Slow Cooker Pumpkin Granola

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I'm pushing it. It's still summer, I know. I can't help it --- we picked out all the school supplies and then the pumpkin candle aisle got me. 
And all of a sudden I NEEDED a bit of fall right this very second. The kids start school again on the 27th, and even though the weather is still hot out (this is actually the SF Bay Area's best weather of the year; if you ever come for a visit, pick somewhere between the end of August through the first week of October if you can swing it) (and by hot, I mean 75 which I know for a lot of you isn't hot but we're big babies here, so feel free to completely ignore me), and I'm still doing laundry from last week's beach trip I wanted something fall-ish.
so I made granola. 
My friend Jennifer (not this one or this one or this one or this one) made a batch of granola to take on our beach trip and we ate it every day over greek yogurt in the room so we didn't pay the *exorbitant* hotel breakfast prices.
this isn't her recipe; she says she doesn't really have one. I've made granola in the slow cooker before, and like that I can wander away from it and not have it burn. I wanted to use leftover canned pumpkin, so it did need to cook longer than I thought it should so it wasn't a soggy mess. And, you should put dried fruit in near the end so they don't shrivel up on you.
enjoy!
The Ingredients.serves 12 (lasts 5-7 days in our house over yogurt for breakfast for 5 people)(freezes well, the raisins will get hard, but then soften again)

5 cups of rolled oats (we use certified gluten free)3/4 cup canned pumpkin puree1/2 to 3/4 cup honey (start with the smaller amount)1 cup whole almonds (or use toasted pumpkin seeds)1 cup dried cranberries/raisins or mixture (add last hour)1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
The Directions.
Use a large slow cooker -- I used a 6.5-quart. It's not a typo that I didn't add any butter or oil; I wanted to see if it would work without any, and it did! The pumpkin helped to coat the oats and provided enough moisture to keep it from burning and the honey did a good job of providing sweetness and a bit of a binder.
Stir everything but the dried fruit in. The honey will be gloppy--- just stir the best you can. Cover, and cook in a vented slow cooker (prop lid open with chopstick or wooden spoon) on high for 4 hours, stirring every 30 minutes or so. Add dried fruit the last 30-minutes to an hour. There really isn't an exact science here--- when you're happy with the texture and the consistency, it's done!

Let cool completely-- the oats will get a bit harder and crispier after cooling (you can spread it all out on layers of foil or paper towels or parchment paper on the counter to speed up the cooling process).
Store in an airtight container in either the fridge or the freezer.
Hey Steph, how come you don't just bake it in the oven? Honestly, it's easier for me to set a timer for 30 minutes and come back and stir the pot throughout the day then it is for me to camp out in the kitchen for 30-45 minutes straight and stir every 5-10 minutes to keep the granola from burning. I just don't have that type of time unless the kids are asleep, and this way they can help stir.
It's a lifestyle choice--- someday they won't be attached to my leg and I can open the oven door safely, but for now, it's just not an option! :-)
Happy (almost) fall, and Happy (almost) school season!
Stay Tuned this fall, because I'm going to be hosting daily giveaways again!!
Also, it's time to reorder a new copy of Totally Together: Shortcuts to an Organized Life --- I'm so happy and proud of the way this journal turned out and has been received; thank you!
bonus fun photo of a Pismo Beach Crab!

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Top 10 Slow Cooker Potluck Dishes

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 While I catch my breath after finishing up the first week of school (I have a middle schooler now! how on earth did that happen?), please enjoy this potluck round-up from the archives. This was originally posted on 5/24/2011.Have an absolutely wonderful Labor Day weekend! I'll be back bright and early Tuesday morning with a surprise! oxxo steph~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We're approaching a 3-Day weekend, and many of us will be attending barbecues, picnics, and family events. Don't arrive empty-handed!
Instead, load up your slow cooker with one of the following crowd-pleasing dishes. I've listed the  recipes in countdown order--- if you have a favorite, please chime in below. Happy Labor Day!
 10) Salsa Chicken and Black Bean Soup. This is filling, delicious, and is different enough to gain lots of attention on the buffet table. Easy to stretch by serving rice, and fixen's like sliced avocado and tortilla chips.
9) Lima Bean Casserole Cassoulet. I love serving this to guests and listening to the conversation. "what type of beans are these?" "I'm not sure. some sort of large pinto beans or something?" I usually wait until the pot is practically empty before coming clean that they were lima beans.
8) Honey Lentils. Delicious, nutritious, vegan vegetarian, and such a fun offering to bring to a picnic. I get the nicest emails about these lentils!

