Sunday, March 22, 2015

CrockPot Vietnamese Roasted Chicken Recipe



Day 182.

We eat a LOT of chicken in our house. I grew up on boneless, skinless chicken, and we had it quite often. When I started cooking and shopping for my own family, I followed suit and make sure that we have plenty of chicken parts in the freezer.

The problem with eating a lot of chicken is that you get bored.

Really bored. And you start to hate chicken.


and maybe you begin to kind of want to gouge your eyeballs out with a fork at the idea of another boring dry chicken meal.

This is not a boring dry chicken meal. This is the opposite. This chicken is juicy, full-of-flavor, and downright adventurous.


I was inspired by reading this post at Sunday Nite Dinner. I still have fish sauce in the house from when I made the Pho, and was excited to have another use.


The Ingredients.

Adapted from Sunday Nite Dinner.

4 to 6 chicken thighs (bone-in is best, about 2 1/2 pounds)
1 1/2 tablespoons gluten free soy sauce
-1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce (found in condiment aisle, or in Asian cooking aisle)
1 1/2 teaspoon granulated white sugar
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
4 cloves chopped garlic
1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil
--foil (optional)

The Directions.

I tried the foil trick of balling up pieces of aluminum foil to line the bottom of the crock in order to create a crispy skin. It didnt really work, but it was a fun experiment.

I put the chicken on top of the foil balls.

Combine sauce ingredients in a small bowl, and pour over the top of the chicken.

Cover and cook on low for about 6 hours, or on high for 3 to 4 hours. The cooking time is dependent on how thick your chicken pieces are, and if they are fresh or frozen.

The Verdict.

Make this. Eat this.

The skin didnt get crispy the way that I was hoping it might by using the foil balls. But, the chicken was moist and fell apart---the sauce is an amazing flavor that I havent had before. I will definitely make this again. Id like to try the sauce on drumettes as an appetizer.

We ate it over white rice---and practically licked the remaining sauce out of the crock.

super yummy.


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Peking Pork Chops

I made these pork chops the same day that I made the Apricot-Orange chops, and packed them off to send off to my friend Stephanie, and family.

That was weeks ago.


I just heard yesterday that they liked them. Since I handed off so much food, she froze these chops and reheated them for dinner the other day. I love it that these pork chops not only tasted good, they withstood being slow-cooked, frozen, and reheated. And Im thrilled that I was able to contribute to a freezer-stash, yay!

I tweaked Margos "Peking Chops," she posted in the comments of the
original Pork Post to include 5-spice powder, because I love that stuff. I also upped the garlic. Because that stuff is golden.

The Ingredients.


6 pork chops
1/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon ginger

1 teaspoon 5 Spice Powder

1/2 cup gluten free soy sauce

1/4 cup ketchup

4 cloves garlic, chopped

(there is a box of salt pictured, but I didnt use any; the soy sauce was plenty)


The Directions.


gosh its so cold in this house its hard to type.


I used a 4 quart crockpot. Put chops into the stoneware. In a small bowl, combine sugar, spices, soy sauce, ketchup, and garlic. Pour evenly over the top of chops. No need to add any other liquid.
If you had an onion in the house, it might be a nice addition, but not necessary for flavor.
Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for about 4. If your chops are frozen they will take longer to cook. The longer you cook the meat, the more tender it will, but it might fall off the bone (which is fine in my mind, but some people really like intact meat).


Serve with rice and veggies; ladle sauce on top.

The Verdict.


Stephanie said her kids (9 and 13) really liked their dinner, and made yummy noises at the table. She also said her husband ate too much. I did sneak a bite and liked the flavor an awful lot--it was tangy with a slight ginger aftertaste.
Thank you Margo!
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Music and Health Benefits

In the history of humanity no race has been untouched by music. Almost every culture of the world has music as its major part, and so they say that music heals the soul they are right. Most of us are listening music daily and know its many benefits like it changes moods, raises level of consciousness, reduces stress and we feel relaxed after listening music. Many of us listen music while working and also when not working. Music also helps in meditation which has a ton of benefits. In ancient Greece music was used to heal the stress and help with sleeping pattern. Indian religions have music as their essential part as Bhajan and kirtan. It is believed that it connects to the God. In India music is a part of our civilization, seers of Vedic age used to sing Vedic mantras as given in Sam-Veda.

