Easy Skillet Pasta

I was struggling with what to make for dinner tonight. I have cooked every night for the past two weeks and was running out of ideas! There is only so much you can do with a pound of hamburger or some chicken tenderloins, right? Plus, my hubby has started a strict diet and I am trying to eat healthier. So, I ventured to the WWW and checked out the Kraft website. I typed in some ingredients I had on-hand (hamburger, spaghetti sauce, mozzarella cheese) and a few seconds later I had a huge list of recipes that included those ingredients. How awesome is that?!!

I decided on a super easy "skillet pasta" that only took 30 minutes total to make. Here is the recipe from the Kraft website. I changed mine just a little, so here is my version:

Easy Skillet Pasta

2 cups tri-colored rotini pasta, uncooked
1 lb. ground beef
1 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 jar spaghetti sauce
2 slices Kraft Singles cheese, quartered
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta until tender, drain and set aside. Brown hamburger in a skillet, drain. Stir in minced garlic, oregano, and spaghetti sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Add Kraft singles and stir until melted in. Add pasta. Stir until pasta is coated. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese. Cover and let stand 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Makes 6 servings.

I basically just omitted the peppers and some of the garlic, and changed a few of the steps. This was SO delicious! My hubby said it tasted like lazagna. Score! And, it was only 6 WW points per (1 1/3 cup) serving. I'm looking forward to having this again tomorrow! YUM!

When it's freezing outside and you need something to warm your tummy.....make this!!

This is one of my FaVoRiTe soups, especially on a cold, snowy day. It is very filling, and pretty spicy. Pair it with some cornbread and you will be in comfort food heaven! :)

Santa Fe Soup

1.5-2 lbs ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can kidney beans
2 cans pinto beans
2 cans white shoepeg corn
1 can Ro*tel tomatoes
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
1 pkg. ranch dressing mix
1 cup water

Brown ground beef, drain. Add onions. Cook for a few minutes or until onions become translucent. Pour into crockpot along with other ingredients. Stir well. Cook on High for 2 hours, then on Low for at least an hour or longer. Enjoy!!

*This is great paired with cornbread or corn chips or tortilla chips.

What to make with that leftover turkey....

Merry Christmas everyone (although a tad bit late)! I pray each of you had a wonderful and blessed Christmas. We got to spend Christmas with my family and are going to spend it with my in-laws this weekend. I didn't think we would get to do any traveling based on the predicted weather forecast, so I put a turkey breast in the crockpot on Christmas Eve. Well.....needless to say....we have TONS of turkey left over! We have eaten it for two meals already, had a sandwich or two, and haven't even put a dent in it. So, I got creative tonight and made a Turkey Pot Pie. Very easy, quick, and delicious! And, a good way to use up that leftover turkey. :)

Turkey Pot Pie

1 pkg. refrigerated pie crust (you can use one or both)
2 cups turkey, cut up or shredded
1 can mixed vegetables, drained
1/2 can whole kernel corn, drained
1/2 can green beans, drained
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 can of water (use soup can)
Salt & Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix together turkey, veggies, and cream of chicken soup. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour into pie plate (if using both crusts, put one crust into pie plate first). Top with pie crust and pinch all around to seal in filling. Make four slits in top of pie crust. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Enjoy!!

It's Fiesta Time!!

So, now that Thanksgiving is over and we are literally "stuffed"... it's time to start thinking about eating all of that delicious comfort food again for Christmas! Turkey and ham and dressing, oh my! This is my favorite time of the year, not just because of the food, but because of the cherished time I get to spend with my family and friends.

But between these two holidays that are full of yummy food and treats, we kind of need a break from the turkey and dressing. Some people feast on pizza and fast food, some revert to salads, and others live on turkey sandwiches (from the oodles of turkey they have left over!). One thing my family and I like to do is have a "Fiesta Night". This may include eating out at a local Mexican restaurant, swinging through a Taco Bell, or making Mexican food at home.

