t love avocado and might forgo the cilantro sauce next time. But all the flavors mixed together really was delicious!

(Not that my family would know, since they both turned up their noses at the thought of green salsa, avocado anything or fresh pico de gallo. I loved it, though. And both my husband and daughter thought the crispy chicken with cheese on top was good!)

Here are a few more of my favorite Mexican recipes:

Baked Chicken Taquitos
Jalapeno Popper Dip
Chicken Enchilada Soup
Homemade Taco Seasoning
Restaurant-Style Salsa
Shredded Beef Tacos & Pico de Gallo
White Chicken Enchiladas

Of course, I won’t stop there! (And you can find lots more at my blog, Giving Up on Perfect {hint, hint!}.) I can’t wait to try these new recipes for Mexican food that I found on Pinterest!

(Pssst! Do you pin? Let’s swap ideas, then! Follow me here.)

Recipes for Mexican food I’m trying next:

Ro-Tel Cups from Pearls, Handcuffs & Happy Hour
Jalapeno Popper Corn Fritters from Closet Cooking
Jalapeno Popper Chicken Chile Soup from Cinnamon, Spice & Everything Nice
Oven Tacos from Mommy, I’m Hungry
Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips, The Thread Effect
Easy Mexican Chicken Marinade, Stuff Parents Need

What’s YOUR favorite Mexican dish or appetizer?

Mary Carver is a writer, blogger, church planter, wife and mom. A recovering perfectionist, Mary writes with honesty and humor about her imperfect life at www.givinguponperfect.com. Her posts about everything from dieting and housekeeping to parenting and faith encourage other women to give up on perfect and get on with life. She also writes for (in)courage and is the author of Plan a Fabulous Party {without losing your mind}. You can connect with Mary on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

Want to see the entire 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes series? Just click the banner below to see the full list!

Get the Look: Trendy Jacket at Sears #ThisisStyle

October 12, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This “get the look” Sears shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias (#cbias) and their client.

Cool mornings have arrived in Chattanooga! It actually makes for a confusing time of year in terms of wardrobe, because there will often be a 30-40 degree shift in temperatures from the time I take my 4-year-old to preschool in the morning to the time when my husband gets home from work for the day.

But even if I can only sport my fall fashion pieces for a few hours each morning, I’ll take it! I recently brought down all of my long-sleeve clothes from the attic and assessed what I needed to purchase to bring my look up to date.

Trendy Jackets Change Your Look

I think one of the smartest places to get maximum bang for your buck with your fall/winter wardrobe is with your jackets and coats. Buying a trendy coat can help you look very current without having to commit to a wardrobe overhaul. And right now, Sears has some jackets that are right on trend with a price tag that is very doable! I spent some time checking out 2013 fashion trends to see how I could get my look updated.

Brass and Leather

I decided to step outside of my comfort zone this year and try out a look that is a bit more edgy. I have noticed that brass detailing is in, and so is leather. I don’t usually wear either, but I discovered a cute jacket that incorporated both looks!

This is the Triple Star Coachman Jacket, currently on sale for $56.99. It actually doesn’t have any leather on it at all, but from a distance, one would think that it did.

Why This Look Works for Me

This is a really nice jacket for anyone who wants to show off (or even create) an hourglass shape. The zipper is curvy, and jacket has a fit and flare look about it, which is actually quite a feminine touch on an otherwise “harder” look. And this is precisely why I feel comfortable pulling off this very trendy look. I’m actually getting to do it on my terms, thanks to this jacket! Fit and flare is one of my very favorite styles, and I just love that I found it on this jacket!

I also appreciate attention to detail, and I was drawn to the detailed hardware on this piece. Pardon the pun, but I thought gave the jacket a polished look!

How to Style a Biker-Chic Jacket

When I went shopping at Sears, I wanted to find a few other fun and trendy pieces that I could pair with what I am calling my “biker-chic” jacket. And I went for two trends that I never would have thought I could pull off: leather pants and printed pants.

But come and see….everything turned out great!

For the leather pants, just remember that you don’t have to go all the way with this trend. I thought these pants with a faux leather stripe down the side gave enough of a nod to leather without making me uncomfortable. And in fact, they were VERY comfortable. And the stripe is figure-flattering, in my opinion. The price was also fantastic: $22.79! And they come in petite, so I don’t have to get them altered. I felt like a chic New Yorker in my black-on-black outfit. I pulled off two new-to-me trends in one outfit, and I still felt like myself in it. Very nice!

