Creamy Italian Crockpot Chicken... Oh Yeah.

This is one of those cool recipes that takes hardly any time to put together, and can be frozen for an awesome meal on a busy day too!

Customize this recipe as you see fit. Low carb? Ditch the pasta and have a salad with it. 

Creamy Italian Crockpot Chicken

§  3 lbs. Chicken, cut into 1 inch or larger pieces
§  1 Small Onion, Diced
§  3 Cloves Garlic, finely chopped
§  1 (8oz.) Pkg. Cream Cheese
§  1/3 cup Italian Seasoning
§  4 Small tomatoes, Diced

To Freeze: Assemble all ingredients in gallon sized freezer bag. Press out remaining air and seal bag. Freeze flat.

To Cook: Thaw in refrigerator overnight or bang frozen bag hard on countertop to break into pieces that will fit into your crockpot. Cook on low 6-8 hours.

Optional: Use fresh herbs at cooking time instead of dry Italian Seasoning. Also, 1 “Spaghetti Seasoning” Pkg. may be used in place of Italian Seasoning.

Serve over noodles or alongside garlic bread with a fresh green salad. 

The BEST way we’ve ever had this is over cooked shells with 2 cups mozzarella mixed in. Delicious!!! 

This recipe is part of my 7 Awesome Chicken Freezer Meals post. You can find a Visual Recipe printable, grocery list, and more chicken recipes HERE.

7 Awesome Chicken Freezer Recipes and printables

Okay, I am guilty.

I cannot pass up a deal on a quality brand of chicken that is on sale for super duper cheap. Price match, coupons....  come home with 15 pounds of it!

I had to develop a plan, and decided it was time to make some freezer to crockpot meals for the busy days ahead.

So I pulled this together and... TA DA!!!

I created a cool way for very VISUAL people like myself to follow a multiple-recipe-plan without messing it up or doing everything one recipe at a time!!!

Download and print out my color coded Visual Recipe Plan, and follow along to make 7 chicken meals super fast!

All of the ingredients to make these chicken meals are easy and usually cheap. All of the packaged seasoning mixes I suggest can be swapped for your favorite homemade version. In this season (no pun intended) of life I have been buying the packets.

I've also created a great Printable Grocery List that you can take to the store to make things even easier. And (for myself mostly) I added a DOUBLED quantity column to the list in case you feel like buying 30 lbs. of sale chicken one day! (It has happened before.)

It took me about two hours (the length of a quiet-time movie!) to complete the bags, and pop them in the freezer.

Here are the recipes. Find the printable version of this list HERE. Enjoy!

Crockpot Chicken Slow Roast

§  1.5 lbs. Chicken, Cut into 1 inch or larger pieces

§  1 Small Onion, diced

§  4 Carrots, chopped

§  3 Cloves Garlic, Finely Chopped

§  1 Pkg. Dry Onion Soup Mix

To Freeze: Assemble all ingredients in gallon sized freezer bag. Press out remaining air and seal bag. Freeze flat.

To Cook: Thaw in refrigerator overnight or bang frozen bag hard on countertop to break into pieces that will fit into your crockpot. Cook on low 6-8 hours.

Optional: Add quartered red potatoes at cooking time. (This recipe is written with adding potatoes in mind. Try serving over leftover mashed potatoes as another option.)

Simple Stir Fry (Skillet or Crockpot)

§  1.5 lbs. Chicken, Cut into 1 inch or larger pieces

§  1 Small Onion, cut into thin strips

§  4 Carrots, Thinly Sliced

§  ¼ Cup Soy Sauce

§  1 Pkg. Frozen Broccoli or Stir Fry Blend Vegetables

§  2 Small Squash (yellow or green),  sliced

§  1 Medium Bell Pepper, cut into thin strips

To Freeze: Assemble all ingredients in gallon sized freezer bag. Press out remaining air and seal bag. Freeze flat.

To Cook: Thaw in refrigerator overnight or bang frozen bag hard on countertop to break into pieces that will fit into your crockpot. Cook on low 6-8 hours.

Optional: Thaw in refrigerator overnight and cook in a lightly oiled skillet over med-high heat until meat is cooked through.