7) Pesto Spinach Lasagna. I need to run to the store to pick up the ingredients for this! You have never had a better vegetarian lasagna. So so good.

6) Hirino Psito. This is a wonderful main dish to serve to guests. Worcestershire sauce, dijon mustard, and beer mix together to create a savory sauce that perfectly compliments the sweet contrast of brown sugar and cranberries. Win!
5) Brie with Apricot Topping. To make this more user-friendly for guests, insert an oven-safe dish into your large slow cooker and load the ingredients into the dish. Then remove the dish (use mitts!) and serve with your favorite crackers (we like Glutino a lot). Do not add water in the crockpot around the dish.
4) Pomegranate Beef. When we host a dinner for new friends, I usually make this. This keeps picky older relatives happy, along with the kids (note to self: I need to update some of these photos!). I've made this for television audiences, and served it at the Disneyland Food & Wine Festival, where the kitchen chefs gave rave reviews, which made me cry. This recipe was also featured on Oprah.com!
3) Cream Cheese, Sausage,  and Rotel Dip (mommy crack). The ingredients are odd, the taste is not. Make this and you'll be happy.

2) Potluck Beans. We can't have a potluck countdown without potluck beans, now can we? These beans have bacon. Nuff' said.
1) Original Taco Soup. Feeds a bunch, easy to throw together, and everyone LOVES it. This has been our number one potluck bring along for the past 12 years. 

Honorable mention: Black Beans with Cilantro. I ran out of numbers--- this is a great bean recipe.Enjoy your long weekend!   

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Introducing: The Ninja Cooking System

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Holy cow, this is an awesome slow cooker.

And I am so excited that I can finally share it with you. I hate keeping secrets, and I've been keeping one (only because I had to sign a big, long, huge, legal document and big, long, huge, legal documents scare me).

Back in April, I got a phone call from a television producer. He was assembling a group to put together an infomercial for a new slow cooker cooking system. I was pretty hesitant and skeptical, and initially said no. Although I've spent hours and hours watching infomercials in the middle-of-the night while up with sick kids or newborns, I always just kind of brushed them off.

But Adam told me that I should at least hear him out. Since the product was still in production, the company couldn't let one out of the building for me to test out. Instead, they flew Adam and me out (to Boston!) to check it out for ourselves. It was the first time we had left all three kids, and while I was skeptical of the upcoming sales pitch, I was kind of excited to have a date night in Boston...

We flew out, had a great meal in Quincy Market, and then headed over to Euro-Pro's headquarters (they are the parent company of the Ninja and Shark products). I decided to play it cool, and not get my hopes too high.

and then I saw the machine.

I started to get really excited and immediately began opening and closing the pot and started to play around with the features. My voice got kind of squealy and I may have drooled a teensy bit (not quite sure, but it's entirely possible). And that's when my darling husband squeezed my arm and whispered (hey Steph, it's okay to let them pitch you) and I realized that I needed to be Business Like.

I agreed to be filmed for the Infomercial and was happy to sign on to help promote the new Ninja Cooking System. The infomercial will begin airing this week (probably in the middle of the night, but also sometimes during the day on random channels) and I can FINALLY tell you how completely and totally awesome this product is.

I personally have used every make and model of slow cooker on the market. In these past 4 years, I've tested and prepared over 1000 slow cooker recipes, and this truly (truly!) is the best cooker I've ever used.

It's perfect.

• The first thing you will notice is that it has a metal pot. The second thing you will notice is that the dial has a Stove Top and an Oven setting. It's NOT just a slow cooker--- it's a mini oven and a hot plate also.
  This is cool because you can brown your meat, caramelize your onions and garlic, and then switch it over to slow cook all day long. There's no need to drag out a frying pan at 6 am!! 

• Also, because of this stovetop setting, you can make a sauce reduction or gravy right in the pot after slow-cooking all day. No need to transfer the liquid to a separate pan. Way cool.

