Crock Pot Shredded Chicken

Y'all.... When I said I was gonna kick The Barnyard Bistro back off in 2018, I had NO idea how much traveling I would be doing this year! I just completed the 18th week on the road promoting "Anyone Else" (my duet with Lance Carpenter). We've been out 4-5 days a week and my weekends are spent taking Hensley to the park and zoo and filling up my mommy soul with my little love. Needless to say there hasn't been much experimental cooking or blogging time lately. For those of you feeling sorry for Hensley and Drew, I do still manage to cook a weeks worth of meals on Sunday before I hit the road every Monday.  This is the only way I can ensure they aren't surviving on oatmeal, scrambled eggs and hot sauce.

Side Bar: Do your husbands prepare food like a broke college kid? Mine does. He eats everything cold, mixed together and mismatched with half a bottle of hot sauce. Thanks to Drew, my 2 year old is obsessed with hot sauce and requires it on almost everything. I do think it's cute that she likes hot sauce. But as someone who enjoys creating a cohesive meal, it pains me to see him eat his cold hibachi/enchilada/lasagna mashups. I can’t be alone....right?

And we’re back:

I almost always make them either a crock pot full of beans or a big batch of  rice, farro or some other grain, a bunch of roasted or sautéed vegetables like Brussels sprouts or broccoli and cauliflower and then a crock pot full of chicken or pork to get them through the week. This recipe for crock-pot chicken is one of my favorites. You can use it for anything. I usually just keep shredded meat in the fridge and we use it for tacos or enchiladas one night, a bbq sandwich the next, on top of a salad or just as a snack. It doesn't hurt that it's impossible to mess up and takes like, negative time to prepare. Oh! And you can freeze part of it and pull it out whenever you need a quick dinner.

Let me know what you think.

10 Chicken Thighs, Boneless & Skinless
1 Jar Fire Roasted Salsa (I like Arriba brand)

1 Lg. Onion, sliced

1 Tbsp Salt

1 Tbsp Paprika

2 tsp Cumin

2 tsp Garlic Powder

1 tsp Chili Powder

1 tsp Black Pepper 

These instructions couldn't be more simple: Throw it all in a Crock Pot, cover and cook on high for 8-10 hours. 

You want it to cook until it starts to burn around the edges and has almost no liquid left. This is when all the flavors really develop. I leave mine overnight (it turns off after 8 hours automatically) and then restart it in the am for an additional 2 hours. I check on it about every 30 minutes those last couple hours to make sure it isn't just dry and burning.  You can pull it at about 5-6 hours and it will shred and be perfectly fine for whatever you choose to use it for. However, the full 10 hours gives it an insanely rich flavor you can only get by cooking all the liquid out and concentrating those flavors. Think of it as a "reduction."

Variations:

This is a dish that you can really make your own. Try salsa verde instead of tomato salsa. You can also use only chicken breast or do half thighs and half breasts-to to make it a bit leaner but the thighs-give it so much more flavor so I highly recommend at least a few thighs in there. 

Soft Pretzel Bites & Beer Cheese

Who doesn’t love a good pretzel? I can’t keep myself from making an Auntie Anne’s stop when I see them pull fresh ones out of the oven. For that reason, I knew these were a must-have for my pot-luck party recipe stash. These are my go-to for football watch parties (Go Steelers and as always...Boomer Sooner) because they are so incredibly simple to make and they are always a crowd favorite. 

Frozen yeast roll dough (y’all know I always like Rhodes brand)

1/4 cup Baking soda 

3qts Water

Egg 

Kosher Salt

Cheese Dip (look for my beer cheese recipe down below)

Allow the dough to thaw until it is soft enough to cut. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cut each ball of dough into four and lay out on a lined baking sheet. Boil water, slowly add baking soda. Drop the pretzels in small batches of 10-15 making sure they aren’t stuck together. Let boil for 20-30 seconds and remove, placing them back on lined baking sheet. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with salt. Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with homemade or store-bought cheese sauce. 

Note- if you are making more than a few batches I recommend having a second pot of water boiling that you can add baking soda to when you are ready to use it. After a few batches the water starts to give a very sour/bitter taste to the pretzels so it should be swapped out. 

Homemade Beer Cheese Sauce: 

1/2 cup Butter

2 Tbsp flour

1 cup beer 

1/3 cup cream cheese

1 cup of shredded cheddar (white or yellow)

Pinch of cayenne, optional

Which beer to use is up to you but I recommend a good flavorful beer, not dark in color- don’t use cheap domestic beer like a bud light, it doesn’t have enough flavor. I use Sam Adams Boston Lager or a light colored German lager. 

Melt the butter in a pan and add the flour. Cook the flour in the butter until it starts to brown. Add the beer (just as you would add milk if you were making gravy) and stir constantly until it starts to thicken. Add the cream cheese, stir until melted and combined. Lastly, slowly add in the cheddar cheese stirring in a figure eight pattern until melted and combined. If you like a little spice you can add in a pinch of cayenne. If you don’t want to use beer you can use milk instead and it will be more of a mac&cheese type of sauce. 