Recently, MyBlogSpark along with Old El Paso provided me with an Old El Paso "Family Taco Night" prize pack. The prize pack included a packet of Old El Paso Original Taco Seasoning, a Cactus Chip & Dip serving dish, a set of 3 Fiesta Chili Pepper serving dishes, and a $10 gift card to purchase my taco fixings. I was super excited! The serving dishes are so cute, and perfect for a Fiesta Party. Plus, the $10 gift card was a great bonus! :) I ended up purchasing a couple of the Old El Paso dinner kits and a couple more packs of the Old El Paso seasoning. The dinner kits I purchased were these:

This was definitely what we needed after "stuffing" ourselves with turkey and all the fixins'. :) Actually, I guess you could even make these with leftover turkey! Ha!

What about you? Do you have a "family fiesta night"? What do you usually make? Do you have a special dip or queso recipe? Leave a comment and you could win a prize package too (thanks to Old El Paso and MyBlogSpark)! Here is what you could win:
Winners will be announced at the end of the week. Good luck!!

Chinese Take-Out....from the Freezer Section!

I LOVE Chinese food! From the places in the mall (where they are always offering samples) to the "whole in a wall" take-out restaurants (THE best, in my opinion) to the nice, sit-down restaurants (such as PF Changs). I love it all! Now I have to let you in on a secret.....my husband HATES Chinese food! He cannot stand rice, broccoli, or anything that resembles a vegetable (other than potatoes, corn, and green beans!). So, I have to get my "fix" whenever I can.

If we go to the mall, it's easy to satisfy my craving. We go to the food court, he gets Chick-Fil-A, I get Chinese. Simple as that. But what about the rest of the times my palette is salivating for Sesame Chicken, or General Tso's, or an egg roll?? Well, I believe I have found a solution: Tai Pei.

I am usually a bit "iffy" when it comes to frozen Chinese food that you find in your grocery store. It usually tastes fake or unusually spicy, or sometimes even rubbery or soggy. I was having one of my "cravings" though, while at the store the other day, and decided to pick up a bag of Tai Pei Stir-Fry Creations Beef & Broccoli. It was about $5 for the whole bag (enough for 2+ lunches for me!) and takes about 10 minutes to cook. I decided to give it a try today.

The bag includes stir-fry vegetables (in this case broccoli and onions), a bag of sauce, a bag of rice, and a bag of beef. All you have to do is thaw the sauce packet in hot water, pop the bag of rice in the microwave for 3 minutes, and stir-fry the meat and veggies until cooked through. Then throw the sauce in and saute for a few minutes until everything is well-coated. Pull the rice out of the microwave, top with the stir-fry, and voila!! Lunch (or dinner) is ready! And, it was delicious! The beef and broccoli and beef were very tender, the rice was fluffy, and the sauce was so tasty!

I would highly recommend the stir-fry creations by Tai Pei and am anxious to try other items Tai Pei has out there. I hope you will try them sometime too!

Vegetarian Burritos

So I made the ever-so-famous Chicken Enchiladas for my friends the other night (who just had a baby), as well as some vegetarian burritos. My friend, Mel, is a vegetarian. I was trying to think of a Mexican dish to fix for her so she wouldn't feel left out while her hubby and little girl feasted on the enchiladas. I kind of came up with my own little creation/recipe.

Vegetarian Burritos

6 medium-size flour tortillas
1 package Spanish rice, prepared
1 can black beans, drained
1 cup shredded colby-jack cheese (or Mexican blend)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together rice, beans, and cheese. Fill each tortilla with rice mixture. Roll up like a burrito. Place in baking dish and bake for 15 minutes. You don't even have to bake them, just warm them in the microwave. Also, you can pour any type of Mexican sauce on top (mole, salsa, enchilada, queso, etc.) and bake it for the same time, if you prefer. Enjoy!!

I have to say, these burritos were pretty tasty!! The Spanish rice I used was actually the Kroger brand and it is SO yummy! I highly recommend it.

