WW Slow Cooker Lasagna

Ingredients:

• 1 pound lean ground beef (or I used lean ground turkey)
• 1 onions chopped
• 1 clove garlic (I LOVE garlic, I used a couple)
• 1 16oz can tomato sauce 
• 1 28oz can crushed tomato (I used 16 oz can of diced)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1/2 tsp basil
• 1 cup ricotta cheese (low fat)
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese (shredded and low fat)
• no cook lasagna noodles (about 6)
• 1/2 Parmesan cheese (shredded)

Directions:

1. Saute onion, meat, and garlic in skillet until fully cooked. mixed diced tomato in, then set aside.
2. In a bowl mix ricotta cheese and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese
3. Spoon 1/3 meat mixture on the bottom of the slow cooker
4. Add some of the tomato sauce
5. Layer that with 3 uncooked lasagna noodle (break to fit)
6. Add 1/3 of ricotta cheese mixture to the layer
7. Repeat the steps again, until all ingredients are used (you should still have 1/2 cup of mozzarella set aside)
8. Cook on low for 4-6 hours.
9. Turn off heat, add that remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese to top, recover.. remove pot from crock pot and set aside until cheese melts and Lasagna firms (about 10 minutes)

Now Enjoy!!! it was so good! I never cooked lasagna in a slow cooker, and was not to sure about how it would turn out, but it was amazing!  I'm a full time working mom, so lasagna has never been a week night meal, it takes to long, but now it is!! 
This makes 6 pieces about 10 points per slice, If you use ground beef, which I did not.. so Im sure the point value is lower the way I made it.

Smothered Burritos

Ingredients:

• Flour Tortillas
• Shredded Chicken (seasoned with taco seasoning, and onion salt)
• Re-fried Beans
• Shredded Cheese
• Enchilada Sauce (red)
• Diced Green Chilies 
• Jalapenos (for topping)

Directions:

1. Heat tortillas on gas burner, (or microwave if your not lucky enough for the gar burner) 
2. Layer all the ingredients in each tortilla, as you would usually load a burrito.
3. Fold ends of tortilla in and roll the sides over. 
4. Pour a small amount of sauce in bottom of pan, just to cover.
5. Place each burrito folded side down.
6. Cover burritos with the rest of sauce, and top with cheese and jalapeno
7. Cover with foil and place in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.
8. Uncover pan and cook for 10 minutes more
9. Let it cool for about 5-10 minutes  Then serve!

Super easy! and you can add or subtract any ingredient you want. if you want shredded beef that would be great too. Or if you just want bean and cheese, that will work too! I dont have measurements  because you use as much or as less as you want. However get a bigger can of the sauce, so you will have enough. Unless your cooking for 2,then the 16 oz will work!
Also, dont over stuff burritos! Make this with some mexican rice!!

Mexican Rice

My mother-in-law showed me how to make this, and I have not eaten the pre-made stuff ever again!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of the 5 minute instant rice (brown or white) 
• 1 1/2 to 2 cups of water or chicken stock 
• 2 T of Vegetable oil
• 8 oz can of tomato sauce
• Onion salt, chili powder (about a tablespoon of each..give or take)

Directions:

1. Heat oil on medium heat, until bubbles form
2. Toss in uncooked rice, stir until lightly golden brown
3. Stir in tomato sauce and 1 1/2 cups of your liquid
4. Add seasonings, heat to boil.
5. Cover and remove from heat for 5 minutes. check it at 4 minutes, if it needs more liquid, add the rest.

Taste it! if it needs more seasoning, add some! Garnish with green onions if you like them, I do!

I'm not sure if this is still the exact way my MIL taught me.. but its how I have been doing it, and she loves it! 

Chicken "Fried" Rice

This recipe changed every time I make it. Depends on who is eating it, and what veggies I have on hand.