Enjoy! XOXO~

Los Cabos Grub Guide

My family spent the two weeks after Christmas in Cabo, with the exception of a short heartbreaking New Years Day stop in Pasadena but we'll just skip right over that. TAKE ME BACK TO CABO! (As I write this, it's 11 degrees with snow on the ground in Nashville). I have traveled to Cabo several times a year, every year, for 25 years. I get a fairly constant stream of messages from fans and friends finally visiting the Baja for the first time. They always want to know where to eat when they get there. So...I thought I would kick off 2018 with my Los Cabos Grub Guide so you always have it on hand should you or a friend find yourselves headed there. Not everything that happens in Mexico stays in Mexico (See what I did there?) 

La Golondrina: 

This is one of those places our family makes a point to come to EVERY. SINGLE. TRIP. In fact, both my sister and I chose La Golondrina as the location for our wedding rehearsal dinners. It is open air but has great big trees and stringed lighting that creates a great atmosphere. And the food....oh the food! It has something for everyone. In fact the menu is so big they have it written on a wall instead of handing you a menu to read through. The wall usually has an attendant answering questions. I will warn you, it is a crazy amount of food as there is a soup, tostada, and garlic bread that comes before you get the dinner. (I have pics of us here somewhere, I'll add those at some point!)

What To Order:

We love the Dynamite or Diablo Shrimp appetizers,  Whole Red Snapper, the Acapulco Style Fish as well as any of the combo entrees. Great ribs, steak, Mexican entrees, etc. I could go on and on but really you can’t go wrong here. 

DOC Restaurant and Wine Bar:

I am a bit of a food snob when it comes to Italian food. This ranks among my top Italian favorites ever, not just in Mexico. The food is top notch. They make their own pasta which for me is a must. If you haven’t ever had fresh made pasta, find a spot TONIGHT and go. You can’t beat it. 

What To Order: 

Ragú (Bolognese), Ravioli Del Giorno, Red Wine Braised Half Chicken, Burrata Caprese salad

Cabo Wabo: 

Has great food and great nightlife. Our family has spent MANY nights living it up in Sammy Hagar's hot spot. Some we remember and some we don’t! Most nightclub/restaurant combos do one or the other best, Sammy rocks it on both fronts. I’ve never eaten anything there I didn’t like and their house band brings the party after dark. If your lucky you'll catch some of Sammy's buddies up on stage rocking out with the house band

What To Order: 

Any shrimp appetizer or entree. Seriously, pick one they are all great. Enchilada Stack, Stuffed Mushrooms, Vampiros, Steak. 

This is just ONE of the HUNDREDS of nights we've spent in Cabo Wabo. The boys had caught a maco shark out fishing that day and Sammy's guys cooked it up for us.  They could do the same for you if you catch something while out on a deep-sea fishing expedition.

Nik San:

Upscale and on the expensive side but so good. Angel the owner is great at what he does and everything from the hot dishes to the sushi is on point! There are two locations. One in downtown Cabo San Lucas, it's the original. the other is in the "Shoppes At Palmilla" closer to the San Jose side.

What To Order:

Try to Tuna Tostada, the Sashimi Serranito, the Japanese Yellowtail Sashimi, or the Eel Roll. If you like cooked dishes, the Pan-Fried Spicy Fish was out of this world. If they are not busy you may be able to talk them into spinach rolls or tomatillos that have been taken off the menu due to how long they take to make.

Affordable Alternative: Art & Sushi 

The Office:

Eat on the beach with your feet in the sand. Does it get much better than that?! It's owned by the same people as Edith's (another great spot in town). The food is great day or night. It is right in the heart of spring break central so if that isn’t your thing I would avoid it during the day. 

What To Order: 

Lunch: Sea Bass Tacos, Quesadillas, Queso Fundito con Chorizo (melted cheese with sausage), Tuna Tiradito, and more

Dinner: All of the above, or Tampiqueña, Grilled Sea Bass, Lobster. I've never had anything here I didn't like so, again, you can't go wrong.

Italian Job: 

Ok, so to be honest, I've never actually been here. However, I get my love of food and restaurant scouting from my Dad and he says this is his favorite Italian spot in Cabo. I have enough faith in his judgement to add it to this list. it is run by a man from Northern Italy using his family recipes. They make their own pasts, bread, sauces, etc. so that gives them big brownie points from me.

What To Order:

Apparently they have something called the "Ass On Fire" Pizza that is pretty great. Other dishes recommended we're the Caesar Salad, Lasagna, Carbonara, Porterhouse, Eggplant Parmesan appetizer, and more. From what I hear, everything was top notch.

Fat Tuna:

This is a new place in Cabo also owned by Angel from Nik San. The grilled fish dishes were outrageous! 

What To Order: 

Fat Tuna Ceviche, Tuna Carpaccio, both of the TuToaba Fish dishes, the Black Cod Miso, Lasagna, Pizza. 

Tacos Gardenias:

We’ve been going here for 25 years. Simple, cheap, great tacos. Great lunch spot. 

What To Order:

Our group always orders anywhere from 3 to 6 tacos per person. the fish tacos are great, shrimp (camarones), beef with cheese and chicken with cheese are also go-to options. There are other great types of tacos on the menu so don't hesitate to branch out a bit and try something out of the ordinary.

Cabo Surf: 

There is a boutique resort in the corridor called Cabo Surf. They have FABULOUS breakfast. Drew and I make a point to have a breakfast date there almost every time we are in town. It was introduced to us when we were in Cabo planning our wedding. Below is a pic of us that first day...and then a pic of me 8 months pregnant on our "Babymoon" trip before we had Hensley and one of Drew that show the view, which is breathtaking. It's the spot where all the surfers come to catch the waves so you get to check out all the surf action.

