Thursday, April 8, 2010

Delicious Taco Soup

I love the concept that Jessica Seinfeld had with her cook book Deceptively Delicious. I have incorporated pureed vegetables into my meals to try to eliminate the "Eat your vegetables" comment every meal. I have to say, so far it has worked! So I created some of my own recipes with pureed vegetables, and you really can not tell a difference. Here is one that turned out to be very delicious.

Delicious Taco Soup


Ingredients:
1 - 15 oz can black beans (drain only a little of the juice)
1- 15 oz can kidney beans (drain most of the juice)
1- 15 oz can corn (drain most of the juice)
1- 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes (you can hide these by chopping them finely in the food processor. I pureed them). I use all of this juice in the soup.
1 large red pepper (pureed)
1 pound meat (I use ground elk or beef)
1 packet taco seasoning
3-4 Tbsp chili powder (the more the hotter the soup is)
3 Tbsp dried onion (or any amount you would like)
Salt and Pepper

Instructions:
Cook meat, drain grease. Add everything else and let simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve with sour cream (this can make it less spicy for kids if you put a lot of chili powder in), fritos, tortilla chips, or shredded cheese. I normally only use sour cream and shredded cheese. This serves 4 to 6 people depending on portion sizes.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Crock Pot Chicken

I am a lover of the crock pot as well. This recipe is super easy and tasty.

4-6 chicken breasts
1/4 c water
1 Italian dressing packet (dry)
1 8 oz cream cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup

Throw the chicken breast in frozen or thawed along with water and Italian dressing packet. Cook on low for the day. An hour before it is ready to eat, throw in cream cheese and cream of chicken soup. Serve over rice or mashed potaters:)

Next time I make it I'll take a picture.

Crock pot Potatoes and Ham

Another goodie...love the crock pot!

-Scrub about 6-8 med potatoes (this will make a large amount). Slice the potatoes thin.
-get seperate bowl add: cream of chicken soup and mushroom soup (or can use cream of celery soup), and cheddar cheese soup. mix together.
-slice onions
-cut up ham into strips (I just buy lunch meat ham, that is a little thicker because it's cheaper this way)
- grate some cheddar cheese

After that: just layer the potatoes, ham, onions, sauce(the mixed soup) , cheese, salt and pepper, then repeat layer a couple times depending on how much food you want.

I always serve with rolls and salad.

Crock Pot Chili Casserole

I love this recipe simply because it's so easy. It cooks way fast, so you can do it just a couple hours before dinner time. All you do is: layer, cut up corn tortias ( I just rip mine), can of chili and cheddar cheese, then repeat with that layer (you will need a couple cans of chili) Then before serving add a small dab of sour cream on top and crushed tortia chips. That's it. I like to serve with applesauce and veggies.

Easy BBQ Chicken

Hey guys!! So I have a really really easy dinner and it's pretty yummy I think. You get a couple (the number depends on how many you want for your family) of either raw or frozen chicken breasts, and put them in your crock pot. If they are frozen you have to put them in the night before if they aren't you have to put them in pretty early like 9 am or so. After you put them in the crock pot pour a bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce over top. Then just let them cook all day you will know when they are done because they will just fall apart. Then put some potatoes in the oven to bake about an hour before you are ready to eat, do a quick veggie for a side and bam you are done easy eh? My kids love it and what could be easier than a crock pot dinner and baked potatoes?? Oh, I wanted to tell you how I bake my potatoes it is really yummy and easy. You scrub your potatoes and prick them with a fork. Then you take either normal table salt or sea salt and rub it all over the skin. Then just put the potatoes directly on the over rack for an hour at 400 degrees or so. Easy peasy, and no wrapping in tin foil!