Crockpot Balsalmic Shredded Beef over mashed potatoes

This was an incredible meal! It is one of those meals you can't wait to eat again and again! It will most definitely be put in our monthly rotation!

What you need:

• 1 lb shredded beef
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 brown sugar
• 1/4 cup balsalmic vinegar
• 1 T soy sauce
•  1 t salt
• 1/4 t red pepper flakes
• 1 t garlic powder

What you do:

1. place beef into crock pot
2. Mix all other ingredients together.
3. pour over beef.
4. Cook on low 8 hours.
5. Serve over mashed potatoes

I made a cheesy garlic mashed potatoes to serve them over. I used yellow skin potatoes (leave the skins on for texture), whipping cream, lots of butter, garlic powder, and cheddar chesse.


 
tips:

• Try substituting  sirloin cut into bite size pieces with some mushrooms for a yummy option! Still serve over mashed potatoes.

Amish noodles and boiled chicken thighs Redone!!!!

This recipe takes time but is well worth it! The ingredient list seems a little intimidating but you dont need all the different spices. Just use what you have and what you like. This is a great base recipe. Feel free to play with it and let me know what you like to do!

What you need:

• 4 chicken thighs
• 4 cups egg noodles
• 2 cans chicken stock
• 1 cube chicken boullien
• 2 T butter
• vermont white cheddar cheese(could use something else this is just what I had on hand)
• apple cidar vinegar
• crushed red pepper flakes
• tabasco
• rotisserie chicken seasoning (again just what I had on hand)
• chopped onion
• black peppercorns
• smoked paprika
• white pepper
• bay leaves

What you do:

1.  Remove skin from chicken thighs
2. Start marinating chicken in a mixture of apple cidar vinegar, a little water, crushed red pepper flakes, rotisserie chicken seasoning and a couple splashes of tabasco. Leave on counter.(randomly flip while working on other things)
3. Start making stock to boil chicken in. I did about 4 quarts water then added in a couple hand full of chopped onion, some whole black peppercorns, smoked paprika, white pepper, and 4 bay leaves. Put on high!
4. Once water is on high turn down and let simmer for as long as you can so flavors can combine more.
5. Put butter in large pot and let brown. Make sure it doesnt burn though.
6. Add in chicken broth and boullien cube. Bring to a boil. 
7. Add noodles and return to boil. 
8. As soon as it is boiling cover and turn off heat. Be sure you leave it on the same burner! Stir after 10 minutes.
9. At this point put chicken in simmering stock.
10. After another 10 minutes stir everything again. 
11. If chicken is not  almost done take off the bone and return to stock.
12. After another 10 minutes stir everything again. At this point the noodles should be done. If either ingredient isn't finished leave both in their dish and just let continue cooking. 
13. Once chicken and noodles are done drain the noodles and return to pan. 
14. Grate a couple handfuls white cheddar cheese and mix in.
15. remove chicken from broth and cut up. 
16. mix everything together!

So like I said it takes time but everything develops great flavors! 

Taco Bake

I found this recipe on pinterest but tweaked it quite a bit! Here is my version of the recipe.

What you need:

• 1 lb hamburger
• 1 bag cool ranch duritos
• can of tomato sauce
• can of diced tomatoes
• can of crescent rolls
• 16 oz sour cream
• handful of chopped onion spice
• cumin
• red pepper
• basil
• garlic salt
• water

What you do:

1. Brown the hamburger and drain.
2. Put hamburger back in pan add in tomato sauce and diced tomatoes add in spices to taste and let simmer. (if there is not enough fluid add a lil water.)
3. Spread out crescent roll dough in bottom of 9x13 glass pan. rub so the edges blend.
4. Pour hamburger over dough. (if there is a lot of fluid drain some out. You dont want it too watery or it'll make the dough soggy.)
5.  Layer the sour cream over the hamburger.
6. Fill a food processor with the chips and grind them up so they are small chunks. Pour over the hamburger.
7. Bake in oven at 350 for 30 minutes.
8. When checking if done hold up and check the bottom of the dough.
9. Cook extra 5 minutes as needed.

Asparagus Gratin.

Great side dish. Had it tonight with Baked Spaghetti. Was a great meal together.

