Mexican Haystacks

Life is starting to get busier and busier. Four kids will do that to ya! We are always heading off to soccer practice, games, dance, church activities, school activities, etc, etc...sometimes it is hard to find time to squeeze dinner in as a family. But to me, that is one thing that we don't compromise on. Even if there is only 15 minutes to spend at the table together, I will take it. My kids love sitting around the table talking about their "good and bad" of the day. If I ever forget, our 3 year old makes sure we do it. Our 8 year old always says, "Nothing good, nothing bad." So we make him talk about anything that happened during the day that he wants to share. Hopefully we will keep the lines of communication open...especially when they all hit those teenage years!

This recipe was one I found on Pinterest. It looked super easy...and was right up my ally since it is a crock pot recipe! EVERYONE ate this right up. Chips makes anything enticing for kids, right?

This recipe makes a ton, so we were able to freeze half of it for a later date!

Source: adapted from Jen's Yummy Fun

Ingredients:

4 chicken breasts

2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained

2 cans Rotel tomatoes

1/2 onion, diced

1 bag frozen corn

1 can diced green chilies

1 package Hidden Valley Ranch Dip

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1 cup milk

1/2 cup water

1 cup sour cream

2 teaspoons cumin

1 tablespoon  chicken bouillon

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

Fresh Cilantro

Cheese

Tortilla Chips

Rice

In crock pot, place chicken, black beans, Rotel, onion, corn and chilies. In a bowl, whisk/blend ranch, cream cheese, milk, water, sour cream, cumin, chicken bouillon, pepper, and garlic salt. Pour over chicken mixture. Cook for 4-6 hours on low. With 30 minutes to go,  remove chicken and shred. Place back in the crock pot and cook for 30 more minutes.

Cook rice as directed.

Layer with chips, rice, and chicken mixture and top with cheese and cilantro.

FOR FREEZING:

Let thaw in refrigerator. Heat on stove top at medium high heat for 20 minutes. 

Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pork

My sister is my best friend. She lives in Vegas while her husband is in Dental School and I miss her like crazy. She is one of the most beautiful and talented people you will ever meet...and I am lucky she is my sister. She got married a little over a year ago. Let me just say, she seriously could only cook Ramen Noodles. Sorry Chels...it is true! But marriage has changed her...and she is becoming quite the cook. So for all of you out there that think you can't cook...there is hope! Chelsey told me about this recipe, and I knew since we have been living such a crazy life lately, this would be the perfect dinner.
I am not quite sure what it is with me and the horrible pictures lately. I hope you get the idea!

Ingredients:

1 pork roast, 4-6 pounds

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 1/3 cups brown sugar, divided

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

salt and pepper

1/4 cup water

In bowl combine 1 cup brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, garlic and salt and pepper. Rub on roast. Add water to crock pot and place roast in. Cook on low for 4-5 hours. Then add another 1/3 cup brown sugar and the cinnamon. Cook for one more hour. Remove from crock pot and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Enjoy. 

Lasagna Soup

The weather sure has changed the past week here in Utah. I am ready for a nice bowl of soup...but not the snow. I wish I could talk Brooks into eating soup every day...pretty sure that isn't going to happen. The great thing about this soup, is you can put all the ingredients in the crock pot (except the pasta) and let it simmer for a few hours. Or you can just cook it on the stove top. Happy Fall everyone!


Ingredients:

1 pound Italian sausage
1 onion, diced
2 cups carrots, chopped
1 cup mushroom (optional)
2 cups chopped spinach
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 (14 ounce cans) chicken broth
2 (14 ounce cans) Italian stewed tomatoes, or Petite Diced tomatoes (with the seasoning in the can)
1 (8 ounce can) tomato sauce
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 box of pasta (we used bow tie)
mozzarella cheese

On stove top, brown sausage. Add onion and and carrot and saute for about 2 minutes. If you are using the crock pot, add all ingredients (except pasta and spinach). Cook on low for 4 hours. Add pasta and spinach for the last 30 minutes of cooking time. If cooking on stove top, add all ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 30-45. Then add pasta and spinach for another 10 minutes, or until pasta is cooked al dente. Top with mozzarella cheese.

