Good morning friends!
I know some of you love to hear baby reports and others of you could care less and find them distracting, so I’ll refrain from giving sleep status updates until things get a little better (optimism!) It’s so hard not to set the tone for my post based on how rested I am.
So I’ll set the tone with… French toast for the win!
Cville Crunch bread cooked in egg with seared banana, peanut butter, chia seeds and coconut. Loved every single bite!
And I might do it again tomorrow because Matt brought me some whole wheat Apple Scrapple. It’s my favorite FT bread!
Morning playmate:
We use our Chicco iFeel rocker all.the.time. The arm is great for hanging toys.
I made my bed and got back in it twice today. It was one of those cozy winter days where it was fun to be under the covers for nursing and things.
After breakfast, I was so sleep deprived I drank a beer.
Just kidding!! I was making dinner actually : )
More on that after lunch:
I was happy to have a piece of leftover halibut that I served on a big salad packed with ingredients:
- Spinach
- Peppers
- Carrots
- Avocado
- Goat cheese
- Olive oil
- Smoked salt
- Cava spicy hummus
- Cville Crunch croutons
- Halibut + its crumbs
- Clementine
I think I hit all of my macronutrients there!
Maze and I rallied this afternoon for a lovely 3.5 mile walk up the Monticello Trail. I’ve been organizing a weekly walk with my mom group and today’s turnout was our best yet! (We had about 10 in total) Mazen looks thrilled to be there doesn’t he ; )
Back home I warmed up with an oatmeal snack. This kind of just happened: I poured 1/4 cup oats in a bowl with some milk and microwaved it just to heat it a bit – and duh, that made oatmeal! Added some sliced banana and sunflower butter for maximum deliciousness.
I absolutely love it when I use the crockpot and rice cooker to make dinner for me! Girl’s best friends.
In the crockpot was a Beer & Bone Suckin’ Chicken with Sweet Potatoes, Parsnips and Mushrooms.
Beer & Bone Suckin' Crockpot Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts
- 2 large sweet potatoes sliced or chopped into bite-size pieces
- 10- ish cremini mushrooms quartered
- 5 parsnips or carrots
- 1 jar of Bone Suckin' Sauce
- 12 ounces of a dark beer basically anything that isn't yellow in color
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 16 ounces of broth or water or enough to just cover everything
Instructions
- Layer in veggies
- Put chicken on top
- Add liquids and spices
- Stir everything to combine
- Set for low for 8 hours
- Shred chicken into big chunks with a fork
- Spoon over rice or cornbread
Served over brown rice with a dollop of Greek yogurt on top. Loved it!! The sweet potatoes were pillows of sauce and the chicken was perfectly tender.
I dined alone because Matt was out at a guys night’s out, but he ate when he returned and raved about the dish. Slow cooker gets a pat on the back!
Good night?
m says
Do you use day old bread or fresh bread for your french toast?
KathEats says
Our breads last 10 days plus, so they don’t really get crusty like a baguette would, so I guess the answer is fresh
KathEats says
(but often I’m using “week old” bread)
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles says
I have baby on the brain- totally have a hard time reading ‘girl’s best friend’ now without thinking of my breast friend….. I need to make a crockpot dinner tonight! That would make it seem much more do-able. It’s only 8 and I’m not feeling the whole cooking thing….. ugh.
Jeri says
Yum!! Breakfast Lunch and Dinner!
Have you ever thought about writing your own cookbook? I know something’s are just a little of this and a little of that… Hey that’s the name of the book!!! Little of this a little of that!
KathEats says
If I did it would be more “teach a man to fish” and how-to than formal recipes, but I just haven’t had the time to think much about writing a proposal in recent years. Maybe when kids are in school someday : )
[email protected] says
Dinner sounds awesome…I might have to make it sans the chicken. I also want your snack…I think it’s on the cards for today to combat the chill! 🙂
Lisa says
Sure hope I didnt offend or upset with my cosleeping comments. I only meant to be helpful and offer an alternative. Many wishes for restful nights ahead, Kath!
Sara @ fitcupcake says
Yum, I am going to make this next week 🙂 What do parsnips taste like? Ive never had them lol so I was thinkin about just using carrots.
KathEats says
They are kind of sweet -almost like licorice or mint? Carrots would work just fine
Kristin says
Thanks for posting your recipe! I like to roast parsnips with sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, red onions, and chicken. I think parsnips taste like carrots with a texture more like a potato. I’ve read they do have more vitamins and minerals than carrots. I just use them occasionally in roasts because it’s nice to add a little variety.
Spice Chicken says
I agree with Kristin: taste like carrots, texture like potato. Parsnips are excellent braised on the stovetop with carrots. I stir in a little marmalade at the end.
