Hey guys! We had such a fast-paced day that ended with a slow-cooked meal 
I took your suggestion and rolled up my placemats into a basket (that used to have laundry supplies that have been re-assigned to a shelf)
Works quite well! I just hope they don’t get too rolly in there and not lay flat when I need them.
Around 11 Matt and I went on a 5-mile run. The weather was perfect and I had a good running day [meaning I could keep up with Matt 
)
While I showered, he prepared our very first crock pot meal!
I saw Robin Miller make Maple-Orange Chicken with Acorn Squash and Sweet Potatoes on the Food Network a few months ago and knew if I ever got a crock pot, this would be the meal I'd make first. And so it was!
With the exception of the fact that we didn't have all the ingredients, so we made our own version, of course.
First Matt cut up a squash - only half - and a large sweet potato and filled the pot
Then he butchered an organic whole chicken from Costco into pieces to fit inside
And since we didn't have orange marmalade like Robin, we used this Fortnum and Mason Game Relish preserves instead. I've been wondering what I'd use this with for a long time! I didn't taste it plain, but it had chunks of cranberries and orange peel - perfecto! We used the whole jar...
For liquids we also realized we HAD NO BROTH!!! So we used about 1/2 a cup of water and a splash of POM! Plus salt + pepper and 2 glugs of Worcestershire sauce. Lastly, we garnished with thyme from the garden, 3 cloves of garlic and about 6 sage leaves.
Set on LOW for 6 hours = done!
After making dinner, we headed to lunch!
Up to Cabo Fish Taco in NoDa
Where I met Kate, Danielle and Jessica!
Cabo is totally "cool"
New friends [if they liked me!]
We were greeted with some delicious crunchy chips. I probably had a serving or so throughout the meal.
I always gravitate to the salad section of the menu and almost got one, but I decided that in a taco restaurant I should get tacos!
I had the blackened mahi-mahi tacos, which were filled with cabbage and tomatoes (I got them without cheese, which gets lost in the mix, and the sour cream sauce on the side).
Unfortunately the tacos themselves were super oily and I only had some of the outsides. I don’t care for vegetable oil flavor! I ate all of my filling though!
The refried beans were awesome! Excellent for some chip dipping. I had about 1/3 and Matt finished ‘em off.
Matt’s lemon tuna tacos with jalapeno cheddar mashers – I had a bite of each.
NoDa is a pretty far drive from my house and I knew it was now or never to try out Charlotte’s ONE AND ONLY frozen yogurt joint: Tasty Yo!!!!!
And I was most pleased to hear they are opening a location in South Charlotte by the end of the month!! ‘Bout time!
We noticed info on the nutrition – only 110 calories for a small. Pretty impressive!
Also impressive was the flavor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I liked this the most out of all the tart yogurt samples I’ve tasted.
I’m a chocolate crunch kinda girl, but I went with kiwi, strawberries and granola today. It just seemed appropriate for my first tart yogurt. Loved it! Matt helped me eat – we probably split 60/40.
It was like summer out today!
We said goodbye to the girls and headed out to run a handful of errands.
First stop: Costco.
I think we won the prize for the least amount of purchases. All we got was spinach, bananas and PERSIMMONS!!! Can’t wait to eat one again! Thanks to Chelsea for introducing me 
Next stop: Lowes!
For a wrench, which is the wrong size and we have to return, and lightbulbs. I hated the bulbs that were in our living room lights – they were SO YELLOW – so today we picked up two "bright white" CFLs that emit a much prettier glow. Bright white on the left; yellow on the right:
I also paid a happy visit to my favorite aisle:
Next stop was Bed Bath and Beyond for a new space heater! They didn’t have the one I had planned on getting, but we got this $50 (+ 20% off) Lasko one and so far I am very happy. I wanted a vertical one that blew heat with a remote control and this so far is excellent.
So is the remote, which I can use from my desk
Last stop: Target!
I got in a mini workout on their big exercise balls!
I have been looking for a replacement Method OMop for WEEKS now with no luck! [My old one's handle broke and the company sent me a replacement voucher] The same with Noxzema with Moisturizers. I can’t find it anywhere, and I’ve looked in about 10 different stores. They all only have the original (which I ended up buying today but I like the pink one more) I see they have it on Amazon though. What doesn’t Amazon have!? But only 2 left in stock!?
Once home and unpacked and sorted, we checked on the chicken – the whole house was starting to smell good!
It was a’bubblin’ away!