Chile Lime Chicken Tostadas

Tuesdays are crazy days in our house. We head straight from school to dance, then to soccer practice for one of the boys, and then soccer practice for another. We don't walk in the house until 7:45. So thinking of what to eat for dinner is going to be a struggle. I am not wanting to have pizza night or just eat leftovers every Tuesday...so I am thinking it might be our night for simple, yet delish meals. Hopefully I can find plenty of crock pot ideas for Tuesdays! What I loved about this was that I could have all the ingredients ready, so all we had to do was get it out and put together our meal. 

Source: Real Mom Kitchen

Ingredients:

1 can diced green chilies

1/2 cup chicken broth

1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder

3 tablespoons lime juice

1 onion, diced

5 chicken breasts

1 can refried beans, warm

tostada shells

toppings (lettuce, tomato, salsa, olives, sour cream, guacamole)

Add chicken and onion into crock pot. In bowl, mix together chicken broth, chilies, lime juice and chili powder. Pour over chicken. Cook on low for 4-5 hours. Remove from juice and shred chicken. Mix about 1/2 cup of juice into shredded chicken. Then layer, starting with refried beans on tostada shells. Enjoy!

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

The recipes this week come from my awesome cookbook that I received from 4everstitin'...so be sure to enter the giveaway. You will love this cookbook...not only is it beautifully made, but the recipes are great as well!

I am always looking for a good crock pot recipe. They are quick, easy, and delish. This taco recipe really good...even my super picky eater ate one, and he said to me "This is so much better then Del Taco!"  

Ingredients:

4-6 chicken breasts

1 can Mexican Style Stewed Tomatoes

1 small can tomato sauce

1 package taco seasoning

1/2 onion, diced

1/2 green pepper, diced

Put all ingredients in crock pot. Cook on low for 4-5 hours. Shred chicken and cook for another hour. Serve with your favorite taco toppings! 

Wendy's Chili

The blog Sister's Stuff is a daily must read for me. They had a great recipe for Wendy's Chili, that I knew I had to try. This makes A TON so it will be perfect to serve at a Super Bowl Party, or if you are bringing dinner to someone, or if you want to freeze it. 

I did change it up though. I used ground chicken instead of ground beef. We received a package a few weeks ago from Gold'n Plump. We are stocked with ground chicken. It is such a healthy, tasty alternative to ground beef. Watch for more recipes using ground chicken from Gold'n Plump!

Serves 12
Ingredients:

2 pounds ground chicken
1 29 oz. can Tomato Sauce
1 29 oz can Kidney Beans
1 29 oz can Pinto Beans
1 29 oz can Black Beans
1 diced Onion
1/4 cup diced Celery
1 can Green Chilies
2 cans Diced Tomatoes
1 teaspoon Cumin
3 tablespoons Chili Powder
1 1/2 teaspoon Pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons Salt
2 cups water

Brown the chicken. In another pan, saute onion and garlic. Once translucent, in a soup pot (or crockpot) add all ingredients. Let simmer on low for 1 hour, or for 2 hours in the crockpot.

Black Eyed Peas

This is a New Years Day tradition that started with my family in the south. This starts with some good old southern food, and a good luck charm.  I hope you enjoy. 

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Ingredients:

1 package of black eyed peas

2 cups of white rice cooked

1 package of smoked sausage 

1/2 yellow onion

2 tsp salt

2 tsp pepper

1 tblsp Cajun seasoning

1 U.S. Dime (washed)

Soak your peas overnight in cold water then drain.  Dice your onion and cut your sausage into 1/2 inch pieces.  Saute the onion and sausage for a few minutes.  To a slow cooker add the sausage, onion, dime, and peas.  Fill the water in the slow cooker until the water is level with the peas.  Let cook on high for 5-6 hours or until the peas are soft to the bite.  Follow the instructions for the rice.  Serve the black eyed peas over the rice.  

Serve with a side of cabbage, some cornbread, and some southern charm.

Now, the dime represents good luck.  So, whomever ends up with the dime in their portion will have it for the whole year.    I hope you enjoy this simple and tasty recipe.  More important, I hope you enjoy good luck for all of 2011

Thai Peanut Chicken

I absolutely love using the crock pot...I just don't do it enough. I am sure it is because I don't have enough amazing recipes. Maybe if any of you have an amazing crock pot recipe...will you email me? One day I was browsing around the blog, 365 Days of Slow Cooking, and I found this unique recipe that got 5 starts. I knew we had to try it. We all really liked it...especially Brooks since he is a huge peanut butter fan!

