Voila! Crock Pot Chicken Stew

When the weather outside is frightful and you want something delightful I suggest crock pot chicken stew. Where did you think I was going with that? Snow?!?! Ha! No thank you! Although it is supposed to be in the thirties all week I am mentally preparing myself for more springlike weather this weekend when the temperature heats up to the sixties!!

So while it remains cold and everyone is stuck inside looking for something easy to cook and yummy at the same time let me share with you a simple recipe everyone can enjoy!

Ingredients:

4 boneless chicken breasts
4 russet potatoes, I left the peel and diced to 1" sq
1/2 white onion, diced
4 stalks of celery, diced
5 cups of chicken broth (or cover the ingredients in the crock pot)
20 baby carrots
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp Grill Mates Mccormick Montreal Steak Seasoning (you would think to yourself isn't this a chicken recipe but trust me, this seasoning is the best)

Directions:

Prepare all of the ingredients above and then place everything into the crock pot. Turn the crock pot on high (if cooking for four hours) and turn on low (if cooking for eight hours). After the desired time is complete, take a slotted spoon and remove the chicken placing it into a bowl. Shred the meat with two forks and then add the chicken back into the crock pot. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.

I actually amazed myself when I tasted this for the first time. I always look up to the grandparents because they seem to make the best heartwarming recipes that leave your taste buds satisfied so it was awesome to feel that way about my cooking. If you are looking for something quick, easy and memorable this one is for you!

Enjoy!

Easy Cooking: Chili Mac

Let's face it, Monday's are the hardest for most of us. Back to work, back to school and back to the weekly routine of life. By Monday evening I am exhausted. I get so use to the calm, slow moving atmosphere over the weekend that I feel like I've ran a marathon by the time it comes for me to prepare dinner.

Lately I've been doing a lot of pinning on Pinterest to find easy simple recipes that take no time to make and it has been a success. Pinterest really has become my lifestyle assistant.

One of the newest recipes I have tried left my belly full and my taste buds satisfied. Even Madison ate almost her entire bowl!!

Chili Mac

Ingredients:

1 1/2 tsp. Vegetable oil
1 lb. Ground beef
1/2 Onion, chopped
3 tbsp. Chili powder
2 tsp. Paprika
1 tsp. Pepper and salt
1 tsp. Brown sugar
1 15 oz. Can of tomato soup
2 cups Water
16 oz. Elbow macaroni
2 cups Shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:
1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium to high heat. Add the ground beef, onion, chili powder, paprika, salt and pepper. Cook the meat until completely brown. 

2. Add the brown sugar, tomato sauce, water and macaroni. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally until the macaroni is tender. This will take about ten minutes. 

3. Remove from heat and sprinkle with cheese.

The best part, devour each and every bite!!! Happy easy Monday cooking!!

I Like Cheese More Than Football

While everyone else on the planet watched the Super Bowl I went to the gym, cooked dinner and wrote this post....

via

The idea? First, although Manning was and can I say again WASSSS with the Colts I could really care less who won the football game. Also, I guess there will be no more talk for awhile about Peyton, Peyton Peyton! This will make more sense if you have watched the recent popular viral video here. Maybe I'm the only woman who hates football season and all of the time it takes away from the weekend and week but I'll stay aboard my anti sports train!

Second, cooking a meal that is so delicious that you get to blog about it is a win win.

So, here is that fabulous meal that Kate my blogging buddy turned me onto!

Cheesy Cornbread Casserole

Ingredients:

1 pound of ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 (8 oz) package of cornbread mix
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray an 8x8 inch baking dish with non stick spray
3. In a skillet over medium heat, brown your ground beef and onion until the ground beef is fully cooked and the onion is soft
4. Mix in the ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and chili powder
5. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes
6. Pour your ground beef mixture into your baking dish
7. In a separate bowl, prepare your cornbread mix as instructed on the box
8. Pour the batter over your ground beef mixture
9. Bake uncovered about 20 minutes or until cornbread is golden brown
10. Remove from oven, sprinkle with the cheddar cheese and let cool for 5 minutes

This has to be one of the easiest recipes I make and the entire family loves it! It also makes plenty of left overs for lunches! 

