Celebrating the Arrival of Fall!

Today is the second official day of Fall. Unfortunately for us out here in Nowhere, Oklahoma, it's 93 degrees outside. That's ok though, because in my house it's all Fall!

 I woke up feeling productive (something that's happening less frequently as November 7th approaches) so I decided to try a new recipe I came across on Pinterest a few weeks ago. It's so easy, and it makes the house smell amazing. Other than the ingredients, all you need is a crockpot and a few hours to cook!

Slow Cooker Sugared Pecans or Walnuts

16 oz Pecan or Walnut Halves (I used Pecans)

1/2 Cup (1 stick) Unsalted Butter

1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar

1/4 Tsp Ground Cloves

1 1/2 Tsp Ground Cinnamon

1/4 Tsp Ground Ginger

Turn slow cooker on high about 15 minutes in advance. In the hot slow cooker, stir together the nuts and butter. When the butter is melted and the nuts are coated, add the powdered sugar and stir to coat evenly. Cover and cook on high for 15 minutes. Remove the lid and reduce heat to low. Cook, uncovered, for about 2-3 hours until the nuts are coated in a crisp glaze.  Transfer the nuts to a bowl. In another small bowl, combine the spices and sift this mixture over the nuts, stirring to coat evenly. Let cool before serving. 

How easy and delicious is that? They taste like pure Christmas nostalgia.  Even my notoriously finicky husband likes these. We're planning to have them as a snack when the USC Gamecocks take on the Vanderbilt Commodores tonight.

Hope everyone enjoys their Saturday! And for all my fellow military families here in Lawton, please stay safe this weekend. It's a little hairy out there right now! 

32 Week Progress Report

Today was more exciting than I had planned! I was scheduled for the 2nd of many NST (non stress tests) at the hospital this afternoon. I had a hard time finding a parking spot because there was some kind of expo going on, and a lovely completely NON pregnant woman in a mercedes smiled at me while she cut me off to take one of the expectant mother spots. Nice, huh? That should've been my first indication that this was going to be an interesting afternoon.

I finally found a spot all the way across the parking lot and Sadie and I met Ben in the lobby. He met us after work to keep an eye on the munchkin while I was hooked up to the machines. Sadie, being the daddy's girl she is, nearly leaped from my arms into Ben's. I love when she does that!

We finally made it up to L&D, and the nurses set me up right away. It took forever for baby girl to hold still long enough to get a good read on her heartbeat, but once they got it she stayed still. I made myself as comfortable as possible, thinking it would be over in about 20 minutes.

Wrong!

About 10 minutes later the doctor on the floor poked his head behind the curtain and said "Looks like you're going to need a shot kiddo!" I'm thinking "What? No. Not that shot, right?" Because, you see, I have two other friends who told me they had preterm labor and had to get this shot, when they had the same symptoms I have. Cue mini panic attack.

Unfortunately, it was that shot, terbutaline. Terbutaline is an injection that stops contractions. It also makes you feel like you've just downed a gallon of coffee. Or you're on crack. No lie! I had the jitters for a good two hours after receiving it. The nurse also checked to see if things were "progressing," and thankfully, they were not.

So I'm counting my blessings that she'll be in there a while longer! I'm really hoping I'll make it at least another four weeks. Ironically, my blood pressure-the whole reason I'm having these tests in the first place- was completely normal. I guess if it's not one thing it's another!

We finished our crazy day with some really good chili and cornbread. I'm trying to take it easy and Ben is really helping by taking care of Sadie for me. Hopefully tomorrow will be nice and relaxing. Well, as relaxing as it can get with a fiesty two year old to chase after! Hope you all enjoyed your Thursday. See you next time!

New Recipe of the Week- "Easy Peas-y Chicken n Dumplins"

Hey y'all! (Channeling my inner Paula here) It's been a while, so I decided to write a "New Recipe of the Week" post. I apologize for being so slack on this!

This week's recipe is all about cool weather comfort. While it's not quite chilly during the day out here yet, we are barely making it into the 80s. And at night we are dipping into the 50s! So today I decided to capitalize on this gift from above and make some chicken and dumplings.  This recipe is my own, so measurements given are approximate.

1 store-bought rotisserie chicken, in your desired flavor. (I used garlic and it was fabulous. You can also use your own leftover chicken, or cook your own.)

3 large carrots, peeled.

3 celery ribs
1/2 medium onion
1 bag frozen green peas
4 tblsp butter
2 cans biscuits (I used grands southern style)
1 can cream of chicken soup (smaller, standard size. Not the large can)
1 large carton chicken stock (I used Swanson's)
garlic powder
salt
black pepper
rosemary
thyme
poultry seasoning

(All seasonings should be used to taste.)

First, pick the meat free of your chicken bones and toss it in your crockpot. Include the skin! It only adds more flavor! Discard the bones. (Or use them for making your own chicken stock, if you're feeling ambitious.)

Coarsely chop the carrots, onion, and celery. Saute them in the butter in a pan over medium high heat. Add all seasonings to taste. Cook until onions are translucent and transfer the veggie mixture to the crockpot. Add the frozen peas to the pot as well.

On top of the chicken and veggies, pour your cream of chicken soup and chicken stock. Add enough water to ensure all the liquid will not be absorbed by the dumplings. (I just eyeballed this part.) 

Pop open the biscuits and cut each one into quarters, then cut each quarter in half. Toss them in the crockpot and close the lid. Set the temperature to high and cook for 3 hours. DO NOT STIR until the 3 hours are up and you are ready to serve.

I don't know about y'all, but I like my dumplings a little on the doughy side. This is how they turn out with this recipe and I thought they were  perfect! With this being a relatively quick crockpot recipe, it's easy to do in an afternoon.

Hope y'all give this one a try and enjoy it! Speaking of enjoying, I'm about to take my daughter outside to enjoy this beautiful weather! Bon Apetite!

Oh Happy Day!

It's a quarter till ten o'clock on a Sunday morning, and I am feeling as bright and chipper as can be! Why you ask? Because I didn't wake up with laser beams of sunlight in my face, and I actually had to turn off the a/c! It's overcast and chilly this morning, and our high is only 86. That's a 20 degree difference from what our highs have been averaging!

This weather is putting me in a Fall mood. I have a recipe for some crockpot baked apples, but since I just made crockpot ribs yesterday, I'm not sure I want to mess with it again today. I do want to get outside though. Poor Sadie hasn't been able to play outdoors much at all this summer. If it doesn't rain, maybe we'll take her to the park.

Today would be perfect for a drive out to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge to look at the buffalo and longhorns, except...it's on fire. The news says it's 100% contained but I'm sure there is smoke everywhere. Maybe we'll drive out there anyway, just to get out of this house. We can keep the windows rolled up! Haha.


I know today's post was a little rambling and boring, but I feel guilty for not posting more regularly. Maybe I will have some more interesting things to say this week since the weather is much better for the time being.  Thanks for stopping by!