I don’t know how else to say this: my dogs get depressed around dinner time.  Not that I feed them disgusting food, but I think maybe it’s more about longing.  They long to have thumbs to open their own food bins and eat to their heart’s content.

I often catch my chihuahua, staring out the window forlornly around 4:00pm.  I can’t help but think to myself, Pocket, when did you get a watch?  He knows we’re close to dinner time, and he just can’t stand waiting.  Reno is less dramatic, but still has mastered the art of gazing deep into the void as he waits for noms.

Now that I own a slow cooker, I think I understand.  Slow cooking is a double edged sword for me. There is of course the perk of not turning on my oven, or better yet, not standing in front of it for prolonged periods of time in a kitchen who’s ventilation is not quite up to snuff.  Also, how great is it to sometimes just throw all your ingredients into one pan, set it, and forget it (thanks for the catch phrase RonCo)?! What could be better than coming home after a long day to a house that smells of a wonderful dinner? On the flip side, now that I’m at home most of the day, all those lovely dinners that take hours and hours to prepare leave smells wafting through the house for hours and hours.  Anticipation can leave even the strongest people with longing, and after being home all day while this was cooking, I too understand dinner time longing.

I am a little bummed out because the website I originally got this from is no longer available to the public.  I would like to give credit where credit is due, but I can’t link you to a site you won’t be able to access – that would just be frustrating.  You’ll just have to know I tried to do the right thing.

Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

3 lbs frozen chicken breasts (yes straight from your freezer)
1 bottle of Frank’s Hot Sauce
1 packet of Ranch Dip Mix
Additional ingredients for later: buns, cheese – I like cheddar but maybe a little blue cheese is more your thing, more ranch dressing?

This really is the definition of a simple recipe: Put the chicken in the crockpot. Cover with hot sauce. Sprinkle Ranch dip mix over chicken.  Put your slow cooker on low and leave it alone for 6-7 hours.  Once it’s all done cooking, shred your chicken and put it back in the sauce.  My husband has requested that I reduce the sauce down, which really isn’t a bad idea because it is a little wet otherwise.  Good idea, but not necessary.  You can enjoy right after shredding if you want.

Feeling extra fancy? Toast your buns.  You’ll thank me later.

I personally enjoy mine with a slice of sharp cheddar and a little bit of ranch dressing.  

But for now, go make something delicious!