Monday, April 27, 2009

Crockpot Chicken Tacos

I'm not sure where this one came from.

Crockpot Chicken Tacos

Ingredients:
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts (frozen or thawed)
2 cups Salsa
1 pkg Taco seasoning

Place chicken in crockpot. In bowl combine salsa and seasoning and pour over chicken. Cook on low for 5-6 hours or high 3-4 hours.

Shred chicken with forks and serve with tortillas (or hard shells), lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, etc.

** My kiddos do not like salsa so I cooked the chicken in the crockpot by itself, shred with forks and then heated chicken and seasoning (and a little water) in a skillet.

Our Review: We all loved this, definately a keeper!!

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Weekly Menu

I'll post recipes and pictures after I have made new or noteworthy meals.

Not all of my dinners will be gourmet, who am I kidding, none of them will!! I will admit I use a lot of prepackaged foods but I'm a busy mom! I might not always get to every one of the meals if we have a hectic week and end up at Sonic or another fine eating establishment but this is my attempt at trying to try out some of the great new recipes I have been pulling from random places and cooking healthier for my family!

This week...

Pork Chop & Oven Fries Bake, green beans, applesauce

Waffles, bacon, mandarin oranges

Frito Chili Pie, raw veggies, apples

Crockpot Teriyaki Beef, cheesy potatoes, green beans, pineapple

Crunchy Onion Chicken, lipton noodles (chicken), corn, apricots

and one day this week, Muffin Glory Cake

Crockpot Herbed Turkey Breast with Orange Sauce

This one came from http://theatoztwins.blogspot.com/

Crockpot Herbed Turkey Breast with Orange Sauce

Ingredients:
1 boneless skiness turkey breast (2-3 lbs) or 2 turkey tenderloins
1 large onion, chopped (I just sprinked on minced onion)
3 cloves garlic, minced (again used minced garlic)
1 t dried rosemary
1/2 t black pepper
1/2 t salt
1 1/2 cups orange juice

Toss onion into crockpot. Combine garlic, rosemary, pepper and salt in a bowl. Slice raw turkey 3/4 way throughat 2 inch intervals. Rub turkey with garlic mixture, make sure to get in between slices as much as you can. Place turkey in crockpot on top of the onion, sliced side up. Pour juice over the top. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

** I used a frozen turkey breast so I was unable to slice through it to put the spices on so I just put on the outside of breast.

We had this will stuffing (stove top), corn, mandarin oranges

Our Review: This turned out really good and tender. I think because I was unable to slice it as directed, mine didn't have really any of the orange juice taste but was still very good! Definately be making this one again.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Super Simple Sausage Gravy

I had this recipe written on a piece of paper so I'm not sure where it came from.

Super Simple Sausage Gravy

Ingredients:
1 lb Bob Evans orig. recipe or country sausage roll
1/2 cup flour
4 cups milk
Salt & Pepper to taste

Crumble & cook sausage in large skillet until browned. Stir in flour until dissolved. Gradually stir in milk. Cook gravy until thick and bubbly. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

This was served with biscuits, eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, bananas

Our Review: This gravy was very good. We will definately have it again!

Crockpot Roast

I do not care for the taste of pot roast so I wasn't sure if I would like this or not but I was very pleasantly surprised.

Crockpot Roast

Ingredients:
Beef Rump Roast

All I did was stick the thawed rump roast in the crockpot with just a tiny bit of water (I would not have put in the water if the roast had been frozen). Cook it on low for 6-8 hours. Remove from crockpot and shred with two forks.

Our Review: This had a great taste all by itself (Mike & I kept sampling it)...and I didn't add any seasonings! Half of the shredded beef was used for open face sandwiches with brown gravy poured over the top of bread, potatoes and beef. The other half has been frozen for bbq beef sandwiches at a later date.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Weekly Menu

I'll post recipes and pictures after I have made new or noteworthy meals.

Not all of my dinners will be gourmet, who am I kidding, none of them will!! I will admit I use a lot of prepackaged foods but I'm a busy mom! I might not always get to every one of the meals if we have a hectic week and end up at Sonic or another fine eating establishment but this is my attempt at trying to try out some of the great new recipes I have been pulling from random places and cooking healthier for my family!

This week...

Baked Pork Chops, stuffing, raw carrots/cucumbers, mandarin oranges

Crockpot Roast (open face beef & gravy), mashed potatoes, corn, peaches

Crockpot Orange Turkey Breast, rice, green beans, pears

Super Simple Sausage Gravy, biscuits, bacon, eggs, bananas

Crockpot Chicken Soft Tacos, tortillas, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, apples

Simple Ranchy Breaded Tilapia

This recipe was adapted from a recipe at allrecipes.com.

Simple Ranchy Breaded Tilapia

Ingredients:
3/4 c. crushed croutons (I used Italian flavored)
1 oz. pkg. dry ranch mix
1 lb. Tilapia fillets
olive oil

Mix dressing mix with crushed croutons.

Lightly brush fish with olive oil (or you could use milk).

Dredge in couton mix.

Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.

We served this with Liptons butter and herb rice, green beans and fruit cocktail.

Our Review: This was great. This one will go in the recipe box and be used again.

Cheddar Mac & Ham Casserole

This recipe came from the food & family magazine.

