simple solutions: soggy shoes

snowmageddon has come and gone here in the south. before that, we were having some days of steady, heavy rains and cold temperatures. this winter has been wet and cold. the picture above was one shot from my second story window looking down on my daughter's gymnastics bar and her sneakers which she decided to leave outside (along with a beach towel) during two days of steady rains. lovely. since then, we have had more pairs of water logged shoes than we know what do to with. there isn't possibly enough time to dry them all and the insides always seem to stay damp for days longer than they should.

enter a great simple solution! this trick was told to me by another fabulous mother of five and i am loving it. uncooked white rice naturally absorbs water. 

when you have soggy shoes, place some uncooked white rice into two different socks. i like using socks with longer necks so the rice doesn't spill out.

place the rice filled socks into the soggy shoes and leave overnight (or longer if you have the time). the rice will absorb the water and dry out your shoes in a fraction of the normal dry time. discard the leftover rice (i know this should go without saying but you just never know), throw the socks in the wash and you are ready to go! the sneakers will live to be left out another day.

mmmmm: gluten-free crock pot apricot chicken

i don't know about you, but i am all about great tasting, easy to prepare meals. with school back in session and days busier than ever, it is wonderful to throw ingredients into a crock pot (slow cooker) in the morning and return home to an already cooked meal that the entire family loves. this is a favorite in our home and i hope you enjoy it as well. 


gluten-free crock pot apricot chicken

ingredients
--11 oz jar of apricot preserves 
--1 teaspoon dried minced onion flakes 
--1 tablespoon dijon mustard 
--1 tablespoon soy sauce (tamari is gluten-free) 
--1/4 teaspoon ginger 
--1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes (optional) 
--6 chicken breasts (we prefer boneless, skinless)

directions
--drop the chicken into your crock pot. 
--in a small bowl, combine the other ingredients.
--pour evenly over the chicken cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours 
  or high for 4-6
--serve over rice and with fruit/veggies. 

mmmmm, mondays: crockpot creamy turkey and rice stoup

i am always looking for good crockpot recipes. i couldn't find any that i liked for turkey and rice soup so this is what was created. it ended up chunkier than i first thought...so i stole rachel ray's "stoup" category and am posting it here. the kiddos loved it and it was perfect for a cold, stormy day. enjoy!

crockpot turkey and rice stoup.

3 cups chopped onions (one 12 oz. bag frozen chopped onions)

4 cups chicken stock (one box)

4 cups chicken broth (one box)

2 cups chopped carrots

2 cups chopped celery

1/2 cup white wine

2 bay leaves

1 tablespoon minced garlic

2 cups dried wild rice mix

4 cups turkey (chopped into bite sized pieces)

2 cups milk

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup flour

add onions, chicken stock, chicken broth, carrots, celery, wine, bay leaves, garlic, and wild rice to crockpot.  cook on low for four hours. add turkey. melt butter in a pan. add flour and mix until smooth. whisk in milk and cook until creamy. add creamy mixture to crockpot. turn crockpot to high and cook for another four hours. season with salt and pepper. serve with fresh baked bread (recipe coming next week). enjoy!

mmmmm, mondays: arroz con pollo

arroz con pollo

arroz con pollo, or rice with chicken, is a classic spanish one-pot meal. this casserole is super easy to make and is a favorite in our house. (note: it also freezes really well if you want to make ahead).

ingredients:
1 cup uncooked rice
1 can (15 oz.) black beans, drained
1 cup frozen corn kernels
6 (4oz each) boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
½ cup chicken broth
1 cup salsa
1 cup marinara sauce
½ cup red bell pepper, sliced
½ cup scallions, chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp minced garlic
1 cup shredded cheese (i sometimes use more. who doesn't love *more* cheese?!) :-)

directions:
spray 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

prepare the rice according to package directions. 


spread the rice over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. 


layer the beans, corn, and chicken over the rice and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. 


set aside. 


in a large bowl combine the rest of the ingredients minus the cheese. 


pour the mixture over the chicken. 


sprinkle with cheese.

for dinner tonight... preheat the oven to 350 F. bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the internal temperature of the chicken breasts reaches 165F.

if you want to make ahead and freeze: before baking, cover the dish with foil. label, date, and freeze for up to 3 months. thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours before cooking as directed above.

source: dream dinners....life just got easier! by stephanie allen and tina kuna
*this book has over 100 recipes that all freeze well too. it is quickly becoming one of my favorites. enjoy!*