What you need:

• 1 bunch asparagus
• 3 cups water
• 2 T Butter
• 2 T flour
• 3/4 cup shredded parmesan
• 1/2 cup shredded medium cheddar
• bacon bits
• Salt and Pepper

What you do:

1. Cut woody ends off asparagus. save them!
2. Start the water boiling. 
3. Once it reaches a boil add in ends of asparagus. Boil 5 minutes.
4. Remove asparagus ends. (now you can throw them away)
5. Put the water in a skillet with the asparagus stalks. Cook until a fork can go in. About 4 minutes.
6. Put asparagus on paper towel and dry. Save 1 cup of water.(if not enough just add regular water until there is enough.)
7. Melt butter in skillet. Wisk in flour. Cook for about 1-2 minutes.
8. Whisk in water. Bring to a boil them lower to a simmer. Cook until thickens about 5 minutes.
9. Remove from heat. Whisk in 1/2 cup parmesan & 1/2 cup cheddar.
10. Season with Salt and Pepper. Cover and let sit 5 minutes.
11. Put asparagus on cookie sheet. Pour sauce over the top.
12. Sprinkle the rest of the parmesan and bacon bits over the top.
13. Broil 4-5 minutes.

Crockpot Cheesy Chicken and Rice

Way yummy easy recipe. I love my crockpot! The original recipe was a little bland so make sure you season it well!!!

What you need:

• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
• 1 8 ounce box rice 
• 1 can cream of soup 
• 1 cup cheddar cheese
• 1 can corn
• chopped onion seasoning or 1 onion chopped up
• seasoning salt
• pepper

What you do:

1. Put chicken in bottom and cover with handful of onion
2. Cover with soup. 
3. Season with seasoning salt and pepper
4. Cook on low 7-8 hours.
5. When almost done cooking add in cooked rice, corn and cheese
6. stir and let cook for a few minutes.
7. serve hot.

Tips:
You can cook the rice in advance and just put in fridge until ready to add in.
My favorite flavor combination is cheesy rice and cream of chicken soup.
If you use yellow rice I would do chicken or cheese, if you do chicken rice do mushroom soup.

Maple Bake Chicken

A little sweet but would be really good for a Sunday brunch. Still a good dinner but I prefer more savory dishes.

What you need:

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup flour seasoned with salt and pepper
• 4 T butter
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 t thyme
• 1/4 t sage 
• Dash of smoked paprika
• Dash of dill
• onion
• 1/2 cup chicken broth

What you do:

1. dredge chicken in seasoned flour.
2. Melt butter on stove.
3. Once butter is bubbling brown chicken on both sides.
4. Slice onion and put in bottom of glass 12x9 dish.
5. Cover onion in chicken broth.
6. Place chicken on onions.
7. Pour maple syrup over chicken.
8. Mix spices and sprinkle spices over chicken.
9. Bake chicken for around 15 minutes in oven on 350. Occasionally baste with juices.

It was a good meal and pretty easy.

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Potato Soup (8 servings)

Super yummy and quick soup. From prep to table takes only about 1 hour. 

What you need:

• Swanson chicken flavor booster (can be found by bouillon)
• 3 1/2 cups diced & peeled poatotes
• 1/2 cup celery
• 1/3 cup onion
• 5 T butter
• 5 T flour
• 2 cups milk
• salt and pepper

What you do:

1.  Put potatoes, celery, onion and 3 1/4 cups water in pot.  Season with salt and pepper. Bring to boil. Cook over medium heat 10-15 minutes until potatoes are tender.
2. Once the potatoes are almost done in a separate saucepan melt butter.
3. Wisk in flour and cook 1-2 minutes.
4. Add in chicken flavor booster. Whisk until everything combines.
5. Slowly add milk and whisk so there are no lumps.
6. Stir and let cook until it thickens 4-5 minutes.
7. Once everything is done add milk mixture to potato mixture. 
8. Let combine and cook for 4-5 minutes.
9. Serve.

Great quick meal.

Tips and tricks:

• Try mixing in a handful cheddar cheese right before serving.
• Try topping with cheese, bacon and chives. For a more loaded potato soup taste.

Seasoned Pork Loin with Mango Salsa

I bought some awesome mango peach salsa from costco and wanted to find ways to use it. I found this awesome recipe! It is soooo good!!!!!!!!!!!