Chicken and Spinach Pasta

This week's recipe is from my friend, Holly. Holly has some of the most amazing and yummy recipes! I posted one of her other recipes a few months ago, Chicken Enchiladas, which is now one of my favorite dishes of all time. You should try it! Here is the recipe for her pasta:


Chicken and Spinach Pasta

1/3 cup roasted tomato and oregano salad dressing (or 2 Tbsp. Basil Pesto)
2 T. balsamic vinegar
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups cooked whole wheat penne pasta, drained
4 slices turkey bacon, cooked
3-4 cups sliced mushrooms
1 cup red onion
3 big hand-fulls of baby spinach
12 grape tomatoes, halved
3 cups chopped rotisserie chicken breast meat
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
Black Pepper to taste


Mix first 5 ingredients together, set aside. Cook and stir mushrooms with onions, about 5 minutes. Add spinach and tomatoes until spinach is wilted. Stir in chicken until heated through. Add noodles and mix. Add olive oil sauce. Top with bacon and cheese. Enjoy!

When you don't have any food in the house....

It has been raining ALL DAY LONG here in "Derby City," and I don't have any groceries in my house. I used the last 4 pieces of bread to make hubby and little man a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch (we had tomato soup too, but made with water since we are also out of milk!). I have been trying to "clean out" my fridge and my pantry lately before going grocery shopping so I don't overstock on items. Well....I think I waited a little too long this time.


If you were to look in my fridge right now, you would see the following things: 5 slices of cheese, some shredded cheese, a can of crescent rolls, sour cream, some Coke Zero, a half a jug of Pedialyte, a pudding cup, 3 sticks of butter, and condiments. No milk, no eggs, no juice, no lunchmeat. The freezer is just the same - 3 chicken breasts, some ice cream, a bag of frozen broccoli, some frozen cherries and corn, and ice cubes. I promise I am going to the store.....tomorrow. :)


So what do you make with what little you have in your house? I came up with a recipe using the crescent rolls, chicken, sour cream and cheese, and half a can of cream of chicken soup. I call them "Chicken Pockets". Here is the recipe (or what I just threw in a bowl!):


Chicken Pockets


3 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1/2 can cream of chicken soup
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 cup shredded cheese (colby jack is best, but I only had mozzarella)
2 cans crescent rolls**


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together shredded chicken, soup, sour cream, and cheese.
Unroll crescent rolls. Pinch two crescent rolls together to form a rectangle. Place a heaping spoonful of the chicken mixture in each rectangle. Pull up corners and pinch sides together to form a little purse, or "pocket". Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy!

**I only had one can of crescent rolls, so I had quite a bit of chicken mixture left over. Maybe I'll get some more at the grocery tomorrow.... :)

Easy Chicken Enchiladas

My friend, Holly, told me about this recipe and actually made it for me as a frozen dinner back when I first had my little boy. It. Is. Delicious. And easy!! I made it tonight for my friend, Sarah, who just had her little boy a couple of weeks ago. :)

Easy Chicken Enchiladas

3 or 4 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1 small can Rotel (tomatoes with green chilis)
1/2 cup sour cream
1 small can refried beans
1 bag shredded Mexican cheese (or colby/jack blend)
1 large can enchilada sauce
1 bag large flour tortillas

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook and shred chicken breasts. Add Rotel and sour cream and mix well (you can also add some cheese to the mixture if you want). Spread a tortilla with refried beans, then add a heaping spoonful of chicken mixture. Roll tortilla up like a burrito and place in baking dish. Pour enchilada sauce over tortillas. Sprinkle cheese all over and bake for app. 30 minutes.

**This meal is excellent for freezing. Just follow the recipe and even bake it, then transfer it to the freezer once it has cooled. A-mazing!!!

Chicken Parmesan (Parmigiana?)

