LOL! I’m sure I’ll get some comments on this entry. 

As a kid, we spent many winters outdoors enjoying the weather.  My parents owned a snowmobile when I was younger and we spend countless afternoons riding through the fields and meeting up with friends to toboggan.  My dad and older brother would ride on the skidoo while mom, my younger brother and I rode on the toboggan behind.  My older brother was in charge of checking on us to make sure dad didn’t lose us along the way.  Not because he was going too fast, but because from time to time, the toboggan rope would come undone and we would be left behind for a few seconds or until they noticed we were no longer “attached”.

Another fond memory I have is cross country skiing with my aunts, uncles and cousins.  My mom comes from a rather large family and we would all go out to one of my aunt’s houses in the country and ski all afternoon.  There were usually 10 or more of us.  It was the best!!!

When I wasn’t skiing or snowmobiling, I was outside with my cousins building snow forts.  I can remember lying in the snow and staring up at the starry ski.  I loved being outdoors.

Those were some of my fondest memories growing up. Now as a parent, I’m trying to create some fun memories for my kids by taking them outside to enjoy the snow.  We toboggan and build snowman.  I still have my cross country skis and would like to pick up some snow shoes or skis for the kids once they are a bit older.  Grace has been asking for skates, so I’m going to pick some up for her and Gabby.  They are never too young to learn right?

If you want to learn about staying more active during winter, check out the Active Living site for your area.  There are lots of great ideas to keep active during the winter and to make it a little more enjoyable!

Here are some picks of the kids enjoying winter.

I had a pretty hectic few weeks and as a result haven’t gotten around to posting any meal plans.  So I thought I would get a jump on my post for this week.  Tonight we had the Creamy Ham and Potatoes from the Slow Cooker week #3.  I was very impressed.  I adjusted some of the measurements of the original recipe.  Here is my version:

1 dozen med sized potatoes sliced

4 slice pkg of larsen’s ham, cut into pieces

1 can condensed cream of celery soup

2 cups of water

2 tbsp margarine

4 tbsp flour

2 tbsp dijon mustard

put the margarine, flour and dijon mustard in a microwaveable bowl and cook on high approx 30-40 seconds.  mix together.  add all the above ingredients to slow cooker and top with mustard mix.  give everything a good stir and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  cook on low for 7-8 hrs.   Yummy!

Here are some other slow cooker recipes I will be making this week:

Chicken Divan

Ingredients:
2 to 3 cups cooked, cut up chicken (large chunks)
1/2 small onion, chopped
1 can (10 3/4 oz.) condensed cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup mayonaise
3 tablespoons flour
2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
1 package (10 oz.) frozen broccoli spears, thawed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Hot buttered noodles

Directions:
In medium bowl, thoroughly combine all ingredients except noodles. Pour into lightly greased stoneware. Cover and cook on Low setting for 7 to 9 hours (on High setting for 2 to 3 hours.)Serve with hot buttered noodles, spooning sauce over top. 4 to 6 servings.

Cajun Chicken and Shrimp Creole  **good!**

Ingredients:
2 lbs skinless chicken thighs
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, diced
1 15-oz can stewed tomatoes, undrained and chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbs granulated sugar
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp Cajun seasoning
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 lb shelled shrimp, deveined and cleaned
1 Tbs lemon juice
Louisiana hot sauce to taste
2 cups prepared quick-cooking rice

Directions:
Place the chicken thighs in the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients except for the shrimp, lemon juice, hot sauce and rice. Cover; cook on Low for 8 to 10 hours or on High for 4 to 5 hours. In the last hour of cooking, add the shrimp, lemon juice and hot sauce. Serve over the hot rice.

Stuffed Chicken Breast with Feta, Spinach, and Tomatoes**good!*

I didn’t bother stuffing the chicken.   I just added cut up chicken with all the other ingredients and then put it on top of whole wheat pasta….yummm!

Ingredients:
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
8 oz feta cheese (drained)
3 c chopped fresh spinach leaves
1/3 c oil packed sun dried tomatoes, drained and chopped  (i used sun dried tomato salad dressing)

1 t minced lemon zest
1 t dried basil, oregano or mint
1/2 t garlic powder
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes, including juice
Ground black pepper

Directions:
Place 1 chicken breast between plastic wrap and using the back of a skillet or tenderizer mallet, pound breast until about 1/4 inch thick. Repeat with each breast.2. Combine feta, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, zest, basil, garlic powder and pepper in a medium bowl. 3. Lay chicken breasts smooth side down on work surface. Place approximately 2 tablespoons of feta mixture onto the wide end of the breast. Roll tightly. Repeat with each breast. 4. Place rolled breasts seam side down in Crock-Pot® slow cooker. Top with canned tomatoes and olives. 5. Cook on Low for 5 1/2 to 6 hours or on High for 4 hours. Serve with rice or pasta.

Smoky-Flavored Barbequed Ribs straight out of Betty Crocker Slow Cooker Cookbook (thanks for this one LP!)

3 1/2 lbs pork loin back ribs (we’ve used other varieties as well, and they’re just as tasty)
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. fresh ground pepper
3 tbsps. liquid smoke (we used hickory flavored)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp salt
1 medium onion, sliced
1/2 cup cola (we used regular Coca-Cola)
1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce (we’re addicted to Stubbs spicy)

1. Spray the inside of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.
2. Remove inner skin from the ribs. Mix brown sugar, pepper, liquid smoke, garlic and salt together in a bowl and rub this mixture onto the ribs. Cut ribs into 4 inch pieces, then layer ribs and onion in the slow cooker. Pour cola over everything.
3. Cover and cook on a low heat setting for 8-9 hours or until ribs are tender (believe me, they’re tender by then). Remove the ribs from slow cooker, and drain and discard the liquid.
4. Pour the BBQ sauce into a shallow bowl. Dip each of the rib pieces into sauce. Return the ribs to the slow cooker. Pour any remaining sauce over the ribs, then cover and cook on low for 1 hour.

