cooking

Four Thoughts

Hey hey and happy Wednesday! Sadie is currently taking a nap and I have a pile of laundry sitting next to me, but I’d much rather blog. So here I am 🙂

Just sharing a few thoughts and snapshots from the past week or so!

1. Sarris Candy

Sarris Candy Canonsburg, PASarris Candy Chocolates

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it before, but Jimmy and I live pretty close to a famous candy store called Sarris Candies. It’s fairly well known in America and I don’t know what it is, but their chocolate is some of the best I’ve ever had–it’s so smooth and creamy.

We decided to get out last night and take Sadie on her first trip to Sarris! The store has tons of candy, stuffed animals, and holiday displays. It’s safe to say that Sadie enjoyed all there was to see and mom and dad got stocked up on chocolate!

2. Bowling

Guys bowling with baby girlSisters hugging

Jimmy, Sadie, and I went bowling with our church over the weekend. I actually bowled better than I thought I would (I got a strike and a few spares!) and had fun catching up with family and friends. There’s just nothing like having fun with our church family!

3. Meal Prep

SandwichesEgg and hash brown casserole

Another thing I don’t think I’ve mentioned here on the blog is how I do meal prep for Jimmy’s breakfast and lunches! Basically, I have a rotation of breakfast recipes I make and freeze for him. I also make a week or two of sandwiches in advance and freeze them.

I used to make his lunches each night and he would have a bagel for breakfast, but we started getting a bit more streamlined around the time Sadie arrived and it has been making our lives so much easier! Would anyone be interested in a full post on my method and the recipes we like to use?!

4. Making friends with problems

I was recently reading a devotion about treating persistent problems as something God can fit into a pattern for good (Romans 8:28) if we love, trust, and walk with Him through them.

Basically, problems can become a stumbling block and cause self pity, or we can see them as something that is transforming us into the person God wants us to be. The key is that we get to choose to make friends with difficulty and even learn to thank God for it or react with anger and distrust. It really resonated with me so I thought I’d share!

Well, I better get going because Sadie just woke up! Looks like the laundry will have to wait until later 😉

Slow Cooker Pulled Italian Chicken

I’ve got a simple recipe for pulled Italian chicken that only has a few ingredients! I almost hesitate to call it a recipe because it’s pretty much just putting a few items into a slow cooker and then shredding the chicken after a few hours. But hey, I’m always looking for easy recipes, so I figured I’d share in case anyone is in the same boat as me.

What I love about this recipe is that it’s super customizable. Don’t like some of the ingredients? Swap them out for something else. Want to add something? Feel free! I’ve listed a few serving and variation ideas at the end of the recipe, too.

Slow cooker Italian pulled chicken recipe

Ingredients
1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
1 small red onion, chopped
2 pounds boneless chicken breasts
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, divided
Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions
1. Place tomatoes, onion, and one teaspoon of the Italian seasoning in slow cooker and stir to combine.
2. Cut chicken breasts into tender-sized pieces and place on top of tomato mixture. Top with remaining Italian seasoning and salt and pepper.
3. Cover and cook on high for three hours or low for six hours.
4. Remove chicken and shred with two forks until it resembles pulled pork.
5. Add pulled chicken back into tomato mixture and stir to combine. Add more salt and pepper if desired. Enjoy!

Slow cooker Italian pulled chicken recipe

Ideas For Serving
-Serve the pulled chicken in toasted ciabatta buns, on top of rice, on a flatbread, in a panini, over polenta, in a baked potato, or on top of mashed potatoes.
-Stir the chicken into your favorite soup, risotto, or add it into a casserole.
-Serve with your favorite pasta and sauce
-Use the liquid from the chicken as a broth.

Ideas For Variations and Add-Ins
-Use a can of Italian-seasoned tomatoes for a more Italian-esque flavor.
-Go latin-inspired and use salsa instead of canned tomatoes.
-Make this recipe Mediterranean by topping with black olives, mint, and feta cheese and serve it with pita bread and tzatziki sauce.
-Chicken thighs also work in this recipe instead of chicken breasts, though they may take a little longer to cook.
-Add-in ideas: olives, garlic, chopped bell peppers, corn, green beans, mushrooms, anchovies, capers, pesto, cheese, fresh basil, parsley rosemary, etc.