Panko bread crumbs. I have always wanted to try them and finally had the chance to. The difference between Panko and regular bread crumbs is that panko (or Japanese) bread crumbs are made from the white of the bread instead of the crust (this also makes them more expensive). I recently signed up for MyBlogSpark and they sent me a box of Progresso Bread Crumbs to try, as well as a box of Progresso Chicken Stock and a few other goodies. So... I decided to make Chicken Parmesan for dinner.

Chicken Parmesan (or Chicken Parmigiana, if you want to get fancy) is super easy to make -- and affordable too! All you need is chicken breasts, bread crumbs, pasta sauce, and mozzarella cheese. That's pretty much it!!

I used a few more ingredients than are pictured, just to give it a little more flavor. I marinated the chicken breasts in Italian dressing, then rolled them in the bread crumbs (flavored with Italian seasoning and garlic powder). I then browned them in the skillet using a little olive oil.

Once the chicken breasts have browned and cooked through, I transferred them to a small baking sheet (one of the goodies in the package) and topped them off with marinara sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese. (I should probably pause here and change the name of my recipe to Chicken Mozzarella instead of Chicken Parm because I just realized that I am not using parmesan cheese at all in this recipe!)

Put the chicken breasts in the oven on 350 for about 10 minutes or just until the cheese is melted. You can also put them under the broiler, but watch them very carefully. Here is what they should look like:

Pair this with a side of pasta and there you go! A quick and easy meal for two. Bon Appetit!

Stay tuned for an awesome giveaway coming up in the next couple of days! You will LOVE it!!

Some things I have been making lately:

Semi-Homemade Pizza

1 refrigerated pizza crust (I like this one)

1 small jar pizza sauce

1 bag shredded mozzarella cheese

Toppings of your choice (we like pepperoni or hamburger)

Bake dough for about 10 minutes at 400 degrees (for a crisper crust). Spread pizza sauce on dough and top with ingredients. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is cooked through. Enjoy!

Caesar Salad

1 bag romaine lettuce, chopped (I think they come 3 hearts to a bag)

1 small bag shredded parmesan cheese
1 small bag garlic croutons
Equal parts of Creamy Caeser dressing and Caesar Vinagrette

Toss all ingredients together. Enjoy!

Pot Roast with/without Potatoes and Carrots

I know I am not "branching out" much with these first two slow cooker recipes, but some new and exotic recipes are coming, I promise! We are just starting with the basics for now.

Pot Roast with/without Potatoes and Carrots

1 chuck roast (about 3 or 4 lbs. is good)
4 or 5 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters
4 medium sized carrots (sliced) or 1 small bag baby carrots
1 small onion, sliced or chopped or 1 tsp. dehydrated onion flakes
1 teaspoon minced garlic (or 1 tsp. garlic powder)
Worcestershire sauce
Seasoned salt
Enough water to cover the roast

Turn slow cooker on Low. Brown chuck roast in a skillet until there is a good brown color on all sides. Place in slow cooker. Top with a few shakes of worcestershire sauce, garlic, seasoned salt, and onions (or onion flakes). Cover with water and cook on Low for about 8-10 hours or until tender (falling apart).

Now, if you want to add the potatoes and carrots (I usually just make the roast by itself), you can add them at the beginning when you add the roast, or about halfway through. I don't usually put the veggies in just because they either turn out too mushy or not done enough.

I like to pair the roast with mashed potatoes, green beans, and "Almost Spoon Bread". Here is the recipe for the bread:

"Almost Spoon Bread"

1 box Jiffy cornmeal mix
1/2 stick butter, melted
1/2 cup sour cream
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 egg

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 9x9 baking dish or spray with cooking spray. Mix all ingredients together. Pour into baking dish and bake for 30 minutes or until bread is lightly golden on top (and cooked through in the center).

Hope you have enjoyed these recipes! A few more posts of "the basics" and then we will get into some amazing, and a little shocking, slow cooker recipes!

