The Caitlin Moss Blog

(This will become 20 meals. I forgot to take an after picture. I was too excited to be on top of things after a fun girls weekend.) This was way more manageable than my last round of 38 meals, let me tell you! I even did it with kids home and awake while the husband was at work. Success! For this round, I made 20 total meals, 2 of each menu item. For other crock potting extravaganzas, use the blogger search bar in the upper left hand corner of the screen and search for "crock pot." Menu | 2 Chicken Pot Pies 2 California Burritos 2 Sweet & Spicy Meatballs 2 Spaghetti Sauce 2 Tennessee Smokehouse Pulled Pork 2 Beef Stew 2 Chicken Enchiladas 2 Mango Salsa Chicken 2 Bacon Potato Soup 2 Italian Sausage and Peppers Grocery List | Meat: 2 bags of frozen chicken breasts 4 lbs. of beef chunks 2 lbs. ground Italian sausage 2 lbs. ground beef 2 pork loins (3-4 lbs. each depending on the size of your family) 2 packages of bacon 2 packages of Italian sau...

For the past four month I've been working through the Old Testament. The Old Testament is tough. So tough that I'm finding my head hurts and I just feel spiritually drained after my days reading. The Old Testament is dense, strict, and rich in the history of the world. And to be honest, it is a lot of information to absorb. (I know, I know. That's why they say you shouldn't read through the Bible too fast.) I am not an expert on the stories of the Kings, the prophets, the Judges, the priests, or anyone in these books. I have so much more to learn and study, I know. But here's what I do know. No one is perfect in the Old Testament. Not even close. The great stories we read about Moses, Noah, King David or King Solomon are simply portions of a life. Sometimes the ones we hear about most often omit the struggle, the disgust and the humanness in each person. We forget that even though David was a brave soldier with enough faith to defeat his giant and save Israel (1 ...

I've cracked the code, y'all. I have seen so many recipes for Pad Thai (thank you, Pinterest. But sometimes you are a liar.) and I've even bought the already bottled sauces and kits and NOTHING tastes even remotely like Pad Thai. Until now... And I really must give credit where it is due. Jen Hatmaker is a Christian author that I happen to like and it just so happens she loves food (probably more than me). I've tried a few recipes of hers that she swears by so I knew I could trust her. When she posted a Pad Thai recipe on Facebook I had to try it. The most important thing you'll get from this is the SAUCE - the part that is never right. There are a few ingredients she uses in the sauce that are only found at specialty food stores. I don't even know where an Asian one is around here, nor do I have the time/energy to burn going to another store so I Googled some easy substitutions and it totally worked! Jen's Sauce: 2 T Fish Sauce 3 T Palm Sugar ...

This project was a long time coming. When we first moved into our house 3 years ago I was so excited to paint this wall a dark chocolate brown and have it be somewhat of a feature in the room. So we painted it and we loved it but I could not figure out how to decorate it. I seriously disliked everything I put on this wall. It always looked great in my head and then, when executed, it looked like crap (for lack of a better term). After finally watching enough home renovation shows and pinning enough DIY projects on Pinterest, I had a better idea of what I could do with this wall so that I would love it. [PS - when it comes to DIY artwork, keep it as simple as you possibly can. Unless you are an artist, then go crazy. But for the somewhat-crafty like myself, simple is better.] This was my end result.  [We'll be painting the other walls in the house a greige-tope color and I'm debating whether or not to keep the brown. We shall see. I'm also planning on having D...

Meet Rubble. A little over a month ago, we got a puppy. It was kind of a stupid idea, really. Sure I love dogs. My husband loves dogs. My kids love dogs. My husband even promised me he’d be really disciplined with training him. And he is, when he’s home. That’s the funny thing about staying home with your husband’s pride and joy – the training, the poop on my new floors , the pee on the carpet, the jumping on the kids, the eating of the children’s toys – that all falls on me. Joy. Pure joy. The first week we had him, he was new and cute and loveable. The second week I’d lost my stamina and wanted to burst into tears at any given moment. I became stressed. Tense. Annoyed. I started yelling. Why did we get a dog? Why did we get a puppy? When you have two young children, that just doesn’t seem logical. I clean up enough poop, pee, and break up enough fights throughout the day, thankyouverymuch. [As I write this I’m ignoring the fight over a lego. Really. Because there aren’t e...

Okay, I went a little bananas this round of cooking. My husband said to me, "How do you come up with the weirdest numbers? Like why don't you just do 20 or 30?" The truth is, I don't say I'm going to do x amount of meals. My process is simply writing down meals I want to do. Then when the list is done, I go through and count, multiply it by two (because I usually make two of everything). This time I made 38 meals. 28 crock pot. 10 freezer. I shopped and Winco and spent $295 . That comes out to about $7.75 per meal including tax. (PS - I haven't been paying attention to my blog this summer. So, I apologize to those of you leaving comments that got responses weeks and months late.) As a fair [and obvious] warning, this is a lot of food. Like, so much I thought my cart was going to break as I wheeled through the aisles. I even hesitated at check out about a few meals. But, I was committed. I pulled through. And I was rolling deep on the way home. :) Here...

