Recipe Saturday: Crock-pots

I recently got a new crock-pot from a friend and I've been cooking up a storm at Casa de Costa! I have a confession: I'm actually a terrible cook. I can't help peeking under the lid, stirring and stirring, or taking the tray out of the oven. I have a classic case of "is-it-done-yet?"-itis. I can't help myself! I end up tweaking the recipe or taking the pan off the stove before it's fully done. DH is a terrific sport, though, since he is pretty handy in the kitchen. That's why I love slowcooking, because it's easy and pretty goof-free.

Some of my favorite sites for slow cook recipes:
A Year of Slowcooking/Crockpot365- I found this site several years ago and it turned me on to slowcooking. Most of her recipes are gluten free and/or vegetarian. I also love that she uses her crockpots for unconventional things (mud masks, kids crafts, desserts). I love Tamale Pie and Indian Curry.

Slow and Simple- This site organizes its recipes into key categories, including diabetic-friendly and beverages (and wild game, what?). I like Autumn Chicken and Pizza Beans.

The Recipe Mom- I just stumbled on this site, which is featuring several crock pot recipes this week. There's also a guide to picking out a crockpot. My guide: Go to Target. Pick one out. Done.  I like her recipe for easy psghetti.

I did a Kroger run today to pick up some extra chicken stock, veggies and chicken to whip up some larger batches of stuff this weekend to freeze. It's been a rough week of temper tantrums, repairs, and craziness. Looking forward to some quiet days but I'm not sure when they will be here!!

Recipe Saturday: No-Bake Cookies

This week has been quite a trial for this mom. My laptop crashed TWICE, my phone conked out the other night, and on top of that the weather has been downright terrible. We are suffering from MAJOR cabin fever at Casa Costa!!! Luckily, I found I had all the ingredients for this in the house yesterday, and these no-bake cookies saved the afternoon from delving into temper tantrum-ville.

Here is why I love No-Bakes: they are so so simple to make and don't require me to watch an oven. I always burn things. Always! The only downside to No-Bakes is that you have to let them cool, but "cool" is a relative term, right? :)


image via flickr by niemster

Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
1 stick butter (I have used slightly less to save on calories and it has been okay. haven't tried margarine)
3T cocoa (Trader Joe's is cheap and good!)
1/2 cup milk
1T vanilla
3 cups oats (I buy Target generic and they work great. Saves some $$ over Quaker)
3T Peanut Butter (I will buy generic of this, but don't buy low sugar/fat/sunflower/whatever. Stick with real PB)

Mix all ingredients together except vanilla, oats and peanut butter in large saucepan/skillet.
Cook 3 minutes on stove ...you don't want it to solidify too much
Remove from heat
Add vanilla, oats, peanut butter.
Drop onto wax paper to cool (I use the fridge or freezer depending on how much room I have)

That's it! I've seen other recipes with less sugar or more cocoa. I think it's all to taste. This is my mom's recipe so it's what I like :)