Forgive me....

With the holidays, traveling and now being sick and caring for a sick husband, I have not had the chance to blog.

I promise you, posts will resume ASAP!

Crockpot Stroganoff Chicken

This is already in our crock pot this morning! I received this recipe from family, and its so easy and very tasty!


Crockpot Stroganoff Chicken


You will need:

1 pound boneless, skinless Chicken breasts (frozen or thawed)
2 cans Cream of Chicken soup
1 packet dry Italian dressing mix
1 8 oz block of cream cheese


What to do:

Place chicken in crock pot. Pour over can of soup. Add packet of dressing on top. Turn crock pot on low, cook for 6-8 hours. About 45 min before serving, add the block of cream cheese. Serve over potatoes, rice or pasta.

This recipe makes a LOT! Its very rich tasting. I usually only use 2 chicken breasts, cut the cream cheese in half and it still makes a ton for leftovers. The chicken shreds very nicely after being in the crock pot all day. We prefer this dish served over penne pasta. Enjoy!

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By special request.... Crock Pot Pork Chops

I received a special request to add this recipe to the blog so here it is! This is my husband's favorite dish I think. I am not really a big fan of pork so I tolerate this dish every once in awhile because my husband loves it so. It is really easy to cook so that is a plus as well!

Crock Pot Pork Chops

You will need:

4 boneless pork chops
2 medium onions
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
1/4 cup water
1 can cream of mushroom soup

OPTIONAL - 4 oz canned sliced mushrooms (we leave these out... not a mushroom family here!)

What to do:

To save time later, spray your crock with cooking spray. Makes cleanup so easy! Place pork chops in greased crock. Top with onions and mushrooms (if you are adding them). Pour the dry onion soup mix over the pork chops and then cover with the cream of mushroom soup and water. Cover. Cook on low about 6 hours.

When ready to serve, its sooo tender, it basically falls apart with a fork. I serve this with mashed potatoes or rice. I think next time I make it I am going to add a side of cinnamon apples to it.

Since its only the two of us here, I often make this with only 2 or 3 pork chops instead of 4. I only use 1 onion but everything else the same. Just have some extra gravy leftover.

Enjoy!

Homemade Meatballs

This is an easy recipe for homemade meatballs. I have used these meatballs in spaghetti, meatball subs and in a gravy as an appetizer. Enjoy! Makes a large batch so you can freeze them for future use.

Homemade Meatballs

You will need:

4 eggs
2 cups dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 TBSP salt
2 TSP Worcestershire sauce
1/2 TSP pepper
4 pounds lean ground beef.

What to do:

In a large bowl, beat eggs. Add bread crumbs, onion, salt and worcestershire sauce. Add beef; mix well. Shape into 1 inch balls, about 12 dozen. Place in single layers on ungreased 15inX10in baking pans. Bake at 400 for 10-15 minutes or until no longer pink, turning often. Drain off fat. Cool. Once cooled, you can package them for freezer storage.

Makes about 5 batches, 30 meatballs per batch.

5 meatballs per serving
150 calories
6 grams of fat

Cheeseburger n' Fries Casserole

It tastes like cheesy tator tot hotdish/casserole. Very simple and makes quite a bit. Serves about 6.

Cheeseburger N' Fries Casserole

2 pounds ground beef
1 can cream of mushroom soup (undilluted)
1 can chedder cheese soup (undilluted)
1 package crinkle cut french fries

Brown ground beef, drain. Mix in both cans of soup. Pour into a 13X9X2 baking dish. Spread french fries over top of mixture. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes or until fries are cooked to your liking.

I made a few changes to this... I added some minced onion to the soup mix and then about 5 minutes before it was done I spread some shredded cheddar over the top. Also you can substitute the cream of mushroom soup with cream of onion or cream of celery soup, depending on your preferences.

Sharon's Famous Banana Bread

The same Sharon that made the Caramel Rice Krispy Bars also made the best Banana Bread you would EVER EAT. You can call it whatever you want but Sharon always made it for us and its the BEST! So glad I have this recipe of hers!

