Slow Cooker Pot Roast

**We'll be taking a break from the recipe swap for the next two Tuesdays (09/02 & 09/09) due to the long weekend and some travel plans lined up. Hope you'll come back to join us on 09/16.**

I've tried making pot roasts using different recipes and this was my favorite so far. I used the recipe on the back of the McCormick's Pot Roast Seasoning packet but used the veggies of my choice.

Ingredients:

3 lbs boneless chuck

1 1/2 cups baby carrots

1 1/2 cups cut-up red potatoes

1 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 packet McCormick® Slow Cooker Pot Roast Seasoning

1 cup water

Serving size - 8-10

What To Do:

1. Grease crock-pot with Pam spray.

2. Place beef at the bottom of the slower cooker and layer with chopped veggies.

3. Mix seasoning mix and water until well blended. Pour over the beef and vegetables. Stir and cover.

4. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours. Stir well before serving.

I cooked for about 4 1/2 hours on high so it looks a bit mushy but it tasted incredible and was a very hearty meal.

Enjoy!

 

 1. Follow Kate and myself via GFC and Bloglovin. 

2. Link up your favorite recipes or food-related posts.

3. Grab our Recipe Swap button and link back to our blogs.

Weekend Happenings

I finally got that relaxing weekend I had been craving which included some sleeping in (thanks to my new blackout curtains), shopping, vegging and a little QT with friends that came in town to visit.

On Friday night, K and I went out to try the new Texas Roadhouse restaurant that opened in town. It was SO good! K loved the steak he ordered and I had the best Caesar salad ever with some fall-off-the-bone ribs. Definitely recommend this place for good BBQ if you have one in the area.

 

On Saturday, I got the day to myself to do some errands and shopping while K went out with friends to do their live fantasy football draft. I picked up this 2-piece art set for our master bedroom from Marshall's.

K came home later in the evening with another piece of "decor" he wants displayed in our living room. Ummm no and no. LOL. This might have to go to his office or somewhere out of sight!

A couple friends from Tampa stayed the night with us after the football draft so we ordered some Italian food for dinner and hung out at the house.

On Sunday morning, I cooked up a breakfast casserole for our guests before they hit the road to head home. I spent the rest of the day Skyping with one of my best friends to help her plan her wedding in Barbados next year and did some stuff around the house.


The new artwork went up in our room. I think the wall still looks a little bare but it will do until we get the walls painted a darker color.

And then came time for more cooking. I told you I had a vegging kind of weekend. Grilled chicken peanut satay was on Sunday's dinner menu with sauce from Trader Joes, which is excellent!

Joining Biana for Weekending and Leeann for Monday Morning Gossip. 

Friday's Flashback

Happy Friday!

I have no big plans for the weekend and I'm pretty damn excited about it. After a busy week at work, sometimes you need the weekend to recoup and relax. I do welcome some fun with friends but I prefer to run on a non-schedule.

I was excited to participate in Helene's Blog Auction yesterday and think it went pretty well. Thank you for those that placed a bid on my large ad space to advertise for 4 months straight on Martinis & Bikinis. I'm excited to find out who will be featured on my blog for the next several months :-)

This was me on Monday. I did some workouts at home over the weekend and never knew I was capable of kicking my own ass. I was sore and in pain all week but Monday and Tuesday were pretty bad. 

 

The ladies met up after work on Tuesday at a new spot in town called The Porch for some happy hour cocktails and appetizers. It was fun catching and planning a girls trips we want to do next year.

Another Ebates check arrived in the mail. I think it's pretty fabulous getting paid to shop. I signed up earlier this year and have already racked up about $115 in cash back.

Some goodies I scored from the Kate Spade sale last week. I had my eye on a few items and finally decided on a crossover purse (perfect for traveling) and the silver huggie earrings, which look so much better in person.

Lastly, this is so me specifically in the wine department.

Have a relaxing and fun weekend everyone!

Joining Amanda and Lauren today for their weekly Friday linkups.

Alex & Ani Charmed Arms

I recently started my Alex and Ani collection and I can't get enough of all the different ways to style these bangles. There's definitely a bracelet (or 10) for every girl out there.

via instragram

via instagram

via Pinterest

via Instagram

via instagram

via instagram

I tend to like the beach-themed bangles and the seahorse bangle happens to be the bangle of the month so that might be my next purchase. You get $5 off with code SEAHORSE on the Alex and Ani website.

Where should I go from here? Decision decisions...

Recipe Swap: Chicken Quesadillas

Ingredients:

2 tbsp olive oil

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped

1/2 green pepper, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

4 oz. shredded Mexican blend cheese

4 flour tortillas

1 packet fajita seasoning

Optional:

Sour cream
Salsa/chopped tomatoes

Shredded lettuce

Black beans

Avocado/guacamole

Makes: 2 large quesadillas 

What To Do:

1. In a between pan, saute chopped up chicken, with 1 tbsp olive oil and diced garlic until chicken is no longer pink. Add in fajita seasoning and cook according to directions on the packet.

2. In a separate pan, saute chopped onions and peppers with 1 tbsp olive oil for about 8-10 minutes on medium heat.

3. Place one flour tortilla on greased baking sheet. Top generously with cooked chicken, onions and peppers.

4. Layer with cheese and secure a 2nd flour tortilla over the mixture.

5. Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes on 350 degrees until the top starts to become golden brown.

6. Use a pizza cutter to cut into 4 large pieces or 8 small pieces.

Serve with sour cream and other condiments of your choice. I suggested a few above.

Enjoy!

 

 1. Follow Kate and myself via GFC and Bloglovin. 

2. Link up your favorite recipes or food-related posts.

3. Grab our Recipe Swap button and link back to our blogs.

Weekending: Live Music, Brunching & Hibachi

 What a fun and hectic weekend!

After work on Friday we headed to Cocoa Village to see Stephen Marley, Slightly Stoopid and a few other bands perform. It was storming heavily all afternoon and finally cleared up just in time for the show. The venue was on the riverfront so lots of people drove their boats up and it was a really great night out with friends.

Before the show, we checked out a couple spots in the village including this cute British pub called The Dog & Bone.

On Saturday we had brunch with one of my college best friends that drove 4 hours to go to the show. We go to Maxine's on Shine downtown Orlando every time she's in town to get chicken and waffles and ginormous mimosas. They also have live music and a great atmosphere for brunch on the weekends.

K had the world's yummiest looking bloody mary.   

On Saturday night we went out to celebrate Kate's birthday at a hibachi restaurant with friends. 

Sunday was perfectly lazy. Lazy as in I cooked, cleaned, did laundry, blogged, worked out and got caught up before another busy work week.

How was your weekend?

Joining Biana for Weekending and Leeann for Monday Morning Gossip.