Ingredients:
Serves 4-6

1 box fettuccine, cooked as directed
2 cloves garlic, minced
2/3 cup peanut butter
1 cup chicken broth
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken tenders (that is what we had, but feel free to use chicken breasts cut into cubes)
1  zucchini, shredded 
1 red pepper, cut into thin strips1/3 cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon lime juice
chopped cilantro, for garnish
chopped peanuts, for garnish

Add garlic, peanut butter, broth, chicken, zucchini, soy sauce, sugar, lime juice and red pepper to slow cooker. Stir to combine. Cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.  Serve over noodles and garnish with cilantro and peanuts.

Crock Pot Ribs

Last time we were on Good Things Utah (we are going back June 10th by the way) Reagan told us we had to try the crock pot ribs that Angel Shannon had made a few weeks prior. So of course we had to try them. They were fall of the bone delish! The recipe called from cranberry juice, and we had apple so we substituted that. Crock pot recipes are perfect for those hot summer days where you don't want to heat the kitchen, or those busy days when you don't have time to cook but want something good for dinner. You will just love this recipe! (I just love this picture, you can see the smoke coming off the ribs!)  

Serves 5

Ingredients:

3 pounds baby back ribs

salt and pepper

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 cloves garlic

1 cup apple juice

2 cup bbq sauce

1 onion, sliced

Slice your onion into thin slices. Place on the bottom of the crock pot. Sprinkle salt and pepper on the ribs and rub with brown sugar. Coat on both sides. Place in crock pot. Pour juice over the ribs. Cook on low for 5 hours. Then drain most of the liquid out of the crock pot and pour bbq sauce over the top. Cook on low for another hour. Enjoy!

Cafe Rio Pork Burrito (Enchilada Style)

If you don't live by a Cafe Rio, you are missing out! But there is good news, you can make your own at home, and it will taste just as good. The pork makes enough for two meals, so make burritos one day and a salad the next. Perfect left overs! You can find the ingredients for the salad here...

Ingredients:


3 lb Pork Roast
1 can Dr. Pepper
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup salsa
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon  ground mustard
salt and pepper


Place pork in the crock pot. Then add all ingredients. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Shred pork with about an hour left to cook.


1 can black or pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 can red enchilada sauce
Cilantro
Mexican style cheese 
Tortillas


Rice

Do as much rice/water that you need for your family. I usually do three cups of both.

Once the water boils, add the rice and the following ingredients.

2 teaspoons chicken bouillon

2 garlic cloves-minced

1 can diced green chili's

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon butter

1/4 cup chopped onion

When you are ready to make your burritos, just layer them. One layer of pork, then rice, then beans. Wrap your tortilla and place seam side down.   Cover burritos with enchilada sauce and sprinkle with cheese. Cook under the broiler until cheese is bubbly. Enjoy! 

  

French Dip

Don't forget to enter our giveaway here and here...

I always say I have the greatest of friends. They are always sharing their recipes with me...which I LOVE! This recipe comes from Rose, which actually she got from Hillary (ya know, one of those recipes that gets passed from person to person)...and dang, it was good. It was so simple! My only problem was that I actually cooked it a little bit to long, so when we were cutting the meat it was falling apart, hence the large slices.    



Serves 5-6
Ingredients:

1 4 lb roast beef
1/2 cup soy sauce
2 cups water
1 beef bouillon cube
1 teaspoon rosemary
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon garlic powder
swiss cheese
hard rolls

On the stove top, on a hot skillet, sear all sides of roast. Place in crock pot. Pour water, bouillon, and spices over the meat and cook on low for 6-8 hours, until meat is tender. Cut meat into thin slices, add to roll with a slice of swiss. Put broth into individual bowls for dipping and enjoy!

Crock Pot Pork Spare Ribs

Spare ribs are one of the easiest things to make in the crockpot. They remind me actually of when I first got married, I was new to cooking for someone all the time...and I would make these-or something similar for dinner often. Back in those days, I am pretty sure we ate the same meals every other week! Hopefully now I make a little more variety, but I still love these spare ribs! 

3 pounds boneless spare ribs

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 bottle of your favorite bbq sauce

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons dried mustard

Put your ribs in the crockpot. Then add the rest of the ingredients. Cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Tip: I always put a little water in by bbq sauce bottle once I have dumped the bbq sauce in. Then I shake it up just so I can get as much of the sauce out of the bottle!

