Believe in the Magic Traci Diary

Recipes, Travels, and Stories

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  • Welcome!

    Welcome!

     This October, I decided to take the 31-day challenge of writing / posting a post every day in October.  My topic for the challenge is Slow Cooking Meals.  
    image

    My crazy self decided I needed a separate blog dedicated to slow cooking.  I aim to post at least once a week or every other week with a new slow cooking recipe.  That is once the challenge is over.

    So why do I like slow cooking so much?  Slow cooking allows me to get food on the table consistently.  I can prepare the meals the night before and then start the crock pot in the morning or prepare them in the morning to cook all day.  (If I do it in the morning, I have some prep done beforehand.)

    My family gets delicious meals, and I don’t have to worry about Hubby fixing our dinner.  I usually give him specific directions if he is to cook dinner for us.

    Why do you like slow cooking?  How does slow cooking help you?  Or do you not like slow cooking?  Why is that?  Please comment below.

    In future posts, I’ll introduce you to the crock pot I use daily.  I have 3 others that I don’t use as much.  I’ll talk about tips and tricks.  

    On my other blog, I posted a recipe/ method for “baking” potatoes in the crock pot for an easy meal or even part of a baked potato bar.

    Let’s cook it slow together!

    Happy eating,
    Traci

  • 31 Days of Slow Cooking (Day 6) – Baked Potatoes

    I told my family I was going to do this challenge.  They are very supportive of my taking on this challenge.  In fact, Hubby decided to surprise me by changing the area where the crock pot is located.  He didn’t like how it was in the back of the counter.

    DSC00147

    The meat on the cutting board is for a recipe I will post later in the week.  The cans and boxes are for other meals this week.

    Hubby even rearranged the coffee station on the counter.  I’m so lucky to have a super supportive family.

    DSC00152

    This is the empty jar of apple butter that we got at the Apple Fest a week and a half ago.  We really enjoyed the apple butter to the last drop.  I made buttermilk biscuits last night to enjoy with the apple butter.

    Now onto the slow-cooking recipe of the day:

    I'm Hungry
    wpid-20150928_170203.jpg

    I posted this recipe five years ago.  I didn’t take pictures or good pictures when I started blogging.  So I decided to repost this recipe with pictures.

    Baked potatoes are an easy side dish.  Or you could use the baked potatoes for dinner as a baked potato bar.  Yum!

    Last week, I cooked baked potatoes with a whole chicken.  Hubby told me that he liked the texture of the potatoes.  So that’s a win for me!

    Hint:  Don’t overcrowd the potatoes, so they cook evenly.

    Baked Potatoes

    wpid-20150928_164450.jpg

    Stars of the Recipe:

    • Russet potatoes (The quantity depends on your needs.)
    • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
    • Salt

    Steps:

    1. Wash the potatoes and then poke them.
    2. Wrap each one of the potatoes in foil.
    3. Place potatoes in the crock pot.
    4. Put about 1 to  Tbsp. of water in the bottom of the crock pot.
    5. Turn the crock pot on low and cook the potatoes for about 4.5 hours.
    6. When they are finished, unwrap them and put them in a bowl.
    7. Douse them with Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) to lightly coat them.
    8. Sprinkle them with salt.
    9. Enjoy with your favorite baked potato toppings.
    wpid-20150928_170159.jpg

    If you like this recipe, please visit my Facebook page and Pinterest board for the 31 days of slow cooking.  I’m also starting another Pinterest board for slow cooker recipes.

    Happy Eating,
    Traci

  • Menu Plan Monday – October 5, 2015

    Since I’m doing the 31-day writing challenge about slow cooker recipes, I’ve decided to have most of my meals cooked in the slow cooker.  I don’t include Saturdays and Sundays on the menu because weekends are always up in the air with what we actually eat.

    orgjunkie_banner

    Monday – pork chops with Rice a Roni, veggies

    Tuesday – pumpkin chili with pumpkin cornbread

    Wednesday – Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

    Thursday  – Green beans, ham, and potatoes

    Friday – Pinto beans and ham with northern cornbread

    This post has been linked to Menu Plan Monday @ I’m an Organizing Junkie.

