Slow Cooker Spiced Chicken Stew with Carrots

It's good. Really, really good.
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/slow-cooker-spiced-chicken-stew-with-carrots?backto=true&backtourl=%2Fphotogallery%2Fslow-cooker-recipes

A Little Too Much Valentines

This year it seems that I overextended myself. I feel like I have been living in my kitchen for the past week. Between cooking, baking, washing dish upon dish, I am officially on strike! Well, at least for the weekend.

It all started when I started making these beauties, all decked out for Valentines Day, for cooking class for a Relief Society Activity:

and of course some of these, too...it's Valentine's Day, so let's print off a cute tag to go along with it...and since I happen to have the pie dough and cherry pie filling on hand, why not whip up these Pie Pops for the gals to try? Thanks to Bakerella for all the great ideas and yummy "pop" recipes, oh and the pictures, too.



Then my son needed something to pass out to his class for Valentine's Day! I haven't baked enough, why not make these? M&M Cakies. I'd never heard of them before a friend shared the recipe. Gave them a try. My kids love them. And much easier than making other cookies. Then I needed something to package the cookies in for my son to pass out. Clear, cello bags on hand? Nope. Big heart stamp and ink? Check. Brown paper lunch sacks? Check. Clear sandwich bags? Check. Insert cookie into sandwich bag. Cut 3 inches off the top off the brown paper lunch sack. Stamp a big heart in your Valentine color of choice in the middle. Insert wrapped cookie into paper sack, keeping it flat. Fold the top of the sack over. Oh, remember those cute cake pop tags mentioned above, well they work as a Valentine as well. Staple said Valentine to the folded portion of the paper bag with a colored staple and, viola! You have yourself homespun Valentine packaging. And they turned out much cuter than imagined. You would think I would have taken a picture of it before I sent them off. Well, you would be wrong. I didn't. I think my brain officially shut down at about 9:38 pm last night.

But, alas, my week of cooking wasn't over. This morning, I made 2 dozen scrambled eggs. Topped 'em with cheese, cause they were for some very cute 1st graders. What kid doesn't like cheese?! Why was I up at 7am making 2 dozen scrambled eggs? I helped make a waffle breakfast for my son's classroom. 8am. Yeah, I know, I'm crazy. Getting that together was a lot of work. Oh, did I fail to mention I am one of the room mom's for his class. Yup. I am. Anyway, getting it together was a lot of work, but it went smoothly, thanks to some very helpful and willing parents and one other very awesome room mom (you rock, M.S.). The kids really enjoyed it and ate it up, and came back for seconds. At least the outlets in our classroom were working. That's another story that I won't get into.

So a mountain of dishes, a nice 2 inch burn on the top of my hand, and one jealous husband later(I told him he couldn't sample any of the food I made until I was sure that I had enough), I am tuckered out and the kitchen is officially closed for the weekend!

Do you think I will have to cook for Valentine's Day?

Happy Valentines Day, Everyone!

The Vintage Pearl: little ballerina. (a giveaway!)

I love this store. She makes the cutest things. I would love this for my little Katie who just started dance classes. I was the same age as her when I started dance classes. It would be a great present for Valentines Day. Check out the link and browse through her stuff. The Vintage Pearl: little ballerina. (a giveaway!)