Any Ideas?

Bethany - posted on 05/18/2010

I love crock pot meals for when people are coming in at different times. They stay warm and fresh that way. Here is one of my favorite recipes for Tortilla Soup.

Tortilla Soup

Ingredients

Base
* 3 tbsp. minced garlic
* 1 chopped onion
* 2 4 ½ oz cans diced green chiles
* 2 cans stewed tomatoes
* 2 cans beef broth
* 2 cans chicken broth
* 2 cans cream of chick soup
* 2 tsp salt
* 1 tsp pepper
* 1 tsp cumin
* 1 tsp chili powder
* 1 tsp worcheshire sauce
* 1 tsp Tabasco sauce
* 3 cups of cooked chicken
* 1 cup fresh corn

Topping
* chopped avacado
* chopped cilantro
* chopped green onion
* shredded jack or colby cheese
* tortilla chip strips

Process
Add contents of base to a frying pan and sauté in 2-3 tbsp of oil.
Combine sautéed base and other ingredients in a large pot or crock pot and cook slowly for a couple hours to combine flavors. All ingredients are basically already cooked, therefore cooking time is by preference, however the longer you cook it the more tender and flavorful the chicken will become. It’s easiest to add to a crock-pot and leave it on low for the day.

Serve with topping and enjoy.

**When I do this I just use the family sized cream of chicken soup and a whole bag of frozen corn. Also, don't forget to chop up the stewed tomatoes or you will end up with huge chunks. It is some of the best soup I have ever had. The toppings really add that extra bit, particularly the avacado.

Rana - posted on 05/17/2010

I like vegetables:
1-
Cut 5 or 6 zucchinis in long and thin slices spice with salt, pepper, garlic powder, oregano, and olive oil. Put in oven until they're small and grilled well. Get think yogurt and mix with garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. Put the zucchini in a flat plate and pour the yogurt on it. You can either do this alone if you want a light meal, or with soup.

2-
If you like spicy food, you can get the fresh red peppers and cut then in thin round slices and take the seeds away. Stir them with stir fried potatoes cut in cubes with butter, olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano, a little cream or yogurt or mayo. Yummy side dish.

3-
If you like green beans, you can buy the frozen ones. Just pee them off while your washing them. It's very easy. Put them in a pan with spring onions and parsley. Add garlic and other spices and stir until cooked. Cut small and think pieces of bread and put in the oven with olive oil until brown. Make the same yogurt mix of the 1st recipe and mix all together.

Enjoy!

Karen - posted on 05/13/2010

Crockpot enchiladas always make my hubby smile! They are also great because you can start them early and let them cook while you read, take a bubble bath or light candles and wait for his arrival ! (LOL!) They are also great because it is so easy to change up the recipe to suit your likes...
Put a layer of enchilada sauce on the bottom of your crockpot that has been lightly greased or sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
On top of that, corn tortillas. (You want to make sure the entire layer is covered...but avoid stacking a lot, or you will get a muchy end product.)
Ground beef.
Green onions.
Tortillas.
Sauce.
Canned corn. (drained)
Olives.
Cheese.
Tortillas.
Sauce.
And you start all over again until your crockpot is full, or you run out of ingredients.
Finish with sauce and a layer of cheese and green onions or olives.
Cook at about 6 hours on low... 3 on high. (depends on your crock pot). It smells AMAZING...is easy, and you can change it up. (Some times I add drained cottage cheese mixed with jack cheese instead of cheddar cheese and corn so it is very much like a lasagna, Sometimes I use salsa instead of enchilada sauce. Sometimes I don't use corn, or add diced green chilies, or a can of drained, rinsed black beans. I also like to add cilantro. You can also use chicken, left over roast, even left over pork chops that have been cut up.) It is just so easy, so yummy, and can really be a life saver when you have some ingredients that you want to use before they go bad but don't want the same ole' same ole'...
Hope you enjoy it!

Farah - posted on 05/12/2010

faitas

Kelly - posted on 05/12/2010

Just some quick things I do to change up everyday dishes.



