Directive Blogs

There is a first time for everything. And there is no other feeling that can top the very first time you tried something. It is a lasting impression that is hard to compare. So, when we ask you when was the first time you…

Potluck, dish-to-pass or wherever, you have NEVER had Swedish Meatballs like we had. The pans were licked clean at today’s Crock-Pot Thursday. No left-overs to be had and conversation was destitute for the duration of lunch. Our team just couldn’t get enough of the meatballs and egg noodles smothered in a rich creamy gravy sa...you know what?...you need to try the recipe for yourself (trust us, you will NOT be sharing)!

On a day where everybody is Irish, of course we are going to have corned beef, cabbage and potatoes. However, this braised brisket recipe is sure to make you green with envy! Our dessert was mint chocolate chip cookies that were as green as the Emerald Isle! A feast this plentiful, was sure to have made St. Patrick proud. Sláinte, in other words "Cheers!”

Try your luck with the recipes below!

Do you ever decide what to cook based on how many dishes you will dirty in the process?...Well here is your new favorite meal. It not only tastes great, but you only need to dirty one pan, or in Directive’s case, 4 pans! We could not get enough of today’s Crock-Pot Thursday meal, Pepper Jack Chicken and Stuffing.

To try it out yourself with the recipe below!

It is hard enough to put your deepest personal thoughts to paper, but it’s damn near impossible when there is chicken-pasta with spinach and bacon sizzling in the background. Sean found just how hard it was to write from the heart when his stomach was making googly eyes at the creamy tomato sauce. It is certain that our crew fell head over heels for today’s Crock-Pot Thursday meal.

Eat your heart out with the video and delicious date-night recipe below!

The Directive team definitely had fun with today’s Crock-Pot Thursday dessert; Cinnamon Blondie Brownies. They added just the right amount of spice to take our minds off this week’s snowy forecast.

Check out the easy recipe below! 

...you make Lemon Pepper Chicken of course! We all got to enjoy a delicious new chicken recipe today as well as soft lemon cookies for dessert to top-off our lemon-themed meal. When life gives Directive lemons, we have an amazing Crock-Pot Thursday. Find out in the video below how our team handles it!

What’s your favorite lemon recipe? Let us know in the comments below!

Maybe you hid a candy bar from your kids, or snuck an extra snack from the break room, we have all been there. We get it, food is important, so we do whatever necessary to protect it. Today, our team enjoyed Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes.

Watch the video below to see how two Directive team members protected Crock-Pot Thursday.

Lunchtime in the office can be boring, not to mention difficult! Don't you wish that you had the extra room in your schedule to make Pasta Bolognese - the type of interesting, delicious meal that your hardworking team deserves? From cooking the pasta to making the sauce - and beyond, there is no doubt that cooking this mouthwatering dish is easier said than done. Well... have we got the solution for you! 

Do you ever see some food and just by looking at it you think you won’t like it? Well today we tried a new dish that is a little out-there and had our team try it - BLINDFOLDED. What is it that the team tried? Lasagna Stuffed Meatloaf! This was paired with Veggies, Salad, Garlic Bread, and finished off with amazing Apple Sugar Streusel Bars. Are you ready to see their reactions and try the recipe for yourself? Check it out below!

There’s no better cure for chilly weather than...chili! Of course we couldn’t just warm up with a standard and original chili, you know we had to mix it up! So today we tried Three Meat Chili, and you better believe bacon is included. We know what you’re thinking... “Chili with bacon? I NEED this recipe NOW.” Well, you’re in luck! Check out the recipe below to try out this delicious chili for yourself!

 Fall is always a great time for cooking, especially in Upstate, NY. Today was a perfect cool day to open up the oven and try a new fall dish. So, for today’s Crock-Pot Thursday we tried; Philly Cheese Steak Bake, Tangy Broccoli Salad, Lemon Butter Roasted Asparagus, and finished off with Lemon Bar Cupcakes. Yum is an understatement. Want to try this meal out for yourself? Check out the recipes below!

With Halloween just a few days away, we figured we’d give the team a real treat today; Chicken Pot Pie, Salad, Garlic Green Beans, and Pumpkin Poke Cake -- In honor of National Pumpkin Day today! This might be one of the best treats the team has ever had, but we also dug a little deeper to find out about the worst treats they’ve had. Find out in our video, and try this treat with the recipes below!

Fall is finally here, but we’ve still had some warm weather here and there! This meal is perfect for that transition from warm summer days to the cool and crisp days of autumn.

Today the team tried some new items; including: Honey Garlic Chicken Stir Fry, Paleo Fried Rice, Garlic Green Beans, and finished off with a delicious dessert: Pumpkin Bars!

Check out some of the recipes below to try them for yourself!

Summer isn’t over yet! Today’s Crock-Pot combined a summer favorite, shish kebabs, and a team favorite, fajitas, with: Fajita Shish Kebabs, and Cherry Turnovers for dessert! Watch as our team gives their own unique definition for shish kebabs in today’s video!

Try them for yourself with the recipes below!

 Happy National Chili-Dog Day! How lucky are we that such a great holiday fell directly on a Crock-Pot Thursday? Today you’ll watch the techniques of two of our team members in a.....drumroll please........hot dog eating contest! Who will win? Kathy Chupp or Jimmy Mustard? Watch the video to find out!

This week we took a little break from standing over the hot stove and enjoyed some cold wraps with side salads and chips (just incase we didn't get enough on the 4th of July). To cap-off our lunch, we all dove into a Brown Butter Blueberry Cobbler that is too good not to share! We hope everyone had a fantastic 4th of July. Be sure to check out the dessert recipe below for your next outing!

This Crock-Pot Thursday dish was an employee suggestion! Today we tried Mexican Stuffed Shells and Cheesy Jalapeno Corn Muffins. Have you ever wondered what it is like to be in our office on Crock-Pot Thursday? Today’s video will take you for a walk in our shoes as we celebrate CPT! See the video and recipes below.

The official start of summer is less than a week away now, and we are still working to nail-down the best summer picnic dishes! For today’s Crock-Pot Thursday we tried our hand at Loaded Chicken Salad Wraps, Corn and Cucumber Picnic Salad, and Fresh Pasta Salad. See the recipes below to try them out for your summer celebrations!

 On behalf of everyone here at Directive, we wanted to acknowledge the video that was released a few weeks ago that claims we grow our Crock-Pot Thursday meals in what we said was our pizza orchard. These claims were not entirely accurate. See the video.