Barbara's Shepherd's Pie

I had this for the first time on one of our beach trips.  Barbara made it for us all to eat after we came in from doing a beach session.  It was delicious.

chuck roast
Dry onion soup mix
dry  mushroom gravy mix
8 Yukon Gold mashed potoatoes
butter
salt and pepper to taste
Pam

Cook chuck roast overnight with dry onion soup mix.  No liquid added.  Low heat

Remove meat.  Spray casserole pan with Pam.  Spread roast shreds into casserole pan.

Make gravy with dry mushroom gravy mix and beef juice.

When it thickens, and boils, pour over meat.

Make mashed potatoes with the 8 Yukon Gold potatoes, butter, salt and pepper.  Spread over top.

Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.

Chicken and Ritz Casserole

This is a basic recipe that everyone always likes.

chicken breasts

8 oz. sour cream

2 cans cream of chicken

1 3/4 stick butter

3 rolls Ritz crackers

salt and pepper to taste

Boil and season chicken breasts. 

Chop or tear into small pieces.  Mix with soup and sour cream.

Crush crackers, and mix with melted butter

Layer crackers, filling, then crackers again.

Bake 350 for 30  minutes or until bubbly.

Ranch Chicken

This delicious and easy chicken recipe has always been a hit when I've made it for the family.

Ingredients:
8 chicken breast halves
3/4 cup crushed Lays potato chips
3/4 cup parmesan cheese (from a shaker)
1 packet of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
melted butter

Preparation:

Combine crushed chips, parmesan cheese, and ranch mix.

Dip chicken halves in melted butter, and then roll in chip mix.

Place in greased 9x13 pan

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

Enjoy!

Garlic Roasted Chicken

I made this super simple recipe tonight.  It's a keeper, and as simple as can be!

This is the YouTube video where I got the recipe, and the only variation I made, was placing the chicken on a bed of sliced onions in the pan, so that the pan drippings would have that bit of added flavor.  Yum!!

http://youtu.be/vbReTDAFusk

Start by removing the chicken from the fridge, so that it won't be too cold when you start working with it.

Roast 3 jumbo bulbs of garlic, and mash the cloves together with a generous amount of salt and pepper.

With your hands, create a separation between the skin and the body of the chicken.

Use your hands to rub the garlic mixture generously between the chicken and the skin, on the breast side of the chicken.  Work the mixture all the way down, so that even the legs are being coated.

Make sure that the outside of the chicken is dry.

Rub any remaining mixture all over the outside of the chicken.

Salt and pepper the outside of the chicken.

Lay onion slices on the bottom of your pan.

Place chicken on onion slices.

Tie the chicken legs together, and tuck in the wings.

Bake at 425 for about 1 1/2 hours (or until meat thermometer inserted deep into thigh reads at least 160 degrees).

Baste with pan juices and allow to sit for about 10 minutes.

The skin should be crispy, with a beautiful golden color, while the inside is juicy and delicious!

(The bones can be used to make bone broth in a slow cooker if you want to take advantage of them too!)

Black Beans, Beef and Rice

I recently prepared a new recipe for my family, and it was a big hit with everyone!

I love it when that happens...because SOMEONE in our family (a cute little opinionated 4 year old), turns his nose up at most anything that is not Mac N Cheese these days!

What makes it even better, is that it is gluten free, so the whole crew can right dig right in, and not worry about Caylie getting sick...which has become a requirement around here.

I have made it twice so far, and the last time, as we were licking our plates clean, we decided that the next time I make it, I should do a double batch!

Black Beans, Beef and Rice

4 slices of bacon, cut into 1" pieces

1 lb. lean ground beef

1/2 c chopped onion

green pepper, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1C long grain rice
1C water

14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained

15.5 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 1/2 t dried Italian seasoning

1t salt

1C shredded mozzarella cheese

Cook bacon in large skillet on medium heat.  Add beef, onion, pepper, and garlic.  Cook, stirring often, until beef has browned.  Add water, rice, tomatoes, beans, Italian seasoning, and salt.  Mix well.  Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until liquid is absorbed and rice is done (20 min. or so).  Sprinkle with cheese.

Ricki's Ravioli Chicken Salad

This is another great recipe that I got from Ricki. It is a hearty salad that can easily be served as the main course! The recipe originally was double this in quantity, but I have divided it in half below. Doubled, it fed probably 15-20 people!

1 rotisserie chicken (or 3 whole breasts cooked) cut up in bite size pieces
12 oz bag of fresh ravioli or tortellini
1 C red grapes
1/2 C fresh snow peas, uncooked
2-2 1/2 stalks celery (cut up fairly small)
1/2 cucumber peeled, seeded and sliced or cut up in bite size pieces
1/2 bunch green onion cut up
1/2 C Craisins
6 oz. marinated artichoke hearts (optional) (Ricki did add this)
1 kiwi, peeled and sliced
1/2 can mandarin oranges
1/2 bag of spinach
toasted pecans

Dressing:
1/2-3/4 C mayonnaise
1/3 C lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients except kiwi, orange, spinach and pecans. Mix dressing well and add to salad. Just before serving, stir in spinach and garnish with kiwi, oranges and pecans.