What To Order:

the French Toast is to die for! All the other breakfast is great too so if you are going with 4 or more people, let everyone choose what they want for breakfast but make sure to order a French Toast for the table to share. 

La Casa Country:

This is a great spot if you are down near the marina, which is pretty central fo all of downtown Cabo. Quite possibly the best salsa and table-side guacamole I've ever had. It overlooks the marina so-it has a great view of boats coming and going. It is great for lunch or dinner, or you just just grab a beer and some guac or salsa. I believe they even have breakfast on some days as well,  although I've never been there for breakfast. 

What To Order:

Arancita combo, They have a great grilled meat plate that comes out on a giant griddle, The grilled fish-is great. Again, the salsa and table-side guac is a must. If you can handle a little heat, go ahead and let them put everything in the guac.

Other Popular Spots To Check Out:

El Feralon is cliffside and romantic (reservation needed)

Flora Farm is farm-to-table style (reservation needed)

Tropicana is a standard Mexican Restaurant in San Jose 

Mi Casa is a standard Mexican Restaurant in San Lucas

Edith's (reservation needed)

Hacienda Cocina y Cantina (downtown San Lucas)

Doggie Style - my brothers favorite hot dog stand

Common Table 

Grocery Stores: 

There is Wal-Mart, Mega, Costco, etc. for the standard groceries but if you like to cook brands you know or you are an "Organic" only person or you need specialty items you might check out Santa Carmela, it's a small market just outside of downtown in the corridor area that carries mostly American brands. There is also a little more selection at the market located in the "Shoppes At Palmilla." but that a lot closer to San Jose.

Hey There 2018.....You're Pretty

Hey Y'all,

Welcome back to The Barnyard Bistro! I have been away a while trying to perfect my juggling act. It feels like forever since I've posted on here. My last post about food was in preparation for the baby who is now 2. I haven't been just sitting around the house in pajamas though. Occasionally I wore yoga pants. Kidding! I wanted to take some time to enjoy my newborn, so I did. Since then I've been writing and recording and planning and it's all finally coming full circle and is ready to share in 2018. To give you an idea of a few of the other things I've been up to, here are a few of the roles I've been playing the last two years:

New Mom- 

Many of you have met Hensley Jack on my socials and yes, she is just as perfect and full of personality as you think she might be. I'm not partial at all though, Ha! She takes every bit of spare time I have and I love every second of it. I really do hope it's true that you can love your second kid as much as the first...I'm questioning my mom right now and mean-mugging my sister who at this point, I feel like MUST be my mom's REAL favorite. 

Wife- 

I am a handful sometimes, and thank God for letting me hit the husband jackpot. Along with having his own career, he happily drags bags and baby across the country with me to live out my dreams. It's been well over 18 months since we've spent an entire month at home  And....he doesn't mind helping with dishes and laundry. Like I said, JACKPOT. 

Singer/Songwriter- 

2018 is going to be a BIG year for me and my music. In December I released a duet called "Anyone Else" with my buddy Lance Carpenter (he cooks too!), if you haven't heard it, check it out! We have a video releasing soon for the duet and then I have an EP coming out later this year as well with a full album to follow that. I have so many fun things in the works that I WISH I could share with you but stay tuned because this year is going to be epic!

Family Member and Friend - 

As you can imagine with our travel schedule we miss out on a lot of family and friend gatherings. We are so blessed to have such an incredible and supportive group of friends that love us even though we are more often then not, unavailable when they invite us to events. My girlfriends try to to plan going to concerts and on trips a year in advance and I rarely can commit as next week is almost always up in the air. I love them dearly for putting up with me. I have gotten to spend a lot more quality time this last 2 years with them which has been lovely since our prospects for quality time in 2018 is looking bleak.

Clothing Designer - 

You may or may not know but my mom, sister and I started a golf and athleticwear company in 2013 called SwingDish. We have had such a great time creating and traveling and building this brand. We are in several countries and in golf and country clubs across the nation. 

OK, this one is random...Petroleum Landmam - 

As I mentioned above, Drew does have his own career. He co-owns an oil and gas brokerage and investment firm In Oklahoma. As most husbands that start companies do, Drew has managed to talk me into adding yet another career to the already-long list of roles I feel the need to perfect. I'm officially 10 years in. When he needs an extra hand on a project, he likes using my "off-road" time by popping me behind a desk so he can boss me around for a change. Pre-Hensley it wasn't just off-road-time. I put 8-10 hours a day in for him during the entire Shut Up and Hold On Tour that my band and I opened. He is lucky I'm a nerd and love spreadsheets, math and office work! 

That's quite a few hats to wear so I hadn't had near as much time for experimenting with new recipes as I had pre-Hensley Jack. Not getting to cook a hot, fresh, gourmet meal every single night has not left Henny and the hubs without great food, I've just learned to plan ahead and cook a lot of food twice a week instead of every night. I've also gotten better at meal planning so that what I cook fits into other meals I'm making. I can also say I've become somewhat of a Crock Pot master. Don't worry, I'll share many of those recipes here this year too. I'm at a point where I've got my shit together a bit more and Hensley will finally entertain herself long enough for me to snap a few pics and write up a post here and there. Happy 2018! I've missed you guys and cannot wait to share so much this year!