Music improves our verbal and visual skill.
Researchers have shown that music education at early age stimulates the child’s brain in number of ways that helps to improve his verbal, communication and visual skill. This is the reason why children learns rhythmic poems more quickly and remember it. A study shows that children taking part in extracurricular activities have developed more I.Q. than those who do not. Researchers have shown that music keeps an aging brain healthy. Music is like an exercise for brain. Hence listening or playing music can give you a better memory and mental sharpness. Even people those have faced some sort of brain damage can regain partial or full memory as music help to regain old memories or neurological pattern due to rhythm and sound of music which stay long in the core of mind. Music can make you to feel happy, exited or even sad. Listening to music that hits you in several ways causes your brain to release dopamine which is known as feel good chemical.

Studies have shown that music strengthens heart and improve patient’s recovery time. Listening to your favorite music releases endorphin Harmon in brain which improves vascular health. Music also improves quality of sleep as it reduces stress and anxiety. In many cases music proved to be best medicine in case of insomnia. Research has shown that music is capable of reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which is responsible for weakening the immune system, increasing risk of heart disease, lowering bone density, blood pressure, etc. Research found that by listening to just 50 minutes of uplifting music the levels of antibodies in the human body increases. Cancer patients those listened to music experienced reduction in anxiety. The evidence suggests that music interventions may be useful as a complementary treatment to people with cancer.

Fast music motivates people. They do their work more efficiently. Increase workout endurance. Listening to those top workout tracks can boost physical performance and increase endurance during a tough exercise session. This works partly through the power of distraction: When were focusing on a favorite album, we may not notice that we just ran an extra mile. Music also help people in eating less. One study found that playing soft music (and dimming the lights) during a meal can help people slow down while eating and ultimately consume less food in one sitting. Perhaps because slowing down helps them to be more mindful of fullness cues.

One study found that music’s effect on anxiety levels is similar to the effect of getting a massage. Here’s an idea: Treat yourself to a massage and bring your favorite chilled out tunes to play during the session. It doubles the relaxation. Listening to music can positively impact your mood while driving. So when you’re feeling sad and frustrated in the car, try cranking some of your favorite tunes.

Music has been found to help cancer patients communicate their feelings, manage stress, and ease physical pain and discomfort. It can also reduce anxiety and improve their quality of life. Researchers in Finland concluded that when stroke patients listened to music for two hours a day, their verbal memory and attention improved and they had a more positive mood compared to patients who didn’t listen to music or who listened to audio books.

Regardless of your taste in music, it’s clear that musical tunes benefit our health. The best part, now you have an excuse for playing Beethoven while your roommate is trying to study.
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CrockPot Cowboy Stew Recipe


Day 197.


This recipe came from Headless Mom, and the second I read it I knew I needed to make it because I liked the name. I am excited to meet Headless Mom at the BlogHer conference in a few days to see if she looks in person the way that I have imagined her to. Probably not. I envision a Headless Horseman character, but instead of a pumpkin tucked under her neck, its a Donna Reed-type mom with pearls.

Now were all going to have nightmares...
but not over this stew. This stew is hearty and has a nice kick to it; real comfort food.

There are two ingredients pictures because I got a bit overwhelmed answering and reading email yesterday and forgot to put some stuff in there at first. You guys are so much fun. And a little bonkers.


The Ingredients.




--1 pound browned hamburger (can use turkey)
--2 cloves chopped garlic
--1 can tomato sauce
--1 can diced Italian seasoned tomatoes
--1 can corn, drained
--2 cans whole baby potatoes, drained (unless you can find a great big can of potatoes)
--1 can tomatoes with green chilies
--1 can Ranch Style beans (with the baked beans in the grocery store) (or see recipe below)
--1 cup water
--sliced jalapeno peppers for garnish (optional)

The Directions.


This makes a lot. Make sure that your crockpot is at least 5qts.

Brown the hamburger with the chopped garlic cloves on the stove top. Drain the fat. Let sit in the pan for a bit to cool.

Open all of you cans, and dump them into the crockpot. Drain the corn and the potatoes, but add the rest of the can liquid to the crockpot.


After adding all of the can contents, add the browned meat and a cup of water. Stir with a spoon to mix a bit.

Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or on high for 4-5. Soup and stew tastes better the longer you cook it, so opt for the longer cooking time if you can.

Garnish with sliced jalapeno peppers, if desired.

Recycle your cans!

Cant Find Ranch Beans at your grocery store? No Problem!!
simply mix together:

1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans (plus the goop!)
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vinegar (white or apple cider)
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cumin

The Verdict.


I had never before bought canned potatoes, or the Ranch Beans, which intrigued me about this recipe. Headless Mom says that if you use "real" potatoes they will disintegrate in the crockpot. I believe shes right. These stayed perfectly oval in shape, and looked like baby dinosaur eggs.


I really liked the flavor of this stew. It reminded me of taco soup, but the flavors were more subtle. I liked the texture of the broth vs. the chunky ingredients.


The kids picked out what they wanted, and didnt complain. They really liked the beans, and thought the floating potatoes were cool. We will have this for lunch for quite a few days.

Adam and I both wanted a sliced jalapeno in each bite---they gave a really nice tangy spice to the meal.

Thank you, Headless Mom! We will definitely make this again!


Next year.


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How to Boil Eggs Perfectly without Cracking

A number of people struggle to boil eggs perfectly. Sometimes they remain half-boiled and sometimes they are over boiled and cracks appear in it. Is there a perfect method to boil eggs without cracking it ? Yes there is a method, and we will explain it to you so that you can make hard boiled eggs without making it crack.

Follow the following tips to boil eggs perfectly:



  • Never use fresh eggs to boil. Buy eggs and keep them in fridge for 7 to days and them use them for boiling.
  • While boiling eggs use only a single layer of eggs in pan. More than one layer can make them crack. Cover them with one inch water.
  • Let the water boil and then switch off the heat. Cover the Pan an leave it for few minutes. Time to leave the eggs in this condition depends on their size.
Extra Large Eggs: 15 Min
Normal Eggs: 12 Min
Small Eggs: 09 Min
  • Now put these eggs in cold water for a minute. It will make it easier for you to remove the shell as due to cooling effect outer shell loses the internal part. You can also roll the egg between your hands to loose the shell.
  • If you want to store hard boiled eggs, then dont peel them. You can keep them in refrigerator for one week.
  • Once peeled, you should eat it on the same day.



Precaution: Never try to boil eggs inside microwave. It may make them explode due to steam produced inside the shell.
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Home Remedies for Stretch Marks After Pregnancy

Stretch marks after pregnancy can be treated using various methods but the least painful and inexpensive method is using home remedies for stretch marks.

Problems After Pregnancy


Pregnancy is the greatest personal boon for married woman that make her proud and feel different. However pregnancy can also come with a few beauty related problems and the most prominent of them are the stretch marks that often occur in the post natal period.

Easy and Affordable Solution 


Stretch marks after pregnancy can be treated in multiple ways but many of them are painful like surgical treatments while others may be expensive like using laser treatment or stretch mark creams to address the problem. For women suffering from post-pregnancy stretch marks, home remedies for stretch marks could be a more effective yet less expensive proposition.

Stretch Marks Could be Socially Embarrassing


After all; it would not be the best of experiences for a woman to opt for the not so sexy costumes over and over again because she wants to conceal her stretch marks occurring after pregnancy. Best solution for the problem would be getting rid of the stretch marks and for immediate results one might resort to surgical, laser or other clinical treatments. Stretch marks are socially embarrassing and the victim finds no other way but to resort to immediate remedies.

Painless and Inexpensive Alternative


What if the victim does not cherish the pains and sufferings and above all the expenses involved in traditional clinical treatment of stretch marks? The best solution for her would be home remedies for stretch marks. They may not completely remove the marks but can make them fade substantially to make them irrelevant for the onlooker.

Understanding Stretch Marks


Before you try any remedies and that includes home remedies for stretch marks, it is important to understand what these stretch marks are. Basically these stretch marks are scars on the body that appears because of cracks in the skin surface and that are extremely difficult removing.

Most Popular Home Remedies


So what are the most popular home remedies for stretch marks? Perhaps the most prominent among the home remedies are the mixture of cocoa butter and oil cream. It is a compound that is highly beneficial for the skin of human anatomy and can revive the natural flair of the skin quite conveniently. One of the reasons of cracks appearing on the skin is dehydration and this mixture hydrates the cream substantially and prevents cracks and thus stretch marks from appearing.