• Just like my "old favorite" pots, this cooker is fully programmable in 30-minute increments for both High and Low settings and will flip automatically to a Warm setting to keep your dinner hot and safe until you arrive home at the end of a long day.

• The oven setting goes all the way up to 425°, and because the lid traps in all the steam, you can count on really moist meats-- even if you don't have the time to slow cook all day long. I did ribs in 2 hours on the Oven (steam roast) Setting and they fell off the bone-- absolutely perfect ribs.

• Because of the lid and the trapped steam, you can bake light and moist breads, cakes, and muffins with half the fat or oil. The steam keeps your baked products super-moist, even with gluten free mixes or flours. AWESOME. (no need to do math --- just literally cut the oil or butter in half in your favorite boxed mix or homemade recipe).

•  The pot has "Triple Fusion Heat"--- because of this, both the sides of the pot and the bottom heat up while in the oven setting. This means you can make things you can't normally make in a slow cooker or even on the stovetop-- like a full spaghetti and meatball meal in just 20 minutes (raw spaghetti, water, jar of sauce, bag of frozen meatballs; all gluten-free is JUST fine, I've tested it out a bunch of times!). The pasta absorbs the liquid from the sauce and the water and cooks without needing to be drained. Love this.

• Since the pot is metal with a non-stick surface, it really cleans well. In my old stoneware pots I'd need to soak them overnight sometimes, and I'll even add a dryer sheet to release the baked lasagna or stuff like that, but this pot really does wipe out clean. It's also shatter proof, and can be safely loaded the night before in the fridge and placed right into the heating element. This is something that the other slow cooker manufacturers don't recommend.

So there you go! The only drawback I have is that it's more expensive than the other slow cookers on the market. But you have an awful lot more features, and the company has an awesome money-back guarantee. I haven't cooked in any other way than with this machine for the past 4 months, and can absolutely help with any and all questions. I am able to sell them on the site for $199.80, and Ninja has thrown in the travel bag just for you!

The $199.80 price includes the Ninja Cooking System, a silicone trivet, oven mitts (they're pretty cute), an Inspiration Guide, a full color cookbook, free shipping, and a travel tote-bag. The travel-tote is different than most because it has a velcro "seat-belt" that loops through the handle to secure it in firmly in place, and then the insulated bag.

Also, if you order through my site, I get a bit of a kick-back. I do not get paid a percentage of any other sales through the infomercial or through stores (but boy, wouldn't that be cool?)

Click here for more product details and to order. Thank You.

And? I have one to giveaway today (this week). I am going to ask you to click over to the giveaway page, though, to enter to win. I'd like to keep this post alive for questions and answers about the Ninja Cooking System. If you'd like to enter to win one of your very own, please go to the giveaway page. Thank you.
updated 9/9/12 9pm pacific, this contest is now over. Thank you to all the entrants!

I haven't seen the full infomercial yet, just bits and pieces. I'm kind of worried that I come across dorky, but I've been assured that everyone seems dorky in an infomercial. If you are flipping through the channels and see me, wave at the screen! I was a complete and total nervous wreck, but had so much fun. We filmed for two days, but I think I probably am only in it for a few minutes. The building we were in was a studio in the outskirts of Boston, and movies like Good Will Hunting (total classic) and Shallow Hal (not so much) were filmed there. There were movie posters lining the hallways, and there were dressing rooms with light-up mirrors -- so cool.

I am going to leave this post "alive" for questions and answers about this new Cooking System. I've been using it A LOT and am happy to be of help. And? I'm seriously thinking we should have Ninjember! (too much...?)


Thank you so much for all of your support and love. I feel like the luckiest person in the world, and I never would have been able to make a "job" out of goofing around with my slow cookers if it wasn't for you. I am incredibly grateful. Thank you.