Enjoy! XOXO~

Fresh for 2018!

We're Baaaaack!  Many of you know I've taken some time off to enjoy my sweet baby girl but Mama is back in the kitchen! 2018 is a fresh year so you can expect new recipes, tips, stories, journeys and more!  Follow along on Instagram @TheBarnyardBistro and stay tuned for posts in the New Year.

XOXO

~Krystal

Blueberry Streusel Muffins

You can't beat a blueberry muffin straight from a great bakery with that buttery streusel crumble on top! When I have guests in town, I always like make sure they have a grab-and-go option just in case there isn't time for my home cooked all-american breakfast spread in their schedule! Having a baby on the way doesn't turn off the "hostess" side of me.... so before I head to the hospital, knowing family and friends will be coming in town to meet my new little addition, I decided to plan ahead (see, I'm getting the hang of this scheduling with a new baby thing already!).  I am making my favorite Blueberry Streusel Muffins ahead of time and, get this....FREEZING THEM so that I can pop out a fresh batch of muffins for my guests....with zero effort! Obviously they are perfectly scrumptious fresh out of the oven....but they are equally as good out of the freezer (tested and husband approved!)    

Dry Muffin Ingredients:
5 cups flour
2 Tbsp baking powder
1 Tbsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

Wet Muffin Ingredients:
1 cup room temp butter (2 sticks)
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla paste
2 cups buttermilk (if you don't have buttermilk, regular milk works fine)

3 cups fresh blueberries

Streusel Topping:
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup flour
cinnamon (optional)

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Combine all your dry ingredients and mix well; set aside.  In a separate bowl, cream your sugar and butter together. Mix in one egg at a time until well incorporated. Slowly add in your buttermilk. Add your dry ingredient mixture a little at a time until all ingredients are mixed well. Make sure mixer is on low and add the dry stuff in slowly or you'll have a flour bomb! Using a rubber baking spatula, gently fold in your blueberries - Yes, this is a thick batter which makes the perfect consistency for the muffins!   To make the streusel, simply combine the butter and sugar and mix in flour and cinnamon until crumbly. 

Line your muffin tin OR spray them well with a "baking spray with flour" type cooking spray (CLICK HERE if you have no idea what I mean). Fill your muffin tins about 2/3 of the way up and top with crumbled streusel topping.  Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until a wooden toothpick stuck in the middle comes out clean – makes approximately 30-36 muffins (We like big batches at our house!).  Make sure that your tin gets cooled and cleaned in between batches, or use 3 different tins!

To Freeze:

Allow the muffins to cool COMPLETELY. Place them back into the tin (or in a casserole dish) and freeze them for 2 hours in the freezer. Remove the muffins from the tin and place in one-layer, in gallon-sized Ziploc type bags to store in freezer for up to 3 months. When you are ready eat them, just grab a few out of the bag and pop them in the microwave for 15-30 seconds!! Instant from scratch breakfast any day of the week with no mess!

Pot Roast with Gravy

With fall already here and in my case, a baby around the corner, I’m working on stocking up on some of my favorite easy fall comfort foods to get me through those first few weeks of sleepless nights. Nights are getting chilly and the smell of wood fires are starting to fill the crisp night air. What better way to feed your family, and your soul, than with a perfect pot roast paired with the perfect gravy? This is my go-to easy dish this time of year. It is nearly effortless thanks to the crock pot doing all the hard work and it is absolutely scrumptious!!  It doesn’t hurt that it will freeze and re-heat to perfection as well!

3-4 lb Chuck Roast (I used an arm roast I had on hand this time)
1.5 lb bag baby yellow potatoes
1/2 lb bag baby carrots
1 large white onion
3 Tbsp cornstarch
1 Tbsp dried minced garlic  (or 2 Tbsp of fresh minced)
1 Tbsp paprika
1 Tbsp dried parsley
1 tsp chili powder
4 cups water
3 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp flour
Olive oil
Kosher Salt
Black Pepper

In a dutch oven or skillet, heat a few tablespoons of olive oil. Liberally salt and pepper the entire roast; rub it in good! Place the roast in the skillet and sear both sides. Place the roast in your crock pot, top with all veggies. Mix the 4 cups of water with the cornstarch and seasonings (except the salt and pepper since you already used those on the meat). Cover and turn your crock pot on the “High” setting for 6 hours.  When the roast is done, separate the cooking liquid (about 3 cups) from the roast and veggies and begin the gravy!  Melt the butter in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Whisk in flour a little at a time until incorporated. Allow the butter and flour to cook for a minute or two while you whisk constantly until you see the mixture start to brown a bit. Add in the cooking liquid and some salt (a big pinch) continue to whisk until incorporated. At this point you can go to medium-high heat whisking occasionally until the mixture reduces to about 2 cups. The gravy will thicken as it cools.  Serve this immediately with the pot roast and enjoy!

FREEZING?

If you are freezing your cooked pot roast, you should freeze the roast and veggies with a little of the cooking liquid in one container and freeze the gravy in a separate container.  I like to freeze the pot roast in a disposable foil casserole dish with foil lid so that I can just pop it in the oven at 325 for an 90 minutes to reheat!