I have a confession. Last fall Darren and I talked about leaving our church. A few things made us feel like that might be a possibility - we didn't like the series we were on, I didn't really care for the study I was doing in my small group, the friends we hang out with often go to different churches, our friends are pastors at other churches, etc. There wasn't anything big or crazy that happened, there was just something pulling at my heart saying maybe this isn't where we need to be. So we prayed about it. Quietly. But dog-gonnit, I prayed every day Jesus would make it clear to me. And He did. Hear my prayer, LORD, listen to my cry for help. Psalm 39:12 Sometime in October or November, our pastor called me to ask Darren and I to lead a young couples social group for the church. Say whaaaat? He picked us? Out of the whole church. Are you sure? No, we weren't the only couple on the list but we were on it. He wanted us to lead. Jesus was calling us to lead. May...

As much as I loved my last round of grill-ready meals, I really missed my crock pot. So for this round most of the meals are cooked in the crock pot (a few can cook in the crock pot or grill) and all are great summer meal options. I did 28 meals for $180 ($6.40/meal). So here it goes.... MENU | 2 BBQ Ribs Two Ways 2 BBQ Meatballs 2 Chili 2 Chicken Taco Soup 2 Pulled Pork 2 Tavern Style Pork Loin 2 Ranch Pork Chops & Potatoes 2 Cilantro Lime Chicken 2 Italian Sausage & Peppers 2 Zesty Herb Chicken & Peppers 2 Smoked Sausage, Sweet Onion & Pepper Kabobs 2 Mango Salsa Chicken 2 Roast Beef Au Jus 2 Creamy Tortellini Soup GROCERY LIST | Seasoning and Sauces: 2 Alfredo Sauce Packets 2 Roast Beef Au Jus Seasoning Packets 2 Zesty Herb Seasoning Packets 1 Slower Cooker Tavern Style Roast Marinade 2 Ranch Seasoning Packets 2 taco seasoning 5 bottles BBQ sauce 2 chili seasoning 1 smoked applewood seasoning packet Produce: 2 packages of sliced mu...

Everyone knows I love my crock pot. I mean, do I really have to say it anymore? But I also love my grill. Especially during the Spring and Summer months. I like to take full advantage of grilling. It's so easy to make healthy meals with the grill and clean up is always pretty easy too - my kind of cooking! So for this round of freezer cooking I made 24 grill-ready (that could also be put in the crock pot or oven) and summer favorites for $140. All of these meals with exception of the beer chicken are also GLUTEN-FREE . One of the great things about freezing grilling meat with the seasoning (besides that it's easy) is that as the meat defrosts, the meat marinates and soaks up all the flavors. The entire process took me 3 hours (and both my children were here and awake without my husband home to help entertain). Success! Menu | 2 Cilantro Lime Chicken 2 Smokey Mesquite Chicken 2 Baja Citrus Chicken 2 Ranch Pork Chops 2 Italian Sausage & Peppers 2 Beef & Vegg...

I've seen many different versions of these on Pinterest and wanted to share the version I made that were SO yummy. A great healthy treat that tastes like cookie dough. Everyone will love these - kids included. In a bowl, mix: 1 cup oats 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/3 cup honey 1 scoop vanilla protein powder 1 handful dark chocolate chips. 1/3 cup flax seed Once everything is mixed, roll into balls and keep in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

Ok. Recipe break. Let me just take a moment to give an update on these cute faces shown above. After all, that is the reason I started this blog way back when. I must say we are in a smooth sailing zone with these two. Sure, I have some bad days. Some moments are still r-r-rough! But, this is it. This is the stage of life where Isaiah and Maci become friends, they play together by themselves more often than me having to separately entertain them. They are my buddies, my comrades, my PICs. Yes, they still try to swallow me whole but for the most part I find these pockets of time in the day where I can, dare I say, go pee all by myself. Awesome. Maci is feisty. She is hilarious. She is dramatic. 100% girl. Our hands are full with this one but she oh so sweet and snuggly and loving and smart. She puts herself in time out when she needs to, she loves helping me do my makeup, she loves taking care of her babies and jumping on the trampoline. She loves to blow bubbles and hunt in the dirt ...

Whether you’re a working or SAHM mom, dinner time can be a struggle. After a day filled with the busyness of life, getting a hardy and healthy meal on the table for pallets young and old can be challenging. Thankfully, there is always spaghetti. Everyone knows how to make spaghetti. It’s the ultimate easy, cheap comfort food. And I must say my spaghetti sauce has turned into something pretty spectacular. And, of course, it’s super simple and made in the crock pot – something I use more often than my black, stretchy pants. Here is a simple and healthy gluten-free meal the whole family will love that begins and ends with a crock pot. Spaghetti Sauce: 2 cans tomato sauce 1 can diced tomatoes, drained 1 can tomato paste 1 lb. cooked ground Italian sausage (I use mild but sweet or spicey works depending on your preference) 1 lb. cooked ground beef (or another pound of Italian sausage) **be sure to drain the excess oil from the cooked meat 1 tsp. Basil 1 tsp. Oregano 2 cloves o...

