by kathilipp | Jan 31, 2010 | Uncategorized |
I’m excited to officially unveil February’s project, 1000 Dates Across the States. We all know that Valentine’s Day is coming up, every store is decked out in pink, red and hearts and every other commercial it seems like on TV is a Valentine’s Day advertisement.
I know that money is tight for a lot of people, but that does not mean that you can not have an absolutely fun date with your spouse without breaking the bank.
As a blogger, if you are one of the first 50 bloggers to e-mail Monica (asst at kathilipp dot com) your name, address and blog address, you can receive one of these super fun kits. While it might not look like a lot, it could just be the beginning to one of the best dates you’ve ever had.
Here’s the challenge:
- Think of a creative and unique way to use the kit.
- Document your usage of the kit with either a picture or a 30 second video.
- Post a blog about your date (with the picture or video) and link to this blog post or www.kathilipp.com.
- Send an e-mail to Monica (asst at kathilipp dot com) with a link to your blog post by March 10th. If you send a link to your blog, it will be posted here – more publicity for your blog and more romance with your husband!
Prizes:
The most creative date wins a Flip Video Camera. Two runners up will get a $20 Starbucks gift card. Five third runners up with get a Dating your Mate library (three of their best titles) from Harvest House Publishers.
If you are not a blogger, you can still be entered to win! Create a Facebook album (with the picture or video) and link to this blog post or kathilipp.com. All you have to do is create your own kit with the materials listed below:
- Two of your favorite drinks
- Two yummies (cookies, pieces of candy,etc.)
- These instructions.
- You pick the location!
Here is a button you can put in your post or on your sidebar to let your readers know so that they can join in on the fun!
by kathilipp | Jan 28, 2010 | Uncategorized |
Here’s the final recipe of the week. I hope you have enjoyed cooking with the Crockpot week. Remember, next week we will be having a contest where you will be able to submit your favorite recipes…stay tuned!
This is a recipe that I usually double, but then divide into four portions,putting three in the freezer. I keep the stuffing in a separate bag, but otherwise dump everything else in a ziploc bag to freeze. Half of a recipe fits in my small crockpot.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Ready In: 4 hours 20 minutes
Yields: 6 servings
INGREDIENTS:
2-1/2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
3/4 teaspoon rubbed sage
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 pounds boneless pork loin roast
4 Granny Smith Apples
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 cup cranberries
1 pkg Stovetop Stuffing mix
DIRECTIONS:
Combine the first seven ingredients; rub over roast. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight (Preferred, not required). Place herb rubbed pork in crockpot, surrounded by cranberries and apples. Gently pour water around pork. Cook on High for 4 hours, or low for 6-8 hours. In the last 10 minutes prior to serving, dump the stuffing mix on top of roast, mixing it in the juices. Allow it to cook for a few more minutes, until the stuffing is softened.
by kathilipp | Jan 27, 2010 | Uncategorized |
Put the meat in your slow cooker in the morning and have a sandwich ready in 10 minutes when you get home! Great with a side of creamy horseradish.
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 12 Hours
Ready In: 12 Hours 10 Minutes
Yields: 16 servings
INGREDIENTS:
1 (4 pound) boneless beef roast
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon beef bouillon
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon garlic powder
8 red peppers
16 slices of Swiss Cheese
16 French Rolls
mayonnaise or creamy horseradish
DIRECTIONS:
In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, bouillon, bay leaf, rosemary, thyme, and garlic powder. Pour mixture over roast, and add enough water to almost cover roast. Cover and cook on Low heat for 10 to 12 hours, or until meat is very tender. Add peppers in the last hour of cooking.
Remove meat from broth, reserving broth. Slice meat very thin (I prefer an electric knife), and distribute on rolls for sandwiches. Cover meat with swiss cheese, and broil on high for approximately 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Serve with mayonnaise or creamy horseradish.
FOOTNOTES:
This is another recipe that I subdivide into smaller portions prior to cooking, freeze these dinner sized portions, then cook in my small crockpot. I package the meat premarinated, and also package a few slices of swiss cheese, along with the rolls. The meat simmers all day, and the sandwiches only take a few minutes to put together.
by kathilipp | Jan 26, 2010 | Uncategorized |
Next week we will be having a little contest around here. I’m letting you know now so that you can dig through your cookbooks or favorite food blogs and share them with all of the wonderful readers! Stay tuned next week as we will have a day for chicken recipes, a day for beef recipes and a day for whatever your heart desires! I’m excited to get new recipes that can be added to the dinner rotation.
by kathilipp | Jan 25, 2010 | Uncategorized |
Here’s another delicious dinner that can be prepared in the morning and after cooking in the Crockpot all day, you will have a wonderful meal with minimal effort!
