Crockpot wings

I made a big mistake. Last week, I decided to make these wings for my husband and left a little note by the crock pot that read, "Please take a pretty picture of your chicken wings!"

This is what I got, so I'm afraid you all will have to use your imagination. The man can drum like no other, but apparently can't take even a mediocre photo.

I think he was hungry. He does many things well, so I'll forgive him. Anyway, this meal took me less than 5 minutes to put together, and it required ZERO effort when Tim walked in the door.

Ingredients:

• Frozen chicken wings
• Barbecue sauce, buffalo wing sauce or whichever sauce you choose (garlic sauce would be delicious as well)
• Garlic salt

Directions:

• Thoroughly cover each frozen chicken wing with your chosen sauce
• Sprinkle each chicken wing with garlic salt
• Throw 'em in the crock pot
• Cook on low all day
• Serve with a dipping sauce and celery or carrots

These are delicious, as you can tell from the extremely blurry photos. They're kid-friendly and are perfect on those Sundays when your husband plans on inviting his entire church softball team over to watch "the game." This also gives you more time to plan your escape route for when they do arrive.

Anyway.

Just enjoy these. They're flawless, and much cheaper and healthier than going to the local wing place. They're neither deep fried nor dripping in grease, which I generally take as a good sign.

Love and simplicity,
Rachael

Crockpot baked ziti

 What can I say? Jack likes noodles. And what Jack wants, Jack gets.

Alas, I work too many hours to provide Jack with a homemade dish. That's where the crockpot comes in.

So here it is; no introduction is needed. Plus, I still have a ton of Santa-stuff I have to do tonight, so you'll just have to do without all the witty banter.

Ingredients:

• Ground beef (about a pound)
• 1 can pasta sauce
• Italian dressing mix
• Garlic
• 1/2 stick butter
• 1/2 cup milk (or heavy cream)
• 15 oz. container of ricotta cheese
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese
• 1 box noodles of choice

Directions:

• Throw about a pound of thawed ground beef on a pan over medium high heat.

• Mash it up into small pieces 
• Let it cook all the way through.
• Add half a packet of Italian dressing mix.
• Add the can of pasta sauce.
• Add half a stick of butter and watch it melt...Oooooooh, baby.

Butta.

• Add half a cup of milk. I do this because I'm not a fan of REALLY red sauce. I like it a little more creamy.
• Throw the ricotta cheese and mozzarella cheese into a small bowl.

• Add a few cloves of minced garlic and mix it up. 
• Spray the crock pot with Pam.

• Now you're going to rinse the noodles. The reason we do that is because the noodles need some moisture before sitting in a crock pot all day.
• Pour half the meat sauce into the crock pot.
• Then half the noodles ...
• ... and half the cheese.

Now we're going to pray:

Dear Lord, Please forgive me for this meal. Pardon the calories, and please speed up my metabolism so that my thighs can be thin enough to spread your good news throughout the world.

Then pray for forgiveness for that blasphemous prayer.

And do it all over again.

• Sauce.
• Noodles.
• Cheese.
• Add about a tablespoon of olive oil just to get some more moisture in there.
• Seal it up, baby. Let it sit on low for about 6 hours.

I know, I know...it looks a little weird. But trust me, it is G-O-O-D.

Really good.

Jack good.

Amen.

Love and noodles,
Rachael