Houndstooth Pants

Ok, so houndstooth is really big right now, and so are printed pants. So I decided to roll the dice and go for some houndstooth printed pants. I would have totally yelled at myself for making this purchase even a year ago. I’m petite, yet not exactly tiny, so how in the world could I pull off a print like this on my bottom half???

I thought the jacket I purchased would be a fun pairing with them. Since the jacket covers up quite a bit of me, pairing it with my houndstooth pants is a great way to ease into wearing a pattern like this. I love how they are just peeking out, giving others a glimpse at my trendy look.

But I actually loved the look enough to feel very comfortable taking off my jacket. I paired the pants with a black turtleneck (same one as the leather stripe pants, actually) and I added a long strand of pearls. Houndstooth is such a preppy fabric, that it only seemed right to do so! 🙂

#ThisisStyle: Get the Look

If you are looking for a few new pieces to update your wardrobe this season Sears has a whole section of their website called searsStyle, that is devoted to the latest trends. They even have a “chic on a shoestring” section, which I adore. They are really committed to helping us get the look for less! I also really recommend following @searsStyle on Instagram for the very latest pics showing what is happening at Sears!

One of my other favorite sources of inspiration is this Pinterest board, which includes styled looks from Sears put together by real women, just like you and me! I have gotten some really good ideas from these ladies! Definitely peruse it and see what you can find there.

Shop Your Way

And please don’t forget about the Shop Your Way rewards program. I know many of you are already members, but if you aren’t yet, it is totally free to sign up and the rewards are sweet! For example, when I was shopping online earlier this week, upon logging in to my SYW rewards account, I was immediately credited with $7 to use in the store. Just because! Why yes, I will take that $7…thank you! I also earned points when I made my purchase, and those points will give me credit toward future purchases. Basically, Shop Your Way is the gift that keeps on giving!

I’d love to hear which of the 2013 fashion trends you are going to try out this fall! What did you think of the looks I put together?

Easing Back, Heel and Knee Pain From the Ground Up (Giveaway)

October 11, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 156 Comments

Isn’t that the truth? Every time I hear that song, this part of it seems to resonate with me just a little bit more. I am, indeed, getting older. And that’s not entirely a bad thing. I’m more comfortable in my skin, more confident, and more willing to push myself to do hard-but-good-for-me things.

But I’m also feeling my age start to catch up with me, too, and that means that my body is a bit more creaky and that I experience more pain after being on my feet for a while. For me that pain is primarily in my calves and my back. And I recently learned that a lot of the source of that pain actually comes from my feet. Please check out the article below for some really great tips on steps you can take to alleviate heel, knee and lower back pain, just by taking better care of your feet. I have started to implement some of these strategies and I can tell a difference in how I’m feeling already!

Consider an area of your body that you use the most and probably ignore more than you should. That nagging pain in your heel in the morning, your sore knees, and your aching lower back are all related to our body’s foundation, our feet. Fortunately, the pain is not only treatable, but preventable as well.

Phil Vasyli, podiatrist and innovator behind Orthaheel shares easy, affordable, and accessible tips for anyone to treat and prevent foot pain so that the rest of the day we are free to move, walk and run with ease and comfort.

Advising his patients to pay particular attention to lower body alignment and the proper posture of their feet will help achieve proper biomechanical body movement, and therefore maintain pain-free feet at all times. “An orthotic device realigns the rear-, mid-, and fore-foot, removes the tractional forces, and raises the arch back up to its proper position,” says Vasyli.

Wear slippers. Never walk barefoot, even indoors. Advisable to put on soft, comfortable slippers, but be sure they also have hard soles and adequate arch support. Look for slippers with a deep heel cup to stabilize, support, and realign the feet, helping to improve posture and balance.

Home therapy: Roll or massage the foot on a golf ball or tennis ball to improve blood flow and break down adhesions that result from exertion and possible injury.