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 4 Hours 10 Minutes
Ready In: 4 Hours 30 Minutes
Yields: 6 servings
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2 pounds beef sirloin, cut into 2 inch strips
garlic powder to taste
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cube beef bouillon
1/4 cup hot water
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 large green bell peppers, roughly chopped
1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes, with liquid
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
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1. Sprinkle strips of sirloin with garlic powder to taste. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the vegetable oil and brown the seasoned beef strips. Transfer to a slow cooker.
2. Mix bouillon cube with hot water until dissolved, then mix in cornstarch until dissolved. Pour into the slow cooker with meat. Stir in onion, green peppers, stewed tomatoes, soy sauce, sugar, and salt.
3. Cover, and cook on High for 3 to 4 hours or on Low for 6 to 8 hours.
by kathilipp | Jan 24, 2010 | The "What's for dinner?" Project, tips and ideas, Uncategorized |
This fab explanation – and all of this weeks recipes – come from Kelly Rankin over at www.bittybowsboutique.com (now I know how she has time to be so creative! She crockpots!!!)
Thanks Kelly for giving us a peek into your pot!
I began using my crockpot and freezer in tandem for two reasons. 1) I began to realize that the portions required for a full (normal sized) crockpot were wasteful for our family. Our family of 5 will never eat a full roast, and we also usually don’t eat leftovers. I loved the convenience of a crockpot, but it made me cringe every time I threw away spoiled leftovers. 2) When I figured out that I could use a smaller crockpot for less waste, I realized that I could actually make a normal sized recipe, but dump half of it in the crockpot, and the other half in a freezer bag for later use. This began my experimentation with freezer crockpot cooking!
My version of freezer/crockpotting varies in complexity. Sometimes it is as simple as dividing a Costco roast into chunked portions that will later be the perfect size for my family, so that I can easily just throw in a couple carrots, potatoes, etc. Other times, I do a full recipe and make baggies of crockpot meals, with everything ready to be dumped in the crockpot. Occasionally, it is the other way around, where I use my large crockpot, and freeze leftovers for later use.
One of my biggest “discoveries” was the mini crockpot I have began using. I remember a while back reading in crockpot cooking that you want the crockpot at least 2/3 full for it to have optimal cooking evenness. I found this out too when I tried to make smaller portions in my big crockpot–things got scorched on the edges. This didn’t happen with a full crockpot. This mini crockpot is the perfect size for my family with 3 young kids, and allows me to fill it up without using a ton of food. It will not work once my kids get older and start eating more, but for now it helps me stretch my food budget. Here it is, from Amazon.
4 Simple ingredients and a day of crockpot cooking lead to an amazingly simple, economical, and delicious pork BBQ. No smoker needed, and the leftovers freeze beautifully for a later meal. The liquid smoke and beef bouillon are the essential keys to this simple recipe, giving the pork a great flavor with minimal BBQ sauce. Perfect for a large gathering or you can freeze after you’ve cooked it in small portions for sandwiches!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 7-9 hours
Ready In:
Yields: 10 servings
INGREDIENTS:
5 lb Pork Sirloin Tip Roast
2 Tablespoons Liquid Smoke (Typically found with condiments)
2 Tablespoons Beef Bouillon (NOT Broth)
1/3 Cup Water
Serve with your favorite BBQ Sauce, to taste
DIRECTIONS:
Place pork roast in a large crockpot. Pour water, liquid smoke, and bouillon on top of pork roast. Cook on High for 7-9 hours, flipping roasts once during cooking, if possible, to allow the juices to simmer all sides of the meat. Meat is finished cooking when it easily pulls apart with a fork. Remove roasts from crockpot and pull pork apart. Return pork to crockpot and add BBQ sauce to taste, or serve BBQ sauce on the side. Great on sandwiches or by itself.
To freeze: Place cooked BBQ in 1 quart freezer bags, removing air. Thaw, rewarm, and serve. Keeps in freezer up to 6 months
by kathilipp | Jan 18, 2010 | Uncategorized |
Next week, I am going to be sharing some of my favorite CrockPot receipes with y’all, but since we are taking hospitality this week, I thought I would share my “Company’s Comin'” menu.
When I know we need to feed the hoards, I just make this chili (if my reserves are not depleted, I may even have a batch or two in the freezer,) and have Roger grill some hot dogs on the BBQ. Some people just want the chili, some kids just want the hot dogs. (BTW, it it’s raining, or if you don’t happen to live in CA with perpetually beautiful weather, the George Foreman works just as well…) And then some want to make chili dogs. anything goes -and everyone is happy. Add a salad and some brownies and coffee for dessert, and I am all set.
Why do I love this menu so much? Because I can make it in the morning, and then there is no fussing with it until dinner is about to be served. (Because you know, if you are coming over to spend the night, that means I am spending all day throwing stuff into closets and making the bathrooms less scary…)
I’ve included my yummy chili recipe below, but my question for you is this:
What do you sever when company’s comin’? Bonus points if you share the recipe!
