Category Archives: Recipes

Crock Pot Mexican Pork

March 25, 2014 Kim 40 Comments

Yesterday did not feel like spring! It was right under the freezing point most of the day and it snowed all afternoon.

I decided that something warm and hearty would be a perfect dinner!!!

Plus, anytime I can make dinner at 8:00 am and not have to worry about it the rest of the day I’m happy!!!

I used my Ninja for this easy dinner.

Ingredients:
pork roast (mine was right at 5 pounds)
2 packets taco seasoning (feel free to make your own – I went the easy route!)
1 can of green chilies
minced garlic (I used about a tablespoon)
chopped onion (I used 1/2 of a large onion)
1 c water
1 can diced tomatoes

Directions:
Put pork in crock pot. (I put it in frozen.) Mix all of the other ingredients and pour over the pork. Cook on low about 10 hours.

Shred the meat the last hour or so of cooking –

I served this over rice.

You could also eat this in a tortilla with sour cream and cheese which is what Hunter and Chris chose to do. Jordan enjoyed his over rice like me.

Besides being a simple dish, this is nice because it makes PLENTY!!! We love left-overs around here!!!

Enjoy!

Chicken, Recipes

Chicken Spinach Bake

March 18, 2014 Kim 38 Comments

I love all of the ingredients and mix of flavors in this dish – just remember, don’t hold back on the seasoning!!!

not shown - salt, pepper, dried basil and oregano — not shown – salt, pepper, dried basil, oregano and garlic powder

Ingredients:
1 bag of spinach
1/2 c chicken broth
chicken – I used 8 chicken tenders but you could use breast or even things if you like
salt, pepper, garlic powder and oregano to taste
dried basil (next time I will use fresh)
4 Roma tomatoes, chopped
green onions, chopped (I used 5)
Feta cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly spray pan with cooking spray.

Put spinach in pan.

Pour chicken broth over spinach. Top with chicken and season liberally!

Sprinkle tomatoes and green onions over chicken.

Cover tightly with foil and cook about 25 minutes. Add cheese and cook 10-15 more minutes depending on the size of your chicken.

The boys liked this a lot – even with Chris gone we ate all but 1 piece of chicken! (Teen age boys love food!)

I think this will be something we have again (it is rare for me to make the same thing more than once) – I think there are lots of ways you could change this up just a bit which I love to do when I cook.

Recipes, Salad

Greek Barley Salad

February 21, 2014 Kim 15 Comments

Sadly, even at my age (44) there are many foods that for one reason or another, I have never tried. This is the year that I’m working on changing that!!

Hopefully when my boys are adults, they will have many less ingredients on their list of things they have never tried!!!

Barley is one of those things that I had never tried.

However, this week I changed that not only for myself but also for my husband and boys!!!

Greek Barley Salad

1 t olive oil
3 c chicken broth
1 c uncooked pearl barley
1 cucumber, diced
1 c grape tomatoes, halved
1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 small can sliced olives
1 container (4 oz) Feta cheese
3 T olive oil
1 t grated lemon rind
2 T fresh lemon juice
1 T minced fresh basil
1 t minced fresh thyme
1 t red wine vinegar
salt to taste
minced garlic (3 cloves or 1.5 t)

Bring broth to a boil in a large saucepan; add barley. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 35 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.

Combine barley, cucumber, tomatoes, bell pepper, olives and feta in a large bowl.

Combine oil, lemon rind and juice, basil, thyme, vinegar, salt and garlic; stir well. Add to barley mixture and mix well. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

And, if you wanted to turn this into a meal (especially in the summer), you could easily add some chicken!!

Chicken, Recipes, Sandwiches

Caprese Chicken Wraps

February 21, 2014 Kim 14 Comments

Caprese might be one of my favorite combinations of flavors ever – mozzarella, tomatoes and basil!!

The other night for dinner I took those flavors and turned them into a delicious meal!!!

This was actually the first time that I’ve ever used flatbreads but it won’t be the last time!!!

Caprese Chicken Wraps

2 T olive oil
2 T white wine vinegar
salt & pepper to taste
1 head chopped Romaine lettuce
fresh mozzarella cheese, chopped (I used less than a cup)
1/2 c fresh basil, chopped
1 container grape tomatoes, quartered
minced garlic (about a just over a teaspoon)
4 flatbreads
1 bag diced cooked chicken breast

Combine oil, vinegar, salt and pepper with a fork or whisk. Add lettuce, chicken, cheese, tomatoes and basil – toss to coat.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Coat with cooking spray. Place 1 flatbread at a time in skillet and cook about 1 minute per side to soften.

Put chicken mixture on flatbread –

Fold and eat!!!

This was delicious! I think that in the summer it will be a regular!!!

Chicken, Chili, Crock Pot, Recipes

Crock Pot White Chicken Chili

January 25, 2014 Kim 24 Comments

I love chili – all types!!! I really like white chicken chili! And, if it can be made in the crock pot then it is a definite winner in my book!!!

This recipe is super easy and delicious!! I’ve made it 2 different times and both times it has been a meal that we end up scraping all of it out of the crock pot!!!

White Chicken Chili

about 1/2 onion, chopped
1 – 2 T vegetable oil
garlic – I did about a spoonful
chicken – I always used diced, cooked chicken breast
this stuff is a lifesaver!
1 can Great Northern beans
1 can green chilies
jalapeño, if desired – I used some from a can – about 2 spoonfuls
2.5-3 c chicken broth
Oregano – I just shook some in about 1-2 t
cumin – again I just shook some in
salt, to tast
sour cream or plain yogurt – about 3 spoonfuls (I always use fat-free of either of these but you can use whatever style you choose!!)
shredded cheese, 1.5-2 c