The Crockpot (aka Slow Cooker)

I LOVE my Crockpot! If you do not own a Crockpot, you do not know what you are missing! There is absolutely nothing easier than fixing a meal in the slow cooker and having it ready by the time you get home from work...except running through the drive-thru at McDonald's or KFC or some other fast food joint, that is. But why would you want to take home a greasy bag of fries and a smashed burger when you can have: Pot Roast with potatoes and carrots, Santa Fe Soup (sort of like taco soup), Barbecued Ribs, and even dessert (such as hot fudge cake)?

Over the next few weeks, I am going to be posting some slow cooker recipes for you to enjoy...and I am dedicating them to my sweet friend Ann Claire who is about to become a new bride! Ann Claire is going to be cooking a lot for her new husband and wants something that is easy and that she can put in the slow cooker (since she and hubs will both be students and will be very busy!). Soooo..let's get "slow cooking"!!

One of my favorite things to make in the crockpot is barbecued ribs (and one of the easiest!). Here is what you need:

Barbecued Ribs
1 package boneless ribs (pork or beef)
1 bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce
1 cup Coke or Pepsi

Place ribs in slow cooker. Pour entire bottle of BBQ sauce over top of ribs, followed by cola (or, you can mix the BBQ sauce and cola together and pour the mixture over). Cook on Low for 5-6 hours, or until they are tender and cooked through.

These ribs are so yummy! You can pair them with mashed potatoes and mac-n-cheese for a very satisfying meal. :)

More slow-cooker dishes to come! Stay tuned!

Menu for the Week of May 4

Well, since I am now a "stay-at-home" MOM! :) I have a little more time to cook and come up with recipes. One thing I am going to try and start doing is posting a "Menu for the Week" to help me come up with ideas for meals (particularly for supper). My friend Kim does this on her blog and I always enjoy reading what she is going to be making/eating every week.

So, for this week I am keeping things simple. Plus, I just started Weight Watchers again (on my own this time using all of my WW books) and have to cut back on the fast food and sweets. Trust me, this is VERY hard to do - especially since I ate whatever I wanted while I was pregnant. The Lord will give me strength..... :)

Here is my menu for this week:

Monday

Meatloaf - very easy recipe - look for post soon

Mashed Potatoes

Green Beans - from my Dad's garden - yum!

Biscuits

Tuesday

Homemade Chicken Pot Pie (you can use a refrigerated or frozen pie crust, or biscuits on top)

Leftover veggies

Wednesday (Church Fellowship Meal - only have to bring a side dish!)

Roast - main dish

Broccoli Cheese Casserole (my contribution) - will post recipe for this soon

Thursday (our sweet friends Zach and Missy are bringing us supper on this day! No cooking for me - Woohoo!!)

Maple Apple Chicken - I'll have to get this recipe from Missy and post it for you

Mashed Potatoes

Green Beans

Rolls

Cake or Cupcakes (hey, it's okay to splurge a little on WW...just don't overdo it) :)

Friday

Spaghetti...or maybe leftovers

Saturday

Supper will probably be on the road - we are going to a friend's wedding in Ohio

Sunday - Mother's Day (my first one!!)

My mom will be here, so we will probably take her out for a nice lunch after church, then just a light supper (maybe a homemade quesadilla)

Hopefully this menu will work out. I'll let you know!! :)

Ice, Ice, Baby!

As I am sitting here writing this blog it is raining "ice" outside my door. There are icicles covering my back deck, and the trees in the distance have a sheer white coating of ice on the branches. It is absolutely beautiful! Although, it is also very dangerous for those who have to be traveling in this weather. I have been praying for them throughout the day (I was very fortunate to have the day off from work due to the icy weather, and will probably have tomorrow off as well).

With the ice outside, and the warmth of a heater and space heater inside, it is very cozy in my home. What is one to do with a "day off" when she cannot go outside or to work? Laundry. Dishes. Blog. I am very grateful to be able to clean my house and do laundry, although that is not the way I would love to spend my day off. I have cooked some today, though. I made pancakes for my hubby this morning and fixed him lunch, and am about to cook supper here shortly (chicken parmesan). I would have loved to bake, but alas I do not have a pantry stocked full of "baking stuff". Besides, I just made these a couple of days ago. And....I did not stop at the grocery store last night to pick up a loaf of bread like I should have (hubby has to have a grilled cheese every night). Oh well.