Angela, I found this sticker on my mouse and squealed to Matt "Have you been reading Oh She Glow!?" He didn’t know what I meant and unfortunately he has not been reading but just put it there so I’d know the name of the squash for my post, but I got a kick out of it anyways!
Serve me some chicken, crock pot!
Well I have to say, it was delicioso!!!! The roots were SUPPPPERRRR tender. Melt in your mouth!!
My chicken breast (skinless before we put it in) was as good as chicken breasts get, but Matt’s thigh meat was so succulent (he shared). The breast wasn’t bad at all though. Just not melting.
The Great Harvest sourdough was the perfect dry accompaniment
And my splash of Black Box Sauvignon Blanc turned dinner into Saturday Night.
During dinner we were discussing all the things we could make in the crock pot and I mentioned that some people make baby food. And then this conversation happened:
"You know some people even make baby food purees in a crock pot."
Matt enthusiastically said, "That’s genius!!"
Me: "What’s genius? The crock pot?"
Matt: "No, making your own baby food. I will HAPPILY take on that task when the time comes."
Me: "Seriously!?"
Matt: "Are you crazy? A time-consuming scientific food project sounds fun to me!"
Um, that would be awesome! [But no, we're not even thinking about having kids yet!"]
Going to listen to more Xmas music and take a bubble bath!!
{ 69 comments… read them below or add one }
i want to see a little kath eats running around.
sorry, that was obnoxious, but i have the baby bug!!
I’ve had a crockpot for ages now and never used it- I think i’ll have to after seeing this chicken- looks awesome! And the frozen yogurt craze has come to Boston in a big way lately. I had some last night…watch out! It’s addictive!
You guys will make super cute babies
hee hee
Hope ya don’t wait too long…!Actually,not all babies are planned for as you know ,so I will keep checking back
Hey Kath!
WOW! Thats looks great! Amazingly prepared! I was looking into buying amazing grass and was wandering what products you recommend? I know totally randoms question! Can’t wait to it!
Thanks!!
Tieghan:)
we just KNOW you are having a baby. we can see it in Matt’s twinkling eyes
we just KNOW you are having a baby. we can see it in Matt’s twinkling eyes
I noticed on the yogurt thing it had Riboflavin and then vitamin B12 in ( ) I hope that I just couldn’t see the whole paper and perhaps they were just listing vitamins because I would hope they know that Riboflavin is B2-maybe it was a typo!! Sorry that is the type A dietitian coming out in me!! Next time I am visiting my parents (they live in Lincolnton) I will have to take 85 and go through Charlotte to try the yogurt.
I bet your house smelled amaaaaazing with that bubbling away. Love walking into the house with the crockpot simmering away all day.
Caitlin,
You really have the baby bug!?
Tieghan,
I like the chocolate the best. And the bars are literally amazing!
Eliza,
No, no! We have to get this bakery started first! And move!
Courtney,
Nice catch!!! I think it’s their typo.
Kath
I’m sure Matt will be an excellent father, taking care of the kids and their food!
I haven’t made use of my crock pot for a while, this chicken looks really yummy~~~
KATH! So glad that we met up today…I am ready for round two of Tasty Yo NOW…soooo good! Enjoy your hike tomorrow, hopefully it’s as nice out as it was today! Let’s get together again soon!
Awww, that is so cute how Matt got so enthusiastic about the idea of making baby food! Yall will have the healthiest baby ever, that’s for sure!!
Frozen Yorgurt in NoDa?! I am so excited. How did I not know? My husband and I like to go to the cajun restaurant in NoDa.
I make my son’s baby food and it is NOT time consuming or scientific, so sorry to disappoint Matt.
It is cheaper and healthier than the packaged stuff. Definitely worth it.
That chicken sounds so good and worht the wait. And I wish New England weren’t so behind the times with frozen yogurt!
That chicken & squash looks yummy! And looks like you had a fun and productive day.
I made almost ALL my baby food when my two kids were little – it’s so much easier than it sounds! I just baked or steamed the veggies/fruits, and blended ‘em up in my blender. Freeze it in ice cube trays, and you’ve got baby food for weeks! There are tons of good books and a really good website out there. When you’re ready, of course.
I could eat tart frozen yogurt all the live long day!
I was assigned to take photos of the Christmas display at Fortnum and Mason when I was interning in London and your jams ALWAYS remind me of London now. What a great place
Have a great rest of the weekend, Kath!
Crockpots and Costco in one post – two of the best things in life!
Your dinner looks awesome. As does that frozen yogurt… I’m hungry…
Your crockpot chicken sounds great! I never have luck with the crockpot (or crocker, as I like to call it!), but I may have to try it again. The husband will be scared….