Crock Pot Chicken Lasagna

This recipe is delicious! My whole family loves it!

Although it is one of the more complicated crock pot recipes that I have tried, it is very worth the effort! Even though it has spinach in it, my 3 year old loves it...that's gotta tell you something! :)

2 cans Cream of Chicken
1/2 package of frozen chopped spinach...thawed, drained and squeezed
1 (9 oz.) pkg. of frozen, diced, cooked chicken
1 (8 oz.) sour cream
1C milk
1/2 C Parmesan cheese
1/3 C finely chopped onion
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
9 uncooked lasagna noodles
1C shredded mozzarella cheese

Stir together first 10 ingredients in a large bowl. Spray crock pot with Pam and place 3 lasagna pieces in bottom. Break pieces as necessary to cover the bottom. Spread 1/3 of the spinach mixture over the noodles. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the mozzarella. Repeat these 3 layers 2 more times. Cook on Hi for 1 hour and Lo for about 5 hours.

Notes...
* I was kind of generous on my cheese measurements. :)
* My lasagna started getting pretty crispy around the edges after about the 4th hour (which actually ended up adding to the flavor!), but keep an eye on it toward the end if it is your first time to make it.

Taco Soup

This recipe came from a family cook book, and I have made it many times! It is great when you need a fast dinner!

1 lb. ground beef
1 pkg. Ortega (or other gluten free brand) taco seasoning
1 pkg. dry Ranch dressing mix
1 can whole corn
1 can chili beans
1 can Ro-tel
Shredded cheese

Brown ground beef in a soup pot, and drain. Add in taco seasoning and Ranch mix. Stir. Add corn, chili beans, and Ro-tel, then stir to combine. Heat through. Serve topped with shredded cheese.

Make Ahead Breakfast Casserole

This recipe was served the morning of my cousin's wedding. I loved it so much that I asked for the recipe, and have made it many times!

6 slices of bread
1 lb. sausage
1 1/2 C cheddar cheese
6 eggs
2 C half & half
1 tsp. salt
margarine

Cut crusts off of bread. (I don't always do this part.) Spread margarine on both sides of bread. (I usually only do one side.) Place bread in a greased 9x13 dish. Cook sausage and drain on paper towels. Spread over bread. Sprinkle with cheese. Combine eggs and 1/2 & 1/2 and pour over sausage. Cover and chill overnight. Remove 15 minutes before bake time. Bake, uncovered, 45 minutes at 350.

Mozzarella Chicken

I actually found this recipe on another blog. It was simple and fast to make, and we all liked it...it's a keeper!

4 large skinless boneless chicken breasts
6 oz. Mozzarella cheese slices (I've also used shredded)
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
1/4 cup white cooking wine
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup herb-flavored crushed up Pepperidge Farm stuffing mix
1/2 stick butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place uncooked chicken in shallow buttered casserole dish. Layer cheese on top. Mix soup, wine, salt, pepper; pour over cheese. Sprinkle stuffing mix on top and drizzle with melted butter. Bake for 1 hour.

Potato Cheese Soup

This is one of my favorite fast and easy "comfort food" recipes. I got if from a tv show years ago, and have made it many times. I like to serve it with the cornbread recipe that is also on my recipe blog! :)

6 C water
6 chicken bullion cubes
2 lb. bag of frozen hash brown potatoes
1 can cream of chicken
1 can cream of celery
1 can of milk (use one of the empty soup cans from above)
1 lb. cubed Velveeta
2 oz. (or more) real bacon bits (I use the bacon bits that come in a jar in the salad aisle)

Bring water to a boil. Dissolve bullion cubes in water. Add hash browns, and boil until tender. Add cans of soup and milk. Add cubed Velveeta and bacon bits. Stir over low heat until Velveeta is melted.

This recipe is super easy, and can also be made in the slow cooker. The only mistake that I have ever made with it, was heating it too quickly, and scorching it because of the milk and cream soups, so just don't heat too quickly! :)

SBMFE

South Of The Border Mexican Fiesta Extravaganza (Named by Our Kids!)

I got this recipe from a lady at church who was just telling several of us about a fast and easy recipe she had tried. My kids love it with rice and/or Fritos!

2 Cans Black Beans, drained and rinsed
1 Medium Sized Jar of Salsa...any kind
2 Eggs...whisked
2 C Grated Cheese

Stir together first 3 ingredients, and then top with cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 min., or until bubbly.

Teresa's 5 Can Chili

My sweet friend Teresa gave me this recipe.

Like most of the recipes on my blog, it made it onto my "keeper" list because it is fast, easy, and tastes great! I've made it lots of times! :)

1- 1.5 pounds of ground beef
1 can chili beans
1 can pinto beans
1 can tomato sauce
1 can Del Monte Chili Diced Tomatoes
1 can rotel

Brown ground beef, and drain. Add all other ingredients and heat through.