the weekend is here!!

whoo hoo! the weekend is here!  you should make these recipes this weekend and sit down with your family.  it's good for your soul.  so is this sunshine!

JAMBALAYA in the CROCKPOT

3 pounds Whole Chicken, Cut Up

1 can (14.5 Ounce Can) Diced Tomatoes

1 can (14.5 Ounce Can) Chicken Broth

1 whole Green Bell Pepper, Chopped

2 cups French Fried Onions (optional or can use dry onion soup mix or real onion)

¼ cups Hot Sauce (whichever brand you prefer)

2 cloves Garlic Chopped

2 teaspoons Old Bay Seafood Seasoning

1-½ teaspoon Dried Oregano Leaves

¾ teaspoons Salt

½ teaspoons Black Pepper

1 cup Uncooked Regular Rice

1 pound Shrimp, Peeled And Deveined

Combine chicken, tomatoes, chicken broth, green pepper, 1 cup of French Fried Onions, hot sauce, garlic, seafood seasoning, oregano, salt, and pepper in your slow cooker. Cook on low for 5 hours.

Stir and remove the chicken bones if you’d like (shredding the chicken in the process). Stir in the rice and cook on low for about 1 1/2 hours or until all the liquid is absorbed and rice is cooked.

Turn slow cooker to high and add the shrimp. Cook for 1/2 hour or until shrimp turn pink. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup French Fried Onions when all done. Enjoy!

ASHLEY & ANDREA'S GRANOLA

4 cups ROLLED oats

3 T ground flax seed
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1 cup shredded coconut
2 T cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp salt
1T vanilla
3 T extra virgin coconut oil
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Mix 1st 7 ingredients in a large bowl. Melt together last 3 over med/low heat until smooth and runny. Pour PB mixture over oat mixture and stir until combined. Spread onto a cookie sheet. Bake for about 23-25 mins stirring every 10 mins or so to prevent burning.
*ED. NOTE: granola burns really quickly so watch yours very carefully after the first 15 minutes or so. 

aldi and trader's will have everything you need for much cheaper than the other places.  don't believe me? i got proof!

aldi rocks and is the cheapest.
trader joe's makes me happy.  why? ranunculus flowers and a liter of olive oil for $4.99.

it should be noted, however, that i shopped at whole foods paycheck this week and some things were available that i cannot get elsewhere for pretty cheap. but tj's still prevails in my house!  after my own grown food, or course.