Cheater Beef Stroganoff - Crockpot Cooking

I was inspired by a pinterest recipe described as, "melt in your mouth crockpot cube steak." My interest was peaked because cube steak is a cheaper cut of beef and now that I have a littel one, crockpot cooking is helpful on days that I don't have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen.

The original recipe, posted by The Jilly Bean claims to be a favorite among her family. Although her husband comments that it looks like dog food, she says that it is full of flavor. I took her recipe and made it my own. Here we go...

Harper: Two Months

You have made huge strides in your second month of life and will lock eyes and follow us as we move across the room. It may seem little, but this is a milestone for you! The best part is that you are grinning at us and I can't even put into words how that makes my heart sing. Your first social smile was on January 14, 2013. I grab your big toes and count down from 5 as I wiggle each one and then squeal when I get to your tiny pinky toes. You think it's hilarious. When I make a motor boat sound with my mouth you have this look on your face like, "What? Where is that sound coming from?" It makes me laugh every time, and I can't help but do it at least once a day.

Your Dad puffs out his cheeks and makes big eyes at you which also makes you smile. I absolutely love watching you with your Daddy!

Hamachi Shooters

Last Saturday we had some dear friends over for dinner. It's so fun to get together with Anthony and Tara because like us, they enjoy and appreciate good food and great wine. The four of us always have such a fun time together. Jim and I prepared a simple burger bar for our dinner while Anthony and Tara wowed us with an amazing appetizer of Hamachi Shooters. 

After begging for the recipe (not really), they graciously agreed to allow me to share this on HWM.

Massaged Kale Salad

I knew that Kale was a superfood, but until now I had only made kale chips with the green leaf. Like it's cousins, broccoli and cauliflower, kale is a descendant of the wild cabbage and is a nutritional powerhouse that deserves to be on every Top Ten list.


My good friend Paulina (a health food junkie with an affinity to processed cheese) introduced me to this delicious massaged kale salad soon after I gave birth to Harper. Knowing the health benefits I thought I would "choke down" the salad she provided. After all, I would do anything for my Harper. Well surprise surprise, this is so yummy. An even bigger surprise was how simple it is to make. Calling this a "recipe" is a little of an overstatement. This post has everything going for it. Yummy, Easy, Fast, Healthy, Filling, Few Ingredients. I call that WINNING!

Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken

I have spent the last six weeks learning how to be a mom to Miss Harper with little time left for cooking. We have been blessed by sweet friends who have stepped up to provide meals for Jim and I during these first two months. I can't express how thankful I am for the break I've been given to simply focus on our new little family. On a few occasions when I've had some free time while Harper napped, I've jumped at the chance to whip up dinner for Jim and I. They have to be easy and quick recipes, and have mostly been meals that I've already blogged about here on HWM.

Harper: One Month

Harper, I can't believe you are one month old. On one hand it feels like I was just telling Jim that we were pregnant. On the other hand, it feels like you have been a part of this family forever.

Week one was a tough one for this mommy. I had all these plans and ideas in place and quickly realized that you can't plan unpredictable. I didn't want to give you a pacifier until breastfeeding was well established. Your Nana gave you one after being left alone with you for only five minutes. There went that plan. Nana stayed over on nights one and three with us. She slept on an air mattress in your nursery and comforted you when you cried, and brought you to me when you were hungry. I'm so thankful for those hours I got to rest during week one, knowing you were taken care of allowed me to sleep soundly.

Cinnamon Sugar Nuts in the Crockpot

Before going into labor, I made a batch of cinnamon sugar nuts to gift to the nurses at the hospital. This recipe is one that I've seen numerous times on Pinterest and was curious if it could hold up to the claims of making the crunchy sweet nuts effortlessly in the crockpot. My post is part recipe, part craft project.  Here is how I did it...

Start by mixing 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar, 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, 3 tablespoons cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon salt, a pinch of nutmeg and a pinch of cayenne pepper.