The return of the infamous "Gracie-isms:...

Since I have been out of "bloggy world" for so long, I've had so many "Gracie Moments" that I haven't been able to share with you... I'll have to play catch up for a few days now.  That girl makes for some GREAT blog material.  :-)

To give you a little bit of "background" information on this story, you should know that we've had some people coming out to work on our yard a little bit, which is a compete mess...  We hired a landscaper who quit in the middle of the job.  So, the yard is a real wreck, and we've been trying to "sub-contract" the work out.  Not fun.  Anyway, last week some folks came out and started on the dirt work, to try and level the yard and get it ready for a sprinkler system and grass.  However, lately it has been raining around here.  A LOT.  So, as they were working, they left a few tracks from the bull dozer in the mud.  Then, it began to rain AGAIN, and mud puddles began to form.  Those muddy bulldozer tracks are currently sticking  up out of the water in the mud puddles.

Now, on to the "funny" part of the story...

Grace comes inside with the MOST serious look on her face.  She says, "Mom, I need you outside RIGHT NOW.  I'm pretty sure there's an alligator in our yard."

What?

I went outside with her, and, you know what?  Those bulldozer tracks sticking up out of the mud puddles DO look a lot like an alligator sticking his head and back up out of the water...

I tried to convince her that it was just mud, but she wasn't really sure... She sat out on the porch for quite a while, watching to see if those gators moved...

Silly girl - she's her own little party!  Never a dull moment when Grace is around!!!!

Return of the Mommy blogger...

Hello, internets!

How are ya'?

Have you been wondering where I've been?  

Probably not, but you know I'm going to tell you anyway, right?  :-)  

My country-fried internet decided to die on me.  

Apparently the young cows who are living in my front yard at the moment thought it felt just WONDERFUL to scratch their little necks on my internet satellite dish.  

And, apparently said dish is a bit FRAGILE and doesn't enjoy being made into a scratching post.

Go figure.

Today little internet repair man came out and replaced my dish.  

I'm back, baby!!!

What's For Dinner?

That always seems to be the question around here... what's for dinner?  I am SOOOO burned out on all the meals that we USUALLY eat at Casa de Killian.  So, today I'm trying something new.  Today, I got together with 4 other friends and made casseroles.  We each brought enough supplies to make 2 casseroles for everyone, so by the end of the afternoon we all had 10 casseroles to take home and place in our freezer.   I have Tater Tot casserole, courtesy of Mistie; cheese enchiladas, courtesy of Robbye; manicotti, courtesy of Jenny; green chili enchiladas, courtesy of Chrissy; and chicken and dressing, courtesy of ME.  They are packed into my freezer, ready to feed us this month.  I am so very excited - I hope it's something we can do again, because not only is it GREAT to have all that food in the freezer and ready to go, but it was also a LOT of fun.  Thanks, girls!!

... and just a LITTLE more crock pot!!

I thought I'd finish up the week with just a few more of my favorite crock pot recipes.  You can NEVER have too many crock pot dinners!!

Here is one of our favorites.  Even my pickiest daughter eats it!  The chicken is wonderfully tender, and it makes a delicious side of beans and corn and salsa to go along with it.  YUM.

Slow Cooker Southwest Chicken

-2 cans whole kernel corn, rinsed and drained (sometimes I like to use a can of white corn and a can of yellow corn to make it even prettier...)

-1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

-  1- 16 oz. jar chunky salsa, divided in half

- 6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Combine corn, beans, and 1/2 cup salsa in slow cooker.  Top with chicken.  Pour remaining salsa over chicken.  Cover and cook on high for 3-4 ours or low for 7-8 hours.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Cover just until cheese melts ( about 5 minutes.)  

This next one is awesome, because I love beef stroganoff, but I'll be real honest... my kids don't like it, because they don't like sour cream!!!  However, sometimes I make it anyway, just because it is a favorite of mine.  :-)

Slow Cooker Stroganoff

3 lb. boneless beef round steak

1/2 c. all purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon ground, dry mustard

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 medium onion, sliced and separated into rings

2 cans (4 oz. each) mushrooms, drained

1 can ( 10 1/2 oz.) condensed beef broth, undiluted

1 1/2 cup sour cream

Cut round steak into strips.  In a large Ziploc bag, combine flour, slat, dry mustard, and pepper.  Add beef to the bag in batches, tossing to coat.  In slow cooker, layer the onion, mushrooms, and beef.  Pour broth over all.  Cover and cook on low 8-20 hours (or until tender.)  Just before serving, stir in sour cream.  Serve over rice or noodles.

And lastly, one with a "Mexican" flare!  Here is "Arroz con Pollo", in a crock pot!!

Slow Cooker Arroz con Pollo

4 chicken breast halves, skin and fat removed

1 small red bell pepper, seeded and chopped

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1 tablespoon cooking oil

1 medium onion, chopped

3 cloves minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves

1 can crushed tomatoes

1 package (10 oz.) frozen green peas (**  I have also used frozen peas and carrots, and it's good)

Season chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika.  In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium heat.  Add chicken and brown; drain.  Place chicken in slow cooker.  In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients, except peas.  Pour over chicken.  Cover and cook on low 8 hours (or on high for 4 hours).  One hour before serving, add peas.  Serve over rice.

Hope you all find something that sounds yummy for a cool, crisp Fall night!!!  Enjoy!