Make it Yourself Monday-Chicken Crock Pot Recipe


I found this recipe on allrecipes.com and made it last weekend while we were at the wine festival, and will be making it again next weekend when we camp with the family. The smell alone send me over the moon! I read all of the reviews and alternate recipes and decided to add onions, wine and mushrooms. But, after we reached our destination, I realized that I had forgotten the cream cheese and/or sour cream. So I just added a bit of wine and it made a great gravy for the mashed potatoes that we did for dinner. Nope, it wasn't a stroganoff, but it was pot licking good for sure! 


Chicken Stroganoff

Ingredients

  • 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed
  • 1/8 cup margarine
  • 1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix
  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
  • 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
  • *mushrooms
  • *onions
  • *wine
  • *sour cream

  • (*) means optional

Directions

  1. Put chicken, margarine, onion if using, and the dressing mix into the slow cooker; mix together and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours. You can add wine or water in the beginning, but leaving it out will give you a crispy chicken outside with a nice juicy inside, so resist the temptation! 
  2. Add the cream cheese and soup, mix together and cook on high for another 1/2 hour or until heated through and warm. Also add the mushrooms now if you are using them, and you can add some wine too! Just before serving, you can mix in some sour cream if you like. Then shred the chicken and serve over rice or noodles. If you don't make it white, try it over mashed potatoes to see how you like that! You can also use herb and garlic seasoning instead of the Italian dressing, it works the same way! 




What's Working Wednesday- Gift Sets

Hi everyone! Can you believe it is already hump day? We are almost to the long weekend that symbolizes the end of Summer and the beginning of the Craft and Holiday season. Time sure flies!

I recently came across some interesting boxes with a magnetic tab closure. The boxes looked large enough for two bars of soap, so I bought a few to try. They do hold two bars quite nicely, and I have had a blast decorating the fronts. So far I have made a Whispering Willow and Whispering Willow Rain box set, an Autumn Apples and Pumpkin Lager box set, and a Baby set that contains a lavender sachet, a bar of goat milk soap, a soap deck and a tin of Baby Bum and Body Balm. I have two other boxes with floral decorations that are just awaiting soap. I will be taking these to the Wine Festival (in Summersville, WV) in a couple of weeks. If they go well I will be making some more.

The curing rack is now holding some recently made soaps in preparation for the Wine festival, the Herb festival, and the opening of the Christmas Cabin. Pretty soon Chardonnay, Cabernet Vineyard, Currant Tea, Jasmine Nights Tea, Sea Spray, Clover Fields with Aloe, and Wild Berries and Herbs will be joining the sales racks! Additionally, I have some lovely sachets in Linen, Lavender Kissed Linen,  Sugared Chestnuts, Daisies and Jasmine Nights Tea. I also have 30 of the 50 Diffuser Bottles filled. So far I have made Linen, Lavender and Chamomile Kissed Linen, Apple Butter, Autumn Apples, and Candy Cane. I plan on doing the rest in Gingerbread, Christmas Berries and some type of Pine or wintry forest. I won't really know what it is until I finish creating it! Lol

Well I have tried to add photographs of the items listed here and for some reason blogger isn't cooperating today. I will keep trying though, so check back. If I can't get them added, then I will put them into a slide show for tomorrow's post.
For now though, I need to get back to work. I am making Christmas Bulb earrings and have about six pairs left to get finished. So as I sit sweating, I am thinking about snow and hoho!

Try an Herb Tuesday- Skullcap

Skullcap, botanically known as Scutellaria lateriflora, is known as a "calming" herb, one that is good for any stressful situation, but especially for those that are grief related. Historically, Skullcap has been used to calm the mind, to stop the cycle of circular thoughts, and to ease emotional stress and tension, especially when dealing with the pain of break ups or loss. It encourages mental clarity and brings a renewed focus to thoughts, as well as actions.  

It is usually made into a tincture or a tea, and has a somewhat bitter taste. Skullcap is known to stimulate digestion, and even to trigger feelings of hunger. Since the gastro-intestinal tract tends to become sluggish when we are stressed, the use of skullcap can help to return our system to health. It is said to relax tight muscles and to relieve headaches. It can be used when needed, or it can be taken daily, as a preventative treatment. When taken daily, it not only restores the body and the mind, but it works as a strengthener to prepare the body to better respond to future stresses. This herb is one that was likely in every medicine cabinet, and would do well in yours! 

Make it Yourself Monday- Holiday Decorations

Yes the air-conditioner may still be in use, but VERY soon, long before you think it should happen, well before you know it, the holiday season will be here. So now is the time to begin preparing, the time for making decorations, and the time to begin making your gifts. think about it, the more that you accomplish now, the less stressed and the more enjoyable your holidays will be! So today's Make it Yourself project is a very easy, yet very cute decoration. This one is so cute. Make several, some to keep for decorations and some to give as gifts!


You will need-
(plastic) ice cubes
paint (black, orange)
artificial snow
glue
*optional components; remnant material for scarf, felt for hat, iridescent and/or textured snow, pipe cleaner, pom poms, and wood or cardboard for a base.

Glue three ice cubes together, either in graduating sizes or if they are all the same size, as mine are, just off-set them a bit for added interest. Leave sit until the glue is completely dry. Once dry, paint a face on your snowman and decorate with a hat and/or scarf. I like to glue some snowmen to wood or cardboard bases. Just paint the wood or cardboard and then cover it in the type of snow that you paint on. I prefer the type that is textured, as it looks more real, but the iridescent kind (that comes in a tube, similar to icing gel) is also pretty neat. These are so quick and easy to make you can easily do some of each! Just let your imagination take you to a winter wonderland, and have fun!

To make ear muffs, cut a portion of pipe cleaner and glue small pom poms to each end. Bend over the top ice cube and glue in place. To make a hat (you can buy these already made in your local craft store), cut red felt, fold in cone shape and glue edges in place. Cut a strip of white and glue to bottom edge, then glue a small pom pom to the pointed end. Once dry, glue hat to corner of top ice cube.
Due to a medical emergency in the family I have been unable to post for several days and will continue to be unable to post for the next few. I am currently sitting in the hospital and do not have access to my notes or books and do not really have the time to create a post. My sincere apologies and I will resume writing as soon as I am home. I hope you will continue to follow me when I get back, thank you for your patience!