I could have made a big pot of soup today, or chili (I am saving that for the Super Bowl), but chicken parmesan it is. Maybe tomorrow I will be more productive. Hey, I do have an excuse with the whole "pregnancy" thing, right? :) Speaking of, I only have a few months to go! Woo-hoo! I have gained a total of ..... you didn't actually think I would tell you that, did you? Haha, let's just say I've gained quite a bit of weight. I just chalk it up to "eating for two". Even though baby boy probably needs carrots and broccoli in his diet more than he needs ice cream and cheese puffs. :)

So, I know this hasn't been much of a "food post" so far, and I promise I will make up for that. Here is the recipe for the chicken parmesan I am making tonight. WARNING: IT IS SUPER EASY!!! (I told you I was lazy today!)

Chicken Parmesan (for 2)

2 frozen chicken patties
1 cup mozzarella cheese
Spaghetti
Spaghetti sauce

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place chicken patties on cookie sheet or casserole dish and bake for 10-15 minutes (or whatever it says on the package). Meanwhile boil your spaghetti noodles on the stove and simmer your spaghetti sauce. Once patties are done (flip them once halfway during cooking time) take them out of the oven and top them with spaghetti sauce and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese (about 1/2 cup for each patty). Place back in oven until cheese is melted. Serve alongside a serving of spaghetti w/sauce. Enjoy!

See? Wasn't that easy? I just love easy stuff. Now while you wait for your patties to bake, enjoy some of the beautiful "ice sculptures" from our back (and front) yard:

The Back Yard

The Front Yard

The reflection (see it?) on the deck and the little pine tree

The first blog entry of 2009!! (and a Giveaway!)

Happy New Year! I hope 2009 has been great for you so far. I am sure this year will be full of exciting and fun things for everyone. I just cannot contain my excitement about the arrival of our little boy in April!! That is one reason 2009 will be such a blessed year for us.

To start the year off right, I thought it would be a good idea to post some healthy recipes. I know we are all trying to "watch our weight" and are making those new year resolutions that we know we will not keep. So why not enjoy something delicious that is also healthy for us? Forget the bottled water and rice cakes!

Chicken with Mango

2 T. oil
1 t. grated ginger
1/2 t. ground cinnamon
4 chicken breasts, shredded
4 green onions, sliced diagonally
1 t. light soy sauce
1 chicken bouillon cube
2/3 cup water
1 t. sugar
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 ripe mangoes, pealled and sliced (or one can sliced mangos, drained)
2 t. cooking sherry (optional)

Heat a wok or large skillet and add oil. Add ginger and cinnamon and saute for 30 seconds. Add the chicken and green onions. Stir fry for 5 minutes. Add light soy sauce, crumbled bouillon, water, sugar, and bring to a boil. Add salt and pepper to taste and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the mangoes and cooking sherry and simmer, uncovered, until the sauce has reduced and thickened. Serve with rice or noodles.

Like this recipe? Well there are plenty more recipes like this one in the cookbook "Healthy Cooking" by Landoll, Inc. And.....I'm giving it away! All you have to do is leave a comment with your answer to the following question and you can be entered for a chance to win this neat cookbook (it is somewhat vintage - 1995 is the copyright - so it is not brand new).

Here is the question:

*How do you plan to change your diet/eating habits this year? (Example: eat more veggies, cook with olive oil, only eat fast food once a week, etc.)*

The giveaway will end at 8:00 pm on Sunday night and the winner will be announced on Monday. If you don't win this time, don't worry! I have several more giveaways in the coming weeks, so you will definitely have a chance. Good luck!! :)

Taking it "South of the Border" today!!

I think you all will LoVe my friend Benita's recipe for this yummy stew! This would be perfect for fall/winter, but it is also one of those easy "fix-it-and-forget-it" meals that you can make any time of the year. Enjoy!