Maintain/increase flexibility: Stretching is the best method to counter the constant contraction of muscles throughout the day and especially while walking. Since the calf is the most over-used muscle across the board, it is essential to stretch. Gentle stretching exercises of the calf, hamstring, and posterior muscle groups maintain flexibility and healthy muscles in the recovery phase. Should you stand for long periods of time, take time to do recommended toe, heel, calf, and Achilles stretches.
Roll feet in both directions to warm up ankles. Try drawing the entire alphabet with your feet.
Flex and point toes for 2-3 sets of up to 10 full reps.
Stretch Achilles by flexing foot against a wall and lean forward. Hold stretch for 2 sets of 15-30 seconds each.
Stand facing wall with feet 2ft apart and heels firmly planted on ground to stretch calves.

Massage: Regular massage of the feet, legs, and lower back focusing on the lymphatic system drains away toxins and loosens the contracted muscles. Other benefits include: increased blood flow, range of motion, flexibility, decreased muscle tension and spasms, and an overall sense of well being.

Ice: Twice daily icing on strained foot muscles for 20mins at a time prevents inflammation. A common recommendation that works well for runners and those with plantar fasciitis is to freeze a water bottle and roll it under your foot slowly from the fore foot to arch to heel for 20mins. In addition, elevation of the feet encourages all built up and congested blood/inflammation in the feet to drain. Ice increases healing and peripheral circulation.

Want to know which tip struck me the very most? The one about wearing slippers! I work from home, so I spend the majority of my dare barefoot, simply because I can! But for the past few weeks I have been wearing slippers sent to me from Orthaheel, (the Geneva) and can I just say this….

WOAH.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

My feet feel SO good in these slippers! And I really even hesitate to call them slippers, because look at that sturdy heel. You can absolutely wear these out of the house without worrying that you are going to damage them. They are ready for a trip to the grocery store of the school pick up line. And yes, I have worn them to both places!

So now that I’m experiencing less pain, I want you to have the same experience! You can purchase these fantastic slippers for $69.95 for yourself or a loved one here. Or…

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a pair of Geneva slippers from Orthaheel!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Six Flags Over Georgia Fright Fest: Awesome Thrills, Day or Night

October 11, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Thanks to Six Flags Over Georgia, for naming me a Six Flags Supermom and partnering with me for this compensated opportunity. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

As we are getting closer and closer to Halloween and are being fully immersed in all things spooky right now, I just want to give a special shout out to all the fraidy cats out there. Raise your hand if you could never get through a full episode of Nickelodeon’s Are You Afraid of the Dark?, even once you were far too old to be freaked out by it.

Yup, that would be me. I still can’t watch that stuff, so nobody send me Youtube clips or you’ll cause me to go hide in my closet with my flashlight.

So haunted houses, night-time corn mazes and all of that scary stuff just isn’t my thing. Even if it is done extremely well, like Fright Fest at Six Flags Over Georgia. For those of you who love to be scared (and there are SO many of you! I don’t get it, but to each his own…), I’ve got some more information to share with you on how you can spend your evenings with Six Flags. Just bring an extra pair of jeans, as you just may have the pants scared off of you. Don’t say you weren’t warned!

Thrills by Night

On weekend nights throughout October, you’ll find zombies, Vampires and ghouls roaming throughout Six Flags Over Georgia. For 2013, there are some brand new attractions that are going to make fans of fear totally freak out (but that’s what you want, am I right?)!

Monstrosity Championship Wrestling – It’s Frankenstein vs. Dracula or a Werewolf vs. Zombie at this unbelievably frightening show! Watch age-old monsters battle it out in this amazing epic battle.
Terror Trail Backwoods Bloodshed – The cannibalistic carnivores are back and more brutal than ever. Visit the Bloodtown Lumber Yard where the murders began years ago and try to survive where so many before have not. (Additional fee required)
Asylum – Dr. Fright releases the mentally insane from the institution. The most evil, sadistic patients are escaping and roaming the grounds near Axis Asylum!! (Additional fee required)
Kill Island –As chaos runs wild in the streets of Six Flags, groups are formed and factions begin fighting, the secrets of Kill Island are revealed and the evil just might catch guests as they escape from the island. ! (Additional fee required)

In addition to these new attractions, you’ll also find 5 new scare zones. These are basically great places to do a little trespassing, and then really regret it!

