NotCho Mama's Chicken Soup

Happy Beautiful Springtime! Here are some roses for you because I love you!

Yup, I grew those! Virtual high 5's all around!!!!! Yee haw! So now that we are all pumped I'd like to share a kick a$$ recipe with you. It's a tweak of my amazing friend and now neighbor, Gena's, own recipe. Thank you for the awesome lunch Gena! It's another crock pot recipe dealing with all Trader Joe's ingredients. Y'all know how much I love me some Trader Joe's!!!! This recipe is a crowd pleaser if your crowd likes their mouths to feel like a donkey's in there and tryin to kick his way out! It's a bit on the hot and naughty side. Lets just say a green pepper (or bell pepper as they say down here in gorgeous South Carolina) is a 1 on the H&N (hot & naughty) scale and a ghost pepper is a 10 on the same scale. Well then I'd call this recipe a 6. It's hot and it's naughty for sure..... But dang it's good! So here she is........ Gena's recipe with my twist. 

NotCho Mama's Chicken Soup Recipe:

3 big ole chicken breasts (mine were frozen still and TJs brand)

3 cans of cannellini beans (some folks call them white kidney beans but I like the bigger name. Makes me feel smart.)

1 can coconut milk

1 box O broth

1 pouch TJs taco seasoning (that's where the heat comes from.... Well, that and the jalapeños)

Garnish:

Chopped Jalapeños

Limes 

Cilantro 

Directions:

Ok, here's the hard part. Put the chicken in the crock pot. Open all the cans of beans and drain and rinse them. Open coconut milk. Open box O broth. Pour everything on top of chicken. Open taco seasoning and pour the whole packet on everything else. Put lid on crock pot and cook low for 8 hours or high for 5 hours or until that chicken is so tender that it falls apart even before you get near it. Shred chicken with 2 forks. If this is even 1 bit hard to do then your chicken isn't ready. Chop jalapeños, limes and cilantro. Portion soup into bowls or big mugs and top with your desired garnishes. Enjoy! 

It's sure to be a hit with your spicy friends! Tell me what ya think! Enjoy this awesome spring and remember the most contagious thing there is........ Is a smile! Do it! Others will smile back. It's the best! Just try it! 

Here are the ingredients...... So easy! Just open and put in crock pot!

(Like my new backsplash?! I did that!!! Yayyyyyy me!)

And when it's dinner time your dinner will already be done! 

Mmmmm mmmmm. Tasty and healthy! 

Mental Games

You. Can. Do. It!

 I'm telling you this. Now, the most important person needs to tell you this. You. Your mind is a powerful thing. Keep telling yourself you can't do something and guess what? You can't. But, if you tell yourself you can do something you will shock your biggest critic. You. I recently met a wonderful woman who, after she learned I was divorced, told me to do something I've never done at least once a week. I told her I would and I sure have! This month I have been tackling home improvement projects that I never thought I could do. In fact, I had 3 different carpenters come to give me estimates on the project I wanted and needed done to my kitchen. One said $700, one said $950 and one quoted me $1100! That was to bead board a small wall in my kitchen and bead board the kitchen bar where my kids love to kick their feet against the bar while they enjoy my home cookin. 

So guess what friends? I'm  here to tell you that you too can do it. What is it that you've been putting off? What is your goal? Do you want to lose weight, eat healthier, get a new job where your talents are appreciated, (don't quit your job without having a new one!) or maybe fix up your house? Well do it! You can! I did and so can you my dear friend! Tell yourself you can do it and you will surprise your biggest competition, YOU. 

Someone recently asked me, "What do you do?" Well guess what? Now I have an answer for you. "What DON'T I do?!"

Bar Before:

Bar after:

And look in the background of the pic above. NO backsplash! 

Now look:

I bead boarded the backsplash! I was given an $1100 quote to tile the back splash. I knew bead board would look killer so I did that instead and saved about $1000! And I'm crazy good at trim work now! Ya, I toot my own horn. And it feels good! 

One more pic for you....... My awesome friend, Michelle, gave me this apron. Probably because I love to cook and she is crazy thoughtful. But it's being used now more for my home improvement projects. And isn't it perfect?!!!!!:

And tonight before bead boarding the kitchen backsplash I made tacos and pudding pie for dessert and all 3 of my kids liked the dinner and thanked me. This is a winning day! Did I mention that my amazing Gena, my strong, talented gorgeous, brilliant friend I've been friends with since we were 15 moved in around the corner from us?! Her family is amazing! seriously! Yes, thank you God. I really am so thankful. 

I am inspired. I am in awe. You are my hero, Gena.

Oh ok ok ok. You want food? Recipes? Geez..... Well fine ill tell you something. It's so easy to make your own turkey or chicken at home AND save a TON of money! Can you say "Crock Pot" ?! Say it louder!!!!!!! Crock pot to the rescue. Just do this. Go to the store. Buy a big fresh or frozen turkey breast. Mine was 6 pounds. I paid $1.29 a pound! Go home and open the package the little turkey comes in. Rub that baby with some coconut oil (have you read that coconut oil can actually help to burn more calories?!..... Rub that stuff all over!) and sprinkle with sea salt and fresh black pepper. Put that baby in the crock pot. I surrounded mine with chopped sweet potatoes, chopped onions and garlic. Lots of garlic. Seriously. Garlic and onions. Lets all have bad breath together. Put the lid on the crock pot. Cook for 6-7 hours on high if frozen. Your house will smell amazing and dinner will be ready when you get home from work!!! Teddie, I'm talking to you!!! Dust off that crock pot my dear sweet Aunt! Here's my raw turkey before slowly cooking at the perfect temp and later being devoured by 3 hungry, growing kiddos. 

And because I've been slacking off I do not have an "After" pic. But really, we've been friends a long time now. Can't you just trust me? Please. Do it. It's easy and tasty and healthy. 

Enjoy and love each other!