Ali @ Peaches and Football says
I need to make some french toast this weekend. I’ve been dying to make some for a few days now! YUM We have a Great Harvest in town – I should drive over there so I can get some awesome french toast bread too. 🙂
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
Bone Suckin’ is the best! My mom hipped me to it a few years back. It’s awesome with baked tofu too. Live your dinner idea. BBQ and the sweetness from the potato and parsnip is a great combo!
Christine says
There is one thing that all baby sleep issues have in common — they are short-lived!
KathEats says
That’s a great way to look at it : )
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
Man I love slow cookers! But I have this fear of leaving them unattended so I never end up using them unless I’m planning on spending my whole day at home. Is that crazy?
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
It all looks delicious…as usual! Have a great weekend Kath!
Ashley @ My Food 'N' Fitness Diaries says
I sure hope the sleeping gets better for you guys soon! I can imagine how frustrating (and exhausting!) that is. Dinner sounds delicious!
Carly @ Snack Therapy says
The crockpot and rice cooker make my life 1000x easier. It’s safe to say that I’m in love with those appliances. ;).
[email protected] says
I don’t see anything wrong with giving us sleep updates. After all life with a baby revolves around sleeping or not.
I’m a huge fan of using my slow cooker and rice cooker to prepare dinner. I’m recovering from foot surgery right now and both appliances have become a huge help. By dinner time my foot is sore and swollen and the last thing I want to do is stand on a hard wood floor to cook! I will give your recipe a try. Thank you so much for sharing!
Katie @ running4cupcakes says
I hope you guys had a better night! Luke has an ear infection and sleep has been rough the past couple nights here too. Hang in there – it does get better! 🙂 I have the crock pot cooking right now – love it!
Anna @ On Anna's Plate says
That picture of Mazen in his rudolph pjs makes me feel better– Lila is still wearing her Christmas pjs too! It seems like such a shame to buy them and then only wear them for a few weeks!
Hope the sleep is on the upswing… 🙂
Ashlee says
I am SO obsessed with Bone Suckin’ now! I have seen it on your blog for awhile now, and finally found it in Texas recently. I’ll have to try this crock pot dish for my husband..it looks delicious!
Kaci says
So funny that you made the crockpot chicken recipe yesterday. I just made up a grocery list last night and that’s one of the recipes on tap for me too! : )
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
I’m sending that recipe to my mom! She just got a slow cooker and she’s looking for some recipes for it!
Terri says
The dinner looks very comforting for a cold winter’s day. What brand slow cooker do you have? Do you like it? I’m in the market for a slow cooker, but I don’t know whether to go with a Crock Pot, or some other brand (like Cuisinart).
KathEats says
This is the one I have, but it looks like there are newer ones.
I might recommend this one?
Melissa @ HerGreenLife says
Was going to ask about size of your crockpot, but it looks like I can find the answer from your links. My little (6 qt?) crockpot isn’t cutting it these days. The last few times I’ve tried to use it, I get halfway through filling it to find that my ingredients don’t fit in the pot — not only do I have to switch up my cooking method at the last minute, but I have the extra dish to wash 🙁 Anyway, I want something big that I can use to help with dinner prep to make it easier to get out and about with my little guy in the afternoons.
Sage says
Where did you get the napkin with the pear and apple on it? I love it!
KathEats says
My grandmother… Sorry that’s never a helpful answer
Ella says
YUM! That is my kind of recipe! I suppose you could use any kind of BBQ sauce?
I hear you about sleep deprivation setting the tone for everything. My boy will be 1 year old in two weeks and it feels like every month is different. We’ll have a great few weeks, them a horrible few days, then an up and down month, then a good week, then a bad week…. I keep thinking, when will this end? And we’re about to start trying for another. We must be crazy!!
KathEats says
Yup,any kind should work
Melissa says
I am putting recipe that on my ‘to make’ list. That looks AMAZING!!! 😀
Quick question. what kind of dark beer do you suggest? I’m not a big beer drinker, and I don’t think I’ve ever tasted a dark one? I live in NC.
KathEats says
Anything “brown” would be great. I’d look for one from Foothills or Big Boss!
Melissa says
Thank you! 🙂
Sarah says
I need to make french toast this weekend! You’ve convinced me. Except I only have a very sad loaf of very old wheat bread in the fridge, not the delicious bakery style stuff. I general use the milk-egg batter method so they get a bit custardy in the middle, that should help.
Tara says
I love my crockpot, I (it) has made so many wonderful meals in the past few years.
I have only ever roasted parsnips, I will need to try in the crock, thanks for the recipe.