Use of Cocoa Butter and Oil Cream


How to use cocoa butter and oil cream? The method is simple as the user has to combine ½ cup of the butter with a tablespoon of wheat germ oil as well as one teaspoon each of apricot kernel oil and vitamin E oil. Finally, one should add a couple of teaspoons of grated beeswax and the solution should be heated till the wax melts. Solution that is now ready should be stored in airtight container and kept at a cool and dark location for best preservation. Regular application of the compound on the skin will prevent stretch marks from appearing and the preferable time for application is after bath.

Equally Effective Home Remedy


While cocoa butter and oil cream works excellently for stretch marks; there are some almost equally effective home remedies for stretch marks. One such remedy is the solution of olive oil and Aloe Vera. Olive oil is one of the most popular and indispensable ingredient for most beauty products as well as skin care applications. It is one of the best moisturizing elements and keeps the skin hydrated and thus prevents cracks and stretch marks from appearing on the skin even after pregnancy.

Use of Olive Oil Aloe Vera Solution 


To prepare the mixture of olive oil and Aloe Vera one should take ½ cup of the olive oil and mix it with 1/4th cup of Aloe Vera gel. In addition the user has to mix up 4 vitamin E and 2 Vitamin A capsules as well in the mixture. A specific method needs to be followed in preparing the mixture. First of all; the liquids from all the vitamin capsules should be mixed together and then other ingredients should be added to them. On application the mixture renders double benefits. One is that it removes the ugly stretch marks that have appeared after the pregnancy and the second is that it prevents occurrences as well as recurrences of such stretch marks due to dryness of skin.

Other Home Remedies


Many other home remedies for stretch marks can also be used like the potato juice, sugar and lemon mixture; and the combination of vitamin C and sugar. One of the best mediums for exfoliating skin on human body, natural white sugar with vitamin C works extremely well during showers.

User needs to crush a couple of vitamin C capsules with white sugar and apply them on skin with moisturizer of her choice, especially on the stretch marks and other parts. The result would be extremely beneficial for removal as well as prevention of stretch marks and that is why it could be termed as one of the best home remedies for stretch marks.
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How to Maintain Good Health Facts for a Healthy Body

How to Maintain Good Health

Not much is known when a man felt the necessity of possessing good health. But since he got concerned about it, he has been struggling hard to observe the rules related with maintaining good health. In spite of that many modern educated men are not fully aware about the management of their health. The primary awareness for preserving one’s good health is to remember the sufferings of old age which is unavoidable and inevitable. A man in young age often commits harmful activities for which he has to pay at his old age. So he should restrict himself from doing such excesses. For ensuring good health, staple food, physical exercise, change of life style, cheerful mind, hopeful attitude and, taking long breath in fresh air are the important factors for maintaining good health. Following are a few factors that you should concentrate on to maintain Good Health.

Stress

Men often suffer in mental stress. The stress may be good or bad. Good stress increases the performance of an individual or a group at work but bad stress causes poor performance. Some people may not do well when they are under bad stress but under good stress they may behave in different ways. Thus one should determine the source of stress what is good for him and what increases his performance at work, on the field, in the class room or in debating competition. Physical exercise helps to keep one’s mind free from stress. 

Change of life style

Change of life style is important for keeping good health. Every one should be careful about the diet he takes, dress he wears,time he sleeps and exercise he does. If any of these habits seem harmful he should change his style little bit. How ever no change should be made suddenly. The changes should be made in such a way that if necessary he can go back to his previous practice. It may happen that one change may be regarded useful for health but in practice may not be good. So, proper decision should be taken through one’s experience.

State of Mind

Jealousy, fear, anger and anxiety are harmful for good health. Thus by avoiding these traits cautiously one can enjoy good health. When a man enjoys a good health he is quite able to cure himself through diet and exercise. During sickness he should think about how he can regain good health. If necessary he can consult two doctors for his own satisfaction.

Obesity

Being overweight is the primary reason for a number of diseases like blood pressure, heart diseases, diabetes and many more. Sometimes obesity comes with age. So one should always be concerned about his / her weight. You can easily control your weight by controlling your eating habits and regular workout. Daily walking or jogging may be the most helpful exercise for people over 40 or those having a office / sitting job.
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