Slow cooker link-up

Linking up with Dwija and sharing some of our favorite crockable meals:

Firstly our take on Salsa Chicken

2 pounds of skinless/boneless chicken breast
1 cup salsa
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 pkg taco seasoning
small can corn
1/2 can black beans

Place chicken in crockpot
add beans and corn
add taco seasoning
mix salsa and soup and pour over chicken mixture
cover and cook for 6 hours; add 1 cup of sour cream for the last hour if
you prefer a creamy result.

We usually serve over rice but I imagine could be a stand alone dish.


Fruited Chicken and Barley

from Cooking Light: 5 Ingredient  15 minute Cookbook

1 1/4 cups pearl barley, uncooked

6 cups water

2 pounds skinned chicken thighs

1 lg onion, coarsely chopped

1 (8oz ) package dried mixed fruit

1 tbs salt-free Caribbean spice rub

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Combine all ingredients in a 4 quart slow cooker; stir well

Cover and cook on high setting 4 hrs or until chicken is tender

Or, cover and cook on high setting 1 hr; reduce to low setting and cook 7 hrs

Neither my husband nor I like spicy food so I substituted nutmeg and poultry seasoning in place of the Caribbean spice rub.

Quick Takes #186: Swimming fun, NFP, and lots of mint!

1. Life recently was super hot and then it wasn't or more accurately the humidity took a dive!! What a relief; cue many an afternoon of backyard water play in the paddling pool, water table and slip&slide. This has also allowed for a bit more reading time for me! 
2. Our local Y divides swimming lessons into two sessions and we have just started the second. I'm going to need to keep my expectations under control cause they all did great during their first 6 lessons. Lisbeth now routinely puts her face in the water and has even jumped off the diving blocks both things she absolutely refused to do at the beginning of June. Liam has gone from being afraid to swim without anyone holding him to reveling in it; I'm seriously considering 'forgetting' his vest for our Maine trip and seeing how he does with just arm floats. Lastly I'm having such fun splashing around with Caitie; she is not at all afraid of the water and really enjoys kicking and paddling around.
3. Rosie of A blog for my mom is on a mission to reach the milestone of 500 'likes' for her Facebook page without FB help. In return for which she will model many a romper for us. So if you are on FB and are not already enjoying her wonderful writing and her kids antics ~ please consider.
4. And on a much smaller scale if I get my little ole page to 100 likes will model a jumpsuit of mine from back in the day aka 20 years ago that has survived every closet purge, and be depicted for posterity.
5. NFP week ~ I never know what to write ~ luckily these lovely ladies do; please pay a visit to Kathryn's and Haley's for this and this.
6. Free space to rest after your click trip :)
7. Last year as a housewarming gift we were given a mint plant which I planted and now we have a LOT of mint ~ any suggestions what to do with it?

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's!