All Day Chicken Noodle Soup

*This fills a 7 quart crock pot to the top.

Ingredients:

4 Cans Campbells Cream of Mushroom w/ Garlic
1 Can Cream of Chicken
4 Large Chicken Breasts (around 2 lbs)
2 Small White Onions
1/2 Bag of Baby Sized Carrots
6 Celery Stalks
2 Boxed Containers of Swanson Low Sodium Chicken Broth (16oz)
Egg Noodles

Directions:

Coat the chicken breasts in a little oil then salt and pepper a little more than you normally would. Roast the chicken breasts for 1 hour 30 minutes in the oven at 350.  When the chicken is done shred it into bite size pieces and set aside.  Cut up the onions, celery and carrots to a size you like.  Mix the broth, cream of chicken and cream of mushroom w/ garlic in the crock pot.  Add the chicken, carrots, onion and celery.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Boil the noodles and add however many you would like right at the end of cooking.

Cook on high for 4-6 hours.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

I usually make this and separate it into 3 batches.  2 go into the freezer and 1 into our bellies right away.  It is also delicious with a dumpling crust.

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1-1 1/2 cups mashed bananas (3 very ripe bananas)
2 cups chocolate chips

*Preheat oven to 400'. Grease cookie sheets. Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda together and set aside.
*Cream the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Mix in the mashed bananas. Add the flour mixture and stir just until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Drop by spoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets.
*Bake at 400' for 12-15 minutes.

These cookies are cake-like and very moist... they'll dissapear FAST! :)

Breakfast Burritos

Oh man, these were good. Super simple and something a little different for dinner. We devoured them so quickly that I was only able to grab a pic of the last bite!



Ingredients:
Eggs
Precooked sausage pieces
Potatoes
Oil
Cheddar cheese
Milk
Seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder)
Tortillas
Ketchup

1. Cut potatoes into bite size pieces and cook in a hot skillet with oil. Season to taste and set aside.



2. Cook/reheat the sausage. These Jimmy Dean crumbles were SO good! I highly recommend the turkey sausage. It sounds weird but tastes the same (or better in my opinion)
and is a lot healthier for you.

3. Scramble your eggs. I usually make 6 and always pour a little milk in before cooking to make them fluffy.



4. Combine the potatoes, sausage, and eggs together in a skillet and sprinkle cheddar cheese while stirring. The melted cheese sticks it all together. Season it how you wish.

5. Serve in warm, cooked tortillas with ketchup and more cheese on top.

Taquitos with Sweet Potatoes & Black Beans

Isn't that the yummiest thing you've ever seen? Mmmm.

Okay, so for the taquitos head on over to Our Best Bites, their recipe is fabulous.

Sometimes when I'm feeling super ambitious I make my own tortillas. This is the recipe I used (I usually half it though, the lady whose blog I got it from has 9 kids. This is her mother's recipe and her mother is from Mexico)

Tortillas

9 cups of flour

2 tablespoons of salt

2 tablespoons of baking powder

1 cup shortening

3 1/2 to 4 cups warm water

Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add the shortening and knead until the mixture has a gritty texture. Add water a little at a time and knead dough until it forms a ball. Divide dough into small balls. With rolling pin, roll the dough balls into circles. The tortilla should be thin. Cook tortilla on the hot griddle (comal). Cook on each side for about 2-3 minutes or until lightly brown.

She's an amazing woman. Click here for a link to her blog.

I just saw on Our Best Bites that they too have a tortilla recipe. Gonna have to try that one, they always give great cooking tips.

And now for my FAVORITE part... this part is my very own creation inspired by something I saw once.

Sweet Potatoes with Black Beans

2 giant Sweet Potatoes or Yams, peeled and diced

2 cans black beans

1/2 cup - 1 cup Green Salsa

Put diced Sweet Potatoes in a baking dish at 400 degrees for about an hour or until soft. Combine Sweet potatoes, black beans, and salsa in a pan and simmer for a few minutes.

Then serve it with your taquitos (or enchiladas or anything mexican), sour cream, and avocado.

I think it's my new favorite meal. The only problem with this recipe, is how much I eat when I make it. :)

Chili Frito Delight

Here is a little secret: I made up the name of this dish right now. That is why it isn't very good of a name.


I have thought about this meal a few times the past couple of weeks.  I had all the ingredients handy, just had to find the right day on the menu for it.  We all loved it so that must be a success.  It is a family sized version of chili Frito school lunch.  Wait what?!? You never got this for lunch at school? Well I did and I loved it then too.


Ingredients:

• 1 Can of your favorite chili
• 1 lb of hamburger
• 1 bag of your favorite size of Fritos corn chips
• Toppings: cheese, onions, olives, and sour cream.

Directions:

• Brown hamburger and drain.
• Add can of chili. The consistency should be fairly thick, not soupy.
• Put a handful of the corn chips at the bottom of a bowl, 
• Add chili/hamburger mixture.
• Top with your favorite toppings.
• Pair this with a green salad.
• Enjoy!

Total Prep Time was 15 minutes.

This would make 3-4 moderately sized servings.

For a healthier option use a low sodium/fat chili, ground turkey, baked tortilla chips, low fat cheese and sour cream.

Ravioli Bake :)

Definately adding this recipe to my box... it's quick & easy and both the boys ate it without complaining... how much better can it get, right? :)

WHAT YOU NEED:

*1 jar spaghetti sauce (any flavor)

*14 1/2 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained (I used basil, garlic & oregano flavor)

*1/2 cup water

*2lbs frozen ravioli (I used 1lb cheese and 1lb beef)

*7 oz shredded Italian Blend cheese

*2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese

WHAT TO DO:

*Heat oven to 400'

*Mix spaghetti sauce, tomatoes & water; spoon 1 cup of the mixture onto the bottom of a 13x9 baking dish.

*Layer 1/2 of the ravioli & 1 cup of cheese over sauce.

*Top with other 1/2 of the ravioli & the sauce. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top & cover with foil.

*Bake 30 minutes; uncover & bake 15 more minutes or until ravioli is heated through and cheese is melted. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese; let stand 10 minutes & enjoy! :)

Easy fried rice

Ingredients:
3 cups of cooked rice (leftovers work wonderfully)
4 slices of bacon, cut into small pieces
3 eggs, beaten
1 onion, chopped
Veggies (frozen or canned both work... carrots, peas, pretty much any kind- I just used a can of mixed veggies)
Cooking oil (you really could leave this out if you wanted to make it healthier)
Soy sauce or teriyaki sauce to taste

Directions:
In a wok or large frying pan, heat the oil. Add the bacon pieces and fry until almost crisp. Add the onion and cook until soft. Move the mixture to one side of the pan. Scramble the eggs in the other side of the pan. Mix the scrambled egg, bacon, and onion together. Add rice and veggies and stir until heated through and until it's as crisp as you like. Add soy sauce or teriyaki sauce until it tastes perfectly.