It stays really moist!

Sharon's Famous Banana Bread

1/2 cup Butter
2 Eggs
1/2 TSP vanilla
1 cup sugar
1 & 3/4 cups flour
1 c bananas (about 2 normal sized)
1 TSP baking soda
1/2 cup sour cream

Cream butter, add eggs, vanilla and sugar. Add flour and baking soda. Add sour cream and bananas. Pour into loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Makes one large loaf!

Caramel Rice Krispy Bars

These bars are TO DIE FOR! A very special lady, Sharon, would make these and seriously.... you better get one before they are gone. I brought these to a family get together and you should have heard the yummmms and mmmmm these are SO GOOD! So now I have a regular dessert to bring to family get togethers!

Rice Krispy Caramel Bars

**Bar Layers**

3 c mini marshmallows
1/4 c butter
3 & 3/4 c rice krispies

**NOTE** - take the above ingredients TIMES TWO! You need to make 2 layers of rice krispie bars so you will need to do step 1 twice.

**Caramel Mixture**
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 pkg (32) caramels
ANOTHER 1/4 c butter

Step 1:
Melt 1/4 c butter and marshmallows in microwave. Add the rice krispies. Grease a 9X13 pan and spread rice krispie mixture in pan. Press down well. Remove the rice krispie mixture out of the pan and put on wax paper.

Repeat method except keep this mixture in pan.

Melt sweetened condensed milk, caramels and 1/4 c butter in microwave. cool slightly and pour over rice krispies in pan. Then place layer that you have on wax paper on top.

cool and cut!

SOO YUMMY!!

Goulash

This is one of my most favorite dishes to make. I love it fresh and as leftovers. To me, it is just one of those feel good meals. Especially tasty on a cold evening. I think I need to make it soon!

Goulash


What you need:

8 oz macaroni (although I have used an entire 12oz box as well)
1 1/2 lbs ground beef or ground turkey
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup onion
2 cans diced tomatoes (do not drain)
2 cans tomato soup
1 TBSP vinegar
1 TSP dried basil
1/2 TSP salt
1/4 TSP pepper

What to do:

Cook pasta according to box instructions. Drain. In a large pot, brown your meat with the celery and onions for 5-7 minutes or until meat is cooked through. Stir in cooked & drained pasta and all remaining ingredients. Heat to a boil. When brought to a boil, lower the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.

*My Notes*

*Instead of 2 cans of diced tomatoes, I substitute one can for a can of Rotel. Gives it a zing.
*Once again... add minced garlic. Every recipe needs garlic! (ok well not pancakes...)
*I like pepper so I usually add a bit more. But to be kind to others sometimes I wait until I have dished up my own portion.

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

First a BIG THANK YOU to Amanda for her awesome recipes. I came upon her blog nearly a year ago now and I have been wanting to try some of her recipes. This recipe I am sharing with you today came from her. Thank you again!!

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

You will need:

1 TBSP butter or margarine
1 can Rotel tomatoes w/green chiles, drained
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese, cut up and softened
2 cups chopped, cooked chicken breast
8 8" flour tortillas
1 pint whipping cream
2 cups shredded monteray-jack cheese

What to do:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9X13 baking dish with Pam. Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add drained Rotel and saute for 1 min. Stir in cream cheese and chicken and cook, stirring constantly until cream cheese melts. Spoon 2-3 TBSP of mix down center of tortillas. Roll up tortillas and place seam side down in greased 9X13 baking dish. Sprinkle with mont. jack cheese and drizzle with whipping cream. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove foil and cook another 15 min or until top is golden brown.

I wish I had pictures of this to share. Make sure to check out Amanda's blog for lots of beautiful pictures of all she makes. It cooks up beautifully. I will have to make this again when we have company or as an easy potluck dish.

This was defintely a hit in our house. Cannot wait to have some leftovers for lunch today!

Pizza Bagels

No its not a crock pot recipe! But it is still really easy to prepare. I like to save recipes like this for the weekend. Usually we want things to eat that are a little on the "bad" side and fun. Pizza fits in both of those categories!

