I hope everyone is enjoying fall and this cozy time of year, love the comfort foods. My family has always had a very non-traditional schedule, most people these days can probably relate in some way or another. One of the best things I have ever done for my family is prepare dinners and make dinner time a priority. I love to have a chance to go around the table asking what everyone's favorite part of their day was...or least favorite! I think looking back on my life I will be proud that we had this time together and sometimes its ok to go ahead and give yourself that pat on the back. We as cooks deserve it!
Here is another set of 10 meals, some of my very favorite and simple dinners, hope you enjoy them. (some are without photo)
#1 Crock pot Orange Chicken
3-4 boneless chicken breasts, chopped into small chunks
1/3 cup flour
olive oil
1/2 T salt
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
3 T ketchup
6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate (thaw or throw it in the microwave for 45 seconds)
4 T brown sugar
In a bowl mix Oil, Vinegar, Orange Juice, Ketchup, Brown Sugar and Salt.
Pour Flour into another bowl and cover chicken pieces until coated. Place oil in skillet and brown chicken, doesn't have to be fully cooked.
Place chicken in crock pot and cover with sauce mixture, stir slightly. Cook on low 4-6 hours. Serve over rice.
#2 Taco Cups
1lb. Ground beef
Taco Seasoning
8-10 flour tortillas
Top with grated cheese, sour cream, lettuce and tomato/salsa and anything else you love on your taco's.
Brown beef in skillet and add seasoning. Cut tortilla's into circles, to do this you can use a glass, canning lid, cookie cutter or anything else that is about 4-5 inches wide. I can usually get 3 circles out of each tortilla. Spray muffin tin with cooking spray and place tortilla's into cups, gently press into tin and then add meat and top with cheese. Bake on 350 for about 10 minutes until the cheese is melted. Top with remaining toppings and serve.
#3 Spinach Tomato Tortellini
1 (16 ounce) package cheese tortellini
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with garlic and onion
1 cup chopped fresh spinach
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the tortellini, and cook until tender, about 10 minutes.
While you get the tortellini going, combine the tomatoes, spinach, salt, pepper, basil and garlic in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir until the mixture begins to bubble.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, milk and cream. Stir this mixture into the saucepan along with the Parmesan cheese. Heat through, then reduce heat to low, and simmer until thick, about 2 minutes.
Drain the tortellini, but do not rinse, then pour them into the saucepan with the sauce. Stir to coat, and serve.
#4 Pizza roll ups
2 packages crescent refridgerator rolls
String cheese (halved)
1 pkg Pepperoni
garlic powder (optional)
Unwrap dough and place pepperoni and half a string cheese inside and roll up. Sprinkle with garlic powder and place on cookie sheet. Cook on 375 for about 12 minutes. Serve with Marinara, you can buy it in a squeeze bottle my kids love that.
#5 Best Pot Roast Ever
Boneless Cross Rib Roast
1 pkg pot roast seasoning (I like McCormicks savory pot roast packet)
1 pkg Au Jus season mix
1 can Pepsi or Coke (not diet)
1 cup water
Place Roast in Crock pot, mix water and pot roast seasoning and pour over roast. Add Cola, cook on low 8 hours or 4 hours on high. It is important with this recipe that you don't life the lid...
About an hour before you are ready to eat place Au Jus over roast, just sprinkle and then replace lid...mmm mmm good!
#6 Angel Chicken
2-4 boneless chicken breasts
1 packet Italian dressing mix
4 oz cream cheese
3 Tbsp butter
1 can Cream of Chicken (or Golden Mushroom)
3/4 cup chicken broth or white wine
1 pkg. angel hair pasta
(fresh mushrooms if you have them)
Place chicken in crock pot. Combine Italian dressing mix, cream cheese, butter, soup and broth. Pour over chicken. Turn crock-pot on low for 8-10 hours. I add fresh mushrooms about an hour before ready, if I have them that is. Serve over cooked angel hair pasta.
#7 BBQ & Onion Grilled Cheese
8 slices of cheddar cheese
Bread (4-8 sands worth)
1/2 onion sliced
BBQ sauce
These are similar to regular grilled cheese just with some added flavor. I like to caramelize my onion, so I fry in a pan with some butter for a few minutes. Smooth bbq sauce on bread, add onion then the cheese and grill like normal. Easy variation and it is so delish, enjoy!
#8 Copy Cat Pasta E Fagoli (Olive Garden)
2 lbs ground beef
1 onion, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
4 stalks celery, chopped
2 (28 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (16 ounce) can red kidney beans, drained
1 (16 ounce) can white kidney beans, drained
3 (10 ounce) cans beef stock
3 teaspoons oregano
2 teaspoons pepper
5 teaspoons parsley
1 teaspoon Tabasco or Sriracha sauce (optional)
1 (20 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
8 ounces pasta
Directions:
Brown beef in a skillet.
Drain fat from beef and add to crock pot with everything except pasta.
Cook on low 7-8 hours or high 4-5 hours.
During last 30 min on high or 1 hour on low, add pasta. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
#9 Beef and Broccoli (crock pot)
1 lb. boneless, beef chuck roast, sliced into thin strips
1 cup beef broth
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
1 tbsp. sesame oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp. cornstarch
4 tbsp. sauce (from the crockpot after dish is cooked)
Frozen broccoli florets (as many as desired, I believe I used almost 2 cups)
White rice, cooked
In the insert of the crockpot, whisk together beef consume, soy sauce, dark brown sugar, sesame oil, and garlic.
Gently place your slices of beef in the liquid and toss to coat.
Turn crockpot on low and cook for 6 hours.
When done, in a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and cooking liquid to create a slurry, pour into crockpot, stir to mix well. Cook on low for an additional 30 minutes to thicken up the sauce.
Toss in your broccoli florets then serve hot over white rice.
YUM
(total fake-out take-out)
#10 Chicken Cordon Bleu Bake
2 cups cooked rice
3 cups cooked chicken (bite size)
6 slices of swiss cheese
10 slices cut up ham or you can buy the little cubed pieces
2 cans cream of chicken
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
About 1/2 cup to 1 cup Italian bread crumbs
Place rice in 9x13 pan (lightly greased) and top with chicken pieces. Top chicken with Cheese and Ham. In a bowl mix soup, sour cream and milk, pour over chicken mix and rice. Top with sprinkled bread crumbs and cook on 350 for about a half hour.
Hope you can use these in your next upcoming meals. I know Thanksgiving is just around the corner and i'll be taking a little time off, in the mean time I hope everyone has an awesome holiday and enjoys some yummy food, I know I will!
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