White Bean Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

• 1lb shredded chicken (I cheated.. went to the store and bought some already shredded chicken from the deli)
• 2 cans (14oz) white beans
• 1 Tablespoon of flour
• 2 lbs of chicken broth (1 box)..( though I did not end up using all of it.. maybe 2/3 of the box)
• 1 chili seasonings packet
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 1 can diced green chili's (4oz) (optional)
• 1 diced up jalapeno (optional)
• 1 diced small white onion (optional)

Instructions:
Toss everything in a big pot (except flour). Bring to a boil. Take a large spoonful of broth out to a cup or bowl, and mix flour in it. stir until smooth. should be a smooth creamy paste. Add a little more liquid if not. Pour paste into pot, stir in well. Cook on medium heat for 20 minutes. Serve with corn bread, crusty sour dough (which I did). I topped it with Cilantro, and avocado! 

This would probably make a great crock pot dish too! Toss it all in on low for 4 hours

Sausage Red Beans and Rice

This was super easy! I came across an image if this dinner, on pinterest, but the recipes was just too much for me at this time.. dealing with holidays, I wanted something easy, and because of the holidays I wanted to slim it down on the calories!

Ingredients:

• 2 bags of the "boil in bag" brown rice. (Or 2-4 cups of cooked brown rice) Cook rice as directed.
• 1 Turkey sausage link (i used Hillshire Farm Turkey Polska Kielbasa)
• 2 cans of red beans (i used one that had cajun seasonings added.)
• 2 tablespoons of Cajun powder
• 1 tablespoon of onion powder (or 1/4 cup diced white onion)
• cooking spray

Directions:

1. Cook rice as directed
2. Slice sausage into quarter size pieces, 
3. Heat skillet to medium (spay cooking spray, saute onions if you added them) then brown sausage.
4. Drain one can of beans and rinse them
5. Add both cans of beans, and seasonings. cook until bean have begun to open.
6. You can add the rice to the pot, or serve the beans and sausage over the rice (which I did).

You can use white rice, if you hate brown. Normally white rice is what you use. This served a family of 4 plus left overs for lunch the next day!

Im addicted to sriracha. and I love things spicy, so I did put sriracha on my serving!

Bacon Cheese Burger Soup (crock pot)

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 medium garlic cloves, minced
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 bag of frozen hash browns (the small square ones)
• 4 strips of cooked crumble bacon (reserved some for topping)
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 cups canned chicken broth, divided
• 1 cup 1/2 and 1/2 cream
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Worchestershire sauce
• 1/2 cup shredded carrots
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 8 ounces cubed cheese (I used Velveeta)
• shredded cheese for topping
• 1 small white onion (optional.. husband HATES onions.. so I had to use onion powder, about 2 tablespoons.If you use it, saute with garlic and meat)

Instructions

1. Preheat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic. saute, then brown your hamburger meat. Drain, and add meat to your slow cooker.
2. In a small cup, combine flour and 1/2 cup of broth. Whisk to combine, making sure it’s smooth. Add the mixture to your skillet, and then slowly pour in the remaining 2 ½ cups of broth. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and allow to cook until just thickened. Pour over meat in slow-cooker.
3. Stir in your remaining ingredients, through the black pepper. Cook on low for 2-4 hours. Just before serving, add in your cheese and stir until it is melted. Top with additional shredded cheese, and bacon if desired.

Serve with some crusty bread! (french loaf)

Bacon Parmesan Fettuccine

• Ingredients:
• 1 (9-ounce) package fettuccine pasta
• 2-4 slices smoked center-cut bacon
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1/2 cup frozen green peas
• 1/3 cup half-and-half/ heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

• Directions:

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta, reserving 3/4 cup cooking liquid.
  2. Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserving drippings in the pan; crumble. 
  3. Add  minced garlic to drippings in pan; sauté 2 minutes. Stir in green peas; sauté 1 minute.  
  4. Add pasta, reserved cooking liquid, and half-and-half to pan; cook 1 minute or until thoroughly heated, tossing to combine. 
  5. Add Parmesan cheese and bacon (leaving some out for garnish) 
  6. Remove from heat. Add butter, salt, and pepper to pan; toss until butter melts. Sprinkle with crumbled bacon and Parmesan cheese.

Eggnog French Toast

 

 

My favorite flavor of the holidays is Eggnog! I will not usually buy it until after thanksgiving. Just like Pumpkin, I wont buy until Halloween, Peppermint Mocha, not till after thanksgiving also. This year, I did it all wrong. I couldn't wait. Already drinking peppermint mocha coffee, and bought my first carton of eggnog! Im actually excited to decorate for Christmas, and the only thing really holding me back is that we are trying to move! Last year was not a good holiday season for me, and this year is the opposite, so Im excited!

 

 Ingredients:

• 3/4 C of eggnog. I get the light one.. but Im sure the other is amazing too
• 1tsp on Nutmeg I used a little more, cause I love it!
• 1tsp Vanilla
• 6 slices of think cut bread. I found this "French toast cut" at Vons

Directions:

1. Beat the eggs, add the eggnog, nutmeg and vanilla, and stir!
2. Heat skillet with a little butter or non stick spray *butter is better, gives it a nice crisp edge*
3. Cook low and slow! Never turn the heat on high! Even if your in a rush to feed a bunch of hungry boys!
4. Cook all pieces of bread the same.

I made a glaze for the French toast. I mixed eggnog, powdered sugar, nutmeg and plain syrup.

Creamy Potato Soup

 

This recipe is so easy. I looked around on pinterest for some ideas. I looked in my freezer and pantry to see what I had and went from there. I didn't have potatoes at the house. and some recipes called for instant mashed potatoes.. didn't have that either. All I had was a large bag of shredded hash browns.

So I used them. Also many recipe called for onions, and as much as I LOVE them, my husband is home now.. and hates them...

Ingredients:

• Large bag frozen hash browns
• 1 large Chicken broth (the boxed one, or 2 16 oz cans)
• 1 can cream of chicken
• 1 tbs of onion powder
• 1 tsp or more of cracked black pepper
• 8oz of cream cheese

Directions:

Toss all in except cream cheese to crock pot. Cook on high for 4-5 hours.

Then I used a potato masher, to mash up potatoes, leaving some whole.

Stir it, and add cream cheese. Cook for 30 more minutes, stir occasionally. 

Serve with crusty bread, top with cheese, bacon, green onion, sour cream, or whatever else you like!

 

 

Monkey Bread: PIZZA

 2 cans of grands biscuits. 
 
one jar of pizza sauce (your choice) the jar is about 16oz. 
 
1/2 package of pepperoni (or toppings of your choice).
 
1 stick of butter.
 
2 crushed garlic cloves.
 
a palm pull of Italian seasoning mix.
 
one bag of pizza mixture of cheese.

heat oven to 350.
 
Cut each biscuit into quarters
 
Melt butter with garlic and seasons in it.
 
Toss all biscuit pieces into butter mixture.
 
Place about one can of seasoned biscuits pieces into greased 9x13 pan. then toss in your 

favorite pizza toppings. sprinkle cheese (1/2bag) drizzle 1/2 jar of pizza sauce over the 

pieces.
 
layer the rest of the seasoned biscuits, and toppings. Then the rest of the pizza sauce.

cover the top with cheese. I sprinkled a little more of the Italian seasons on top. bake until

 the middle is cooked. I cooked for 20 minutes, then covered with foil, and cooked for about

  15-20 minutes more.