Polynesian Crockpot Ribs

These were great!!! When I read the recipe I figured they would be super sweet but they weren't at all! Easy to throw together in the crockpot. I reserved the sauce and boiled it down until it became thick and syrupy. I used that to baste the ribs and then threw them in a 425* oven for 10mins to caramelize the sugars for added flavor.

Polynesian Crockpot Ribs

3-4lbs pork ribs (I used baby back)
5T sugar
3T honey
3T soy sauce
2T ketchup
1tsp seasoning salt
1C chicken broth

Place ribs in the bottom of the crockpot. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over the ribs. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours. 1

Reuben Noodle Casserole

Jen is this good? No idea Blog readers, I won't touch sauerkraut with a 39 and a half foot pole. Gaaaaggg me. However, my husband thinks the Reuben is a gift from the heavens. I being the good wife that I am made this for him on a night I was not going to be home! He loved it.

*The recipe calls for rye bread, Dustin just tore up a baguette and threw it on top :-)

Reuben Noodle Casserole

8oz egg noodles - cooked
8oz thinly sliced corned beef
1 can sauerkraut - drained and rinsed
2C shredded Swiss cheese
1/2C 1000 Island dressing
1/2C milk
1T mustard
2 slices Rye bread
1T melted butter

Cut the corned beef into small pieces. Mix together the meat, noodles, sauerkraut and cheese. Pour into a greased 9x13 baking dish. In a small bowl whisk together the dressing, milk and mustard. Pour evenly over the noodle mixture. Tear the bread into small pieces. Toss with the melted butter. Sprinkle over the casserole. Bake at 350* for 25-35 minutes. 1

Chicken Noodle Soup (baby food friendly!!)

My itty bitty 2 year old has caught my nasty cold. Boo Mommy. So to make it all better I brought her toddler mattress out to the living room so she could lay in front of the tv and I whipped up some soup. This is so easy and even better it's a perfect recipe to throw in the food processor to turn into baby food!

The measurements are a guess...I don't measure and this was a fly by the seat of my pants (yes folks, I'm so crazy I just whip up soup!) recipe. Feel free to adjust it to your tastes! This made 4 decent size servings...I'd double it for 4 adults.

Chicken Noodle Soup

1 boneless skinless chicken breast
2 cans chicken broth
2 carrots - peeled and chopped
2 stalks celery - chopped
1 cup dry pasta (I used small rings, any will do)
1 bay leaf
1tsp garlic powder
1T dried parsley
1 pinch of sage

Add the chicken broth to a medium sauce pan. Add the chicken and boil until chicken is done. While the chicken is cooking chop the vegetables. Keep the pieces small! Remove the chicken and let it cool. Add the veggies and seasonings to the broth. Cover and simmer 15-20 minutes. While the veggies are simmering chop the chicken in to small pieces. Add the chicken and pasta to the simmering soup. Cover and simmer another 15-20 minutes or until the pasta is tender. Keep an eye on it because the pasta will absorb the liquid!

*buy your spices from Penzy's. The price is great and the quality is amazing.

*if you are turning this into baby food let it simmer a little longer so the pasta can absorb most of the liquid...this will give you a nice consistency when pureeing! 1

Tomato Basil Chicken

This is one of my favorite recipes. I'm not really sure why since I normally really really dislike tomato soup. But this is GOOD and quick and easy. It's one of those we are out of everything what can I make meals...I always have these ingredients laying around!

Tomato Basil Chicken

1T olive oil
4 boneless skinless chicken breast - chopped into bite size pieces
1 can tomato soup
1/2C milk
2T grated Parmesan cheese
1T dried basil
1/4tsp garlic powder (use more, garlic is a gift from God)
4C tube shaped noodles - cooked

In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, heat up the oil. Add the chicken and cook for 10 minutes or until brown. Set chicken aside.
Add the soup, milk, cheese, basil and garlic powder to the skillet. Heat to a boil. Return the chicken to the pan. Cover and cook 5 minutes. Stir in noodles. 1

Skillet Chicken Stew

Perfect cold weather meal! Double the recipe - it's only 4 servings and we ate it all!! Have a baby at home? This makes a great Stage 2 meal! I threw some in a food processor for my 6 month old and she loved it! Homemade bread would be perfect with this. However  I don't make bread so we had canned biscuits :-)

