Sloppy Chicken

This is much like many chicken crockpot dishes out there. But somehow this was so stinking easy (I made it while on bed rest) and really, REALLY yummy.

Into the crockpot, toss:

2 chicken breasts (I threw mine in frozen 'cause I hadn't planned ahead)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can chicken broth
1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed
1 can cream of mushroom soup

Cook on low for 5-6 hours, stirring once in a while (I think I remembered once, maybe twice). We pulled the chicken into lots of pieces (basically shredded it) and served all of it over rice.

I had low expectations for the Ritz -- I thought they would turn into gross mush. But they dissolved entirely into the mixture -- you wouldn't even know they were there. Yet I swear they did something for the overall texture and taste. Delicious.

Drip Beef Sandwiches

We did a family recipe book for Christmas... so now I've got quite a few recipes typed up... which makes them very easy to share :-)

This is one of the easiest things to make, and so tasty!

1 chuck / pot roast (4-5 ish lbs.)

1 can beef consume (or beef broth)*

1/2 Jar of Pepperoncinis, including juice

4 t. Italian Seasoning Dressing

Throw it all together in the oven at 275 degrees for 5-6 hours. Or cook everything in a crock pot for 5-6 hours on low. Shred meat and remove Pepperoncinis (unless you want to eat them). Serve on rolls/hoagies with melted swiss cheese.

* I never add the beef broth, since cooking my roast in the crock pot always seems to produce enough liquid.

Cafe Rio Pork

All I can say is YUMMY. This is just like the sweet pork at Cafe Rio. I've had a few other versions of this pork (made with Coke or Dr. Pepper or some sort of pop) and I think this one is the best.

1 pork roast (3-3.5 lbs)

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup worcestershire sauce

1 t. dried oregano

1 t. ground ginger

1 t. salt

1 t. chili powder

1 t. garlic powder

2 T. dehydrated minced onions

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker, then place roast on top. Cook on low for 6-8 hours (depends on how hot your crockpot cooks-- mine is fast). Flip the roast once, about halfway through cooking. One hour before serving, shred the pork, remove any bones (if there are any) and stir in 1 cup brown sugar and 1 cup red enchilada sauce (I always throw in the whole can). Allow to cook for remaining time and serve warm. Serve with black beans, cilantro lime rice, cilantro lime ranch, lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole, olives... pretty much whatever you want on there. Can be served on a salad, or in a burrito.

YUM!

Easy Enchiladas

Whenever we make enchiladas, we make chicken ones, since that's what we both prefer. But we've got lots of frozen hamburger that needs to be eaten before we move in 2 months... so I went searching for an easy beef enchilada recipe and here's what I found. From cooks.com. It was pretty tasty... and so easy!

EASY ENCHILADAS

Flour or wheat tortillas
1 lb. ground beef or chicken
1 can green or red enchilada sauce
1 pkg. cream cheese
1 pkg. shredded cheese

Melt cream cheese in microwave until very soft. Add half of can of enchilada sauce to cream cheese, reserve remainder.

Cook beef or chicken and add to mixture.

Heat tortillas in microwave for about 20 seconds or until warm. Place mixture in tortillas and wrap.

Place enchiladas in baking dish.

Pour shredded cheese and remaining sauce over top.

Bake 20 minutes or until hot at 325˚.*

*We're almost at sea level, so I had to cook mine at a hotter oven temp*

Easy Baked Ziti

1 package Ziti noodles (or Rotini or Penne) (1 lb.)
1-2 jars pasta sauce (depending on how saucy you like it)
1 package sliced provolone cheese (not the processed kind)
Ground beef (desired amount- 1 lb. or more)
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp dried parsley
Cottage cheese (about 8 ounces)

Parmesan cheese

Cook the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, drain then add the garlic and parsley and sauté a minute or two longer. Cook the pasta, drain then add half the noodles to a dish smeared with pasta sauce. Spread a small amount of cottage cheese on the noodles, then layer with ½ of the ground beef, one jar of sauce and a layer of sliced provolone. Repeat the layer with the remaining ingredients. Top with the remaining cheese slices, sprinkle with parmesan and parsley. Bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is lightly brown.

Porcupine Meatballs

Porcupine Meatballs

1 pound lean ground beef
1/3 cup uncooked white rice
¼ cup chopped onion (if I don’t have an onion, I’ll use dehydrated onion, found in the spice isle)
¼ cup water
1 t. salt
Dash of pepper

Combine beef, rice, onion, water, salt and pepper. Shape into small balls (1 – 1.5 inches in diameter).

1 can condensed tomato soup (can use store brand, doesn’t taste any different than Campbell’s)
½ t. chili powder
½ cup water

Blend soup, chili powder and water into a saucepan. Add meatballs. Bring to boil, then cover and turn down heat to simmer. Takes about 45 minutes or so (depends on how hot your stove is). When meatballs are cooked through, you’ll know it’s done.

Chicken Won Ton Salad

This is an easy to throw together salad that we use as a main dish or a side dish.  You can eat a ton of it, so get plenty of lettuce.  All the amounts are personal preference.  Hope you enjoy!

Lettuce (green leaf/Romaine with iceberg)

Chicken breasts diced and sautéed

Sesame seeds-toasted with little oil

Won ton wrappers lightly fried

Tear lettuce to bite-sized pieces, top with sautéed chicken, and toasted sesame seeds.  Top with dressing and slightly crushed fried won tons.

Dressing-

½ c sugar

1/2 c white vinegar

2 Tbsp salt

Combine the ingredient in a pan and bring to boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves.

Let cool, then add:

½ tsp pepper

½ c vegetable oil