BBQ Hamburgers

I know BBQ hamburgers are an easy thing with being able to buy pre-made patties. However, my family (relatives and all) and I love this recipe I do for homemade patties. They are easy and healthy. This recipe makes about 12 large patties. They do shrink as they cook, but they stay really thick. I use Sara Lee Wheat buns to help it be even healthier.

4 pounds lean ground beef

1/2 cup pureed carrot

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp garlic powder

approx 1 tbsp Season All

I normally don't measure my spices, but this is a best guess of how much I use. I prefer to add little bits as I mix so the spices get throughout all the meat.

I put the meat and pureed carrot in a large bowl. I mix with my hands by squeezing (like you would meatloaf). Then I slowly add spices, mix with hands, add a little more spices, mix again, and so on until I feel it's ready. Then I form the patties into about 5 inch round and about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick patties (they will thicken a little more as they cook, and shrink in). The puree helps these burgers be so juicy and good. I normally also add cheese for a yummy cheese burger.

Swiss Chicken Breasts

This is such an easy recipe, and it is so yummy. I can actually get my whole family to clean their plates and go back for seconds. I normally have side dishes of Rice a Roni (chicken flavor), corn, and homemade bread (or rolls). Here is the main dish:

The kids dug in before I could snap the picture.

Swiss Chicken Breasts

Ingredients:
5 Chicken Breasts (cut in half)
10 slices of swiss cheese (I use the kraft single slice)
1- 26 oz can Cream of Chicken soup
1/2 cup pureed cauliflower
1 1/2 cups water (Or use the can from the soup and fill it about half full of water)
3 cups dressing (I use Pepperidge Farm herb flavored dressing...Like stuffing)
1 cube butter (light)

Directions:
Rinse chicken breasts, cut in half, and put into a 13 x 9 inch cake pan, coated with non-stick cooking spray. Put one slice of swiss cheese on each piece of chicken.

Wisk together:
1 - 26 oz can Cream of Chicken soup
Water (however you measure it)
1/2 cup pureed cauliflower
Then pour this soup mixture over the chicken and cheese.

Mix together:
3 cups dressing
1 cube butter, melted
Then sprinkle this dressing mixture on top of chicken and soup. (I tend to do more of this dressing mix for additional flavor. I do 4 cups dressing and 1 1/4 cubes of butter, melted).

Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 35 - 40 minutes, then uncover and bake an additional 20 minutes.

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.

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!