Recipe for Today: Crock Pot Chicken Taco Stew
Shout-out: My friend, Benita Chagala

Crock Pot Chicken Taco Stew

Ingredients
1 onion, chopped
1 16-oz can black beans
1 16-oz can kidney beans
1 16-oz can corn (drained)
1 8-oz can tomato sauce
2 14.5-oz cans diced tomatoes w/chilies
1 1.25-oz packet taco seasoning
1-2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Directions
Mix everything together in a crock pot except chicken. Lay chicken on top and cover. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. (When chicken gets tender and can be shredded easily it is finished). 30 minutes before serving, remove chicken and shred. Return chicken to crock pot and stir in. This is good eaten with cheese, sour cream, or tortilla chips.

P.S. If you make some of this, you better share!! :)

Another yummy recipe from a friend

This one sounds yummy-licious! Enjoy!! :)

Recipe for Today: Wheat Crust Garlic Chicken Pizza
Shout-out: My friend, Julie Halitzka

WHEAT CRUST GARLIC CHICKEN PIZZA (makes 2 pizzas)

Bread Machine Whole Wheat Crust
1 1/3 c. water
1/4 c. olive oil
3 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. yeast

Place all ingredients in bread machine, liquids or dry first, according to manufacturer’s instructions. Program for the dough cycle, and press start. When machine beeps at the end of cycle, stop and unplug. Remove dough and place on a lightly floured surface, divide into two equal portions. Roll out, and cover with a cool damp towel for about 30 minutes to allow crust to rise. Preheat oven to 450°.

Pizza Sauce
16 oz. Spaghetti Sauce
1 c. diced tomatoes
1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 tsp. basil
1/4 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. minced garlic (or equivalent garlic powder)

Add all ingredients to sauce. (Measurements for spices are approximate, season to taste.) Simmer on low heat and cover until you are ready to add the sauce to the pizza.

Garlic Chicken
1 lb. Chicken Breast
garlic powder
pepper

Cook chicken, season with garlic powder and pepper. Cut into small pieces.

Assemble Pizza
1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
16 oz. mozzarella cheese
Pizza Sauce
Garlic Chicken
Bread Machine Whole Wheat Crust

Place crust in oven for 3-5 minutes to precook, before removing to assemble pizzas. Add sauce and chicken to crust, top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cook pizzas at 450° for 15-20 minutes.

Doesn't this sound wonderful?! Can't wait to try it! Keep those recipes coming!!

Menu #2 (although not from the Amish Cookbook today)

Okay, I said I was on this Amish cookbook kick, but I am veering slightly off-track today (and maybe tomorrow, depending). I have a few recipes up my sleeve that you are sure to enjoy, and they are sooooo simple! Let me know what you think.

Menu #2: Chicken Casserole, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Fruit Cobbler

Chicken Casserole

4 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup chicken broth (or more, if desired)
2 boxes chicken flavored stuffing (prepare according to directions)
1 sleeve crackers (TownHouse or Ritz type, not saltines)
2 T. butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare chicken stuffing according to directions, set aside. Mix together soup, chicken, and broth. Fold in stuffing mix. (You can add more broth at this point if it appears too dry). Spread in a 9x13 greased baking/casserole dish. Crush crackers until only crumbs, mix with melted butter. Sprinkle mixture on top of casserole. Bake for 30-45 minutes or until golden brown.

Mashed Potatoes

5 or 6 medium size potatoes (russets are the best)
2 T. cold unsalted butter, divided
1/2 cup *milk or evaporated milk (the evaporated milk makes them creamier)
1 tsp. mayonnaise or sour cream
Salt

Wash, peel, and slice potatoes into half-inch slices (this makes the potatoes cook faster). Put them in a pot and cover with water (I usually put a teaspoon of salt in the water so it will cook into the potatoes). Bring potatoes to a boil, reduce heat and simmer potatoes for about 20 minutes or until fork-tender. Remove from heat, drain well. Add mayonnaise or sour cream (or both!), 1 tablespoon butter, and half of the milk. Start mashing (or do what I do and use a hand mixer!). Add more milk until you have the consistency you want. Taste the potatoes and salt them to your taste. Add 1 tablespoon of butter to finish them off. (If you have leftover mashed potatoes, check out my recipe for Potato Cakes below!)