Cheddar Mac & Ham Casserole

Ingredients:
1 pkg. (14 oz) Kraft Deluxe Macaroni & Sharp Cheddar Cheese Sauce
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1 cup cubed ham
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup Kraft Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese

Prepare macaroni & cheese as directed on package. Add peas, ham and milk, mix well.

Spoon into 1 1/2 qt. casserole; sprinkle with cheddar cheese.

Bake uncovered at 400 for 15 min. or until heated through.

Makes 4 servings

For a crunchy topping, mix 1/2 cup crushed Ritz crackers with 1 T melted butter; sprinkle over casserole before baking.

** I doubled this recipe to make a 13x9 pan and I did not add the peas this time.

Our Review: This recipe was good but I think would be even better with velvetta shells and cheese.

We served this with salad and peaches.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Baked Mac & Cheese

This recipe came from http://www.recipezaar.com/.

Baked Mac & Cheese

Ingredients:

1 (8 oz.) pkg macaroni noodles
4 T butter
4 T flour
1 cup milk
1 cup cream
1/2 t salt
pepper, to taste
2 cups good quality shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup buttered breadcrumbs

Preheat oven to 400. Cook and drain macaroni noodles, set aside.

In a large saucepan, melt butter. Add flour mixed with salt and pepper using a whisk until well blended.

Pour milk and cream in gradually; stirring constantly. Bring to a boiling point and boil 2 minutes (stirring constantly). Reduce heart and cook (stirring constantly) 10 minutes.

Add shredded cheddar little by little and simmer an additional 5 minutes, or until cheese melts. turn off flame.

Add macaroni to the saucpan and toss to coat with the cheese sauce.

Transfer macaroni to a buttered baking dish. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs.

Bake 20 minutes until top is golden brown

(This can be frozen for later use in a zip lock bag. After mixing macaroni with cheese sauce, allow to cool to room temperature in bag and then add to freezer. Take out of the freezer the night before it is to be used and allow to reach room temp. Then put in buttered dish and sprinkle with crumbs. Bake for 20 to 30 min.)

We served this with ham steak, green beans and peaches.

Our Review: I was looking for a recipe that tasted like Golden Corral's mac & cheese that Brooke loves. Brooke said this one tasted a lot like it. This was very tasty to all of us! It is time consuming because of all the constant stirring. This will go into our recipe box and made again.

Crockpot BBQ Pork

This is SO easy and SO yummy!

Boneless pork ribs
BBQ sauce

Put ribs (can be frozen) into your crockpot and cook for 5-6 hours on low. Take ribs out and break into chunks (could be shredded for sandwiches) and drain liquid out of crockpot. Return ribs to crockpot and pour bbq sauce over and stir. Cook on low another hour or so.

We served this with baked french fries, green beans and pears.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Fruit-Filled Coffee Cake

This recipe is from http://www.kraftfoods.com/


Fruit-Filled Coffee Cake


Ingredients:


1 pkg. white cake mix
1 t ground cinnamon
1 cup sour cream
3 eggs
1/4 cup water
1 can (21 oz) fruit pie filling (I used apple)
1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted (I did not use this)
1 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 T milk


Heat oven to 350 F. Beat first 5 ingredients with mixer until well blended. Pour into greased and floured (or sprayed) 13x9 pan. Top with spoonfuls of pie filling.


Bake 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean; sprinkle with nuts. Cool 10 min.


Mix sugar and milk; drizzle over cake. Cool completely.



Our Review: Brooke thought this one was really good. I'm would give it an 8 out of 10.

Easy Stromboli

This recipe is from www.pillsbury.com

Easy Stomboli

Ingredients:

1/2-1 lb. ground beef
1 can Pillsbury refrigerated classic pizza crust
1/2 cup pizza sauce
4 oz. (1 cup) shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup chopped green peppers (I didn't use)
1/4 t dried Italian seasoning

Heat oven to 400. Spray cookie sheet with nonstick spray. Brown ground beef in skillet until done, drain.

Unroll dough, place on cookie sheet. Starting at center, press out dough with hands to form 12x8 inch rectangle.

Spread sauce over dough to within 2 inches of long sides and 1/2 inch of short sides. Place beef lengthwise down center, forming 3 inch wide strip and to within 1/2 inch of short sides. Top with cheese, pepper, seasoning. Fold long sides of dough over filling, press edges to seal.

Bake at 400 for 14 to 20 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

We served this with a salad and fruit cocktail

Our Review: This was great. Brooke said it looked and tasted like a giant pizza roll. Definately will be made again.

Mixed Berry Parfaits

This one came from womansday.com

Mixed Berry Parfaits

Ingredients:

1 box (3 oz) strawberry gelatin

1/2 cup each strawberries & blueberries

1 box or 2 cups prepared vanilla pudding

Prepare gelatin as box box directs. Refrigerate, occasionally stirring gently (try not to create bubbles), 30 minutes or until consistency of egg whites.

Meanwhile, stem and hull strawberries, cut in small pieces. Combine berries and divide betweet 5-6 parfait glasses.

Add gelatin and gently stir with skewer to incorporate berries so some are suspended in the gelatin (don't overstir). Refridgerate 3 hours or until set.

Prepare and spoon pudding on gelatin. Spoon pudding over gelatin.

Our Review: This was yummy!