Rain, rain. Go away. I'm someone who just so happens to love the rain. The sound. The smell. The fact that I don't have to remember to water my flowers. Rain, in my mind, is great. But I do understand that rain...constant rain...can be a problem when you have kids. Not only is going outside an important part of development but getting out of the house provides a level of stimulation that tires my kids out enough to have a quiet afternoon, which something (as I'm sure you can relate) I need . Here in Washington, we get plenty of rain. Especially during January - April. These are honestly tough months (and this is coming from someone who prefers living in Washington over Southern California). But if there's one thing I've learned as a mom, it's how to improvise. I've used Pinterest to get some great rainy day indoor activities (many of which are fabulous) but sometimes (or most of the time) I just need to get out of the house before I lose my ever-loving m...

Of all the meals I did for the round of 30 gluten-free meals , this one I was the most nervous about. Mostly because I had never made it before and also because my husband isn't a big fan of quinoa. (I know, I know. Shame on him.) Anyway, when I tried it out this last week, we were all pleasantly surprised and satisfied. Whether you observe meatless Fridays during Lent, are a vegetarian or simply are looking for a meatless, protein-packed meal, this dish is just the ticket. Simple. Tasty. And made in the crock pot. INGREDIENTS: 2 cans tomato sauce 1 can diced tomatoes 1 can corn 1 can kidney beans 1 can black beans 1 Tbsp. brown sugar 1 tsp. Chile powder 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes Approx. .75 lbs. uncooked and RINSED quinoa (this was actually WAY too much quinoa. I forget how much quinoa doubles...er, quadruples in size when cooked. 1/4 lb. when have worked fine!) **Be sure to rinse the quinoa well! If you don't, I hope you enjoy eating sand. Also, rinse your be...

Our family loves pizza. Who doesn't though? More than anything, we love making pizza dough from scratch. Anytime I can get my littles in the kitchen with me is a blessing. They love it and I love it. This recipe is easy enough to where their little hands can easily help. I've compared my pizza dough recipe to a few of my friends and they're all basically the same. Here's mine: 1 cup warm water 1 packet active dry yeast 1 tsp sugar 2 1/2 cups flour 1 tsp salt 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil 1. Mix the dry yeast and sugar in the cup of warm water. Place aside. 2. Mix the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. 3. Add the water/yeast/sugar mixer to the bowl along with the olive oil. 4. Mix until it becomes evenly doughy. (I use my hands) Place a damp towel over the top of the bowl and let it rise for 30 minutes (or more). Roll out on a pizza tray. Now for the good stuff... 1. Spread barbeque sauce of your choice evenly over the dough. I usually use 1/4 - 1/2 cup. 2....

This recipe is one of my absolute favorite side dishes to make. It requires minimal prep effort and time, is extremely versatile, can feed a crowd, and tastes great (even to tiny pallets). I started making this with only red potatoes, then I switched to sweet potatoes, then I started adding veggies, and now I make it with all kinds of potatoes and whatever vegetables I have on hand. RECIPE: 4-6 red potatoes, washed and cubed 2 sweet potatoes, washed, peeled and cubed 2 cups broccoli florets (I used frozen but raw works great too) 1 zucchini, sliced 3 Tbsp. Olive Oil (approximately) 2 tsp. sage 3 cloves of garlic minced Set the oven to 400 degrees. On a baking sheet, hand toss the potatoes and vegetables in the olive oil until everything is evenly coated. Sprinkle the sage and garlic and toss again. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes. This was the version I made this week. I love this recipe because it doesn't matter if you don't have an ingredient. You can use wh...

This recipe is from the 30 gluten free meals I did last week and it is so good. And way too easy to be this good. RECIPE: 1 pork loin (mine was approx. 2 lbs.) Rub the loin with 1 Tbsp. Brown Sugar and 1 Tbsp. of Smokey Mesquite BBQ seasoning *Optionl - add a few red pepper flakes if you like it spicey Wrap the seasoned loin with half a package of bacon (or more if you need or wish) Add half a cup of chicken stock or broth to the crock pot for cooking Cook in the crock pot on low for 8 hours. It's the perfect combination of sweet, savory and incredibly juicy. The meat literally falls apart, as does the bacon. The leftovers are great for sandwiches...if you have any. Enjoy!

My birthday was a few weeks ago. Upon its approach, my husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday. Being that I've become very comfortable in my ordinary and budgeted life, I said, "I don't know. Nothing really. Maybe some more yoga or stretchy pants." He simply said, "No." "Why not? I use them more than anything," I said. He laughed and took me into my closet where he showed me my stack of black stretchy/yoga pants. "Because you don't need anymore." This was the pile he was referring to: He caught me...black panted. (ha ha!) And do you want to hear a confession? I have more black yoga, stretchy, work out pants than you see here in this pile. I have loose fitting ones, tight ones, running ones, and bleach-stained ones. I love them. I'm convinced they make me a better mom. I where them all. the. time. And I don't feel bad about it. There's a wave of intense pressure (mostly by the media and things like Pinterest) t...