For those of you who have not heard of it, the Jack Frost Festival is an annual winter festival held in Charlottetown.  There are snow sculptures, kids shows, outdoor skating rink, animals, horse and sleigh rides, tubing, ice slides, indoor activities and shows, the flying canucks and children’s characters to new a few.  It is such an awesome family event and it seems to get better and better every year.  I took the girls up Sunday afternoon, but I think next year we will have to get a weekend pass and stay overnight.  This years festival was amazing and the girls and I had such a great time.  I’m really looking forward to going next year.

the entrance

Grace enjoying one of the many ice slides

the girls enjoying the ice slides

snow carving…they were amazing!!

one of the many igloos

peek-a-boo

enjoying some indoor fun

various snow sculptures

the flying canucks

Gabby LOVED the backyardigans

enjoying a horse and sleigh ride and begging

me not to take any more pics!

Me and Gabby

My slow cooker has been a blessing this past week.  I’ve been sick and not up to doing a whole lot around the house, including preparing meals.  This week I made a pull apart pork recipe, the cheater cacciatore chicken, and the decadant chocolate delight.  All very yummy.  I’ve never used my slow cooker for desserts before and I must say I was very impressed.  You can bet I will be making more desserts in my slow cooker.

apple brown betty

decadant chocolate delight

cheater chicken cacciatore

If anyone is familiar with me at all, they know I love my dog.   I think it’s safe to say that the feeling is mutual.  No matter where I am in the house, she is always close by.  If I’m on the computer, she sits under the table at my feet.  If I’m in the livingroom, she lies on the floor beside the couch (the animals aren’t allowed on the furniture).  She follows me so closely that at times, I actually trip over her.  If hubby is working nights, I’ll let her sleep in bed with me which I know she considers a special treat.   I think it’s funny that she is so taken with me because it was hubby who brought her home.   Then again, I’m usually the one who walks her or wants to take her on family outings.  She is amazing with the kids and loves going out with them to play in the snow.   She is by far, the best family dog ever!

You’ll have to bear with me, I’m not feeling 100%, so I’m not sure this post will make any sense.  I’ve been trying to get into to see my doctor this week and haven’t had any luck.  This cold seems to be getting worse and I’m finding it hurts to breath.  I may have to try one of the walk in clinics.

I guess I consider myself lucky to even have a family doctor.  There are approximently 4200 islanders without one.  I feel for doctors that have to carry on such a huge patient load.  I’m just wondering what is so unappealing about a medical practice in PEI? Is it the patient overload or the money?   This article written back in 2007 says that things are improving, but are they?  I think islanders would beg to differ.

 PEI Doctor Shortage Improving

I’m getting a mixture of recipes for this week’s meal plan.  Some are from CPO and some are from Jyl Steinback’s “The busy mom’s slow cooker cookbook.  Just click on the recipes if you are interested in trying them out.   I made cara’s memphis rotissierre chicken yesterday.  It was yummy!  I used the leftovers to make buffalo chicken party sandwiches for the superbowl.  Happy crock potting!!!!!

helen’s beef stew

ginger pork

Jyl Steinback’s chicken divan

2 6 oz pkgs grilled chicken cut into 1 inch pieces

1/2 cup frozen chopped onions ( i use fresh onions)

1 10 3/4 oz can low fat cream of celery soup

1/3 cup low fat mayonaise

2 tbsp flour

1 cup chopped celery

1 10 oz pkg frozen broccoli

1/2 tsp curry

1 tbsp lemon juice

spray inside of slow cooker with cooking spray.  combine all ingredients in slow cooker and mix well.  cover and cook on low heat for 6-8 hrs or high heat 3-4 hrs.

 sloppy joes

macaroni and cheese

Jyl Steinback’s Enchilada Casserole

1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

1 16 oz jar think and chunky salsa

1 6 oz can roasted garlic tomato paste

2 15 oz can black beans, drained

1 16 oz can whole kernel corn, drained

1 4 oz diced can green chilies, drained

2 1/4 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 8.5 oz low-fat white corn tortillas

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

spray inside of slow cooker with non-stick spray.  combine tomatoes, salsa, tomato paste, beans, corn, chilies, chili power and garlic powder in medium bowl and mix well.  spoon about 1 cup of the mixture into bottom of slow cooker and spread evenly.  top with 1 1/2 of the tortillas .  top with a third of the remaining tomato mixture and another  layer of tortillas.  repeat layers ending with tomato mixture.  cover and cook on low heat for 5-6 hrs .  just before serving, sprinkle cheese on top and cook for 30 min.

Usually each year, we head over to our friend’s house to watch the superbowl.  We’ve been doing it for years.  Unfortunately, they have moved out of province so we are left wondering what to do instead.   We did get another invite, but I’m not feeling the greatest and hubby will just be getting off work at 7:30 pm.  I’m not sure he will feel up to going out either.  So for tonight, looks like it’s just us and the food!!  We have nachos, buffalo chicken party sandwiches, potato skins and beverages.  Hubby doesn’t know what we are having tonight, so I am going to surprise him with the spread.  Can’t wait for him to get home! Go Pittsburg!!!!!!

Surprise!!

the munchies