Mummy’s Tomb – Beware as mummies terrorize anyone who dares to disturb their slumber. It is a life or death race before the Pharaoh casts his curse to forever entrap anyone that ventures into his tomb.
Monster Graveyard –Dracula is building an army with everyone’s favorite classic monsters intent on terrorizing those who make the mistake of entering the Monster Graveyard.
Dracula’s Lair – Dracula and his brood of bloodthirsty vampires are hungry and have been waiting for prey! The Monster Graveyard culminates in this den of the undead.
Freak Show – Step right up to see some of the most grotesque creatures Dr.Fright has to offer. Stare in wonder at the half man/half animal mutants!
Zombie Quarantine – Dr. Fright wages mass chemical warfare in the British Section of the park to build an army of zombies to help Baron von Vile retain control of Fright Fest.

And of course, fan favorites will be on hand this year, including attractions like the Terror Train, The Last Ride, and the scary show Dr. Fright’s Dead Man’s Party.

So all of that sounds like something that would cause me to have multiple heart attacks because I’d be SO scared! But if you love the scary element of Halloween, then you pretty much can’t do it bigger and better than Six Flags, so be sure to go and check it out!

Thrills by Day

As for me and my crew, we are much more interested in what Six Flags is offering guests during the day. And they have a TON!

It’s all about family fun on weekend days. BUGS BUNNY’s Spooky Town is the hub of much of the fun, and that’s where you’ll find trick-or-treating, pumpkin painting, spooky story time and other fun surprises.

Kids are encouraged to wear their costumes and register for the costume contest at the BUGS BUNNY World Theater. I love the costume element, as my little ones want to wear their costumes pretty much any chance they get!

And speaking of costumes, I absolutely love that you’ll find some of the loveable characters in the Monster Mansion getting in the Halloween spirit and sporting their costumes, as well!

Perhaps what I’m looking forward to the most, though, is a brand new feature for 2013: the Lickskillet Harvest Festival. In the playground area, they have arts and crafts, festival foods and photo opportunities set up. Fall festivals are one of my favorite things to do this time of year, and I think it is so awesome that I can get a taste of my favorite thing to do this season while also having an awesome day at Six Flags with my family.

Operating hours for Fright Fest are weekends only (including Friday nights) now through October 27th. The park is open 6pm to midnight on Friday, October 18 and 25. It is open from 11 am to 11 pm on Saturdays and noon to 10 pm on Sundays. The transition from daytime thrills to nighttime frights happens at 6pm, and if you happen to still be there with little ones at that time, you can pick up a ghoul-b-gone ring for your child to wear. All scary creatures roaming around will be warded off by that ring! I really appreciate that Six Flags thought of this idea. Now does the ring come in adult sizes, as well???

If all of the fun stuff happening this month at the park wasn’t enough of a reason to come check it out, you should also be aware that Six Flags Over Georgia 2014 Season Passes are currently on sale at the absolute lowest prices of the year. If you purchase them, you are treated to unlimited visits for the rest of the 2013 season as a bonus. Woo hoo! And when you purchase a Season Pass four-pack, you get a free upgrade to a Gold Season Pass, which includes free admission and free season parking to any Six Flags Theme Park. This offer expires October 27th, so jump on it before prices go up!

15 Chicken Recipes You Should Try!

October 11, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Did you know that chicken is the most popular meat in the United States? It is certainly what I purchase the most! But I get really bored with my chicken recipes, especially those using chicken breast, because it is really easy to dry it out and have the flavor just not be there. And that’s why I’ve got a list of fresh, new ideas for me to try out with my family, and for you to try out as well. There are a few on the list that I’ve already tried and love, and some that I’ll be trying in the next few weeks. Let me know what you try so we can swap notes!

Grilled Chicken with Strawberries, Feta and Pecans by Crumbs & Chaos
How to Cook a Whole Chicken by Stuff Parents Need
Chicken Enchilada Casserole by Sunny with a Chance of Sprinkles
Italian Chicken Strips by Love Bakes Good Cakes
Garlic Chicken Tacos with Corn Salsa by Mom’s Test Kitchen
Chicken Cakes with Easy Ramoulade by Call Me PMC
Curried Chicken Thighs Over Jasmine Rice by Stuff Parents Need
Curry Broccoli Chicken Casserole by A Pinch of Glitter
Mini Chicken Pot Pies- A Quick & Easy Dinner Idea by Second Chance to Dream
Poppy Seed Chicken by Julie’s Eats & Treats
Italian Chicken Meatballs by Covered in Mod Podge
Roasted Garlic Rosemary Chicken with Potatoes by Hot Eats & Cool Reads
Crunchy Sweet and Salty Chicken by A Family Feast
Kung Pao Chicken by Stuff Parents Need
Baked Chicken Parmesan by What’s Cooking, Love?

