Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Filling

There's something magical about a slow cooker.  Throw in a few things in the morning, plug it in (and make sure it's on) and at dinner time, Voila!  Someone out there is a genius!

Ranch dressing mix is pretty magical as well.  Add a little to a recipe and it takes it from ordinary, to WOW!  It's the secret ingredient in Susan's Cheese Ball and in Hawaiian Haystacks - No Canned Soup!  That one ingredient's a game changer.

This Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Filling was pretty awesome.  We even loved the leftovers in quesadillas and on tostadas.  Good stuff!

3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 packet taco seasoning
1 packet ranch dressing mix
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth

Place chicken and broth in the slow cooker and sprinkle with taco seasoning and ranch dressing mix.  Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours.  Remove chicken and let sit 5-10 minutes.  Shred the chicken and return it to the slow cooker.  Stir the chicken into the remaining juices and serve.

Recipe from The Royal Cook - an original!

Linked on Pin it Thursday.

Costco Turkey, Provolone, Pesto Sandwich Melt

I can't think of a single thing to say about these awesomely delicious sandwiches other than they are awesomely delicious.  They are a nice change from the standard bread, mayo, meat sandwich that we eat more often for lunch than I would like to admit.  Some of the kids had a hard time getting past "the green stuff", but once they tasted them, they were sold!

5 square sandwich rolls (Torta or Cabaccia rolls)
1/2 cup pesto
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 pound sliced turkey breast
1 large tomato, thinly sliced
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
5 slices provolone cheese

Slice the rolls in half and lay them on a large baking sheet covered with foil.  Combine mayonnaise and pesto and spread evenly on both sides of the rolls.  Place sliced tomatoes and onions on the top half of the rolls, and the sliced turkey breast on the bottom half of the rolls.  Place a provolone cheese slice on top of the onion and tomato on the top half of the roll.  Bake sandwiches at 400 for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.  Turn the oven onto broil and cook until the cheese is lightly browned (I leave the rack in the same spot as when I bake the sandwiches so they don't burn quite as easily). 

Recipe from Jamie Cooks It Up!

Maple Syrup

We love breakfast food at my house.  Especially anything we can smother with Maple Syrup (like Grandma's Waffles, Cinnamon Vanilla French Toast, Oven Pancakes, IHOP Pancakes or Fluffy Pancakes).  My kids like real maple syrup the best, but this homemade Maple Syrup is a close second.  And it's a little quicker and easier than making the real stuff.

1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon maple extract

Combine all ingredients in a medium sized sauce pan.  Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the mixture comes to a boil.  Syrup will thicken as it cools.

Recipe from The Royal Cook - an original!

Linked on Pin it Thursday.

Fairy Birthday Party

My sweet little princess turned 5 last month!  For the last year she has been talking about her next birthday party.  Her Fairy Birthday Party.  She had so much fun and just loved it!

I love Crispy Rice Treats for parties!  They are so easy to customize.  Dip them, drizzle them, color them, etc.

She said she wanted a fairy cake, but said it really didn't have to have a fairy on it, so I made her this cute little toadstool. 

 

 

The girls little fairies made Fairy Dust....

 

 

...got their faces painted...

 

 

 

...colored fairy bags...

 

 

...and made their very own Fairy Food Mix.

 

All of the cute printables came from Just a Little Sparkle.