Pinterest Cooking Day 4 - Wednesday

Tonight (Wednesday) we had:

Okra and Tomatoes

and 

Garlic Chick Puffs

You can click on the picture and it should take you to the website where they came from.  I didn't really follow the Okra and Tomatoes recipe, but its a picture.  The recipe called for canned tomatoes, but why used canned when you have some fresh from the Garden.  I also used fresh from the garden Okra!  Jackson liked it till he I told him it had tomatoes in it.  Stephen spit it out and Bart, well he ate it, but I don't think he really liked it.  I liked it, but I'm weird like that!

The Garlic and Chicken Puffs recipe called for canned chicken.  I don't really do that kinda thing.  I just bought mine from Ingles for 1.98 a pound and ended up buying 1 1/2 pounds and just doubled the rest of the ingredients from the recipe.  Instead of cutting each crescent roll triangle in half I just used the whole crescent roll and filled it fuller and wrapped it up really good.  Stephen ate the whole thing.  Jackson ate 2 and gave it one thumbs up.  He probably would have given 2 thumbs up if he would have laid his crescent roll down from the other hand long enough to do it!  I asked him if it was good and he said mmmmmhhuh!!  Bart kept telling me that it was good and I have to admit it was pretty good.

It was something different.  I do have to admit that it would be a great appetizer or a great "shower" finger food!

Pinterest Cooking Day 1 - Sunday

I decided to start something new this week with my family.  I am tired of cooking the same ole stuff every time I cook.  So I sat down Saturday morning with a menu for the week and only eating out Saturday night.  

I LOVE pinterest.  Did you know that??  You can click HERE to see the other things that I have blogged about using pinterest.  I have done several more, but forgot to take pictures or just not blogged about yet.

Anyways.  I made my menu only from pinterest inspired recipes.  Day one was a total hit from my family.

Sour Cream and Bacon Crockpot Chicken

My husband asked for seconds, Jackson tried a bite of Stephens and then asked for his own and Stephen also enjoyed it.

Here is the recipe straight from the site it came from.

Sour Cream and Bacon Crockpot Chicken

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cooke Time: 8 hours

Total Time: 8 hours 15 mins

Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 8 bacon slices
• 8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 (10 oz) cans roasted garlic cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup flour (all purpose or gluten free blend)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Place the bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-low heat until some of the fat is rendered. Be sure that the bacon is still pliable and not crisp. Drain on paper towels. If you use this method, reduce the flour to 1/4 cup. Or don’t cook the bacon and proceed with the recipe.
2. Then wrap one slice of bacon around each boneless chicken breast and place in a 4-5 quart crockpot.
3. In medium bowl, combine condensed soups, sour cream, and flour and mix with wire whisk to blend. Pour over chicken.
4. Cover crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours until chicken and bacon are thoroughly cooked. You may want to remove the chicken and beat the sauce with a wire whisk so it is very well blended.
5. Pour sauce over chicken.
6. If you have a newer crockpot, check the chicken at 5 hours. The internal temp should be 160 -170 degrees F.

I didn't use Chick breast, I used tenders. I did not cook mine for 8 hours.  I put mine on about 3:30 and cooked it till about 6 on high.  It was so moist it was falling apart.  Another thing I did was used the 1/2 cup flour with non cooked bacon wrapped around the chick.  

Next time I cook this I will totally cook the bacon, drain the fat and most likely add the full 1/2 cup flour.  My sauce was very runny from the bacon grease and I just don't like that at all.  I would have loved to had the sauce like a gravy, but it was too runny.

Next I served 

OVEN FRIED OKRA - straight from my garden.  I wanted to get a picture, but my battery died as I turned the camera on.  I searched pinterest for the best recipe, but ended up making up my own.  I crushed my Ritz crackers finely with my food processor, added 1/4 cup cornmeal, 1/4 cup flour.  I sliced the okra, dipped in egg, the in the ritz mixture.  Put a tad bit of butter and oil in a baking pan and baked on 350 for about 20 min.  

Jackson LOVED them and Bart LOVED them also.  Stephen didn't try them.  

I also made biscuts.  I can't find the recipe, but everyone liked them.  I have tried to do biscuts before and they have never turned out great.  Still searching for the Perfect biscut!!  

