Rustic Wood Christmas {Ornament} Signs

One of my favorite things to do during the holidays is to make ornaments with my kids, my parents, whoever happens to stop by. Did I lose you with Christmas talk already? No! No!...don't go away, I know its a wee bit early to chat about Christmas, but if you start now, you can create a bevy of beautiful handmade ornaments and make beautiful memories at the same time. The ornaments we have made over the years are my favorite ones to hang on the tree.

Magical Floating Halloween Ghost

I made these DIY Magical Floating Ghosts for my son's first grade Halloween party. He's 14 now...so yeah, sometimes it take me awhile to get around to sharing my ideas (I did not even know what a blog was back then!). They kids loved these little ghosts. I still have the ghost my son made in first grade and my daughter was playing with it...so it was time to revamp it and share!

Flavorful Slow Cooker Chicken

Let's get something straight...I love to bake -  I have always been a good baker. Cooking, on the other hand...well, it has not come naturally...and my family is P-I-C-K-Y. I find myself making the same things over and over and they get bored and I get frustrated...BUT I do have a few tricks up my sleeve and this Flavorful Slow Cooker Chicken is one of them!

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I am not a big meat-eater (which is like a sin in Texas) but my family, especially my husband needs his meat for every meal. I continue to test and try different recipes to find combinations of flavors that he (and the kiddos like)...and this super flavorful slow cooker chicken is a "winner, winner, chicken dinner!"

Ingredients

• 1 Whole chicken, with all the stuff inside removed, rinsed and patted dry
• 2 Tablespoons softened butter
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano (ow regular oregano)
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 cup organic low sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 white onion, sliced (Optional)

Make it!

• Mix the softened butter with all of the spices, salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly.
• Remove the insides of the chicken, rinse it and pat dry
• Breast side up, gently use your fingers to separate the skin from the meat.
• Use your fingers to place the butter mixture between the skin and meat all  over the breast and into the wings and drumsticks (as best you can).
• Place 1 cup chicken broth into the slow cooker.
• Turn slow cooker on "low."
• Place chicken in slow cooker, breast side up.
• Add the onion to the slow cooker.
• Cook for 4-5 hours.

This chicken is so moist and tender...it literally falls apart as you remove it from the slow cooker, which is fine by me...no carving!

I make this chicken all the time and it works so well with our busy schedules. We use it in salads, serve it with rice and pasta, and in chicken tacos! Whew! Everyone is happy!

You can also play around with the spice combinations - add more or your favorite...and it is amazing when some preserved lemons - they add a richness to the dish.

 

Now go grab and chicken and make dinner tomorrow easy peasy!

 

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

Heat Transfer Horse Tote Bag

I am seriously obsessed with tote bags. I always have been. I NEVER carried a backpack in school...I always had a tote bag. Now I use them for everything, and they are perfect for shopping, the library, toys or whatever you need toted somewhere!

Bake Up Some Banana Gingerbread

I LOVE Fall. The weather is amazing and it is finally time to bake with my favorite flavors - nutmeg, cinnamon, pumpkin...and gingerbread! So I had some (very ugly) bananas begging to be made into bread, but felt the need to give this banana bread a Fall twist by adding the flavors of gingerbread....and a few chocolate chips (because they make life better!).