*You can use chicken broth instead of the milk for more flavor and less fat.

Green Beans

1 *can green beans of your choice (I like Stokely's)
2 pieces bacon, cooked and chopped (or 1 T. RealBacon bits)
1 T. butter, cold
1 drizzle EVOO
Salt & Pepper to taste

Open can and pour contents into saucepan. Drizzle with EVOO. Crumble bacon pieces over green beans and top with butter. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes (or however long you want). Salt and pepper to taste.

*You can use fresh green beans, but this is supposed to be easy!!

Fruit Cobbler

1 large can *fruit in own juice, 1 lg. bag frozen fruit, OR 1 can pie filling
1 cup self-rising flour (must be self-rising)
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
2 T. cold unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or spray a 9x13 glass or metal baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Pour fruit into dish and set aside. In mixing bowl combine flour, sugar and milk. Blend well so as not to have too many lumps (a few are okay, and not worth the trouble). Pour mixture over fruit in baking dish. Cut up butter and sprinkle little pats all over mixture. Bake for 30-45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream (or in the south, we like to serve it with more butter!)

Here are the fruits I like to use when making this cobbler:
*Cherry pie filling (can)
*Mixed berries (frozen)
*Peaches (can or frozen)

I also found a great Weight Watchers recipe for cobbler. Check it out!! (The only thing I do different is use Fresca instead of the others because it has more flavor, and I mix half of it with the cake mix to form a dough to crumble over the fruit. Then I pour the remaining soda on top.)

I hope you will enjoy this easy menu. Let me know your thoughts! :)

Another Salute to the Amish Cookbook -- Menu #1

Since I am on this "Amish Cookbook kick", I thought I would do a series of recipes from this cookbook over the next few days (and maybe some of my own recipes). I will try to do a "meal plan" each day for you. Easy recipes using simple ingredients. What more could you ask for? Enjoy!!

Meal #1: Cheese Garlic Biscuits, Lasagna, and Strawberry Poke Cake (from Betty Crocker website)

Cheese Garlic Biscuits (like the ones at Red Lobster)

2 cups Bisquick or Jiffy baking mix
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
parsley flakes
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Mix together baking mix, milk, cheese, anda small amount of parsley flakes until soft dough forms; beat vigorously for 30 seconds. Drop by spoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Mix butter and garlic powder; brush over warm biscuits before removing from cookie sheet. Serve warm. Makes 10-12 biscuits.


Lasagna (I haven't tried this recipe yet)

1 lb. ground beef

1/2 lb. bulk sausage
1 jar spaghetti sauce
2 cups cottage cheese
1 c. parmesan cheese, divided
12 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
9-12 lasagna noodles, cooked

Brown meat, drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce. Mix cottage cheese and 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese together. Spread some meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan (or casserole dish), then alternate layers of noodles, meat sauce, cheese mixture, and mozzarella. Top with remaining parmesan cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.


Strawberry Poke Cake (this is very light and refreshing!)

1 white cake mix (Water, vegetable oil and egg whites called for on box)
1 box small box strawberry-flavored gelatin
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup cold water
1 container frozen whipped topping, thawed
Fresh strawberries

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Make cake as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan. Let cool completely.

Pierce cooled cake all over with fork. In small bowl, stir gelatin and boiling water until smooth; stir in cold water. Pour over cake. Run knife around sides of pan to loosen cake. Refrigerate 2 hours or overnight. Frost with whipped topping; garnish* with strawberries. Store covered in refrigerator.

*If you want to make your cake extra special (or impress that special someone), you can fan the strawberries to make it look more elegant.