How funny! I’ve been made homemade baby food all day for my baby girl!
I made so man different kinds and froze them in a bpa free ice cube tray
She liked her dinner…. hope she likes everything else I made for her
Now that is what I would call a perfectly productive, fun Fall day! Great food, great company, great buys, and more great food!! I need to use my crock pot, that chicken looks amazing!!
Jenn
Tacos are unfortunately usually too oily for me
Yogurt looks good though!
Brave woman showing the Target customers how to use the exercise ball they didn’t know they went to purchase. What a GENIUS way to get people to work out!
Chicken sounds delish and making own baby food also genius. Not that I am anywhere NEAR that in my life, but think of the better nutritionals and cheaper cost.
i love crock pot meals…. and christmas music & bubble baths!!
Your dinner looks amazing- I want a crock pot now!! Actually, I can think of a lot of kitchen stuff I need to invest in… perhaps I should get done with grad school first haha.
I have never tried to put the whole chicken in the slow cooker…just kinda scared
thanks for the recipe , I love slow cooker to do the duty !
that yogurt looks amazing! makes this western nc gal want to take a trip to charlotte. also – i totally agree with you on the cheese in tacos – it always is lost in the mix, so i usually opt to leave it out. (ps – turning 30 has kind of got the baby bug in me, though we are not trying yet!)
YAY! I love Kate and Danielle!! So glad you all got to hang out! Sorry about the oily tacos – they sure do look delicious! And I cant even comment on the fro yo – I’m so jealous (we have NOTHING like that in cleveland)
sounds like you had a great, albeit jam-packed, day!
Ugh, that yogurt looks so good!! Gotta love hanging with new friends. You and Matt are making a super convincing case for a crock pot!
your dinner looks amazing. I can’t wait to go home to my family and cook it for them!
Looks like a fun & delicious Saturday!
Oh, how I love Christmas music : )
haha Matt is so reading….he’s lying, lying!
That is too funny about the sticker. I found one of my ladel the yesterday.
Homemade baby food would be fairly easy wouldnt it? Just cook (if needed) and puree??
I love crock pot meals- you have the same crock pot we do! We don’t use ours often enough, though. I may have to make some bone-in chicken now – that looks super yummy
what an amazing looking dinner!
enjoy your evening
Aww, Cabo!! I’m pretty sure their sauce is actually yogurt based, so not quite as bad for you as sour cream =) The shells are definitely oily…the mahi was my fav! We totally do not want to have kids yet either, but I have already been thinking and getting excited for making baby food…that is too funny!
I think you need a column in Real Simple magazine in the organizing section! That Target picture is too funny? I’ll be you got a few strange looks
This was such a fun post!
I just love how you improvised this recipe Kath! The idea of POM as your broth sounds REALLY good! And what a fun day with the meet-up. You crack me up with that exercise ball!
Tell Matt that he can go here: http://beingchelsea.com/?p=28 and here: http://beingchelsea.com/?p=62 for good primers on making baby food! =D
Love those persimmons-I got some at TJs today.
I also barely bought anything when I went to Costco. The quantities were just so enormous it was overwhelming. I did buy a huge case of honeycrisp apples but I was able to split them with my mom.
I’m excited about your new crock pot. Maybe you’ll come up with some vegetarian recipes soon?
There is an AWESOME product out there that is great for making homemade organic baby food.. called babycook (http://www.ourgreenhouse.com/Beaba_baby_cook_p/sca-bea.htm). You steam the vegetables and then puree right in there which means you don’t lose the vitamins and nutrients in the water since its pureed in its own juice/steam water. I REALLY REALLY REALLY want one, but I can’t justify it just yet since my husband and I are a couple years away from having a kiddo. A girlfriend of mine has one and she raves about it.
I’ve always admired your lovely placemat collection…and I’m a bit jealous of that red CrockPot too!
That’s a stellar crock-pot meal! I used to hate it when I was little and my mom made them, but now I totally want a crock pot! Too bad I live in a dorm with the tiniest kitchen ever, and no supplies
i have the same crock pot! i like to think of it as “my robotic chef” like outa the jetsons…
i bought that same heater last week. kinda love it. i carry it from room to room.
that fro yo looks so yummy! glad you got to met up with some new friends
i must say the crockpot dinner looks sooo great!
jenna
What an awesome day you had!
Glad the crock pot meal turned out so well. I have never really had much luck with chicken in mine but I love it for saucy or soup type things.
My mom made my own baby food, I’m convinced it’s why I don’t like salty foods!