Overstuffed Pizza Bites

I'm constantly looking for new recipes and budget friendly meals. I mean who isn't? The less I spend at the store the happier I am . This past grocery visit was the most successful visit I've had in a long time. I had a list, researched all of my meals and for once was more organized than usual. This impacted my grand total and how long the food has lasted. Looking for a yummy meal while only spending a couple of dollars? Here it is!

Overstuffed Pizza Bites

Ingredients:

1 can of refrigerated pizza dough

3 tablespoons mozzarella cheese

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

8 to 12 oz mozzarella cheese cubed

Pepperoni slices

1 tablespoon melted butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425

Unroll pizza dough and lay on a floured flat surface. Roll out the pizza dough into a 12 x 18 rectangle. 

Cut into even squares

Brush melted butter to coat on both

Place three pepperoni slices, two slices of mozzarella cheese with a sprinkle of garlic powder on top of the dough. 

Take each corner of the dough and carefully wrap each side into one another and make a crease at each side. 

Place each stuffed biscuit into a round baking pan and bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. 

Serve with a garden, Caesar or Greek salad and Voila! 

Enjoy ;)

Have you prepared a new recipe lately? 

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

Anyone who knows me knows I am a veggie/fruit kind of girl. I rarely find myself wanting meat. Unless it is steak of course then I want that any day. While sticking to my New Years plan to cook more at home, that meant finding recipes that weren't made for a vegetarian.

Bacon Wrapped Chicken Stuffed with Cream Cheese

With only four ingredients this meal came together pretty quick!

Ingredients:

1 chicken breast
2 tablespoons cream cheese
1 tablespoon green onion, chopped
2 slices of bacon, partially cooked

Directions:

Flatten out the chicken breast until it is 1/4" thick

Combine the green onion and cream cheese together and mix well

Spread the mixture over one side of the chicken breast

Roll the chicken breast up to conceal the cream cheese

Wrap the partially cooked bacon around the chicken and secure with a toothpick

Place on a baking sheet and bake for approximately 35 minutes at 375

Broil for 5 to 10 minutes or until the bacon is crisp


Pair with your favorite sides and enjoy!!

4 Ingredients Easy as 1,2,3

I LOVE quick and I LOVE easy so it comes to no surprise that this recipe screams my name!

While scrolling along looking for simple dinner meal ideas I came across 

Mini Chicken Pot Pies

One glance at the ingredient list and I was sold. Four ingredients! Now if that doesn't sound easy breezy I don't know what does! 

Anyone can whip up these magical, warm, gooey and mouthwatering pieces of yumminess! Even if you aren't a "cook" or someone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, this recipe is for you as well!

Recipe:

5-10 min prep time

30 min total time

8 servings

Ingredients:

2

cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed

1

can diced cooked chicken

1

can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup

1

can (16.3 oz) Pillsbury Grands Flaky Layers refrigerated biscuits

Heat oven to 375 degrees

In medium bowl combine vegetables, chicken and soup. Mix well.

Press each biscuit into the muffin pan. Firmly press the bottom and sides up 

creating a "bowl" with a rim.

Spoon a 1/3 cup of the chicken mixture into each.

Pull edges of dough over the filling towards the center and pinch the dough holding it in place.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown. 

Cool, remove from pan and pair with your favorite side! I chose mashed potatoes! 

ENJOY! 

Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Seeds

With November in full swing and a ton of pumpkins and pumpkin seeds left over we need to put them to use!
Why let a little ol' pumpkin rot away when it can be transformed into a wonderful yummy snack or dessert?
The fall season always brings the best aromas to our homes and the best recipes to our kitchens!
One of my favorite recipes is the Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Seeds!

As a child, I remember rolling out the newspapers, digging my hands down into the orange stringy slime and pulling out of the pumpkin guts. It might be one of the only times I really got dirty. I was and still am a girly girl. I hate getting all messy or making a mess.
I felt the need as a mother to share this experience with my daughter. So we took her leftover pumpkin and made this fabulous tasty snack!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups pumpkin seeds
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Take the pumpkin seeds rinse and pat them dry between paper towels

Place the seeds in a bowl and mix with the sugar and cinnamon

Stir all together until well blended

Spread onto a ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes

Cool before serving!

Isn't Madison's pumpkin the cutest? She drew the design on paper and we re-created it onto her pumpkin!

Now we are off to count the days until Thanksgiving where we will encounter more yummy recipes and create everlasting memories!

If you haven't already click here to enter the $1000 Christmas giveaway I am involved in right now! 

Good Luck!