How I Make BBQ Chicken Baked Potatoes

If ever there was an easy dinner, this one has to be it.

When my husband and I were in college, the pizza place down the road made a variety of loaded baked potatoes, and we ate our weight in them. It's not a difficult concept, is it? Take a potato, fill it with whatever makes your heart happy, top it with gooey melted cheese, and you have a no-brainer budget item for dinner. We've been making them at home ever since we graduated from college.

I start by baking my potatoes in my Crock Pot. Have you tried this yet? I wash them, prick them with a knife, turn the Crock Pot on high, and let it go for four hours or so. They turn out perfectly every. Single. Time. I do put a little water in the bottom, although I've heard that's not necessary. I figure I'd rather be safe than sorry. I also "bake" more potatoes than I need for this meal while I'm at it...tomorrow's dinner is supposed to be Cheesy Sausage Potato Soup, so I might as well have the potatoes ready to go beforehand.

About 30-45 minutes before it's time to eat, I'll go ahead and cook my chicken breasts. One tip that I've found to work well is to splash a little vinegar into the water that I'll boil the chicken in; it helps tenderize the meat and make it easier to shred (I also do this with pork and beef). Once the chicken is cooked, I'll shred it and mix barbecue sauce in.

Then I pull the baked potatoes out, and using a fork, I'll pull the insides away from the skin. Then I'll butter and salt them...

..and top them with the barbecue chicken and cheese. I'll pop them into the microwave just long enough to melt the cheese.

My husband is a big fan of hot wings, so sometimes I mix some Frank's Red Hot in with his chicken and let him have a Buffalo Chicken Baked Potato. This is another one of those dinners that can go as far as your imagination takes you...you could make a veggie potato, or an Italian one (with Italian sausage, pepperoni, and salami), or you could use ham, pulled pork, bacon...really, the possiblities are endless. Serve it with a green salad and a crusty loaf of bread and you have a perfect, easy fall dinner.

Linked up to Someday Crafts Sugar and Dots Raising Homemakers Handy Man, Crafty Woman Yesterday On Tuesday Cindy's Recipes and Writing

What I Wore (Or I Saw it on Pinterest)

This is one of the (many) outfits that I have seen on Pinterest that I'm determined to wear. There was a day that I never would've considered buying red pants. One day I may look back at these pictures and think that I should've stuck to the original line of thinking. But for today, I love the way this looks!

Unfortunately, I can't find the original post to give credit to the person who put this together. So, girl, whoever and wherever you are...thanks for the inspiration!

 

Top: $9 (Old Navy)

Red skinnies: $18.99 (Kohl's)

Sandals: Gift (F21)

Necklace: Already had (NY&Co.)

Also linked up to Real Girl Style Style Statement Tuesday The Pleated Poppy

How I Participated in Menu Plan Monday

I typically sit with my husband and plan out a week's menu on Sundays. He's kind of picky, so if I'm going to introduce a new meal, I like him to know ahead of time so that he can prepare. He's getting a lot better about trying new things; after nearly 11 years of marriage, I can't tell you what a big deal that is!

Monday: Chicken Penne Alfredo
Tuesday: Barbecue Chicken Baked Potatoes (find the recipe here)
Wednesday: Cheese, Sausage, and Potato Soup
Thursday: Pasta e Fagioli Soup with Homemade Rustic Bread
Friday: Chicken, Black Bean, and Rice Enchiladas with Homemade Salsa


I borrowed the picture of the bread from Simply So Good. But it is simple and it is SO good.

Linked up to Menu Plan Monday.

How I Made a Rustic Flag

A couple of years ago, when I first discovered blogs (how IS it that I was so late to the party???), of the first blogs that I fell in love with was The Lettered Cottage. I just loved absolutely-stinking-everything about her taste and style. She does the kinds of things that I would think I'd like to do if I had the time, energy, money...okay, if I had the patience and stick-to-it-iveness to tackle projects that take longer than a naptime to finish.

She did a series on decorating mantles for different seasons, and while I didn't (and still don't) have a mantle, this rustic, beach-inspired flag caught my eye instantly.

I had to make something like it for myself, and this is what I came up with.

I bought six picket-fence boards from Lowe's (I think they were around $1.24 apiece), cut them down (by hand!) to a size that I felt would work, and then painted them all red. Then I painted over each one with paint that I already had on hand from other projects, and painted the metal star that had been given to me red as well. I distressed them just by rubbing over the boards with steel wool...the steel wool actually left a little bit of a gray tone behind, which wasn't what I was going for, but worked out well for me! They are fastened together on the underside by two small boards that run from top to bottom (I nailed the fence boards to the small boards).

