Happy Cooking New Year!

Another year behind us and another fresh plate in front of us. What will you attempt to do this year for your family? How about cooking and making the family dinner table the one time of the day you can all enjoy together? Here are a few more recipe's we've tried and would love to share with you.

#1 Bacon Wrapped BBQ Chicken (optional with apples)

4 boneless skinless chicken pieces

1 cup BBQ sauce (we like Sweet Baby Rays) 

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/8 cup lemon juice (fresh or concentrate)

5 small apples (peeled/diced) (optional, my kids wouldn't dig this so I did mine without) 

8 slices of bacon (found out the thin bacon works the best) 

In a small bowl mix together BBQ sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice and apples. Wrap each chicken breast with bacon, two pieces each. Place in greased slow cooker. Pour BBQ/Apple mixture over chicken and cook 6-8 hours on low. 

#2 (Easy) Copy cat Cafe Rio Burritos

Sweet Pork: 2 lbs. boneless pork ribs

1 12oz. can regular coke

1/4 c brown sugar

dash of garlic powder

1/4 c water

Place the pork, coke and brown sugar in ziploc to marinade for a few hours or overnight. 

Pour meat and marinade into crock pot and cook for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low. Drain liquid. Shred meat. 

Barbacoa Enchilada Sauce: 1 cup regular coke

1 can green chilies

1 cup red enchilada sauce

1/2 c brown sugar

In food processor blend coke, chilies, enchilada sauce and brown sugar. Pour over shredded meat and cook in crock pot on low for 2 hours. 

Black Beans and Rice: 

Buy a box of Zattaran's and cook according to package. :) 

Creamy Tomatillo Dressing: 

1 pkg traditional Hidden Valley Ranch mix 

1 c mayo

1 c buttermilk

2 tomatillos, remove husk and dice

1/2 bunch of fresh cilantro

1 clove of garlic

juice from 1 lime

1 jalapeno 

mix all ingredients in blender 

I use uncooked tortillas because I like the flavor better, so just cook those according to the package and then place meat/rice & beans inside and wrap burrito style. Place in baking dish with a little bit of cheese on top. Cook on 350 for about 20-30 minutes until cheese is melted and then serve with yummy dressing. 

These are a bit of prep but they are so good and this is the easiest recipe I've found with a few of my own adjustments, Enjoy! 

#3 Green Beans with Bacon, Herbs and Mushrooms

Not a main dish but still very yummy 

Fresh Green Beans (I bought a bag at Costco) 

1 pkg small mushrooms sliced

1 pkg bacon

Olive oil

Seasonings

Bring a sauce pan of water to a boil, add beans and salt the water. Boil about 2 minutes and immediately transfer to bowl with ice water to avoid overcooking. Drain the beans and set aside. 

Place strips of bacon in large skillet and cook until crisp. Drain on paper towel and crumble. 

Discard all but about a tablespoon of the bacon fat and add just a little olive oil. Place mushrooms in pan and cook until tender about 2-3 minutes. Add beans and toss cook for an additional minute and then add bacon. Sprinkle with herbs, I used the following to taste: 

Sage, Salt & Pepper, Parsley and Thyme 

#4 Pork Chop and Rice Bake 

4 bone in pork chops

1 can cream of mushroom

1 cup milk 

2 cups uncooked instant rice 

1 envelope onion soup mix 

Brown pork chops in skillet (just a couple minutes on each side) 

Grease 9x13 pan and sprinkle rice in bottom of pan. Place pork chops on top of rice. Mix cream of mushroom soup and milk, pour mixture over pork chops and rice, evenly coat entire pan. Sprinkle with onion soup. Cover tightly with foil and place in oven. Cook on 325 for 1-1/2 hours until pork is done. 

#5 Penne Pasta Casserole 

1 lb. ground beef 

3 cups Penne pasta cooked

1 jar spaghetti sauce 

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese

Brown meat in skillet and drain grease. Add pasta, sauce and half of the Parmesan cheese. Mix well and spoon into 9x13 pan, top with remaining cheeses and bake for 20 minutes on 350 or until heated through. **if you don't have the right cheese you can use cheddar, I've used that and it was still very yummy. 

#6  Chicken Cacciatore (Slow Cooker) 

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts

26 oz jar chunky garden vegetable spaghetti sauce

1 zucchini, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped (I have used red too) 

1 sweet onion, chopped 

Wide Egg noodles or Spaghetti noodles (I like the old fashioned Amish noodles) 

Garnish: chopped black olives and shredded Parmesan cheese. 

Place chicken in a slow cooker, pour sauce over the top. Add vegetables. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Spoon over noodles. Garnish with olives and Parmesan cheese. 

#7 Bacon & Egg Pizza 

(we've done this for breakfast and also for dinner) Sorry no pic 

1 large 12 inch pizza crust

1/2 cup bacon bits (or real bacon crumbled)

1 cup (favorite) chopped veggies (ex: green onions, green pepper, mushrooms, olives)

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

4 eggs

Preheat oven to 375. Place crust on lined baking sheet. Top with Bacon, veggies and cheese. Beat eggs with 1/4 cup water and pour over crust. Bake 15-20 minutes until set. 

#8 Broccoli Soup 

1 cup chopped onion 

1 cup chopped carrots

1 cup chopped celery 

4 cloves garlic chopped

6 cups broccoli chopped

2 cups chicken broth

2 cups milk 

ground pepper to taste

In a large soup pot, combine onion, carrot, celery, garlic and chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Add the broccoli, cover the pot and cook for 5-10 minutes or until broccoli is tender. Add milk and cook until heated through. **if you want a thinner soup you can cool soup before you add the milk and put in blender, add milk, then transfer back to pot to heat through. I like mine chunkier. 

#9 White Chicken Chili (crock pot)

4 pieces boneless skinless chicken breasts (frozen or thawed)

1 medium onion chopped

2 cloves fresh garlic minced

2 cans great northern beans, drained and rinsed

12 oz. chicken broth

2 cans diced green chilies

1 tsp salt

1tsp cumin

1 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional) 

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup heavy cream

Place chicken in slow cooker and add chopped onion, garlic powder, beans, green chilies and all the spices. Do not add sour cream or cream yet. Pour chicken broth over chicken and other ingredients and stir just to mix up a little. Cook on low for 5-7 hours (raw chicken will cook in less time than frozen) Shred chicken pieces and whisk together sour cream and heavy cream and pour in crock pot. Let soup cook just until warmed through. 

# 10 Bread sticks 

This is to go with all the yummy soups and pasta dishes~ 

1 1/2 cups warm water

2 Tbsp sugar

2/3 Tbsp instant yeast

1/2 tsp salt

3 1/2- 4 cups flour

1/4 cup melted butter

Combine yeast with sugar and warm water. Stir a little and let sit out for a few minutes. Add 2 cups of the flour and stir until smooth. Let sit for about 20 minutes. Add another cup of flour and the salt then mix in remaining flour until a soft dough forms. Knead by hand for 5-10 minutes or until dough does not break when stretched. Allow dough to rest for 10 minutes. Melt butter on small cookie sheet or 9 x 13. Roll out dough and use pizza cutter to cut 1 inch pieces. Dip in melted butter. Fold in half over one finger and twist to make twisted bread sticks. Sprinkle with garlic powder, parsley and or Parmesan cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.