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Slow Cooker Cranbery Dijon Roast

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Happy Monday!
Last week was a crazy for me, and while I'm (very) thankful for the busy-ness, I'm looking forward to being back to normal. A winner has been chosen in the Ninja Cooking System giveaway. A big congratulations to Barbara S!
As promised, today marks the beginning of our daily (Monday-Friday) giveaways over on the review page. I am so happy to have the help of Lisa Irvine. If you have a small business or etsy shop or book that you'd like to promote, please email Lisa for more details! Click on over to see today's offering!
Who's ready for a quick and easy hunk-of-meat recipe? This is a 6-ingredient meal, that will leave you with scraped-clean plates.
The Ingredients.serves 4 to 6
3 - 4 pounds meat (pot roast, pork roast, tri-tip, shortribs, chicken thighs)1 (14-ounce) can cranberry sauce (I used jellied; your choice)1 small onion, finely diced, or 1 heaping tablespoon dried onion flakes8 cloves garlic, smashed (peeled first!)2 tablespoons soy sauce (La Choy and Tamari wheat free are gluten free)2 tablespoons prepared dijon mustard
The Directions.
I used a 6-quart slow cooker. If you aren't using a large piece of meat, a 4-quart will do just fine. In a mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients and whisk together so the cranberry sauce is broken up and the dijon is evenly distributed. Pour over the top of the meat.Cover, and cook on low for 7 hours, or on high for 4 hours. I cooked 3 pounds of frozen oxtails on high for 4 hours in a 6-quart, and then they stayed on warm for another 2 hours before serving. Serve with rice or quinoa and something green (we did asparagus; just rinsed and microwaved on high for 3 minutes, then topped with salt and pepper).
The Verdict.
I was certain I made this before for the site, but maybe it was in a book or for another site. Anyhow, if this looks familiar, I apologize! It's a spoof on the sweet mustard roast and the super easy cranberry roast. I love how the dijon plays off the cranberry sauce -- the mustard flavor is definitely there and cuts down on the sometimes-too-sweet cranberry.I bought a bunch of cranberry sauce on sale when I was planning my cranberry party, but if you'd prefer to use a homemade version, go for it!
Have a wonderful week, and happy slow cooking (and yay Niners)!

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Tangy Lemon Chicken Slow Cooker Recipe

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I've been watching Mad Men. It took a long time to get into the show--- a good 9 episodes into the first season before I really started looking forward to the next show. It would be on in the background, and I'd half-watch -- instead I was mostly folding laundry or goofing around on the internet. And then I got completely hooked.

Betty would make this chicken. And Don and her kids would eat it, and then lick the plate. She might just sit and watch though (and drink. she drinks a lot...) because she knows how she made it. Although the ingredients work and the chicken tastes amazing, and her kids and husband are clamoring for more, she just smiles that slightly impish smile and sits back to watch.

The inspiration for this chicken comes from a freezer full of chicken legs and a box of Lemon Jello and a sleeping baby who wouldn't allow me to get to the store. I had to make do; and I'm so glad I did. Adapted from CopyKat Recipes Sunshine Chicken and that from the KRAFT website --- this chicken is sweet, tangy, and very (very) surprising.

The Ingredients.
serves 4-6


3 to 4 pounds chicken parts (I used frozen legs and a few breast halves)
1 (6-ounce) box Lemon Jello powder
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 tablespoon prepared Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon dried minced onion flakes (or one tiny onion, finely diced)

The Directions.

Use a 4 to 6 quart slow cooker. I used a 4-quart for this one, and didn't brown the legs beforehand. The color on the chicken you see up above came only from slow-cooking. If you prefer more of a brown color, or more texture, go ahead and brown beforehand. 
My chicken was frozen solid, too. If you have thawed chicken, shave about 90 minutes off of the cooking time.
Place the chicken into your slow cooker. In a small mixing bowl, combine the jello powder, melted butter, dijon mustard, and onion flakes. Stir together to make a paste. This isn't liquidy at all--- it's sort of a combo between paste and playdough. Smear this onto your chicken the best you can.
Cover, and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. I cooked our chicken on low for exactly 7 hours, then kept it on the warm setting for another 2 hours.
Serve with mashed potatoes, or rice pilaf and something green.

Sit back and watch your family go nuts.

The Verdict.

I decided when I threw everything into the pot that this dinner could go one of two ways: it'd either rock or be an epic fail. Adam and the kids LOVED it. They all had seconds. I ate a good amount, but not as much as they did-- I liked it, but couldn't quite get over how I made it.