Kathi’s Chili
A less-spicy version that even kids will like.
3/4 lb Ground turkey
1 cup Chopped onions
1 clove Garlic, minced
1-16 oz can Stewed tomatoes
1-16 oz can Kidney beans or lentils, drained
1-16 oz can Tomato sauce
3 tsp Chili powder
1/2 tsp Basil
1-6 oz can Tomato paste
1. Prepare: In a large saucepan, cook ground turkey, onions, and garlic until the onions are translucent and the meat is brown. Drain. Stir in un-drained tomatoes, drained kidney beans, tomato sauce, chili powder, basil and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Let cool.
2. Freeze: Double bag in gallon freezer bags. Lay flat in freezer and freeze.
3. Serve: Let chili thaw overnight. Warm on stove or in microwave.
Servings: 4
by kathilipp | Jan 17, 2010 | Uncategorized |
This week I am having multiple sleepovers.
I usually don’t like to spend the night at other people’s homes (“Yes, I know it would save on the cost of your event if I could sleep on one of your church member’s couches, but call me crazy, I have a hard time sleeping with people I don’t know…”) but this week is an exception.
Tomorrow, I will be at the home of one of my old San Jose friends, Arlean, whose husband happens to be to MIC (man in charge) of sales to the ABA market (that is places like Barnes and Noble, Borders, etc.) for my publisher, Harvest House. Arlean is like Martha Steward without the bitter – we are going to have a good time.
But tonight I am at Judy’s house . Ah… Judy and her husband David bought a big beautiful home in Grants Pass OR so that people in ministry could have a place to come and crash and recoup. I love Judy’s home, but I love Judy even more .
Judy knew that I was going to arrive while she and David were at bible study, so looked what I walked in on:
I mean – come on!
Warm soup (so yummy), oyster crackers, and a welcome note. I felt so loved.
When I grow up, I want to be like Judy – making people feel welcome in my home.
So here is my questions for you:
1. How have other people made you feel welcome in their home.
2. What do you do to make other people feel welcome when they are over at your house? This could be members of your family, or people who are visiting.
I would love some ideas – and y’all are just so creative – share your wisdom!
by kathilipp | Jan 14, 2010 | The Husband Project |
Every once in a while I like to give you a glimpse into the people who are using the stuff on this blog and the books – and how it is actually working. Here is a posting I found on a blog by Elizabeth at California Mommy in Real Life
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“Some friends of mine and I went through a book together not to change our partners but to become better partners ourselves. We chose Kathi Lipp’s The Husband Project.
The premise is 21 Days of Loving Your Husband. The great thing is that it’s all a secret, you can’t tell your partner you are doing this. In the first year of my marriage, this was such a great tool for me to learn an important lesson: give and serve your partner without expecting a thank you or response. This is still a hard thing for me do because when I do something nice, usually my motivation is recognition. But Kathi’s book really teaches you to avoid this pitfall.
The best part was after day one of the Project, when I was seven months pregnant, Kyle asked me if my obstetrician had given me Prozac. Oh man. That’s when I knew that this project had come at just the right time. Check it out, it’s well worth it!”
by kathilipp | Jan 13, 2010 | Uncategorized |
Mr Pita Pizzas
Roger and I are eating these Pita Pizzas a couple of times a week. The Mr. Pita pita is only two Weight Watcher points and so worth it. We pile it up with Safeway marinara (with roasted garlic and onions) low-fat cheese, mushrooms, purple onions and turkey pepperoni. Put them in a 400 degree oven for 12 minutes and voila: Guilt-free pizza. Happy, happy Kathi.
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The Kids Are All Right
I am listening to this on the iPod right now. It is a memoir about four kids who lose both parents in a short amount of time. While it is heartbreaking and much of the book so far is how these kids were abandoned and neglected by the adults who were charged to take care of them after their parent’s death, I can’t help but sympathize with the grown-ups who had to deal with these bratty, spoiled, and entitled kids. (I know that was not the desired effect of the authors.) Regardless, it is a very entertaining read and my dog is benefiting by longer walks so I can keep listening.
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The Bachelor
OK don’t hate me – but I am in that gray area of knowing that this show is COMPLETELY ridiculous but that it’s like a car wreck that I can’t look away from.
I posted one little comment on Facebook about the crazy that is The Bachelor (full disclosure, I think I have seen 3 or 4 whole episodes in my life) and had over 50 comments on it.
A lot of you are in the same boat – you just can’t look away. You bachelor regulars – did I just come in on the most overly-produced crazy episode? Or is every week “The most shocking ever?”
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Q4U: As you can see, I am lacking much of spiritual substance at this point. In the comments, please give me a glimpse of some of your current obsessions this week, and then do me a favor – tell me about anything you are reading that has any spiritual depth whatsoever. I need to be redeemed after watch Jake ask for his rose back.