I just tried my first persimmon a couple days ago. SO. GOOD. It’s got all the attributes of my favourite fruit wrapped up into one
That crockpot meal looks really good too. I’ve only used mine once so far for steel-cut oats, but they burnt 
The crock pot meal looks like it was a great success! Oh and that frozen yogurt looks so good!
I don’t know if I have enough patience for the crock pot! I would check on it a million times.
Both meals look awesome!
Glad to hear making baby food isn’t hard
Gelareh,
That machine looks so handy!
K
Haha
That is so cool that your space heater has a remote! Ours has a dial that you have to get up and turn on! Yummo to all your food, especially the frozen yogurt! Gastonia is just now getting a Ben and Jerrys so Jas and I hit that up last night, woot woot!
This dinner sounds WONDERFUL! I’m gonna snag the recipe from here! Sounds like y’all had a pretty wonderful Saturday….don’t you love those days?
You and your husband seriously have such an awesome relationship. I think I’ve commented about this before, but it’s so true. Where else can you find a guy that would take pictures of you exercising on the balls outside of Target?? That’s love, girl!
That recipe looks wonderful! I’ll have to check it out. We never used our crockpot when it was just the two of us, but now there are five, and it’s so easy and economical.
Which leads me, too, to the topic of feeding kids. Making baby food is really easy, fun, and so much better for them. I mean, WHY would anyone buy a jar of bananas that have been sitting on the shelf for months? YUCK. And, you’ll be delighted to discover that most babies love oatmeal, LOL!
Woah just seeing that photo of you from side on, your body is incredible!!! Sorry, that’s not meant in a creepy way ha it’s a compliment! Kudos!
Making baby food is so entirely easy i don’t know why everyone doesn’t do it! I have a 9 month old and she LOVES her greens and eats almost anything i make for her! I have a BEABA which is helpful for small batches. Your husband will make a fine baby food maker! I have lots of easy recipes for when, of course, there is a baby in your house!!!!!
I need to bust out my crockpot now after seeing your post! BTW can you have blogger meet ups in EVERY state? Thanks!
my mom puts meals in the crockpot before she goes to work in the morning and by the time were ready for dinner, dinner is ready for us! its great, plus it makes the house smell all nice!
It makes me soo happy that you and Matt are not rushing in to having kids.. You guys have so much going for you, and its nice to know you’re relishing in your childless blogger life.
One day though, you’ll both make wonderful parents! I can already see a mini KERF baking away at your Great Harvest store.
I LOVE a crockpot. I even cook ribs in there. It is a huge time saver. I have two kids and a very busy schedule. It is nice to come home after a long day of work and running the kids around to a good home cooked meal.
I also made my own baby food with both my kids. I never used a crock pot though. I always just made what we ate unseasoned and then put the unseasoned meal in the blender. Voila! Instant baby food. We would then season our meal at eat as a family. I used ice cube trays to portion the baby food. Stick them in the freezer, put them in ziploc baggies after they are frozen and then you can take out what you need. It is so simple and in no way was it time consuming!
I couldn’t live without my crockpot. Some days are so busy and I have a small window to eat so we make lots of soups and dishes in our crockpot. In fact we have our super quick vegan chili recipe set for tomorrow
drugstore.com has the o-mop kit–is that what your voucher is for, or do you need to find just the mop itself?
I need the kit, but does a .com take a coupon??
K
I love using my crockpot!!! I actually have two, and don’t use them nearly enough. I love to make chilli in the crockpot- it’s usually one of the first meals I make when it starts to get cold (although here in Charlotte it’s been cold, then warm, then cold for a while now). One of my other favorites is breakfast risotto in the crockpot- risotto rice with apples, milk (or apple cider/juice), spices, yuuummmy! http://www.crockpot365.blogspot.com/ has some great recipes (that’s where I got the risotto recipe)
You guys are incredibly adorable and will make FANTABULOUS parents (when the time is right!). Thanks for continuing to inspire me with your healthy lifestyle and writing!
I know I’m a little late but…. YUM! We have a crock pot and my aunt gave us a crock pot recipe book from the 70s but nothing has caught my eye yet!
Also, since I have nowhere else to say it for a few months..
I WANT BABIES!!!!!!
I made all of my daughters food for her when she was at that stage, but I never had to use a crock pot. I steamed all the veggies, and fruits don’t have to be cooked. Just throw it into a food processor and freeze in ice cube trays! It’s so fun and wonderful to know exactly what they are getting. I wrote about it on my blog, and included all the recipes (when yall are ready!!). Unfortunately for Matt, it’s not really that time consuming:)