Enjoy!  XOXO~

Strawberry Daquiri

I took a recent trip to Cabo with some of my closest gal pals as sort of a last hoorah with the ladies before I become a mommy. You can check out pics from my trip on Instagram. We had all our favorite groceries to cook amazing meals, the girls had all their favorite beer and margarita mixes but we found it incredibly hard to find a mixer for strawberry daquiri's to have on hand at the house when the inevitable craving came on - sans alcohol for me obviously...baby on board and all!  As you can guess...that didn't stop me!  I grabbed some frozen strawberries, my favorite citrus fruits, sprite and simple syrup and we had all we needed to get the lazy-pool-lounging party started! (Clearly I run with a rowdy crowd!)  I started making these when I was a kid, the grown-ups would make margaritas while we were in Mexico, but since I'm not a big lemon-lime fan....I decided I could whip up some virgin daquiri's for me and my sister. I played around until I got just the right combo for the perfect daquiri....little did I know that someday I could add rum and it would REALLY rock my world!  Once the daquiri's started flowing for me and the girls in Cabo....Margarita's were a thing of the past. Let me know what you think!

The Goods:

2 cups frozen strawberries

2 cups of ice

3-4 oz rum

1/4 cup simple syrup

1/2 cup Sprite

1/4 cup orange juice

Juice of 1/2 lemon

Juice of 1/2 lime

Put all ingredients in a good blender and blend until smooth. Makes 2-3 drinks. 

Feel free to make it your own! If you like them super sweet, add more simple syrup. If you like them thinner, add some extra Sprite. Thicker? Add more ice or frozen strawberries. If you don't have simple syrup on hand....make your own with the below recipe:

Simple Syrup:

1 cup white sugar 

1 cup water

Bring to a boil and stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Allow to cool completely before use. This recipe makes a little over a cup of simple syrup.

Bananas Foster Pancakes

This is one of my favorite indulgent breakfasts. It combines one of my favorite breakfast foods, pancakes with one of my all time favorite desserts, Bananas Foster. If you haven't ordered Bananas Foster at a restaurant, go ahead and put it on your foodie bucket list because it is a must! Bananas sauteed in brown sugar, butter and rum. They light the mixture on fire, which is always fun, and serve it over vanilla ice cream. Sounds like the perfect topping for pancakes too, huh? That’s exactly what I thought! 

Make pancakes using my protein pancake recipe found on The Barnyard Bistro for a hearty, healthy pancake or use one of your own favorite pancake recipes. 

For the Bananas Fosters topping:

3 Tbsp butter

2 Tbsp brown sugar 

2 Tbsp maple syrup

2 Tbsp chopped walnuts

1 Large banana, sliced 

Pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg

In a small or medium skillet melt butter, brown sugar and maple syrup over medium heat. Once the brown sugar has fully dissolved add the walnuts and sliced banana. Toss to coat bananas and heat them through. Pour over pancakes and serve immediately.   

Enjoy! Xoxo~

Pork Gyoza with Dipping Sauce

I've missed y'all!  I took somewhat of a hiatus in January but I assure you, good things are coming your way for Febrary......Starting with the pinkest, loviest, heartiest (yes heartiest), most glitter-bombed day of the year, Valentine's Day!

Kick off your special Valentine's meal with something different this year! The hubby and I almost always go Asian for our Valentine's Day dinner and we almost always start our dinner with pork gyoza. This year I want to cook and have a low-key night at home but I thought it would be nice to stick to tradition, even at home. I have asked many questions at our favorite sushi and Asian hotspots to understand what is in gyoza and how they are cooked so that they have a little crispy browning but stay so soft and moist at the same time. Taking all of that information, I played around at home until I came up with my own version of pork gyoza.  The gyoza dumpling was actually the easy part believe it or not. The sauce was the hard part. I had to play around a bit until I got the right combination of flavors but I think I nailed it and it is hubby approved as well. I know it has quite a few steps but it really isn't too time consuming and you get into a quick groove. Start to finish in 25-30 mins once you get the hang of it. I know that y'all are going to love this fun little appetizer.

1 lb lean ground pork
2 1/2 cups Napa cabbage, finely chopped (only use the leafy part)
3 scallions, chopped
1 Tbsp fresh grated ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1 -12oz package of wonton wrappers  (Round shaped ones if you can find them)
2 egg whites
Small bowl of warm water
Additional water for cooking

Dipping Sauce:
2 Tbsp soy
1 Tbsp rice vinegar
1 Tbsp scallions, chopped
3/4 tsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp ginger

Combine the ingredients for the sauce; set aside. In a large mixing bowl combine the pork, cabbage, scallions, and ginger. To really incorporate all the ingredients you've gotta get your hands dirty! If you found the round wonton wrappers, yay for you...you're job is just a little bit easier! If all you could find is the square wonton wrappers, no big deal, just grab a round cookie cutter that is about 3.25 inches in diameter and cut 5 at a time as you begin to construct your gyoza.

With the bowl of warm water on hand, begin to construct:

Here is the overall process but don't worry, I'll break it down step-by-step below.

First, place approximately 1/2 Tablespoon in the center of a wrapper. Then, brush some warm water along the edge of the wrapper and fold the wrapper in half pressing firmly from the center outward to push out air bubbles.

Then Brush some warm water along the outside of the fold and pleat inward from both sides like the photos below.

