Make your own chicken stock! Don't ever buy it!

Do you ever make your own chicken stock? This recipe is so easy and tasty to make on your own. Best part it uses the crockpot so you do not have to worry about it cooking. I also love that I can control what is in my stock.  Make this today!

Chicken Stock

Ingredients

Crock pot
Water and wine to cover the chicken half way (wine is optional but use what you want)
Random veggies-garlic, onions, celery stalks, carrots, and peppers of any sort
Any seasoning- this depends on what I want the stock for later. I will use celery seed, lemon pepper, italian seasoning, basil, thyme, ginger, etc.
Chicken fryer

Directions

1-Toss a whole fryer chicken in a crock pot.

2-Add in vegetables and liquid.

3-Let the chicken cook 2 hours on high or 4 hours on low.

4-Pull out the chicken and take off all the meat that you want. This meat can be used for any recipe that requires, soft & tasty chicken.

5-Once the chicken is off the bones, toss the entire carcass back into the crock pot.

6-Cook it for another 4-6 hours on high.

7- Let the crock pot cool down and then strain out all the big stuff in the crock pot.

8- Put the crock in the fridge until the next day or transfer the liquid to a new container with a lid.

9-The next day scrape off all the fat and then use the broth for soup. If I don't need the broth at this time, freeze it for later!

Here are some of the veggies and spices that I used on my last batch. I tossed in onions, carrots, spicy cabbage, garlic, lemon grass and cinnamon with the raw chicken. I then sprinkled dry basil on top of the chicken. This was a great stock for Pho (I will post that recipe soon.)

This is step #9- Once it comes out of the fridge you can clearly see the fat! Lightly scrape it off. I add the fat to aluminum foil. This can then be tossed.

This is what the stock looks like once the majority of the fat is off! I love how beautiful it looks and all the rich goodies at the bottom. This is truly the best and cheapest stock around.

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Chicken or Portobello Cheese Steak Recipes

Do you ever substitute meat with mushrooms? My family doesn't care for this substitution but I sure do. I love mushrooms and have no problem eating them over meat. I was really craving the thought of a portobello cheese steak sandwich so I made one for myself and chicken cheese steak sandwiches for my family. This is an extremely easy meal! I hope you try it.

Portobello Cheese Steak Recipe

Ingredients- for 2 sandwiches

1/2 lb portobello mushrooms

2 tsp olive oil

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp black & red pepper (1/2 tsp each)

1/2 of green, yellow, and red peppers, seeded and sliced

1 small red onion, sliced

2 rolls

cheese- provolone or swiss

Directions

1- Toss all veggies in oil and Worcestershire sauce and let marinade for 30 minutes. (Skip the 30 minutes if you are short on time.)

2- Toss veggies on the grill and cook until just soft. This can vary depending on how soft you want your veggies.

3- Add veggies to roll and top with cheese. The cheese should melt easily but if you want more, zap it for a few seconds in the microwave.

Chicken Cheese Steak Recipe

Ingredients- for 3 sandwiches

1 large or 2 medium size chicken breast, cooked

1/2 lb portobello mushrooms

2 tsp olive oil

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp black & red pepper (1/2 tsp each)

1/2 of green, yellow, and red peppers, seeded and sliced

1 small red onion, sliced

3 rolls

cheese- provolone or swiss

Directions

1-There are several options on the chicken. You can use leftover chicken, make my crock pot chicken or purchase a precooked chicken from your grocery store or even cook up the chicken your favorite way. Each sandwich you need about 1/3 of a large chicken breast.

2- Toss all veggies in oil and Worcestershire sauce and let marinade for 30 minutes. (Skip the 30 minutes if you are short on time.)

3- Toss veggies on the grill and cook until just soft. This can vary depending on how soft you want your veggies.

4-Grill or cook your chicken,etc It shred it or cut it into slices.

5- Add veggies & chicken to roll and top with cheese. The cheese should melt easily but if you want more, zap it for a few seconds in the microwave.

 Check out my crock pot chicken recipe.

FREE Scholastic Book with the purchase of a Brita Bottle for Kids

No matter where we go, someone in my family has a drink with them. I don't know if we are abnormal or not but we are always taking a drink or picking one up along the way when we are out and about. For the most part, water is the choice drink. The sports girl prefers water or a sport drink and the two older girls prefer water, juice or occasional energy drinks.

What is the big deal about water? Our body is 2/3 water. When there is an imbalance, especially not enough water, you can get headaches, fatigue, false hunger, poor skin conditions and more. Drinking water can help with all of these issues. I personally can tell you that water has helped me have clear skin, ward off hunger, lessen headaches and gives me energy for working out. If water is so good, why don't we drink more?

Everyone is picky about their water. Filtered or bottled water seems to be the drink of choice for the lunch box or to take along to college classes. There are a lot of water bottles available to take your water on the go. For your kids, Brita® created a bottle that is reusable and has a built-in filter to keep fresh water tasting good.

Aren't these fun? These Brita Bottles for Kids are reusable, have a built in filter which is convenient for kids on the go! The bottles are BPA free, recyclable, dishwasher safe and the filter last 2 months or 40 gallons. The bottle is eco friendly and holds 13 oz. These bottles save money because you are reusing it instead of buying and tossing in the trash.

Right now when you purchase a Brita Bottle for Kids you can get a FREE book from Scholastic. How fun is that? My kids love books and especially FREE ones! All you need to do is mail in your UPC and proof of purchase to get your free book! Special offer ends 10/31/2012.


This is a sponsored post. I was asked by Brita to blog about the Brita special offer and was compensated. My own tasty opinions are expressed here.