Want to see the entire 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes series? Just click the banner below to see the full list!

Easy Crock Pot Recipes: 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes

October 10, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 8 Comments

With eight people to feed, I’m all about easy. Nothing’s easier than dumping ingredients into my Crock-Pot in the morning and having dinner done. The bonus is we get to smell it all day! Make it even easier on yourself by using a Crock-Pot liner so clean-up will be a breeze. These are six crazy easy recipes my family loves. I hope yours will, too.

#1 Beef or chicken tacos

This is so easy, it’s really not a recipe. But that’s what we need, right? A quick, healthy dinner that everyone loves.

For my family of 8, I add three pounds of round steak or one bag of rinsed frozen chicken breasts and two regular-sized cans of diced tomatoes with green chiles to the crock-pot on low for 8-10 hours. I end up with taco meat for one dinner and one lunch. If you don’t have tomatoes with green chiles, you can add salsa or plain tomatoes with a packet of taco seasoning. It’s impossible to mess this up.

Serve with taco shells, tortillas, or with lettuce for a salad. Add your favorite Mexican garnishes.

Note: Adding a cup of warm water to frozen meat prevents food safety problems when Crock-Pot cooking. A can refers to the standard size (i.e., 10.5 oz. soup can).

#2 BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Staying with the ridiculously easy theme, BBQ chicken sandwiches are what I serve when I’ve already had tacos and I don’t know what else to make. It’s a fabulous option for entertaining as well.

For 8 servings, just add a bag of rinsed, frozen chicken breasts with a bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. Shred with two forks or use the paddle attachment on your mixer. Serve with the bread of your choice. This would make a great salad, too.

#3 Chicken and Dumplings

Few meals are as comforting as this dish! And what’s even more comforting is that you can prepare it in no time.

To serve 8, add 4 chicken breasts (frozen are ok), 2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup, 2 T butter, and one finely diced onion. I love my onion chopper for this purpose. Cover with water.

Cook for 4.5 hours on high if using fresh chicken or 5.5 if using frozen. Add two 10-ounce cans of refrigerated biscuit dough torn in pieces to the top and continue to cook about 30 minutes or until dough is cooked through.

#4 Lemon or Lime Garlic Chicken

I found the recipe pictured above on Pinterest and it was easy enough that my husband could make it. That makes it a winner right there! The chicken is moist and delicious. And did I mention it was easy?

#5 French Dip Sandwiches

I made this recipe the first time for company (I know, dumb), and fortunately, it was a hit. I’ve since purchased the little dishes for the au jus for my family and I feel all ooh-la-la even though the cooking was effortless.

For my family of 8, I add a 3-pound beef roast trimmed of fat, 1 can condensed French onion soup, 1 can condensed beef consumme, 1 can beef broth, and 1 tsp. beef bullion (or one cube). If you can’t find the consumme, another can of beef broth works fine. Cook on low 8 hours. Shred with fork or using mixer with paddle attachment. Serve on French rolls with a side of au jus.

#6 Award-Winning Chili

Most of the time I prefer easy, but I’m a competitive person, too. So when my neighbor and I were vying for the title of champion chili maker, I pulled out all the ingredients. There are times when you just have to do that!

I used the Boilermaker Tailgate Chili recipe from AllRecipes.com and subbed turkey sausage and made it in the crock-pot. I won’t lie to you. This recipe isn’t hard to make, but it took a long time. The result? A blue ribbon for me! Save this recipe for the times you want to impress.

Dr. Melanie Wilson is a Christian psychologist turned homeschooling mother of six. She blogs at Psychowith6 where she shares her crazy easy Once-and-for-All Meal Plan ebook with subscribers.

Want to see the entire 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes series? Just click the banner below to see the full list! Don’t miss the slow cooker soups round up in the list!