Shana says
I find the sleep updates interesting but am mostly amazed at your ability to function on so little of it! Recently I heard about the benefits of Red Palm Oil and thought of you (since you are an RD). Have you heard anything about this yet? Is it the new coconut oil? I’m wondering if it will make an appearance on KERF in the future.
KathEats says
I haven’t heard of it, no. I don’t think there’s anything magic about it, but it’s probably not bad for cooking
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
French toast is definitely going to have to be on the menu tomorrow morning. Your little boy is growing so fast!
Hayley @ Running on Pumpkin says
Your french toast always looks so good and I’ve yet to make my own. Maybe if I had some fresh apple scrapple bread!
Stefanie @ Thin Vegetarian says
I am more of a pancake and overnight oats person, but your french toast always looks so fancy and delicious!
Kelley says
awe, i like the sleep updates! Glad you found a great group of moms! It was a lifesaver for me!
Kerry @ Totes My Oats says
That chicken recipe sounds great! Love any slow cooker recipe.
Leah says
Maybe a stupid question–but how do you sear the banana? You make it look so good like that!
KathEats says
I just put it in the skillet next to the French toast with some coconut oil or butter. Let it cook for about 3-5 minutes and it’s perfectly seared
kristen @ verbs and vignettes says
I love that it’s a whole banana on the french toast!
your french toast kick is getting up there with your oatmeal. and I want to steal it every time.
Ashley @ Coffee Cake and Cardio says
The Crockpot is definitely a girl’s best friend!! I’m hoping it becomes my husband’s best friend too!
lynn @ the actor's diet says
the slow cooker IS a girl’s best friend – i just made martha stewart’s bacon onion jam using my crockpot…so freakishly amazing: http://theactorsdiet.com/2013/01/03/bacon-is-my-jam/
BethanyB says
Have you checked out the Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep? I think Harvey Karp is a genius and his book about sleep is his newest publication. Just thought I’d throw that out there. Best of luck to you- I hope some nice rest comes your way soon!
KathEats says
I read it and I agree with you… Love him. Maybe I should re read since it’s been a few months
Lauren says
I haven’t read that one-I’ll have to check it out. I read “Sleeping Through the Night” and employed the strategies when my daughter was 6 months. She has learned how to put herself to sleep at bedtime and naptime, but continues to wake up during the night and doesn’t go back to bed unless I nurse her (she is 10 mos)-so in one respect the book helped us SO much, but the sleeping through the night thing has never happened for us. Anyways, I feel for ya Kath. Whenever I want to complain about her lack of sleep and get so frustrated, I just thank God for how healthy she is, the fact that I am able to nurse her, that she is happy and growing and so smart. Being grateful always helps me when I feel so upset about how little sleep I’m getting (I only say this to be helpful, DEFINITELY not to criticize you—because I just know that we can’t throw around sleep suggestions that work for every baby). Thank you for always sharing with us and for being honest about the challenges of motherhood. You are doing great!
Annette @FitnessPerks says
the blendtec and crock pot are my best friends. 🙂
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
I love that you’re double fisting so to speak with time saving appliances..the rice cooker AND the crockpot. Smart, very smart 🙂
Kristen @ Change of Pace says
Dinner looks delicious! I’ve tried to start a walking group before and it just never turns out. I think people have better things to do haha 😉
a farmer in the dell says
Dinner looks delicious! anything with bone suckin sauce and beer is a winner in my book! yum
Jess says
Can I ask what kind of car seat cover you are using on your walks? I’m in the market for one and that one looks great. Do you like it?
Thanks!
Jess
KathEats says
It’s a Jolly Jumper and it’s awesome! (Here’s the link) He stays SO warm, and it doesn’t go on the base of the carseat – just over the top like a shower cap so it should be OK for safety
Jess says
Thanks so much! I’ve already ordered it 🙂
Olivia @ Life As Liv says
There’s nothing better than a really good crock pot recipe that’s almost too easy to believe. Dare I say it’s almost like magic! I hope Mazen sleeps better tonight, I now how tough it can be to do the most normal things with little sleep.
Alicia @ Wanna Be Ina says
Been out of bloggy land since mid December. OMG can’t believe how much Mazen has grown!
I love sweet potatoes with BBQ, so I am sure that we will be trying this dish VERY soon.
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
Aww, Mazen is such a cutie!! That dinner looks great. Just got a crockpot and it’ll be put to good use now!
Miwa says
I can’t wait to try your slow cooker recipe! Looks amazing =) Don’t stress out too much on the sleep… it gets better I promise!
Cait's Plate says
So jealous of your crock pot! I can only imagine how much easier it makes things!!
