Clean-out-your-cupboard crockpot pasta

Dilemma: It's 2:30 pm.  Your father and stepmother are coming over for dinner.  You have not been to the grocery store.  You could do that now, but you'd really rather squeeze in a run with a girlfriend.
Solution: Creativity and a crockpot.

This was my afternoon.  As usual, I turned to Google and once again came across the Year of Slow Cooking blog.  This woman totally impresses me.  Like, want to have her over for coffee and be her friend kind of impresses me.  Instead, I'll just keep stealing her ideas.

So based on what I had in my cupboards, I used her baked ziti recipe.

1. Grease your crockpot with cooking spray.
2. Rinse your pasta (I used penne) with water so it is damp going into the crockpot.
3. Make one layer of uncooked pasta in crockpot and top with pasta sauce (I used a jar of vodka sauce and a jar of primavera), grated cheese (I used mozzerella), and chopped vegetables (I used mushrooms, bell peppers, broccoli, and cherry tomatoes).  Sprinkle with minced onion or onion powder or garlic powder.  
4. Repeat layers until you have the desired amount of pasta, etc.
5. Pour 1/3(ish) cup water around the edges of the crockpot to add moisture to the mixture.
6. Cook on low for 4-5 hours.
7. Serve with garlic bread and enjoy!

Hubby was impressed, guests were happy, and I was able to run 5 miles with a great friend, so it was an all-around hit.  Thanks Year of Slow Cooking!

Introducing, my 2 favorite apps...

I am a happier person when my body is healthy and my home is clean.  I also love my iPhone.

Enter my two favorite apps...  in no particular order.  (And not counting the Project 365 app I already blogged about.)

• For a clean home: The Home Routines app is a great way to manage a household- with rotating weekly lists that break down top-to-bottom cleaning into manageable 15 minute chunks, complete with timer.  And with a checklist tracking feature, it makes me feel super-productive when I'm just doing ordinary tidying up. And while $4.99 may seem a little steep at the app store, trust me- It's. Worth. Every. Penny.
• For a fit body: Nike Training Club is your personal trainer on a budget.  Filled with targeted zone and all-over cardio workouts for all schedules and fitness levels, NTC is a great way to get in shape and stay in shape.  I've been using it on-and-off for a year and a half and have still not tired of the  workouts.  When I started an intense Monday boot camp class at our local gym, I felt totally prepared thanks to my high-knee-burpee-tuck-jump-plank routines at home with NTC.

PS.  I have no financial incentive to writing about this.  In fact, I have reason to believe that my mother is the only person who reads this blog and she doesn't have an iPhone.  I'm just putting it out there that these really do help me in my daily life.  I'm a fan. (Got it, Mom?)

Too busy Tuesday- crockpot chicken divan

Today I have meetings until 5, a school board meeting I want to attend at 6:30, and people to feed!

I had indicated to my family that I'd make chicken divan (an all time family favorite), without really considering my schedule...  so I looked up a Campbell's recipe and made some substitutions...

My (sort-of) crockpot chicken divan:

• Coat your crockpot with cooking spray
• Put 2 cups uncooked white rice on bottom of slow cooker
• Layer 4-6 uncooked chicken breasts, 1 cup shredded cheddar, 1 bag frozen broccoli, and mixture of 1 can cream of chicken soup, 1 cup mayo, curry to taste
• Pour 2 cups chicken broth around edge of slow cooker and do not stir!
• Top with 1 (additional) cup shredded cheddar and bread crumbs
• Cover and cook on low 4-6 hours (I had a long day...  mine was closer to 9 and still tasted great!)