• 3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, chopped into bite size pieces
• 2 bags of "boil in a bag" brown rice (cooked)
• 1/2 cup corn
• 1 cup edamame (steamed and not in the pods)
• 4 strips of bacon, cut in small pieces (I used turkey bacon)
• 1/2 chopped green onions
• 3 lightly scrambled eggs
• 2 Tbsp of EVOO
• 2 Tbsp of soy sauce (low sodium)
• Salt and Pepper

Heat 1 Tbsp of the oil, season the chicken with salt and pepper, and cook until no longer pink. Add bacon pieces and cook. Take meat out, and put on a paper towel to drain. Add 1 Tbsp of oil, add corn and edamame, saute for about 5 minutes. Then add the rice, scrambled egg, and meat mixture back in. Cook of low for about 5 minutes, until everything is heated. Add Soy sauce, stir, then top with green onions.

This came out very good, and its healthy. You hardly "fry" anything, however it tastes like fried rice. Using brown rice makes it look fried.

(Great with crab "won tons" which I will post soon!)

Chili's Skillet Queso Copy Cat

Who doesnt love Chili's queso dip?!

Awhile back I had made this, and it was amazing. After eating at Chili's with my family recently, I thought I need to make this again!!

Ingredients:

• 16oz box of Velveeta Cheese
• 1 cup Milk
• 2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 15oz can of Hormel Chili (no beans)
• 4 tsp chili powder
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1/2 tsp cumin

Cut the Velveeta into cubes, combine the cheese with the remaining ingredients in a sauce pan, over medium heat. Stir frequently until the cheese is melted. And ENJOY!

Pizza Balls

One of the easiest dinners.. My kids of course LOVED it, so did my husband. 

Ingredients:

• Pillsbury biscuits 
• Mozzarella cheese
• Pizza sauce
• Pepperoni, or what ever you like on pizza!
• Italian seasonings I like this one: CLICK ME

Directions:

1. Separate each biscuit, so they become 2 thin pieces
2. Place Cheese and topping of choice in the middle. (dont over stuff)
3. fold over edges, and make dough into a ball.
4. Place edge side down on a greased cookie sheet
5. Repeat all balls
6. Sprinkle seasoning on the top of balls, you can top with some cheese to!
7. Bake as directed on biscuit container
8. Heat pizza sauce and pour into a small dipping dish.

ENJOY!!

Your kids will love making these too!

Hawaiian Chicken

 I found this recipe on Pinterest, I printed the recipe.. now I lost the website link. But this recipe is not my own, besides my own tweaks .. anyways. I used Chicken Breast instead of thighs, and I also.. grilled then baked it. To keep it moist.(by grilling, I mean using the George Forman grill, and just enough to give the meat the grill marks)

Ingredients:

• 4 Chicken Breasts
• 2 cups soy sauce (I use low sodium)
• 2 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp minced garlic
• 13.5 ounce can of coconut milk
• 1/2 tsp sesame oil
• chopped green onions (1/2 garnish, 1/2 for sauce)
• 1/4 cup chopped white onion (I forgot to buy it, so i used onion powder.. and I just used a palm full)

Instructions:

1. pound chicken, mix all ingredients, except 1/2 green onion. Reserve 1/3 of this sauce in a bowl. Then marinade Chicken overnight or 8 hours, with 2/3 of the sauce. (original recipe uses all sauce)
2. Grill Chicken until has nice grill marks, or until no longer pink, if you dont want to bake it.
3. Use some of the reserved sauce to coat a baking dish. Place grilled chicken in it, then place in a 300 degree oven. (skip this step if you are not baking it)
4. Heat remaining reserved sauce, to use in rice, and sauted veggie.
5. Plate chicken,  sprinkle with green onions and ENJOY

For the veggies, I sauted them with garlic. Then added about 1/4 cup of heated sauce to them. cook down, dish it, and enjoy!

For the rice I used 2/3 water and 1/3 sauce to the rice. and cook. Its a small hint of the flavor. YUM!