I will make this again; it's already been requested. I used full sugar Jello, but would imagine the sugar-free would work the same exact way. We had granola bar Rice Krispie Treats for dessert. 

~~~~

Fall has officially begun (although we're in shorts, today...) and if you need some Fall Friendly slow cooker dishes, this post will be good inspiration for you. Enjoy your weekend!


Lisa has been working hard on the giveaways --- we have a bunch posted over there! Go check them out, and get a good start on your Holiday lists!



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{free printables} Happy Father's Day to All Those No.1 Dads!

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Jillian over at Catch My Party asked if I could create some Father's Day printables and these are what I came up with.  Head on over to see Jillian's post or download them below.Pictures above courteous of Jillian at Catch My Party.
Included in the printable set:
-2 inch cupcake toppers/party circles
-Father's Day Sign/Quote
-Cupcake wrappers
-Straw Flags/Tags
-Bottle Lables
-Folding Food Labels
-5x7 inch Folding Card
-No.1 Daddy BannerThe above picture is obviously from me-- not so professional looking, but we're ready to celebrate our No.1 daddy on this special day!

{free printable} Compassionate Dinner Note Cards

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We all have friends who occasionally fall ill or have a baby.  I, personally, was grateful for the compassionate dinners I received after I gave birth to both of my boys.  It was such a relief to know that for a few days following our return from the hospital that I didn't have to focus on anything, but my family.  So with that said, these compassionate dinner cards are meant to help out with that task.What's included in this printable set:

• "Made with love by: dinner card w/ baking time/temperature instructions (for those who handmade dinner, but it still needs cooking)
• "Made with love by" dinner card w/ out baking instructions (for those who handmade the dinner, but no baking is needed)
• "Provided with love by" dinner card w/ baking time/temperature instructions (for those who bought a dinner that still needs baking.  ie-- Costco lasagna)
• "Provided with love by" dinner card w/out baking instructions (for those buying take-out such as pizza or chinese for your friends)
• Contact Calling Card
• Allergies Checklist Card
• 6 different printable circles with generic sayings: "get well soon", "congrats", "thinking of you", "we love you", "baby girl", and "baby boy"

All of the cards have space in the lower-left hand corner to attach the circular message that best suits your friend's situation.Other tips to make things easier on your friends on the receiving end of your service:

• If you've promised dinner, be prompt and reliable.  If I know one thing it's that nursing moms can eat often and are always looking forward to their next meal! :)
• Call ahead to make sure no major allergies are in the family.
• Deliver your dinner in disposable tin pans so your friends don't have to worry about return/washing your dishes.
• If you're sick make arrangements to have someone else cook dinner that night.  No need spreading your cold around to an already sick friend or newborn babies.
• Lastly, don't forget to include cooking instructions with your dinner so they cook it correctly. 

{real party} Pilot Graham's 2nd Birthday Airplane Party

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Climb aboard Fuller Airlines for one sky high party!  Our little Graham turned two (sob) and when planning his party I gave him a few choices.  I asked him if he wanted a 'balls and bubbles' party or an 'airplane' party (both themes are absolute LOVES of our little one) and as you can see he chose "pairplanes" as he calls them.  Party guests were greeted by this fun balloon wreath and sign.  The kiddos got to take home some baggage with their very own personalized luggage tags. In their baggage party favors we included, a fun scratch off coloring page, airplane kits, bubbles, pixie sticks, candy airplane, in-flight snacks (popcorn), star suckers, and blow-outs.The decor was minimal due to the fact we hosted the party after church on Sunday.All party printables were created by me and can be purchased at Embellish's Etsy shop.The lollipop suckers were custom made by Gary's Tempting Little Bites on Etsy and then I added the cut-out propellers, punched the holes and slipped them onto the sucker sticks.

don't mind the incorrect spelling on "propeller"

Guests drank "Jet Fuel" (water & Capri Suns)...... and ate their in-flight meals.  Adults had chicken croissant sandwiches, chips, potato salad, and fruit.  Kids ate PB & J, chips, pudding cups, and string cheese.  I purchased these fun plastic clam shell boxes from my local grocery store's bakery/deli.  The manager only charged me $.05 a piece. STEAL!The party was originally going to be outside, but at the last minute we pulled it inside due to the overcast weather.  Everyone had fun, nonetheless.The birthday boy had a blast throwing his "pairplanes" around our house and I loved watching every minute of him enjoying his time with friends and family.This is the best family picture we could muster.Fun was had all around and the many planes are still flying all over my house a week later.