Skillet Chicken Stew

1/3C flour
1 1/2lbs boneless skinless chicken breast - cut into bite size pieces
3T butter
1 medium onion - chopped
3 ribs celery - chopped
2 medium potatoes - peeled and cubed
2 medium carrots - peeled and chopped
1C chicken broth
1/2tsp thyme
1T ketchup
1T cornstarch

Combine the flour with some salt and pepper in a shallow bowl. Coat the chicken. In a large skillet, melt the butter, add the chicken. Brown the chicken.  Add the onion and celery, cook 5 minutes. Stir in the potatoes and carrots. In a small bowl combine the broth, thyme, ketchup and cornstarch. Stir into the skillet mixture (make sure to get all the good bits off the bottom of the pan!). Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until veggies are tender - about 45 minutes. 1

Burrito Pie

Super great, quick and easy meal! Loved it. I just used a cake pan and layered it in there. You could also tear the tortillas to fit any baking dish you want to use! I did the cake pan cause I kind of wanted to see if it would tip over...it didn't :-)

You can dress this up any way you like - all your favorite burrito toppings! We kept it simple with extra taco sauce, sour cream and jalapenos!

The uncut "pie"

A decorated "slice"

Burrito Pie

1lbs ground beef
2T garlic - minced
1T chili powder
1tsp ground cumin
2T dried cilantro
1 (8oz) jar taco sauce
2 cans refried beans
12 (8in) flour tortillas
2C shredded co-jack cheese

Preheat the oven to 350*. Brown the ground beef, garlic, chili powder, cumin and cilantro. Mix in the taco sauce and refried beans. Spread a thin layer on the bottom of a casserole, cover with tortillas. Follow with more meat, then cheese. Repeat until tortillas are gone, ending with meat and cheese on top. Bake 20-30 minutes.

*I just layered the tortillas, one on top of each other and only used 8 because it was getting rather high! 1

Smothered Pork Chops with Cream Gravy

This recipe has gravy. Everything is good with gravy. I served this with rice but I would recommend doing mashed potatoes. The gravy screams mashed potatoes. My 2 year old ate this. That's saying a lot as her current list of things she'll eat is hot dogs and scrambled eggs.

Smothered Pork Chops with Cream Gravy

4-6 bone in pork chops (I used boneless, all I had)
2T olive oil
1/2 of a large onion - sliced (mine where chopped per bizarre request from my husband)
1/2 of a large green pepper - sliced
sprinkling of Cajun seasoning
4T butter
1/2C flour
2C water (I used chicken stock)
2C half & half

Preheat oven to 325 degrees (can also finish this on the stove top, if desired).

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chops and sear, sprinkling the top with salt and pepper. Turn and sear on the other side; season that side also. Remove to a baking pan.

Add the onion and green pepper to the skillet and saute until lightly caramelized. Transfer to the top of the chops; sprinkle with Cajun seasoning.

In the same skillet, add enough butter to bring fat to 1/2 cup total. Stir in the flour until fully incorporated and no lumps remain. Add the water to the half and half, and slowly pour into the flour mixture, stirring constantly. Cook and stir for 5 minutes. Pour over the chops, covering completely.

Cover the dish and bake at 325 degrees for 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until tender. Can also slow simmer on the stove top in a covered skillet - just check it occasionally to make sure it is not sticking. Serve over a bed of rice or with mashed potatoes.
Where I got the recipe!!! 1

Boneless Buffalo Chicken Bites

Yum. These are healthy - baked not fried. Use your favorite wing sauce. I used Frank's Hot Sauce and then kicked myself because I remembered I had a bottle of Mango Habenaro from Buffalo Wild Wings. Ever had it? Tastes like Heaven but burns like Hell. They are kind of messy to make but worth it. Make them kid friendly by using BBQ sauce instead of hot sauce.