Repeat until you have contructed them all. To cook them, heat a non-stick skillet (one with a lid) over medium heat. Place 8-10 gyoza in the pan. Once the bottoms have browned a bit, pour approximately 1/3  cup water in the pan and cover. Let cook for 5-8 minutes until cooked through. Repeat with a second batch if desired. Serve with dipping sauce.

Any remaining uncooked gyoza can be stored and frozen to be cooked later.

Place wax paper in the bottom of a freezer-safe dish with a lid. Place gyoza in single layers separated by wax paper. When you are ready to cook them, remove from freezer and thaw them out before cooking.  This recipe makes approximately 60 gyoza dumplings.

~XOXO Enjoy! 

Baked Spaghetti Squash - A GAC Exclusive

Happy New Year!! I hope that y’all had a cozy and festive Christmas and kicked off 2015 in style. I enjoyed some much-needed downtime at the beach with the family, but I’m glad to be back to making music and sharing dishes with you. I’m not usually a fan of New Year’s resolutions, but this year mine was to challenge myself in the kitchen, to introduce new ingredients and make delicious healthy swaps, and just try new things.

So, I’m starting the new year with spaghetti squash, one of my favorite underused vegetables. Ditch the regular pasta for this healthy substitute and you won’t be sorry. Once cooked, this squash turns into strings of “spaghetti,” which you can toss with your favorite pasta dish ingredients, and Voilà!  This is a low-carb lover’s best friend, but if you aren’t dieting or watching what you eat, you’ll still love it…. Yes! It is THAT good.

Click the GAC Logo below to check out the recipe for this dish and many more on my "Krystal Keith in the Kitchen" blog series:

My "Mr. Claus" Wish List

1. Oakley King's Camo Sunglasses ~ Oakley.com ~ $155-$280 ~ Free 2-Day Shipping and Returns

2. 94Fifty Smart Sensor Basketball ~ 94Fifty.com ~ $174.95 ~ Price includes $75 OFF Sale

3. Portable Folding Hammock ~ SportsmansGuide.com ~ $49.99 ~ Free Shipping Code: SH1803

4. Apple TV ~ Walmart.com ~ $89 ~ Free Shipping

5. Ruger 10/22 Takedown with Backpack ~ Bass Pro Shops ~$349 ~Free Shipping

6. Craft A Brew At Home Beer Brewing Kit ~ CraftABrew.Com ~ $75

7. Screw Driver Key Chain Set ~ CountyComm ~ $5.95

8. ReadyCase Multi-function IPhone Case ~ Ready Case ~ $44.95 ~ 20% OFF Code READY20


1. My hubby loved these new King's Camo collection glasses from Oakley. He says that the color of the lens combined with the polarization makes the perfect combo to see anything! He couldn't wait for Christmas and had to get a pair about a month ago and hasn't stopped raving about them. He was recently checking out one of our ponds with a group of guys and as he pointed out a fish to the other guys, he quickly realized that he was the only one that could see the fish and it was all thanks to his sunglasses. He passed his specs around to the boys (mostly to prove he wasn't halucinating) and one by one they oooh'd and ahhh'd over the visibility these babies offered.

2. For the man that can't stay off the court and loves calling the guys over for a few games of B-Ball, this is a really cool gift. Named on Time Magazines "Top 25 Inventions of the Year" this bad boy is like a fit-bit, for your ball. The "smart sensor" in the ball tracks shot accuracy, arc, spin, etc. All the info is synced to your Apple or Android phone and the app even provides workouts and score tracking for up to 5 players. If the man (or boy) in your life is always wanting to get better at the sport he loves, this is a fantastic gift for him!

3. Being outside in the woods camping, RV'ing, hunting, fishing or napping is where my husbands "happy place" is. This portable, foldable hammock by Guide Gear is perfect for his little get-aways. It folds into a bag that he can carry on his shoulder, similar to that of a folding campers chair. This bad boy holds up to 225 lbs and is 8 ft long. Now he'll be out lounging in the woods more than ever. Let's take a minute to thank the good Lord that Oklahoma doesn't have trouble with lions and tigers and bears (oh my!)

4. Let me just say that Apple TV is one of my favorite things ever. This is one of those gifts that pulls double-duty as a gift for yourself. Hook it up to your TV with an HDMI cable, log in to your home's wifi and you're ready to rock. You can play your ITunes music through it, buy and rent movies on Itunes, use Netflix or Hulu Plus, run a slide show of your pictures on the TV and a multitude of other things. All of this is great but my favorite feature is that you can get the "Remote" app on your Iphone or Ipad and run it from those devices. For me and my hubby, this is a lifesaver as our remotes like to play hide and seek more often than I'd like to admit!

5. This is most certainly a "splurge" item but when my hubby first saw this little rifle, he was so excited to try it out. It is a little quick assembly .22 rifle that breaks down and fits into a back pack (that is included in the purchase). It is perfect for when he is roaming our family hunting ranch and comes across a squirrel (aka lunch) or just wants to play around shooting targets and cans. Most of the men I know started out shooting a .22 rifle and still love to fire them off for recreation from time to time.

6. My husband is a bit of a beer connoisseur, in fact, most of the men I know are. I know that mine would be tickled pink, ok maybe not pink but at the very least tickled blue, to get a kit like this "Craft-A-Brew" kit that would give him all he needs to brew his own beer. Once he got the hang of it with the kit he could buy the ingredients to try different recipes for small batch creations. There is a local store that sells all the ingredients and offers classes that would be a great extra with this gift too!