Honey and Dijon Mustard Pork Tenderloin

Because I don't eat a lot of red meat, I always just resort to chicken. I forget that there is another white meat out there! This is one of those recipes that you put in the crock pot and forget about it. I love recipes like this...especially on a busy day. The pork came out absolutely perfect, and was so juicy. Loved it! 
Tip: If you don't use a crock pot liner, then just spray a little cooking spray on the pot to help with clean up.

1 pound pork tenderloin
2 garlic cloves-minced
4 tablespoons Dijon Mustard
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon thyme
salt and pepper


Sprinkle salt and pepper all over your pork tenderloin. Place in your crock pot. Mix together garlic, thyme, vinegar, honey and dijon mustard. Then pour over  meat. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Mine took only 6. Enjoy!

Beans and Rice

Ok, don't judge the taste of this dish by the picture. How do you make beans, sausage and rice look appetizing?  Every time we head to Florida, my MIL makes us this. Being a Utah girl, and living in my bubble, I had never heard of this dish, until 7 years ago when I made my first trip to Florida to visit my in-laws. I was converted. This is so yummy, and so filling, not to mention, beans are so good for you. If you have beans in your food storage, this is a perfect meal to make!

I wasn't paying much attention when I opened my bag of beans, and I accidently poured black beans into my water, instead of red beans, but this still tasted great.

1 2 pound bag of dried beans-black or red
water
Keilbasa sausage
Breakfast sausage
1 tablespoon Cajun Seasoning
1 tablespoon Garlic Powder
1 tablespoon Minced Onions
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Pepper

What you will want to do is soak your beans in about 6 cups of water, for 6-12 hours. The longer the better. We try to do ours overnight.
Brown up your breakfast sausage, then drain. Slice up your keilbasa sausage. Rinse and drain your soaked beans. Then dump into your crockpot the beans and sausages. Add about  4 cups of water, and then all of your seasonings. Mix together and cook on low for 4-6 hours. As you are cooking your beans, if you notice that the beans are getting dry, add a little more water. Serve with rice, and a little hot sauce (if you like) and enjoy!

Crockpot Turkey and Sausage

There is nothing better then a crock pot meal...dump it, and forget about it! This one is particularly yummy! And pretty darn healthy too:)

3-4 Turkey Breasts

1 lb mild Italian Sausage

1 can Great Northern Beans

1 can Red Beans

1 can Italian Style diced tomatoes

1 can Chicken Broth

1/2 of a yellow onion-chopped

1 cup chopped celery

Salt and Pepper

Brown sausage first. Drain access grease and then put in the crock pot. Add turkey, beans, tomatoes, chicken broth, onion, celery, salt and pepper. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Serve over rice.

Italian Crockpot Chicken

This is a quick easy meal for those busy days (or those days that ya don't feel like cooking)!

4 chicken breasts

1 8 oz package of cream cheese

1 can cream of chicken

1 package of Italian dressing mix

I always like to spray my crockpot with cooking spray if I don't have one of those crockpot liners. Then add chicken. Mix together cream cheese, cream of chicken and Italian dressing mix and dump on top of chicken. Cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Serve with rice or potatoes.

Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken

There is nothing easier on a hot summer day then using the crockpot. This recipe is so easy. Just mix and forget about it!

4-6 chicken breasts (you can use frozen)

1 cup brown sugar

2/3 cup vinegar

3/4 cup lemon lime soda

2 garlic cloves-minced

2 tablespoons soy sauce

pepper

Put chicken in the crockpot. Mix all other ingredients. Pour over chicken and cook for 4-6 hours on low. Serve with potatoes.

Barbeque Beef Sandwiches

1 (2-3 pounds) boneless beef or pork roast

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

salt and pepper

1 bottle of bbq sauce

Put roast in the crockpot, and sprinkle with seasonings. Then pour the bbq sauce over the top.

Cook on low for 5 hours.

Shred meat and cook on low for another hour.

Yum!

Crockpot Chicken

There is nothing better on a busy day then using the crockpot! This is one of our favorites. And it is SO easy.

4-6 chicken breasts (it doesn't matter if they are frozen, it works either way)

8-12 slices of bacon

1 can cream of chicken

1 16 oz container if sour cream

Wrap each chicken breast with 1-2 slices of bacon. If your chicken is thawed out, you can roll it up and wrap it.

Place in crockpot.

Mix together sour cream and cream of chicken.

Dump on top of chicken.

Bake for 4-6 hours on low.

We like to serve with rice, but I am sure it is good with anything!