Serve over rice or alongside fried rice or noodles.

Teriyaki Stir Fry (Skillet or Crockpot)

§  1.5 lbs. Chicken, Cut into 1 inch or larger pieces

§  1 Small Onion, cut into thin strips

§  4 Carrots, Thinly Sliced

§  ¼ Cup Soy Sauce

§  2 T. Brown Sugar

§  1 Pkg. Frozen Broccoli or Stir Fry Blend Vegetables

§  2 Small Squash (yellow or green),  sliced

§  1 Medium Bell Pepper, cut into thin strips

To Freeze: Assemble all ingredients in gallon sized freezer bag. Press out remaining air and seal bag. Freeze flat.

To Cook: Thaw in refrigerator overnight or bang frozen bag hard on countertop to break into pieces that will fit into your crockpot. Cook on low 6-8 hours.

Optional: Thaw in refrigerator overnight and cook in a lightly oiled skillet over med-high heat until meat is cooked through.

Serve over rice or alongside fried rice or noodles.

Creamy ItalianCrockpot Chicken

§  3 lbs. Chicken, cut into 1 inch or larger pieces
§  1 Small Onion, Diced
§  3 Cloves Garlic, finely chopped
§  1 (8oz.) Pkg. Cream Cheese
§  1/3 cup Italian Seasoning
§  4 Small tomatoes, Diced

To Freeze: Assemble all ingredients in gallon sized freezer bag. Press out remaining air and seal bag. Freeze flat.

To Cook: Thaw in refrigerator overnight or bang frozen bag hard on countertop to break into pieces that will fit into your crockpot. Cook on low 6-8 hours.

Optional: Use fresh herbs at cooking time instead of dry Italian Seasoning. Also, 1 “Spaghetti Seasoning” Pkg. may be used in place of Italian Seasoning.

Serve over noodles or alongside garlic bread with a fresh green salad. The BEST way we’ve ever had this is over cooked shells with 2 cups mozzarella mixed in. Delicious!!!

Bacon Jalapeno Crockpot Chicken
§  3 lbs. Chicken, cut into 1 inch or larger pieces
§  1 Small Onion, Diced
§  3 Cloves Garlic, finely chopped
§  6 oz. Bacon, uncooked, chopped
§  3 Jalapenos, chopped, (may be seeded to reduce heat)

To Freeze: Assemble all ingredients in gallon sized freezer bag. Press out remaining air and seal bag. Freeze flat.

To Cook: Thaw in refrigerator overnight or bang frozen bag hard on countertop to break into pieces that will fit into your crockpot. Cook on low 6-8 hours.

Serve with cornbread.

Crockpot Mexican Chicken Bowls
§  3 lbs. Chicken, cut into 1 inch or larger pieces
§  1 Small Onion, cut into strips
§  1 Pkg. Fajita Seasoning
§  1 Small Pkg. Frozen Corn
§  3 Jalapenos, chopped, (may be seeded to reduce heat)

To Freeze: Assemble all ingredients in gallon sized freezer bag. Press out remaining air and seal bag. Freeze flat.

To Cook: Thaw in refrigerator overnight or bang frozen bag hard on countertop to break into pieces that will fit into your crockpot. Cook on low 6-8 hours.

Optional: Add 1 (drained, rinsed) can black beans at cooking time. “Taco” or “Mexican” seasoning may be substituted for Fajita Seasoning.

Serve in a bowl with tortilla chips, sour cream, and shredded cheese for toppings.

Crockin’ Fajitas
§  3 lbs. Chicken, cut into 1 inch or larger pieces
§  1 Small Onion, cut into strips
§  1 Pkg. Fajita Seasoning
§  3 Jalapenos, sliced or chopped, (may be seeded to reduce heat)

To Freeze: Assemble all ingredients in gallon sized freezer bag. Press out remaining air and seal bag. Freeze flat.

To Cook: Thaw in refrigerator overnight or bang frozen bag hard on countertop to break into pieces that will fit into your crockpot. Cook on low 6-8 hours.

Serve in a soft tortilla with sour cream, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, and shredded cheese for toppings. Beans and rice make excellent sides. 

