Creamy Tomato Crockpot Italian Chicken

I don't know if I have ever mentioned this before, but I love trying new recipes ESPECIALLY when mushrooms are involved. So in an effort to eat semi-healthy, I searched through Sparkpeople's website and came across an interesting recipe that I had to try. While this recipe came from Spark, I had to add my own flare to it and found some stuff out while trying this recipe that, in the future, will make this recipe mine.

1 package of mushrooms, sliced

1 6 ounce bag of baby spinach

3 chicken breasts

1 8 ounce package of cream cheese (full fat, 1/3 less fat, or no fat is fine), cubed

1/2 red onion, sliced or chopped

1 package of Slow Cooker Chicken Italian Seasoning (I could not find it, so I used a package of Grill Mates Garlic and Basil for chicken)

2 cans of tomatoes

You're going to layer everything in the crockpot- so layer your mushrooms, spinach, chicken, red onion, and cream cheese. In a bowl mix the tomatoes and the seasoning packet together-- now I used 1 complete can of tomatoes and drained the other one, so the sauce itself wouldn't be too thin, but do it however you like. Put the tomato mixture on top of everything in the crock pot.

Cook on low heat for about 6 hours or on high heat for 4 hours. After an hour or so has passed, mix everything together and continue to let it cook. One thing I did find out with this recipe, after cooking the chicken for this long in the crockpot, it turned out dry. So a suggestion would be to broil or fry the chicken, and add it at the last minute to prevent it from drying out.

Serve it over pasta and b/c I'm such a cheese over pasta person, I sprinkled some Parmesan over it. Surprisingly, this was a really good recipe and is definitely one that I'll be trying and eating again.

Homemade Pizza

There is something so enticing and welcoming about homemade meal. First I think it means more to people and to yourself to put the thought and effort into a homemade meal. Second you know what exactly goes into your food. And third it's cheaper.

Josh and I made homemade pizza for supper-- our one of many that we have made in the past, and that meal is honestly one that never gets old. You can anything, and I mean anything, on a pizza. However much sauce, whatever kind of sauce, toppings, cheese, herbs, sweet, savory, doughy crust, crispy crust-- it really doesn't matter.

One pizza that we do is-

1 pizza crust- pricked and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil or canola oil, sprinkled with salt or oregano.

1 jar of pizza sauce- I use about 1/4 of the jar while Josh uses 1/2 of the jar (a small jar that is)

Pepperoni-- we used turkey pepperoni (pause for shock.. me eating turkey anything)

Italian Sausage (we didn't use it tonight but have in the past, and it's awesome)

1/2 red onion, diced

4 mushrooms, sliced

6 Italian blend Sargentos bag of cheese

Bake your crust first, 350 degrees for 7-8 minutes. Layer everything and set back in the oven for about 10-12 minutes. If you want your crust browner, turn the broiler on.

And of course we pair it up with $0.75 macaroni and cheese-- but again, it's such a great meal, who needs to spend $30 on pizza?

A friend of mine makes a veggie pizza for a night she calls Meatless Monday-- she puts kale, peppers, tomatoes, onion, and broccoli on hers. You could make your own Chicken Florentine pizza that I'm sure would be out of this world. You could even make a dessert pizza that a chocolate hazelnut pizza with Nutella or a breakfast pizza or even a fruit pizza.

The possibilities are endless-- but given the choice between restaurant pizza versus homemade pizza-- homemade trumps the restaurants any day.

Start of a New Year...

Say good-bye to 2009 and hello to 2010-- only is it two-thousand ten or twenty-ten?! A very good point was made yesterday-- all the good things happen when the year is pronounced in the latter. For instance the Constitution was signed in Seventeen Seventy Six- Prince's song was Party Like It's Nineteen Ninety-Nine.. so I guess it's only fitting to say the year is Twenty-Ten.

So it's been a LONG, LONG time since I've blogged-- I think maybe around my 30th birthday. A lot has changed and happened since that blog. For one I've figured out that there are some people that are willing to and will stand by you and some that will dispose of you at the drop of a hat. Turning 30 was just like any other ordinary day- I don't and still don't feel any different as I did a year ago (although my hair doesn't hold the natural waviness it once did.. an early aging sign maybe?)

The holidays were different but also the very same. Good and new memories were made-- great food, full and deep laughs made from Pictionary (check out my FB Christmas album to understand), wonderful presents (again check the album out to understand), and some much needed time off.

Work is the same-- working with a new doctor and a new team is always an interesting experience, trying to figure them out while they're trying to figure you out. And while Josh and I have decided to stay in NC until April 2011, I have often wondered if it was the right decision. Either way, it's only for a year.. and then we'll be out of NC (yes it will happen). We're paying a lot of stuff off so when we officially move, we don't have a lot of crap hanging over our heads that don't need to be.

I still have dreams of being a writer-- still desire to write for a living, but I guess I've taken a break from it (unfortunately). I have been toying with the idea of writing a blog or a piece called Life with a Great Dane or Life with Paisley (that's my Paisley, not Brad Paisley.. LOL). I've also been dabbling with photography, although, I will NEVER be as good as my husband.. would love to do something with food photography b/c I'm such a foodie. Been thinking about doing a baking blog which could combine the 3 things I love- food, writing, and photography-- but again I don't know. Of course there is no better time than the present to do it, and the best way to get into it, is just to do it--- we'll see I guess.

Life with the dogs is always interesting... I learn something new about Paisley everyday (if I choose to blog about her, you'll find out). Shadow and Branson are still getting used to her, even though we've had her for a little over 2 mos.

So that's the past 2 mos of Vittitow life... so good-bye 2009, hello 2010.. let's see what you hold for me this year. :) I am hoping to blog more, regardless of what it's about. Au Revoir!!!!