Carrots. Really. Just carrots.

I know.  I was going for main dishes here, but just feel in a vegetable kind of mood.  Carrots.  My kids love them.  Raw, steamed, and in dishes.  I used the whole "They're good for your night vision" that Snopes says is false as a back-up when they were younger, but now they just like 'em.

Microwave Carrots:

Glass dish (or for an individual portion, a coffee mug)
Carrots (yes, I grab the baby carrots that are ready to go)
Water (I hate precision - just put some water in, maybe up to half an inch)

Microwave on high for about 3 minutes or until a fork will go in with a little bit of resistance.

Drain water and (if desired) add a Tablespoon or two of butter, a Tablespoon or two of brown sugar, and a dash of salt.  Stir and microwave another 30-45 seconds.

Stovetop Carrots:

Same thing, but on a stove with a covered pan.  Did you really think it would be much different?  LOL

Cheers ~
Cheryl

Crockpot Italian Chicken

I am not good at making up titles, but this is a dish I made recently that was a big hit with my family.  It was thrown together in my crockpot out of a desperate need to create dinner on a day I wasn't feeling well.  We are big on one-dish meals around here, combining our protein, vegetable, and starch (almost always whole grain).  One daughter is not a fan of green vegetables, so she begged off her broccoli and had carrots instead.  Substitute out whatever you like or have on hand.

Frozen chicken tenders
1 can spaghetti sauce
Frozen mixed vegetables
Pasta (I used whole wheat penne)
Parmesan cheese

In crock pot, add enough pieces of chicken for your family.  Cover with spaghetti sauce.  Cook on low 3-4 hours.  Steam vegetables, cook pasta, and add both to chicken and sauce mixture.  Stir well.  Top with parmesan cheese and allow cheese to melt, then serve.

Cheers~
Cheryl