1) Add grated or shaved parmesan on top of almost anything and it livens it up.

2) Truffle Oil. Add it on top of grilled or steamed veggies or in your mashed potatoes. Truffle oil is one of those things that people either love or hate but if you and your hubby are a little adventurous and you haven't tried it, mix a little in your mashed potatoes. But a little goes a long way. It's a very strong flavor.

3) Herbs de Provence: Add some to your veggies, to bean salad, to a roast or stew, etc. If you've never had it, it's a mix of I believe 5 different herbs. You should be able to find it in the spice aisle of your grocery store. If not, you can order it online.

4) Liven up italian dishes with fennel if you don't already use it. And of course garlic.

5) A quick stir fry variation, add melted EXTRA CRUNCHY peanut butter and milk to make it a quick and easy Sate(sah tay), which is a Thai peanut based stir fry. You can also add a small amount of cayenne or other spicy pepper to make it more authentic.



I love making thing easy as you can see lol.

Karin - posted on 05/11/2010

Hi Brittany!

Every once and a while I make breakfast for dinner. I always have a box of Bisquick on hand to make pancakes or waffles. Just add milk and eggs and cook according to the package directions. Served with bacon, sausage or a nice fruit salad makes a quick and easy meal!

Julie - posted on 05/10/2010

What a wonderful wife to cook for husband at midnight!!

Julie - posted on 05/10/2010

Here's another my husband likes: BBQ CHICKEN BITES Cut totally thawed chicken breast (1 or 1 1/2 large chicken breast is probably enough) into 1 inch chunks. Crush a bag of bbq chips. Dip chicken into egg w 1 T milk, roll in chips. Place on pan that was sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 30 min. Flip half way through.

Julie - posted on 05/10/2010

Here's a favorite of my husbands: 1/2 bag of hashbrowns thawed. Mix with 1 T oil and bake at 400. Meanwhile....brown 1/2 lb of hamburger. Prepare of a cup of brown gravy (I use a packet). After potatoes are tender, mix hamburg, gravy, and cheddar cheese together. Bake 25 min...then sprinkle french fried onions on top and put in for a 5 min. (this is for a 8 x 8 casserole dish. Double for 9 x 12 dish)

Chris - posted on 05/10/2010

Brittany,



I just posted this Pampered Chef recipe for someone looking for something quick and easy. I love how fast this recipe comes together. If you are interested in other easy ideas, I post a lot of recipes at www.chriscookin.wordpress.com



Good luck!



Zesty Ravioli Skillet



1/3 cup (75 mL) heavy whipping cream

4 cups (1 L) loosely packed fresh baby spinach leaves

6 oz (175 g) provolone cheese, grated

1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil

1 small jalapeño pepper, seeded

3 garlic cloves, pressed

2 cans (14.5 oz/398 mL each) diced tomatoes with onions, undrained

1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt

1/2 tsp (2 mL) coarsely ground black pepper

1 pkg (24 oz/700 g) small frozen cheese ravioli (about 65)

Halved grape tomatoes (optional)



Measure cream using Easy Read Measuring Cup. Wash spinach in large Stainless Mesh Colander; drain. Grate cheese using Ultimate Mandoline fitted with grating blade. Set aside cream, spinach and cheese.



Add oil to (12-in./30-cm) Skillet; heat over medium-high heat 1-3 minutes or until shimmering. Finely chop jalapeño with Food Chopper. Add jalapeño to Skillet; cook and stir 1 minute or until crisp-tender. Press garlic into Skillet with Garlic Press; cook and stir 15-20 seconds or until fragrant.



Add tomatoes, salt and black pepper to Skillet; cook and stir with Bamboo Spatula 1-2 minutes or until simmering. Add ravioli; stir to coat. Cook, uncovered, 4-5 minutes or until tender. Stir cream into Skillet. Cook, uncovered, 1-2 minutes or until simmering. Sprinkle spinach over ravioli; cook, covered, 1 minute or until spinach starts to wilt.



Remove Skillet from heat. Top with cheese; cover Skillet and let stand 1-2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Garnish with grape tomatoes, if desired.