We also had Green beans, cause if the other stuff turned out bad atleast I couldn't mess up green beans!!!

Italian Zucchini

We have LOTS of zucchini coming in so I have been trying to come up with ideas of fixing it.  I made this the other night and it was really good.  Bart and the kids did not try it.

Thinly slice zucchini and put on top of a lightly drizzle cookie sheet with oil.  On top of the zucchini lightly sprinkle with Italian seasoning and  drizzle butter then top with mozzarella cheese.  Bake at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes till the Zucchini is tender.

Garden 2012/Little Farmer boy

We have had alot of fun working in the garden this year.
Thankfully we have had plenty of rain and I haven't had to water at all.

This little one has been quite the helper!

His brother on the other hand..................well he has ran a few errands to
the house or shop to get things we might need and he has picked a few weeds,
but conveniently he has been gone or had a friend over riding four wheelers!! 

We have worked late in the night some and the boys really enjoy that best.
They know their chance on catching frogs are bigger at night!

Just give Stephen some dirt and a hoe or shovel and he is good to go!

He is VERY careful and watches out for the plants.

My husband bought this for me, but I have not used it yet.
He actually used it the other day and it works really good!

I am begging to get some squash!!

My Garden

Stephen loves to go to the garden with me. I wish the feeling was mutual. He loves to just roam through the garden and 9 times out of 10 he really does not look where he is going. Thats not good when you have corn coming up and he is not paying attention. He also likes to ride and push his little four-wheeler through the garden and when you don't have room between the cucumbers and squash to even walk............its doesn't really make this mama happy!! I am constantly saying "watch the plants" I do have to say I really really love watching both boys helping. Its even cuter when you look up from weeding and you are covered in sweat and dirt just to see two cute blonde boys shirtless watering the plants. Although 5 seconds later they ruin the cuteness by fussing and then there is some screaming...........then there is some "fine Stephen" in a mean voice then comes another little "HA HA bubba" coming from Stephen because he won the battle of the water can!!! Another FAVORITE(but shhhh, don't tell daddy) is climbing to the top of the saw dust pile. Jackson especially loves to climb to the top and scream "I am king of the world" They love love love to be bare footed and of course like all little boys get as dirty as possible. We only go out in the garden after 6 when the shade is covering the garden. That ways its not as hot and the boys can get dirty and then we head in to the bath!!! I have really enjoyed doing a garden this year. Shocking I know!! I still hate to get dirty, sweaty and be outside, But it is very relaxing and peaceful watching God do his magic!!

I know he looks a little dorky, but still ever so cute!!!

Tomato plants!!

My largest squash plant. It is the only plant that survived my seeds.

Squash and cucumbers all bought at Lowes because my seeds probably got eaten by birds.

Here is a run down of what we have planted.

The whole family planted a row of potatoes.

Bart, Jackson and Stephen planted a row of onions. Stephen pulled them up and Bart and Jackson re-planted them.

I planted a whole row of squash seeds. (Only 1 survived)

I did a whole row of cucumbers. (none survived)

I planted 18 tomato plants.

I planted 9 cucumber plants. (Only 8 made it)

I planted 10 squash plants. (Only 9 made it)

I planted 18 watermelon plants.

My mom and Tif came and helped me one day with some fertilizing and hanging some tomato plants with bamboo. He transplanted 1 tomato plant and planted some of his own roots from their house.

Bart dug the garden with a track hoe and leveled it off. My father-in-law tilled it. It looks AMAZING. I try to go every evening even if its just for about 30 mins or so. I have watered it, fertilized it and keep the weeds out. Jackson does help me alot.

Jackson hopes to have enough watermelon and squash to sell to buy him an Itouch. He has alot saved up, but needs about $60 more. Hopefully he can do good at the Farmers market like he did last year!!

Our Garden!!!

This picture was taken about 2 weeks ago. The whole family helped with planting the potatoes and Bart, Jackson, and Stephen did the onions. I can wait to plant my cucumbers and squash. I know we will do tomatoes, watermelon and I would love some corn. Its also nice working together as a family. Its very much out of my comfort zone. I do not like getting dirty. We are going to check the garden today after Jackson gets off the bus. Hopefully we have some plants coming up!!