crock pot deliciousness

I took today off as a rest day but still ran around like a crazy person :)  I had a list of errands and some cleaning/laundry to get done.  I planned a crock pot dinner and started it around 3pm.  I snagged the recipe from Kath!  It was for her cranberry crock pot chicken that she  raved about.

It sounded like a winner for sure!  Made a trip to the grocery store to stock up on food for the next 3 dinners, which I am pretty excited about.  While starting dinner, I made a late lunch!

Chicken, bbq sauce, and chicken broth in the pot. I used Annie’s Smokey Maple that I got at Whole Foods for $2.99 [not bad!].  And smokey it was!  The house smelled amazing while dinner cooked away.

_MG_7886

The only thing I did differently was:

  • omit the ketchup
  • cook the kale in a large pan on the stove [I used 2 full bunches and it was just too much to cook in the crock pot]

LUNCH!  Some of the best, if not THEE best, plain hummus I have ever had….AND it’s local :)

_MG_7887

Veggies are SO refreshing!  I knew the veg wouldn’t be enough to fill me up and I was craving a green monster…

_MG_7883

Usually I make my green monsters pretty calorie dense, but I wanted this one a bit lighter since I was eating/drinking more than just the monster.

It was a bit bland but refreshing, light, and delicious!  

  • 2c spinach
  • handful ice
  • 1/2c. 2% milk
  • 1 container vanilla/banana Yobaby yogurt [from samples I got at the mall!]
  • 1/3 avocado

Love the little whole wheat mini pitas!!  They’re at Whole Foods and are 365 brand.

_MG_7882

As Kath directed….the cranberries went in about 30min before dinner was done. Ohhh natural light at dinnertime…you are missed!

_MG_7890

nom nom nom

_MG_7902

Ohhh man was this tasty…will be making it again!  I noticed it was kind of like Christmas on a plate with the red + green ;)  I am already envisioning variations, mmm.  I am not the biggest fan of chicken…but crock pot chicken [from Whole Foods] wowed me.  Dee-ricious!!!

I’m working on more gift lists!!! Niiiight!

~Ashley

p.s. I am kind of excited…The photos I submitted on foodgawker.com and tastespotting.com were approved!!  Thanks to Alice, from eataduckimust for pushing me to submit :)  Alice + Jared’s photography has been a complete inspiration to me.

photos are here + here