Pizza Bagels

You will need:

Bagels (each bagel makes 2 mini pizzas)
Pizza or Marinara Sauce
Mozzarella cheese
Your favorite pizza toppings (we usually use turkey pepperoni)

What you do:

Put the broiler on your oven. Ours is set at 500 degrees.
Split bagels in half and place on cookie sheet.
Spread with your choice of sauce
add some of your fixings (pepperoni, sausage, onion, olives, mushrooms)
Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top
Feel free to add a few fixings on top of the cheese layer.
Put cookie sheet on the top rack of your oven and let it broil for about 5 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and golden brown. The edges may crisp up but that is fine by us.

Enjoy your mini pizzas!

Crock Pot Beef Tips

I know, I know ANOTHER crock pot recipe. The way I see it, many people are looking for easy, tasty recipes and the crock pot is a WONDERFUL tool for accomplishing both of those tasks. Hopefully some moms and dads on the run will enjoy these recipes. And with colder weather arriving, its a wonderful time to pull out the trusty crock pot!

This is another one of my all-time favorite recipes.

Crock Pot Beef Tips

You will need:

1 lb beef tips/stew meat
1 pkg dry onion soup mix
1 can cream of mushroom soup

What you do:

Spray crock pot with cooking spray (to ease cleanup later). Rinse your beef in water and place in crock pot. Cover with dry onion soup mix and cream of mushroom soup. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Serve over rice, pasta or mashed potatoes.

Again... I often add a generous TSP of minced garlic and also some salt & pepper to taste. I tend to like this dish a bit on the peppery side. Add in what you like! Our favorite way to enjoy this meal is over white or brown rice. But it is equally tasty over noodles or potatoes.

Crock Pot Tex-Mex Chicken

Since I shared a previous crock pot recipe I will continue with another of our easy favorites.

Crock Pot Tex-Mex Chicken

Need:

2-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup salsa
1 pkg taco or fajita seasoning
1 can cream of mushroom soup (can substitute with cream of onion or celery)
1/2 cup sour cream

What you do:

Place uncooked chicken breasts on bottom of slow cooker. Add in salsa, seasoning and cream soup. Cook on low for 6-8 hours (depending on your crock pot). About 3o minutes before serving, stir in sour cream. Serve over rice or in tortillas.

We usually serve this meal "taco" style in tortillas and add more salsa, mexi-blend cheese, tomatoes, onions or whatever topping you like. I know some have served over rice and loved it as well.

Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff

This is one of my favorite meals to eat and it is SO EASY to make. Its a little different than other stroganoff recipes I have seen. It calls for cream cheese instead of sour cream. I love it and so does D!


Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff

Need:

1 lb cubed beef stew meat
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup water
4 ounces (half a brick) of cream cheese


This part is SOOOO easy.

In your crock-pot, combine all ingredients except for cream cheese. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-5 hours. Times all depend on your crock-pot. About 45 min - 1 hour before serving, put cream cheese into crock-pot so it can melt into the meat mixture. Stir well.

Serve over egg noodles, rice or mashed potatoes.

Serves 4

My Notes:

*I also add in a generous TSP of minced garlic. We love cooking with garlic in this house.
*To make it a little more healthy, I use the 98% Fat Free Campbell's cream soup and 1/3 less fat cream cheese. I taste no change in the end result.
*If you are nervous about picky eaters and the cream cheese, do not worry. D does not like cream cheese but loves this meal.
*With my crock-pots, it is always done in less than 5 hours when cooking on high. When it starts getting brown/black on the edges I turn it down for awhile.
*Our favorite serving method is over mashed potatoes. It is such a rich meal and oh so tasty this way!

Our Family Recipes

Another blog! I am pretty much addicted to this blogging thing and I wanted to find a nice way to share and store our favorite recipes that we commonly make. I am hoping to include pictures of each recipe but that may come at a later time. I usually do not bring my camera to the kitchen while I cook or bake!

Look for some easy, tasty recipes very soon!