Carla C says
I hope no one has been giving you trouble about your posts…they are FAR from whiny and just a chronicle of your life, the good and the bad. I think you do an aMAZEN job not complaining and keeping things in perspective and your spirits up, at least just from the blog reader’s perspective 😉 SUPER cut cloth napkin, by the way!
Katherine says
That beer comment is hilarious! Good that you can have a sense of humor even when sleep deprived.
http://therealfoodrunner.blogspot.com/
Becky says
Do you have any recommendations for replacing the beer? My husband cannot have gluten but otherwise this looks so good!
KathEats says
I would just use all broth
jess says
There are some great gluten free beers out there these days! 🙂
Shaina says
I was reading la times today and this article caught my eye…check it out, may provide you will a couple of avenues to explore as you tackle sleep deprivation. http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-baby-sleep-20130105,0,1571463.story
KathEats says
Thanks!
Kristen says
Sorry to hear you’re having such troubles with sleep. An amazing resource for all things sleep + BFing, etc that I recently found is Isis Parenting (www.isisparenting.com). They’re located in Boston but do twice weekly webinars (one on sleep, one on BFing) and all the webinars are archived – I found some great advice going back and listening to the webinars that cover sleep for birth to 5 months. They also do sleep consults by phone.
Also, you can follow Nancy Holtzman on twitter (@nancyholtzman). She works at Isis, is hilarious and a wonderful resource for all things baby related. You can tweet questions to her and she’ll respond. (But if you do follow just be prepared that it will flood your twitter feed bc she retweets all questions and answers – worth it for the info, in my opinion!). I live nowhere near Boston, I just came across this resource online and have found it to be a huge help – maybe you could find some helpful info on sleep, regressions, etc. Goof luck – my little is 4.5 months and has lots of napping issues (like 30 min naps always) but it’s sloooowly getting better so maybe a change is just around the corner for you as well!
KathEats says
Cool, thanks!
Lisa @bitesforbabies says
Call me crazy but I’ve never been enticed to buy a slow cooker…and I don’t know why!!
[email protected] says
what is bone suckin sauce? can it be replaced with anything else?
KathEats says
It’s a really awesome BBQ sauce, but you could use any brand
Amelia says
It is soooo hard to be lively when you’re sleep-deprived. You’re doing a great job, though 🙂
Hillary says
Long time reader and love getting updates on how things are going with the babe. I know you decided not to update BERF regularly, but I know a ton of readers would be interested in hearing a sleep update…what methods you’re trying for sleep training and why or why not, etc. I’ve so enjoyed Caitlin’s honest “this is so hard” posts on HTP because they’re so real and help so many…but understand that that might not be right for you to share like that..? Anyway, all that to say, love you and your fam, and welcome anything you’d like to share. Don’t feel bad posting about that stuff because a lot of us are curious about how you’re doing!
Heather says
I’d like to start using the slow cooker more often! For something like this chicken, could you make it with different ‘sauces’? For instance, I was thinking this would be nice with some kind of white wine-chicken stock thing, but I have no idea how much liquid to add to the chicken/veggie mix. Is there some kind of rule-of-thumb for slow cooker recipes I could apply? Thanks!
KathEats says
Totally! I’m not much of a slow cooker pro, but I think as long as the meat/veggies are covered in liquid you’re good
Heather says
Awesome! I’ll try the original to get the hang of it. Can’t wait! My absolute favorite kitchen appliance is the rice cooker – use it at least once every day for oats in the morning – and I’d like to get the slow cooker in the mix too for those days I’m not going to have time to cook in the evening!
Katie @ Real Food Katie's Way says
I love love love that blue bowl!
I too love the slow and rice cooker! They make like much simpler some days!
Alex @ Raw Recovery says
It is so easy to see that you are Mazen’s mom–he looks exactly like you!! Oh and I asked my parents for a rice cooker for Christmas and actually got one. Best day ever because I also got a DSLR (a Canon Rebel T3i) and I can’t wait to use both! My first DSLR 🙂
Meg says
Have you tried giving Mazen a little cereal yet? When our daughter reached four months, we’d give her a few spoons of it at night. She slept like a rock! 🙂
KathEats says
No we’re waiting a bit longer to start solids
Danielle says
I tried this recipe last night for a girls’ Downton Abbey night and it met with resounding praise – everyone loved it! I didn’t have a dark beer so I used a bourbon barrel aged ale and it tasted great.
I’m already looking forward to leftovers for dinner!
[email protected] is Sweet says
That French Toast looks amazing! I love French Toast!
Casey says
I could not find the “Bone Suckin Sauce”. The one store that their website said should have it –that is a 30 min drive from my house –was out of it. Bummer! I used another all natural with nothing added BBQ sauce and this was one of the best dinners we have had in a long time! Thanks for the great recipe, I can’t wait to try others!