7. This seemed like a great little inexpensive gadget that would be perfect as a stocking stuffer! My husband is always looking for a screwdriver when he is in "Mr. Fix It" mode and can never seem to find the one he needs. When he needs a phillips-head all he can find is a flat-head and vice versa. This little keychain puts both a phillips and a flat-head right on his key ring so that it's there whenever he needs it! Now we just gotta make sure that he can keep track of his keys...

8. I got really excited about this multi-function phone case. It is like a Swiss Army Knife on the back of your phone. It comes with a USB stick that doubles as a kickstand in portrait or landscape position, 3 camera lenses, the fish-eye, macro and wide shot, a multi-tool that can be used as a flat-head screwdriver, serrated or standard knife and a bottle opener, and finally, it has a built in clip for your headphones so that you can wrap them around the phone when they aren't in use and they'll stay put. This case comes in at just 3mm and is a bargain for the asking price. I was also pumped that this was an idea that was crowd-funded on IndieGoGo.com because the idea of crowd-funding is quickly becoming a favorite passtime of mine. 

My 2014 Christmas Wish List

1.  Dogeared Necklaces ~ Dogeared.com ~ $26-$78

2. Canvas Totes ~ Etsy Store Ex Libris Journals ~ $15-$20 ~ 20% OFF Coupon Code: HOLIDAY20

3. Benefit's They're Real Mascara ~ Ulta.com ~ $23 ~ $3.50 OFF Coupon Code: 206710

4. Fit Bit Zip or Fit Bit Flex Wristband Activity Trackers ~ Best Buy ~ $54 & $94

5. Naked 2 Basics Shadow Palette ~ Ulta.com ~ $29 ~ $3.50 OFF Coupon Code: 206710

6. Mighty Purse ~ Handbag Butler ~ $99-$159

7. Define Bottle Lite ~ DefineBottle.com ~ $17 ~ 10% OFF Coupon Code: myhealthydish

8. Knot + Bow Designs Jewelry ~ KnotAndBowDesigns.com ~ $20-$120


1. I love these Dogeared necklaces! They are the perfect gift to express an emotion, a personality trait or a dream with their "I Am Strong", "Bestfriend", and  "One In A Million". They also capture life's best little moment's with their "Bride" and "100 Good Wishes" Collections.

2. You can never have too many canvas totes! These cute little expression totes are perfect for a trip to the grocery store or the farmers market, a picnic in the park or a day at the beach. These are cute, inexpensive gifts that every girl loves to get and will be used over and over again for all sorts of little trips and adventures.

3. Forget Visa, I never leave home without this mascara! I literally have one in my purse, one in my car, 2 or 3 in my bathroom vanity. I have never recommended a product more highly than I recommend this mascara! It doesn't clump, it's thin enough that it goes on and lengthens for a natural look but builds into long, thick, red carpet lashes.

4.  The most festive time of the year is always followed by renewed faith in the good things that are to come in the new year. For many women, that faith includes a resolution to hit the gym more, be more active, or eat right. The fit bit is an excellent way to be accountable. You can invite and join other friends to keep each other on track. You can challenge a spouse, friend or family member to see who has the most activity by the end of each week and see the progress each of you are making. A husband could join in on the fun by springing for the 2-pack they offer so that he can track his own progress. Think, winner gets to pick the date-night movie or receives a healthy breakfast in bed.

5. As a licensed Cosmetologist, I'm picky when it comes to my hair and make-up products. This is the perfect eye-shadow palette for almost all women day to night and coming from me, that says a lot. It has a good spectrum of neutrals and is petite in size so it is easy to throw in a purse and doesn't take up much space when packing for a short trip. I even use it for highlighting and contouring when I'm in a pinch. All of Urban Decay's Naked palettes are pretty amazing and I highly recommend them all but this if I could only choose one, I'd take this one because of it's size and versatility.

6. I was browsing through one of my favorite Nashville boutiques when I came across these precious little wristlet purses. When I found out that they also pull double-duty as a phone charger I almost did a back-flip (but I didn't....mostly because I haven't been able to do or attempted a back flip since I was 8). I am forever charging my phone. Like most of us, I can't live without my smart phone because it is my portable office and has all of my photos, emails and for all I know, inner-most thoughts on it. I have been through at least 10 battery phone cases. Each one used until I inevitably drop and shatter it. I also rarely carry a large purse for quick errands, I opt for a small wallet or wristlet and this one is perfect. My phone can charge while it is sitting in my purse, as I run around living life!

7. For the healthy water-drinker in your life, what better gift than a water bottle that encourages fruit infusion, and filters out the bits of pulp for you? I was super excited when I saw the Define Bottles. They come in all different styles and sizes but my favorite is the Lite. It is perfect sized and has a filter screen built right into the cap.

8. I stumbled across Knot + Bow a few months ago when I was shopping for a few necklaces and fell in love with their stuff. I couldn't stop adding pieces to my cart and before I knew it....I was justifying the need for all of the extra bracelets, earrings and rings I threw in. Each of their collections offered on the site right now are perfectly on trend. I am seeing arrowheads and crystals left and right in all my favorite stores. I love the earthy, hippie feel of some of their pieces but the versatility to wear them with anything. They are also super affordable for the quality of pieces you're getting.