Linked up to The Brass Apple Mad In Crafts Project Inspire Coastal CharmYesterday on Tuesday

What I Wore (Or Texas Novembers Are Warm)

 

Top: $5 (Kohl's)

Jeans: $24.95 (Forever 21)

Shoes: Already had (Charlotte Russe)

 

So ordinarily, I'd hesitate to pay full-price for anything, but I feel like jeans are a totally different ball of wax. We wear them so much that it's a good idea to have jeans that fit well and  that we feel comfortable in. Plus, I had a store credit, so I didn't truly feel like I was paying full-price. And I've been in such a denim slump that it was worth it to me.

Linked up to Show Off Friday WTFab Still Being Molly Covered In Grace

How I Wore 1 Dress 3 Ways (Or Having a 5-Year-Old Cameraman is a Challenge)

I bought this dress on clearance at Target for around $6 when I was pregnant with #4. I think I bought quite a few things for after she was born while I was pregnant with her...I think it was because I kept looking forward to no longer being pregnant. Don't get me wrong. I love, love, LOVE having my babies, but my pregnancies are tough (sickness, bedrest, pre-term labor, hospitalizations, weekly injections to keep baby in long enough to live, and always that terrifying thought that I might not be able to keep him/her inside looming overhead). I think pregnancy is a dirty trick, in a way...and those women who say, "I LOVE being pregnant! I never felt more beautiful!" ??? I want to push them down. I think penguins have the right idea...lay an egg, hand it over to the hubs, and say, "So long, honey! I'm headed to the ocean TO EAT MYSELF SILLY for the next nine months!"

Anyway, back to the dress. Usually I wear it with bronze-ish peep-toes and a big silver necklace. I don't know why I didn't put them on this particular day. Maybe my camera operator was telling me to get a move on.

Dress: $6 (Target)
Blazer: $3.99 (Thrifted)
Tights: Already had
Shoes: Already had (Kohl's)

 

Dress: $6 (Target)



Black l/s tee: Already had (F21)
Tights: Already had
Boots: $30 (Kohl's)
Scarf: Already had (F21)

Linked up to Musings of A Housewife (Fashion Friday)

How I Make Pie Crust (Or You Don't Need a Rolling Pin)

I try to avoid convenience foods whenever possible. It irritates me to spend more than  I need to on anything, especially when I'm convinced that I can do or make whatever-it-is at least as well as the store-bought version, and usually I feel like I can make or do it better. Sometimes I don't have any confidence issues.

Anytime you see a recipe that calls for a pie crust -- and especially a store-bought one-- please, for the love, try this recipe before you reach for anything off the shelf or out of the freezer!!! Your body may thank you for not pickling it with a ton of preservatives and ingredients that you can't even pronounce. It may not thank you for falling off the diet wagon, but that's a totally different story anyway....

You need:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup oil
3 TBSP milk (or a splash more if your crust is too dry)
1/2 tsp. salt
pie plate

Dump all of the ingredients into the pie plate willy-nilly.....

...use a fork to mix it all together...

...(it should look something like this)...

...and then, using your fingers, press the dough into the plate to form the crust, and prick the bottom with the fork.

Obviously, I don't worry about whether or not it's Better-Homes-and-Gardens pretty or Martha-Stewart perfect. To me, some battles are worth fighting and some just aren't.

At this point, you could bake it at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until it's golden (I always have to keep checking it...my oven is not fabulous).

Or you could fill it...this one is a yummy fudge pie...

...and bake according to the recipe.

Almost looks good enough to eat, doesn't it?

I've been making pie crust using this recipe since i was a teenager. The first time I ever made a pie for my Mammaw, she took a bite, looked at me, and asked if I made my own crust. "Yes, ma'am!" She picked her fork back up, resumed eating, and said, "It's not everybody that can make a good pie crust."

Now, if an Ozarks-born-and-raised Mammaw tells you that you make a good pie crust, you'd better believe it's true. Mammaw didn't "tell stories."

This post is linked to House of Hepworths Don't Waste Your Homemaking Thrifty 101 What's Cooking Love? Here Comes the Sun Skip To My Lou Cindy's Recipes and Writing