Sunday Supper

I realize it's Thursday night & the title is Sunday Supper, but I have been pretty busy with work & have not gotten around to it. Regardless, this past Sunday I tried two new recipes and I wanted to share them.

The first thing I tried is one I found from another blogger & I am so happy I found it. I have never cooked a whole chicken, and I can't lie, I happen to think raw chicken is nasty. A whole raw chicken, even worse. However, this recipe is super easy & super yummy (worth touching nasty raw chicken)!!

-1 Whole Chicken (Kroger is having super sales right now...4.5lbs for $3.00...no joke!)
-Morton's Natures Seasoning to taste
-2 Chicken Bullion Cubes
-New Potatoes
-Crock Pot (I love my CROCK POT!!!)

Season the chicken & put it in the crock pot. Add the two bouillon cubes & potatoes, set the CP to cook for 6 or 8 hours, and wait......
Now, I apologize for not taking any 'after' photos but I can assure you it was delicious, and the meat feel right off of the bone!!

While my chicken was cooking I decided to try a new cookie recipe. These are called Crinkle Cookies, but I think Crackle Cookies would be more appropriate. Regardless, I lovingly refer to them as Bobby/Chrissi cookies...

1 1/4 C all-purpose flour

3/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 C (1 stick) butter, unsalted, room temp.

1 C light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1/4 C confectioners' sugar

-Heat oven to 350° F.

-In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
-With an electric mixer, beat the butter and brown sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs. Reduce speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated. -Form the dough into balls (each equal to 1 level tablespoon). Roll the balls in the confectioners’ sugar and place on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart.

-Bake until the cookies are firm and the tops crack, 13 to 15 minutes.
-Cool slightly on the baking sheets, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Not only do these cookies taste yumm-o, but they keep well for a while, which is always nice when you prefer soft cookies over crispy....

ENJOY :)

Welcome to the family, bright orange chair.

As some of you know, I have been on the hunt for another chair to go in my living room. I had one wall that really needed some seating, and I was dying to have a chair that I could curl up in and read, nap, whatever...I just wanted to be able to sit on something other than a wooden chair or this leather sofa...

Well, after this weekend I am happy to say I finally found one, and I love it! When I got it home from Macy*s CLEARANCE Furniture Store at Town Center Mall. I purchased a roughly $1,200 Martha Stewart chair for a whole $188. That's right, I got my lovely new chair for about 85% off...yes, I am serious. I just love bargain hunting!!

When I first put it in the living room, I must admit, I was overwhelmed. My living room is not a large space, and I am used to seeing a lot of open wall space around my window. Monday morning, however, when I woke up and walked downstairs I thought "I LOVE this chair!!" and last night as I curled up to watch the Bachelor (thank you LG, for your swivel TV) I thought "I LOVE this chair!!" So needless to say, I am happy to welcome my new orange chair into my home.

I also brought home a new ottoman from the Macy*s Clearance Floor. I purchased it intending to sew a striped fun cover & make it my new living room ottoman, but when I placed it at the foot of my bed to sit for a few days while I hunted fabric, I realized it was perfect right where it sat. This purchase was another huge bargain. I was told the original price was $400-ish, and I purchased it for a whole $44. Did I mention you should go to this clearance store if you need furniture? You should. And ask for George, he was so helpful :)

PS, Valentine's Day is less than a month away...and since love is so sweet, my (very minimal) decorations equals one cute candy bar in my living room :) Some guests love it, some hate it...ahem, elizabeth ;)

xoxo, chrissi

Weight Loss Tips, Diets, Workout Ideas

As part of Kelly's Korner Show Us Your Life Fridays, I am posting about Weight Loss Tips, Diets, Workout Ideas....



Although I am not even CLOSE to an expert, I do consider myself a healthy person. I have modified my diet & exerciseroutine (from nothing!) over the last year and some change and I love it....here are some of my thoughts on the topic:

• Get up and get moving...You can't complain about not shedding the extra lbs. when you're not doing anything. You have to start somewhere. For me it was my little sis dragging my rear to the gym (which i am so thankful for because i met my boyfriend there...hehe...another story for another day).


• Cut back where you can...one of the hardest, yet easiest, changes was with my coffee. I would drink at least two cups a day (and no, not the tiny cups you're supposed to use for 'one' serving) and I would load in the cream. In cutting back, I have weaned myself off of creamer, and now use just skim milk and one splenda.


• Watch your portions....Slow down while you're eating so your body has time to process some food. This will hopefully allow you to know well in advance of when you're full, before it's too late & you've inhaled the whole thing.


• Know what you're eating....I am a restaurant website junkie!! Before I go to eat somewhere I go look at their menu online & check out the nutritional value. For me, if I know in advance just how bad for me something is, I will remember to stay away when I see it on the menu later than night.


• Dip your fork!! Just because it's a salad does not mean it's good--that dressing is a killer! This is my favorite tip...next time you're eating a salad, ask for the dressing on the side. When your meal comes, don't dump the dressing on top, leave it in the little bowl and dip the tip of your fork into it before you spear some good ole' veggies. You will have the flavor of the dressing on every bite, but in the end, you will be left with HALF of what you would have used. Trust me on this one, it works!


• Lastly, have fun! If you hate it, you probably won't keep it up very long. Grab a friend, go for a walk. Find something that is enjoyable for you and you will be more likely to stick with it....so have fun :)

xoxo

Life is too short

Last week I was reminded of just how short life is... A young man who was in a group I lead on a JFBC High School Mission Trip in 2005 was killed last weekend in a car crash. He was taken too soon from this earth, and left those who knew him saddened and questioning why? Sometimes life just doesn't make sense. We walk through each day and all too often forget that life is short and it could end for any person at any given moment. God knows the number of hairs on our head (Matthew 10:30) and he knows the very number of days we will have on this earth (Psalm 139:13-16). My hope is that we will all remember, every single day, to hug those that we love, tell people you love them, and live each moment like it's your last. I love the Kris Allen song 'Live Like You Were Dying' and I happen to think the video is neat as well, so I am sharing it with you...



We never know what life has in store, so live it up, and cherish each moment.

xo