Crockpot Chicken Taco Soup

Always popular on a chilly fall or winter day! My friend Amanda introduced me to this recipe and I've made it many times since - always delicious!

Turn your crock pot/ slow cooker to low heat. 

Add: 

2 cans of Rotel original diced tomatoes (don’t strain)

3 cans of sweet corn (don’t strain)

3 cans of chili beans (don’t strain)

2 packages of taco seasoning

1 chicken breast (I put in frozen, but fresh is fine too)

Cook in slow cooker all day on low heat – shred chicken after it’s been cooked.

Top with shredded cheddar cheese, Frito chips and sour cream. 

Enjoy!

Comforting Potato Soup

Perfect for a cool evening - comfort food! I serve with cheddar biscuits.

6-7 medium unpeeled potatoes diced into larger pieces
1 1/2 cup grated Monterrey Jack cheese
1 pint half & half
7 stalks celery thinly sliced
1/2 large onion thinly diced
6 chicken bullion cubes
1 package bacon diced small and cooked in pan until crispy (drain and set aside)
1 tablespoon garlic salt
1 tablespoon rosemary minced small
1 tablespoon sage minced small
1/2 cup parsley (optional)

Add your diced potatoes & bullion cubes into a large pot and add water just to the top of the potatoes. Boil until just tender, then turn heat down to medium and add celery and onion. Simmer for another 15 minutes stirring occasionally. Add garlic salt, bacon, rosemary and sage - then, slowly add in the cheese. Stir and turn soup to low. Top with parsley if you choose.

Bacon, Tomato and Ranch Pasta Salad

Delicious as a side, and great for Natalie's school lunches

1 large tomato diced
1/2 cup parsley finely chopped
1/2 small red pepper finely chopped
1/2 green pepper finely chopped
1/2 cup black olives halved
1/2 cup crispy bacon pieces
1/2 cup Uncle Dan's/ Hidden Valley mix (ranch packet mix)
1 package bow-tie or shell pasta

Take half a package of bacon, dice it up and cook it until really crisp, cool and add to large bowl. Cut up tomatoes, olives, parsley, green pepper and red pepper, add to bowl. Make the ranch as instructions say, add 1/2 cup to bowl, cook pasta until soft, rinse with cold water, add to bowl. Mix, enjoy!

Grandma Pearls' Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
3 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 eggs beaten
1 cup butter
1 cup peanut butter
3 tablespoons warm water


Preheat oven to 350 - line pan with parchment paper. Roll into balls and press flat with a fork. Bake cookies for 15 minutes.

Homemade Sloppy Joe's

Easy, fast and delicious!

1lb hamburger meat
1 can diced tomatoes with garlic
1 package bakery made hamburger buns (I toast in oven with olive oil)
1 small onion (chopped)
1 small green pepper (chopped)
1 tablespoon paprika
1 1/2 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
6 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon garlic powder

Saute the onion and green pepper on medium heat until just soft, put to the side. Brown the hamburger and then add the onion and green pepper back to the pan, then add the spices and diced tomatoes. Let simmer for about 5 minutes, then add the ketchup.
                                                 Simmer for another 5 minutes and serve over toasted buns.

Moist & Delicious Zucchini and Cranberry Bread

• My Favorite Zucchini Recipe
• 
  This year we started our first little garden. It did well, and we were able to harvest some big zucchini's! This recipe is my favorite way to use them up! 

• 
  
• Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, cinnamon and nutmeg together in a bowl.
• Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini and 1/2 cup apple juice/ or apple cider. Pour batter into prepared pans.
• Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.

These can be made into muffins  - just fill regular sized cupcake pan with cupcake papers, fill 3/4 full with mixture and bake for 20-25 mins or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. 

• 
  
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 1/4 cups white sugar
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups grated zucchini
• 1/2 cups apple cider or apple juice
• 1/2 cups dried cranberries

Marinara and Turkey Meatballs

Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs 

Sauce:

1 28oz can crushed tomatoes

6oz can of tomato paste

2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion

3 tablespoons finely chopped black olives

2 teaspoons salt - taste, may need 3 teaspoons

2 tablespoons garlic paste

6 oz water

1 teaspoon cumin

Meatballs:

1lb ground turkey

1 tablespoon Greek Oregano (finely chopped)

1 tablespoon Rosemary (finely chopped)

1 tablespoon Thyme (finely chopped)

1 tablespoon Sage (finely chopped)

Dash of Chipolte Pepper

1 teaspoon dry Mustard

1 teaspoon Cumin

1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder

1/2 tablespoon Salt

2 tablespoons Kellogg's Corn Flake Crumbs

(make into small balls)

Special Instructions:

Cook meatballs on medium heat and allow for a nice brown crust to form on the outside - flip occasionally (don't overcook the meatballs as they will finish simmering with the sauce). Add in sauce and simmer on low heat for an hour. 

Cook spaghetti noodles and add sauce and meatballs - Enjoy!

BBQ Chicken and Bacon Pizza

BBQ Chicken and Bacon Pizza

This is the most delicious pizza I've ever made!

Preheat Oven to 450

Crust:

• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 2 1/2 cups bread flour
• 2 tablespoons light olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon chopped sage
• 1 tablespoon chopped Greek Oregano

Sauce:

• Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce
• 1/2 tablespoon light olive oil (mix together)

Toppings: 

• 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
• 1/2 cup chopped black olives
• 1 large chicken breast - cooked and cubed (remember to salt and pepper the breast when cooking)
• 4 strips of bacon - cook until just crispy, chopped
• 3/4 cup Monterrey Jack cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup of cherry tomatoes, halved

Special Instructions: 

• Start by mixing the dough ingredients - set aside in a bowl and cover while getting the toppings ready. I like to roll the dough out to be about a half inch thick, not too thin, not too thick; that way you get a crunchy bottom with a nice chewy center. 
• Prepare your pizza pan by drizzling olive oil on it and then sprinkling lightly with flour or a little bit of corn meal. 
• First spread a generous layer of BBQ sauce then add other ingredients and cook on 450 for 20-25 minutes - check crust after 20 min. by placing spatula and lifting so that you can judge how done the center is.