You can find us linked up at:

Identity Crisis

Due to some very personal circumstances, my husband and I discussed the possibility of moving.

Moving out of the box.

Now, I am going to go ahead and say that if we DO move, we’re probably not going anywhere anytime soon, but for the first time, it was on the table as an option.

And I realized that I hold part of my identity in this big box we’ve made a home.

Apart from our first six months in a city apartment, we’ve spent our entire marriage here. All four of my living children were born here at home. I experienced a heart-breaking miscarriage here at home. I mourned the death of my mother and celebrated the growth of my relationship with Christ here in our box. I have made and cultivated some of the best friendships of my life while living here. When we moved, we brought it with us. It was our most natural option.

And admittedly, for awhile, I even cursed this providential shelter. I wanted a home like everyone else had. With a separate bedroom for our children, a closet or two…  and a bathroom.

But now I feel like I can’t even blog about the things I had scheduled to blog about without first pouring out this post. For over a week, I couldn’t really write about homeschool or chicken meals, because what was really on my heart was how this blog even holds the proof of my identity in our home, and I might lose that.

Sure I can start a new blog, and feature the old one linked up or re-posted as just another part of our story.

But it won’t be the same as being the Mom that lives in the box.

So for now, I can blog with a lighter heart. 

We are a family under God first, and circumstances afterward. And our identity needs to be found in Him.

TXWB Getting to Know You 1

Today's post is part of the Texas Women Bloggers Getting to Know You Link Up. Enjoy!

This month’s questions:

1. What part of Texas do you call home?

I live in East Texas where the beautiful Piney Woods begin.

2. How long have you been blogging?

Only a couple of months!

Call me a newbie. A greenhorn. A baby blogger. Because that’s where I am. But you know, even though I am only just getting my feet wet, I love learning and cannot wait to wade deeper and deeper into those waters.

3. Why did you start blogging?

I have been living in an unusual way (in a shipping container home) for awhile now and have always meant to share our story! I contemplated an ebook or something, but realized I didn’t want to just write a how-to on shipping container living and stop there, because my talents and passions go so much deeper than just the house we live in!

Also, I am a stay at home mother with an unending interest in learning and sharing with others. Unfortunately, I also just moved to an area where I know very few people, so the internet/ blogging has helped me reach out to people in a way that allows me to also be there for my children.

4. When we visit your blog, what can we expect to discover?

A little bit of EVERYTHING. J

I DO try to focus on the home/ life hacks we’ve come up with through our lifestyle. Also I think I couldn’t go very long without mentioning children, homeschooling, and FOOD!

5. How did you come up with your Blog Title and what is its meaning?

I think I just wanted to point out how we stand out from the crowd with our title (Shipping Container…), but also to speak volumes about what I consider most important on this earth (…Family)!

6. What do you love about being part of Texas Women Bloggers?

I am very new to Texas Women Bloggers, but already I have seen a sense of community that is both supportive and encouraging. They are lifting each other up instead of being in competition.

7. Who inspires you to blog?

God and my family. I feel like I wouldn’t be at a keyboard if He hadn’t put me here, and my family is so supportive of my new creative outlet!

8. If you could pick a favorite blog post from this past year, what would it be?

You mean the past couple of months, lol? J Surely it was my pegboard idea that started it all. It may not be the most well-written post, or have the best photography, but years from now I hope to look back at THAT post and remember thinking, “I can’t believe I’ve never seen this idea on Pinterest before! And it’s been hiding in MY home the whole time… I HAVE TO share this idea with people!”

http://shippingcontainerfamily.blogspot.com/2013/07/pegboard-in-kitchen.html

Thank you for stopping by. You can find this post linked up here:

The Fast and Easy Way to Cut Coupons

I stumbled upon the FAST way to cut coupons!!!

Perhaps this “hack” has already been discovered and I am way behind the times, but I was cutting out some memory cards for our school day yesterday, when I realized I could use our paper-cutter to cut out my printed coupons as well!

This saved me a LOT of time and headache. I regularly use coupons when I shop (combining them with sales) and cutting each one out was the part I liked the least!