Boneless Buffalo Chicken Bites

1C flour
1/4tsp cayenne pepper
1/4tsp paprika
1 egg
1T milk
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/4C hot sauce
2T butter

Preheat oven to 475*. Combine the flour, cayenne pepper, and paprika. Whisk together the egg and milk. Slice the chicken into large chunks. Dip the chicken into the egg mixture, then the flour mixture. Repeat to double coat. Place some tin foil (dull side up) on a cookie sheet. Spray liberally with cooking spray. Arrange chicken on sheet and lightly spray again with cooking spray. Bake 10-12 minutes or until browned. Combine the hot sauce and butter. Heat (microwave is fine) until bubbly. Let chicken cook a bit and coat in the sauce. 1

Ray's Casserole

Perfect perfect perfect quick night dinner! The ingredients are ones I always seem to have on hand. And it can be switched up 10798 ways to suit your family's taste! Use macaroni noodles, green beans, cream of mushroom - whatever your taste buds enjoy! Who's Ray? No idea but he has a good casserole recipe!

Ray's Casserole

8oz egg noodles - cooked & drained
1lb ground beef - cooked & drained
2C corn
8oz cream cheese - cubed
1C milk
1 can cream of celery
1C shredded cheddar cheese

Combine all ingredients in a glass baking dish. Bake at 325* for 20 minutes. Stir and sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Bake for another 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Let set 10 minutes before serving. 1

Bourbon Street Chicken

LLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVED THIS!!! Party in my tummy so yummy loved it. It's a great easy recipe with simple ingredients and comes together quick. Was great over rice. Adding in some steamed veggies would be good too. And you can easily adjust the heat level.

Bourbon Street Chicken

2lbs boneless skinless chicken breast - cut in to chunks
1T olive oil
1 clove garlic -crushed
1/4tsp ginger
3/4tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4C apple juice
1/3C brown sugar
2T ketchup
1T apple cider vinegar
1/2C water
1/3C soy sauce
1T cornstarch

Heat oil in a large skillet. Add the chicken and cook until lightly browned. Remove chicken. Add remaining ingredients and stir well until everything is combined and dissolved. Add chicken. Bring to a hard boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

Where I got the recipe! 1

Long Boy Burgers

First off - the picture sucks. My apologies...I'm not a professional food photographer by any stretch of the imagination! Check out the link where I got the recipe - her picture is much better.

Second  - THESE ARE AWESOME! How does it work? I have no idea. Yes the meat goes on raw. But it comes out perfect. The bread does get a little well done but I'm ok with that. And the toppings could be changed a million different ways! Use your imagination! But do make these - they rock! Even my anti-bread (weird right?!) toddler ate them!

Long Boy Burgers

2-4 (6-inch) sub rolls, split in half lengthwise (I used smaller, slider style!)
1 1/4 cup cornflakes, crushed (I scooped the bread out of the sub rolls and used that)
1/2 small onion, minced
1/2 cup whole or lowfat milk
6 tablespoons ketchup, separated
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Salt and pepper
1 1/2 pounds 90% lean ground beef (I used 1lb 80%)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Adjust the oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees.

1. Bake rolls, cut side up, on wire rack inside rimmed baking sheet until golden and crisp, about 5 minutes.

2. Combine cornflakes, onion, milk, 4 tablespoons ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, garlic powder, egg, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in large bowl. Add meat and knead gently until well combined.

3. Top toasted rolls evenly with meat mixture, spreading meat to edges of rolls. Brush top of meat mixture evenly with remaining ketchup (I stirred in a T of yellow mustard) and bake until meat registers 160 degrees, 20-25 minutes. Top burgers with cheese (and jalapeno if you desire!) and continue to bake until cheese melts, 3-4 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes. Serve.

Where I got the recipe 1

Beef House Broccoli Soup

Don't let the name fool you - there is no beef in the recipe. Yes my husband was disappointed. BUT he LIKED it! Sound the bells! Light the fireworks! My husband LIKED a meat free dish! This was a quick throw in the crockpot dinner. I also added a couple of peeled, chopped potatoes. This would make an excellent bread bowl soup.

Beef House Broccoli Soup

1/2 stick butter - melted
1/2 onion - chopped
1 1/2T flour
4C chicken stock
2 stalks celery - chopped
1lb broccoli - chopped
2 carrots - peeled and chopped
1/2lb Velveeta - cubed
1 pint milk
1 pint half and half

Whisk together the butter and flour. Place the butter mixture, chopped onion, celery, broccoli and carrots (potatoes too if you so desire) in the crockpot. Pour in the chicken stock. Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours. 30 minutes before serving add the milk, half and half and Velveeta. Stir before serving. 1