DIY Halloween Food, Crafts and Treats

Here are some of our family favorite Zombie Themed Food, Halloween Recipes and Halloween Crafts. We love all the fun parties, foods and crafts during this entire season. One year we hosted a Zombie Murder Mystery Party to celebrate the Twins 16th birthday! It was a huge hit. What are some of your halloween favorites?

 

Here are some of my favorite blogs and their yummy, spooky, and crafty food art! There is even a post on eating candy and preventing tooth decay! Click the below links to go to the recipe page.

10 Yummy Mummy Ideas

 Brain Food 

 Halloween DIY & Easy Lollipop Treats @ Bowdabra Blog

Toxic Waste Punch

Cute Witch Broom Decoration or for Halloween Costume by Savings Lifestyle

Pumpkin Cookies

 No Bake Ghost Cookies from Freckleberry Finds (Fit)

Halloween Treat Jars

Pumpkin Dip

Finger Food!!

OHMYGOSH!

Smores on a Stick from $5 Dinners

 Halloween Recipes on the Bowdabra Blog

29 Halloween Spooky Treats

Fall and Halloween Fun Foods for Kids 

Halloween Zombie Food & Party Menu Plan ideas

Share your ideas in the comments and even links for me to come check out! 

More Halloween Food Craft Ideas

Brain Food 
BROKEN GLASS Cupcakes
FINGER FOOD
Jello Brain Dessert
{Kid Zombie} Iced Coffee Frappes
{Momma Zombie} White Russians
MUMMY FACE Pizza
Pumpkin Cookies
Pumpkin Guts 
Toxic Waste Punch
Zombie Party Ideas, Recipes & Photos

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August Foodie Penpal #foodiepenpals from Massachusetts

Welcome back to another Foodie PenPal reveal! I've had 3 months of fun foodie penpals. So far I have had fun sent from South Dakota, Texas and then this month, Massachusetts. 

My Foodie penpal, Michelle sent a really fun package which included her taking a trip to her local Farmer's Market. If you want to know more, check out her hubby's blog at Merrimack Valley Foodie.

Ever heard of Butternut Squash Seed Oil? I had not and can't wait to use it! 

Michelle sent me so fun & tasty natural peanut butter (her favorite and it is also one of mine) Organic Blue Agave Sweetener, Kimball's Hot Pepper Jelly and Dutch Apple Preserves. 

Join the fun! Click below and find out how to participate. It is easy and not expensive. It is so fun getting a box in the mail once a month with goodies to try!

Get the scoop, HERE!

Labor Day and Back to School Menu Plan

 (Semi Homemade mom's photo & recipe. Go to her blog to get the full scoop)

I know a lot of families with kids going back to school today. Is this yours? Below is a tasty weekly menu for you to try out or pick out some new favorites to try. Last week. Semi Homemade Mom linked up her back to school menu plan and it got the most clicks. You really need to check out her menu plan. One of the recipes on the menu plan was this creamy baked ziti. That is the photo on top of the page. Doesn't it look awesome? I've added to it my Tuesday plan to cook!

Check out my Easy to do Halloween Lollipops that are being featured today. Easy recipe idea & tips on how to put them in treat bags so they don't stick can be found on the Bowdabra Blog today. I would LOVE for you to stop over there and leave a comment! 


Monday- no cooking for me...it is LABOR DAY! lol

Tuesday- Creamy Baked Ziti by Semi Homemade Mom, a large salad and Oooey Goooey Onion Cheese Bread

Wednesday- Honey Beer Bread and Super Easiest Chili Ever (shhhh don't tell my family how easy it is to make)

Thursday- Left over Chili and there will be. I always make it for 2 days per my family's request. Winnie's Chocolate Cake with Marshmallow Decorations (most clicked dessert last week in my Menu link up)

Friday-Buffalo Chicken Sandwich (my sandwich is featured in a Gooseberry Patch Cookbook) and Hearts of Palm salad

Don't forget to check the printable coupons before you go shopping! 

Click here to get information on the   Scott Shared Values Consumer Rewards program which will give you an instant $1.25 coupon. It is a free rewards program. 
 I link up and check out menus on orgjunkie.com and always check out 3 Boys and a Dog  

Have a great week and link up your menu plans and any tasty recipe that you want to share from your blog. I can't wait to get some new ideas!

Handmade Craft Gifts & Pinterest Linky

Welcome back to our weekly Pinterest Link Party. All you need to do is link up pins that you want to get a repin on Pinterest. This week I'm featuring my Handmade Craft Gifts. Stop over and check out the board. It has 4,175 followers and over 50 pins.

If you have any crafty gift ideas, please share them in the linky and I will repin them to my board. I also have 22 contributors on this board and would LOVE to add you. To participate, you just need to be on Pinterest. Leave your pinterest linky below or email it to me at cafescrapper@gmail.com and I will add you to the board.

While you are here today, stop over and enter in The Crafters Dream Giveaway! I have 3 giveaway prizes and there are 19 other bloggers with crafty giveaways!!! Check it out! 

HOW TO JOIN THE LINKY below- (do any of the following)

1) Pin this Party Post to Pinterest- Please! Why? To let others know about the party. It advertises the party so more people see it which in turn more people will see what you pin and give you traffic.

2) Add your Pinterest name to the linky. If you aren't on Pinterest and want an invite, leave a comment and emailaddy.

3) Link up anything you want to be pinned! No limit. We just ask that you make sure your post has a decent picture.

4) In turn pin a few things on the linky.

5) If you want to host the party on your blog, scroll down and take the code. Make your own Pinterest Saturday page. That way you will get more attention to your blog.

Please follow my boards on Pinterest- SusieQTpies Scraps of Life and cohost  Crystal and Company and  3 Boys and a Dog. We do follow back.