Cut it out!

I have seen paper cutters like mine at schools and libraries. I have a (now retired) public school teacher for a mother in law and she usually had one around her house.

I have also been to garage sales of teachers and former teachers getting rid of their “stash” (homeschool alert!) and seen these big beefy paper cutters for sale.

Scrapbooking supplies stores and craft stores often have similar looking paper cutters and smaller versions that could be used for cutting coupons.

Perhaps on your next trip to the library, they would let you borrow their paper cutter to use.

Just be sure to line up all your coupons perfectly straight! When you print out 2 per page, it often aligns differently than it would at 3 per page! Happy cutting!

You can find this post linked up at:

Oceans and Beaches

I’ve got high hopes for this coming homeschool year. We are ‘gonna be ON. THE. BALL. I’m committed this year to lots of ideas too. Ideas like “staying on schedule” or “returning our library books on time.”

Just kidding. I haven’t even ordered the curriculum yet.

And our self-imposed first week of homeschool year begins Monday. 

Clearly I have procrastinated.

Therefore, I have hurriedly thrown together an emergency mini unit study to hold us over until I win an Ebay auction or bite the bullet and order new curriculum FULL PRICED from the catalog. It’s a beach/ocean theme using links for free printables, materials from the library, and free internet resources.

It can be used for about a week of study, or I supposed it could be stretched on and on with the ocean unit links included.

 Oceans and Beaches

Currently this unit is geared toward my four year old (kindergarten), and six year old (1st grade). Also, the books are really only based on what’s available at my small local library right now –surprisingly, not much. There are SO many other great books on ocean life out there!

I’ve got a few shelves full of random math workbooks, early readers, and living books that we’re also working with that aren’t ocean themed. That’s why this unit is missing a lot of math activities. Google it or get creative to fill in the blanks!

 Why did I choose the ocean? Well we’ll be packing up next weekend for a couple of days on the Texas coast. Complete with aquarium visit.

 Let’s call it a field trip. ;)

Kitchen Personalities

I’ve noticed something over the years of recipe-swapping, tip sharing, secret formula revealing among friends and relatives in the kitchen…

There are two kinds of cooks.

Meet: Mrs. Reliable Recipe

She’s the gal who loves to make the same tried and true recipe fifty times and has gotten the same results 99.9% of that time. She follows each recipe by flattening out the top of every dry teaspoon or cup with a knife and uses the correct size egg called for. She doesn’t attempt to make a recipe unless she has ALL of the required ingredients on hand and if she DOES need to substitute an item she researches an appropriate ingredient and measures this correctly also.

This lady may also be seen scooping tablespoon sized portions of cookie dough onto a baking sheet or measuring out the prescribed cups of diced onion required for a stir fry. She enjoys the science of cooking. She patiently waits for her pan of brownies to cool completely before cutting them into 18 equal squares.

She is happy to recommend a tested recipe to friends. When sharing a recipe, she’ll give you an exact copy of the way she made it. If there are alterations to the recipe those will be written down accordingly.

Now let me introduce you to: Mrs. Flexible Foodie

She loves the flexibility and creativity in the art of cooking and is sometimes frustrated when her meals do not turn out the same way twice. Her measuring cup is often seen heaping in one scoop and lacking in the next. She eyeballs amounts more than really measuring them anyway and is almost never concerned with having all ingredients on hand before trying a recipe. She often copies a dish without actually asking for a recipe and often admires only the photos in magazines and cookbooks.

This woman likes variety and her leftovers often get makeovers before hitting the table again. Her best dishes are impromptu pantry-cleaning-soups or random hit-the-jackpot casserole combinations.

She often shares her favorite recipes orally. Try and pin her down, but it is merely a list of ingredients that were used this time in the dish, and words like “a few,” “some,” or “a handful of” are the measurements. “You can add” and “you could make it with” are also common phrases.

Both cooks can be the best of friends, though recipe sharing and cooking together in the same kitchen can sometimes be frustrating between the two personalities. Sometimes people are a combination of the two, or may switch back and forth depending on the dish.

Both cooks make great meals and both have something they can learn from each other! What kind of kitchen personality do you have?