    I'm Hungry

    On Mondays during the challenge, I will feature a recipe from my blog and another blog that features slow cooking.  This way, you’ll see more of my blog, and you’ll get to check out another blog.

    The week of October 19th, I will feature several recipes from my blog because that week is parent-teacher conference week.  That week is rough, so I will adapt what I’m going to blog about that week.

    Recipe from my Blog

    Okay, the recipe I’m featuring from my blog is Pinto beans and ham.  This is a very economical recipe, especially if you use dried pinto beans and leftover ham.  You just need to remember to soak the beans the night before.  (I usually use cranberry beans, just like pinto beans.)  We are going to have it on our menu for this week.  I can’t wait until Friday night.  :)

    Blog Spotlight

    As I was perusing the Internet for recipes, I found The Magical Crockpot.  I’ve only started looking through all of her recipes, so I’m going to list two recipes that have caught my eye.

    1. New Year’s Day Black-Eyed Peas – This would be good with the Pork and Sauerkraut I make for New Year’s Day.
    2. Chicken Philly Cheese Steak – I love the Great Steak and Fry Company.  The one at the local mall closed down, so I can’t get my fix.  :(  My favorite sandwiches were a chicken with pineapple and chicken cheese steak.  This recipe would be a way for me to get my fix at home.  I would pair it with homemade French fries.

    If you enjoyed this post, please share it with others.  Also, visit my Facebook page.

    Happy Eating,
    Traci

  • Queso Dip – 31 Days of Slow Cooking (Day 4)

    Last night, Hubby and I had to attend a get-together for a possible new pastor. We ate dinner with other members of the Call Committee and their spouses.

    I was to bring appetizers or finger food. A veggie tray was my first thought. I bought some red pepper hummus and pumpkin hummus for dipping. Since people don’t always like hummus, I made some ranch dressing, also. So right before we get ready to leave, I can’t find my veggie tray. (I was packing the veggies in containers to assemble them there.)  We had to come up with a plan B. We ended up using one of my cake pans instead.

    wpid-20151003_175920.jpg
    I'm Hungry

    I also brought queso dip and tortilla chips. That was the real star. The host kept some of the dips while another took the remainder home. A third asked for the recipe. It is super easy to make!

    wpid-20151003_175928.jpg

    Queso Dip

    Adapted from the Crockpot Ladies 

    Stars of the recipe:

    • 1 – 16 oz. container of Queso Velvetta or a generic brand
    • 2 c. Colby Monterrey Jack blend shredded cheese
    • 2 c. Half and half
    • 1-1/2 c. well-drained salsa
    • 1 tsp. black pepper
    • 1 tsp. garlic powder
    • 1 tsp. onion powder

    Steps:

    1. Cut the Velvetta into small cubes.
    2. Place the cubes into a small crock pot.
    3. Sprinkle the cheese over the cubes.
    4. Pour half and half over the other ingredients.
    5. Cover the mixture with salsa, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
    6. Put the lid on the crock pot.
    7. Cook on low for at least 2 hours or until the cheese is melted.
    8. Enjoy with tortilla chips and veggies.
    Screen-Shot-2014-10-01-at-1.48.07-PM

    For a printable version of the recipe, follow this link.

    Happy eating,
    Traci

  • Weekly Ramblings – October 3, 2015 and 31 days of Slow Cooking Day 3

    This week we had a home-cooked meal four out of the five work days.  The fourth day was out to eat before a concert.  I felt much more accomplished.

    The slow cooker was used for all four meals, which made getting dinner on the table easier.  The family was super happy having a home-cooked meal.

    Last week we bought some apple butter at the Apple Fest.  Three of us have eaten biscuits with apple butter for our dinners.  Imaginative One didn’t want any of the apple butter.  Instead, he ate the biscuits with grape jelly.  The apple butter has been a great treat.

    Recipes shared this week:

    Gelatin Poke Cake - Inside the cake
    Gelatin Poke Cake
    Pumpkin Pie Spice
    Pumpkin Pie Spice
    I'm Hungry

    Onto the slow cooker recipe for the day.  Hubby LOVES chicken and dumplings.  So I found a recipe for chicken and dumplings to share today.  It’s going on our menu for next week. Boy, will Hubby be happy!

    Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

    For the other recipes, 31 days of slow cooking

    Happy Eating,

    Traci

  • 31 Days of Slow Cooker Dinners

    Each day in October, I’m going to share a meal or snack that can be cooked in the slow cooker.  It may be from my blog, a new recipe, or one I found on the Internet.  I’ll continue to post my other blog posts, so I may have a new blog post with a slow cooker recipe or the new blog post plus the slow cooker recipe.

    I’ll link all slow cooker recipes to this page so you can find them easily.

    I will share two recipes today because I only came up with the idea on my way home today.

    The first recipe is one of mine on the blog.  I’m reminded of my grandma whenever I make green beans, ham, and potatoes.  I use frozen or fresh green beans.  Grandma would use canned green beans that she would drain and rinse off.

    The second recipe is from the other cooking blog that I quit writing on.  It’s a way to bulk-cook hamburgers.  Cooking it in the slow cooker makes it easier to prep for the week or in the freezer.

    I'm Hungry

    Here is a link to my Pinterest board.  And my Facebook page.

    October 1 – Green beans, ham, and potatoes

    Green Beans and Ham

    October 2 – Bulk Cooking Hamburger

    October 3 – Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

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    October 4 – Queso Dip

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    October 5 – Pinto Beans and Ham and The Magical Crockpot (blog)

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    October 6 – Baked Potatoes

    Pumpkin spice latte
    Pumpkin spice latte

    October 7 – Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal (and Pumpkin Spice Lattes too)

    Pumpkin Chili

    October 8 – Pumpkin Chili (On my blog dedicated to slow cooking)

    October 9 – “Oniony” Pork Chops (On my slow cooking blog)

    Skyline Chili

    October 10 – Skyline Chili

    potato soup
    Potato Soup

    October 11 – Slow Cooker Potato Soup

    Pot roast
    Pot roast

    October 12 – Easy Pot Roast, Funny is Family (blog spotlight), and Menu Plan Monday

    Crockpot Ravioli
    Crockpot Ravioli

    October 13 – Slow Cooker Ravioli

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    October 14 – Slow Cooker Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes

    Easy Pulled Pork
    Easy Pulled Pork

    October 15 – Pulled Pork & a Trick to shred the pork

    Balsamic Roast
    Balsamic Roast

    October 16 – Balsamic Roast

    October 17 – Freezer Crockpot Kits

    Taco Meat
    Taco Meat

    October 18 – Slow Cooker Taco Meat

    October 19 – Crockpot Chicken

    Spanish Style Chicken Noodle Soup

    October 20 – Spanish Style Chicken Noodle Soup

    Stuffed Pepper Soup

    October 21 – Stuffed Pepper Soup

    October 22 – Crockpot Ribs

    October 23 – Crock Pot Caramel Apple Crisp and Homemade Whipped Cream

    Bramble Beans

    October 24 – Weekly Ramblings and Bramble Beans

    Homemade Applesauce

    October 25 – Crock Pot Applesauce

    Cranberry Relish

    October 26 – Menu Plan Monday and Cranberry Relish

    Cherry Crisp
    Cherry Crisp

    October 27 – Cherry Crisp

    Creamy Tomato Soup

    October 28 – Creamy Tomato Soup

    Taco Soup

    October 29 – Taco Soup

    Chicken Parmesan

    October 30 – Chicken Parmesan

    October 31 – 31 Day Writing Challenge Wrap Up

    Happy Eating,

    Traci

  • Pumpkin Pie Spice

    Fall means the flavors of pumpkin and apples.  Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves are often found in dishes made during the fall.  I love those flavors and smells.

    I’m going to share a few recipes that use pumpkin pie spice.  You can buy a container of pumpkin pie spice or make your own.  It’s more economical to make your own.  And it’s easy!

    Spices ready to go
    Spices ready to go
    Pumpkin Pie Spice
    Pumpkin Pie Spice

    Pumpkin Pie Spice

    Stars of the recipe:

    • 3 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
    • 2 tsp. ground ginger
    • 2 tsp. ground nutmeg
    • 1-1/2 tsp. ground cloves
    • 1-1/2 tsp. ground allspice (I don’t have it pictured.)

