Chicken and Stuffing

This was awesome.  The family loved it and it is easy to make healthy (er).  The chicken was very moist and the stuffing adds great flavor. 

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut in half (raw)
2.5 cups chicken broth
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 14 ounce bag cornbread stuffing (you can make your own stuffing with gluten free bread)
1 can cream of chicken soup (I make my own)
1 stick of butter melted

spray crock.  place chicken breasts on the bottom.  Celery and onion on top of chicken.  Pour cream of chicken soup on top.  Mix chicken broth, melted butter and stuffing together with a fork.  Spoon stuffing on top of cream of chicken soup.  Cook on low for 4 hours. 

Enjoy!  This will be a staple going forward.  This makes a lot so plenty of leftovers!

I served with green beans and a salad. 

Yummy egg hash casserole

• 16 ounces hash browns, frozen
• 1/2 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1/2 medium onion, diced
• 1/2 medium bell pepper, diced
• 3/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• 6 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

 

Place a layer of frozen hash browns on the bottom of the crock pot, followed by a layer of bacon, then onions, bell pepper and cheese.

 

Repeat the layering process two more times, ending with a layer of cheese.

 

Beat the eggs, milk, salt and pepper together.

 

Pour over the crock pot mixture.

 

Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours.

 

***I cooked this for 7 hours and it was perfect.  The whole family enjoyed. it.

Ham and Potato Chowder #1 Kid pick

Little man picked this out of his cookbook and absolutely devoured two bowls of it.  It was easy to make and was very flavorful.  Kid friendly for sure. 

1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 lb cooked ham cubed or in strips
1 box scalloped potatoes and mix packet
4 cups chicken broth (I am loving Trader Joe's organic broth)
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups half and half
1/3 cup flour

Place chopped celery and onion in bottom of crock.  Place ham on top. Add potatoes, sauce mix, chicken broth, salt and pepper and stir everything together.  Cook on low for 5-7 hours.  Whisk flour and half and half together.  Add to crock.  Cook on low for another 30 minutes.  Enjoy!

Juicy Hamburgers

These were awesome.  I love the taste and texture.  They are juicy and flavorful.  Best of all it is a great way to cook burgers in the winter without going outside and freezing or stinking your house up!  Also with a new baby at home I love how easy this is.  I was able to to prepare it in five minutes flat.  All members of the tasting crew enjoyed these.

2lbs ground beef
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 cups tomato juice or puree
1 tablespoon garlic
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tsp Italian Seasoning (or any meat seasoning you like ie-Lawrys)

put chopped onion and celery in bottom of crock.  With your hands mix together salt, pepper and ground beef and make eight balls.  flatten the balls into patties and place them in the bottom of the crock, try not to overlap but if you do stagger them.  Stir the tomato juice, ketchup, garlic and Italian seasoning together.  Pour over ground beef and cook on low for 5-7 hours or high for 2.5.  Serve with whatever toppings you want.

Little Man Snack Mix

Santa brought the kids each a crock pot cook book.  I let them each pick out one thing to make every week.  It is such a fun time cooking with them in the kitchen and when they pick out the recipe themselves they are way more interested in eating it.  This was a big hit.  It is from the cookbook Fix it and Forget it Slow Cooking For Kids.
 3 cups thin pretzel sticks
4 cups wheat chex
4 cups cheerios
12 ounces salted peanuts
half a stick of butter (melted)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp celery salt
1/2 tsp season salt (Lawrys)
2 Tbsp parm. Cheese
2 cups m&ms or choc chips.

Mix pretzels, cereals and peanuts together in crock.  Add seasonings and parm cheese to melted butter, mix well.  Pour butter mixture over dry stuff in crock.  Stir around until coated.  Cook on low for 2.5 hours stirring every 30 minutes.  After 2.5 hours let mix cook for 30 minutes without the lid.  let cool.  Add m&ms or choc chips once cool.  Serve and enjoy.

Turkey Tetrazzini

This was a fantastic way to use all of our turkey leftovers from the holidays.  It makes a lot and the kids both loved it.  I think it would work well with ham too.

 

2 1/2 cups diced cooked turkey breast (for ease, buy a precooked breast, such as Jennie-O)

1 (14 1/2 ounce) can fat-free chicken broth

1 (10 1/2 ounce) can low-fat cream of mushroom soup

2 teaspoons sherry wine or 2 teaspoons cooking wine

1/2 cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese (I used a little more cheese)

8 ounces canned mushroom slices, drained

1/4 cup pimento stuffed olive (optional) (I did not use these)

12 ounces uncooked spaghetti or any type of noodle

parmesan cheese

3 tablespoons water

1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

 

Directions

Place all ingredients except spaghetti, parmesan, water and cornstarch into crock pot; stir.  Cook on low for 6-8 hours.  Serve over cooked spaghetti; sprinkle with parmesan cheese.  Prior to serving, you'll probably want to thicken this a little more. Mix lukewarm water and cornstarch in a bowl until corn starch is dissolved. Add to crock pot mixture. Stir until thickened. If it it not thick enough you may repeat this step.

 

From Food.com

Chicken and black beans!

I had seen this recipe floating around on several sites I follow and I thought I would give it a try.  It was a wonderful hearty meal and high in protein.  It is really easy and perfect for career moms who are gone all day.

Here you go!
4 frozen bs chicken breasts
2 cans corn drained
2 cans black beans drained
1 15 ounce jar of salsa (or use your own homemade)
2 blocks cream cheese (I used regular but light would work too)

Place frozen chicken in bottom of crock.  Pour corn, beans and salsa on top.  Cook on low for 7-8 hours.  Stir and break up chicken.  The chicken should just fall apart.    Place two bricks of cream cheese on top and leave alone for 30-45 minutes.  Stir all together  and serve over noodles or baked potato or rice. 

Kids ate all of this.  It makes a lot!!!!