What you need:

• 2 lbs pork loin
• 1.5 T paprika
• 1/2 T garlic powder
• 1 t oregano
• 1 t thyme
• 3/8 t cayenne pepper
• salt & pepper
• mango salsa (you could make from scratch but I don't have a recipe I have tried for that)

What you do:

1. Mix spices in bowl. 
2. Rub pork loin with spices.
3. Cover and put in fridge for at least 1 hour.
4.  Bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours. (depending on size you may need to cook longer)
5. Slice and serve with salsa.

My favorite part of this recipe is how quick it is! It takes a long time to cook but very little hands on time. It tastes amazing! My husband devoured it!

Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Soup

Great in the winter! 

What you need:

• 3 T butter
• 3 T flour
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup milk
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can rotel
• 1 can corn
• 1 can enchilada sauce
• 2 chicken breasts
• chopped onion seasoning
•  salt and pepper
• shredded cheese
• sour cream
• tortilla chips

What you do:

1.  Melt butter in sauce pan and mix in flour. keep stirring until smooth. remove from heat.
2. Add chicken broth and 1/2 cup milk. stir until smooth. return to heat.
3. Bring to boil stirring until it thickens.
4. In large bowl mix together mixture with enchilada sauce and remaining milk.
5. Place beans, rotel, corn and handful of chopped onion in crockpot. Stir.
6. place chicken on top
7. pour sauce over top.
8. Cook on low for 8 hours.
9. when done shred chicken then stir together.
10. Top with sour cream and cheese. Serve with chips!

Crockpot Ranch Pork Chops.

Great simple and quick dinner!
What you need:

• 3-4 pork chops
• 1 packet dry ranch dressing seasoning
• cream of chicken
• 1 cup chicken broth

What you do:

1.  place pork chops in crockpot
2. mix broth, cream of chicken and ranch powder.
3. pour mixture over pork chops.
4. cook on low for 8 hours.
5. serve over mashed potatoes

Make sure you check the liquid level if it gets too low add more broth. 
Tip: The sauce isn't super thick if you want to turn it into a gravy the easiest way is to mix some corn starch into cold water and then wisk into sauce. Boil and let thicken.

Crock Pot French Dip!

I absolutely love crock pot recipes. They make life so easy. This one we have already had a couple times. Its a great meal!

What you need:

• olive oil
• beef roast (2 1/2-3 lbs.)
• salt and pepper
• 2 1 oz pkgs dry onion soup mix
• 2 cups water
• 2 cans beef broth
• provolone cheese
• hoagies

What you do:

1. Heat 2 T olive oil in large pot on medium high-high heat
2. Sprinkle all sides of roast with salt and pepper
3. Sear roast on all sides until each side is browned {this makes it juicier}
4.  Place roast in crock pot along with the onion soup mix, water, and broth.
5. Cook on high until it begins to boil (took me around an hour)
6. Turn to low for 8 hours.(you could skip step 5. I found it helps make the roast more tender though.)
7. When done take roast out of juices and shred. 
8. Save juices to use as au jus.
9. Serve on hoagies with cheese.

If you want to go a step further you could toast the bun and melt the cheese under the broiler. 
Serves 6-8.

It is definitively a meal to impress!

Homemade Sparkling Apple Juice!

This is seriously the best Sparkling Cider I have ever had. And I try every new brand I come across. Its simple to make too.

What you need:

• 1 can thawed apple juice concentrate. (just get any type doesn't need to be name brand)

• 1 liter club soda

What you do:

1. Mix together.
2. Chill

That is it! No joke. It is soooo good! No need to buy expensive types anymore! 

Crock Pot Taco Soup

I got this recipe off a facebook group. It is so quick and easy I love it!!! I just added some hamburger and some cheese to make it a little more hearty. Its a thicker soup. 

What you need:

• 2 cans of chili with beans
• 2 cans of black beans
• 2 cans of corn
• 2 cans of Rotel
• 2 8 oz cans of tomato sauce
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• salt and pepper
• 1 pound hamburger
• shredded cheddar cheese
• tortilla chips

 What you do:

1. Putin the chili, beans, corn, Rotel, tomato sauce, taco seasoning, water, salt, and pepper. Stir. (make sure you dont drain anything you need the juice!)
2. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. 
3. About 1 hour before its done brown the hamburger then mix it in.
4. Let finish cooking.
5. Right before serving stir in some cheese.
6. Serve with Tortilla chips!

Such a great and quick meal!! Let me know what you think.