    Steps:

    1. In a bowl, combine all of the spices.
    2. Store in a small container or jar.

  • Eating Around the Apple Fest

    Hubby, the Wee One, and I went to the Apple Fest at one of our local places.  I go there every year and enjoy tasting different foods.  There are some foods I look forward to Eating, such as gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.  Yum!

    Here is what I ate at the Apple Fest:

    My gourmet grilled cheese sandwich - sharp white cheddar on honey oat
    My gourmet grilled cheese sandwich – sharp white cheddar on honey oat
    The Wee One and his hot dog
    The Wee One and his hot dog
    The apple dumpling and ice cream Hubby and I shared
    The apple dumpling and ice cream Hubby and I shared
    Apple Cider slushie that Crazy One and I shared
    Apple Cider slushie that Crazy One and I shared
    Corn on the cob
    Corn on the cob

    I also had some freshly pressed apple cider and some apple butter.  We bought a bag of kettle corn to share with the Imaginative One when he returns from his camping trip.

    I hope you enjoyed seeing what I enjoyed at the Apple Fest this year.

    Happy Eating,
    Traci

  • Gelatin Poke Cake

    Years ago, I used to make gelatin poke cakes for different occasions. They were one of Hubby’s favorite desserts. Then I stopped making them for some reason.

    Hubby’s birthday was last week. I decided to make a gelatin poke cake for his birthday cake. Wee One helped me make the cake. He also got to choose the flavor of the cake (funetti or yellow) and the flavor of the gelatin. Imaginative One also helped me ice the cake.

    Hubby loved the cake. He told me he loved it so much because it was a very moist cake. Hubby even took the remainder of the cake to share with his co-workers.

    Gelatin Poke Cake - Inside the cake
    Singing to Hubby

    Gelatin Poke Cake

    Stars of the recipe:

    For the cake:

    • 1 box of either yellow or funetti cake mix – plus the ingredients on the box

    For the gelatin:

    • 1 box of gelatin (any flavor)
    • 1 c. boiling water
    • 1/2 c. cold water

    For the topping:

    • 1 container of whipped topping (Cool Whip)
    • Sprinkles

    Steps:

    1. Preheat the oven according to the cake box directions.
    2. Prepare the cake mix according to the cake box directions.
    3. Spray down a 9 by 13 pan. Pour the prepared cake mix into the 9 by 13 pan.
    4. Bake according to the cake box.
    5. Once the cake is baked, pull it out and cool it for about 15 minutes.
    6. While the cake is cooling, make the gelatin. In a bowl, place the gelatin powder. Pour 1 c. of boiling water over the gelatin powder. Stir until dissolved. Add 1/2 c. of cold water. Stir.
    7. Poke holes in the cake using a skewer or straw.
    8. Pour the gelatin over the cake.
    9. Allow the cake to cool for about an hour.
    10. Spread whipped topping over the cake. Decorate with sprinkles.
    11. Place in the fridge for 3 hours.
    12. Enjoy!
    The boys thought it would be funny to say Hubby was 93.
    Inside the cake

    Happy Eating,
    Traci

  • Menu Plan Monday – September 28

    This week I am going to use the crock pot for our dinners. I have been busy with work and have been staying later than usual. The result is we haven’t been eating homemade meals.

    On Saturday morning, the Wee One and I went shopping. We got all the meat and other ingredients for the meals.

    After we got home from shopping, I put the hamburger in the crock pot. While we had family time, the hamburger was cooking. The cooked hamburger will be used for sloppy Joe and the soup. Then I put the stewing meat into smaller containers since I bought a family pack.

    Onto the meal plan:

    Monday – roasted chicken in the crock pot, baked potatoes, veggie

    Tuesday – sloppy Joe, chips, salad

    Wednesday – Italian beef and pasta soup, crescent roll, salad

    Thursday – out to eat, the Wee One, Hubby, and I are going to a concert

    Friday – beef stew with Easy Peasy Cheesy Garlic bread made from leftover hamburger buns

    Saturday – Potluck dinner

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    Happy Eating,
    Traci