Homemade Green Bean Casserole - A GAC Exclusive

We all know that Green Bean Casserole is a classic dish for a Thanksgiving feast. Our mothers and grandmothers have been making it from the back of a Campbell’s Soup can for years and years. It is one of the dishes I most look forward to because it brings back so many sweet memories.

Being someone who loves to cook, I hate pouring things out of cans that I can just as easily make myself, so I like to take those old-school favorites and put a little homemade spin on them. In this recipe, I make my own cream of chicken instead of using the canned version. Everything is better homemade, and you can taste the difference.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving and we all take a minute to make a mental note of all that we are thankful for this year. Enjoy!

Click the GAC Logo below to check out the recipe for this dish and many more on my "Krystal Keith in the Kitchen" blog series:

Grannie's Thanksgiving Stuffing

I have missed you guys so much!!! This year, being the opening act for the Shut Up and Hold On tour took me all across the country but it didn't take me into many kitchens.... Although, I have been having a blast. If you follow me on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, you have seen my travels and adventures! I've had very little time at home between the shows, recording new music in the studio and the BMI and CMA award shows, life has been amazingly busy.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I wanted to bring back one of my all-time favorite traditions to share with you. My Grannie's Thanksgiving stuffing is the absolute best. Tons of sage and veggies mixed with buttery cornbread and baked to a perfectly moist stuffing with crisp edges. Each year, it is the one dish that my sister and I enjoy making with my Grannie, which always brings back years and years of memories.

I don't know how your big feast works but our Thanksgiving feast is LARGE MARGE style. We gather 20-30 people and there is more food than we could, or should be able to eat in a week, although somehow we always manage to polish it all off.  Aside from my Grannie's famous stuffing, some of the other staples we have are my dad's turkey from our family's company Dream Walkin' Farms Premium Meats which never fails to rock our world, mom makes mashed potatoes, Grannie makes giblet gravy, my sister and I make roasted brussel sprouts and all the other family members bring the dish they are most famous for! We get fat, happy, watch football and play Moon (a domino game I've been playing my entire life). I would love to hear what your must-have staples are, leave me a comment at the bottom of this post!

2- 9x13" pans of Shawnee's Best or Aunt Jamima White Cornbread mix, prepared as directed
3 large white onions, chopped
2 clusters celery chopped
1 whole bottle rubbed sage
1 Tbsp oil
1/4 cup cold water
1/2 tsp salt
4 sleeves saltine crackers
5 cups Turkey Broth (from cooked turkey or store-bought chicken broth works too)
salt and pepper

Sauté oil, water, onion, celery and salt. Cover and cook on low until tender but not mushy. Strain turkey broth (to keep bones out of stuffing). Crumble both crackers and cornbread and combine in a large pan. Add turkey broth, onion mixture and 1/2 bottle sage. Use potato masher and mash as if you were making mashed potatoes. If needed, add more chicken or turkey broth to get the consistency you need. Add the other 1/2 bottle of sage and salt and pepper to taste. Be aware that the crackers are salted so make sure you taste it as you add it so not to over-salt. Pour mixture into 9x13 pans (should make 3 pans) Bake at 425 for 1 hour. After 30 minutes rotate pans in the oven (move top rack pans to bottom rack and bottom rack pans to the top rack), continue the remaining 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let the feast begin!

Have a Happy Turkey Day! Gobble Gobble! 

XOXO Enjoy~

Peanut Butter and Candy Pie- A Guest Post from Simply Southern Mom

There’s something about peanut butter that reminds me of the holidays. Maybe it is the peanut butter cookies my mom and I used to make to leave for Santa, or my fondness for chocolate dipped peanut butter balls I devour at holiday parties. Whatever it is, I knew when I grew up I add to add something peanut butter flavored to my holiday menu.  I found a peanut butter pie everyone loved, but it was so time consuming. Who has time for that during the holidays?  I discovered this recipe a few years ago and quickly converted over. It comes together in minutes and has a surprise ingredient of candy bars. What’s not to love? I add a few extras on top to make people think I fussed.  No one has to know how quickly it comes together.

Here’s what you need to make it:

Before you start it is important to make sure the cream cheese and whipped topping is softened. I usually place the cream cheese in the microwave for 20 seconds or so and allow the whipped topping to sit in the fridge overnight. 

Mix the powdered sugar, cream cheese and peanut butter together until creamy. This pie has a mild peanut flavor.  If you like a stronger peanut butter flavor, adjust the amount by adding another ½ cup. 

Fold the peanut butter mixture into the whipped topping and stir until completely blended.  Gently stir in the candy bar chunks. Spoon the pie into a prepared graham cracker crust.

Now comes the hardest part! The pie has to freeze at least two hours. Sometimes I leave it in overnight.  To serve the pie, I add a drizzle of chocolate fudge topping and sprinkle with extra candy bars. 

Ingredients:
1 graham cracker pie crust
1 ( 8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (8 ounce) container whipped topping, softened
10 fun sized candy bars (I used Snickers), chopped
½ cup peanut butter
½ cup powdered sugar

Optional ingredients for garnish:
Hot Fudge Ice Cream Topping
5 fun sized candy bars, chopped

 For more great recipes check out Simply Southern Mom's blog!