Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

Thank you, Andrea, for sending this recipe my way!  I look forward to trying it soon with my family!!

1 rotisserie chicken (already cooked usually in the deli at a grocery store)
1 large bag of frozen vegetables
1 large family size can of cream of chicken
4 chicken bouillon cubes
salt and pepper to taste
1 pack (2 in the box) of premade pie crusts (roll them out into your pan)

Tear chicken off bones and put in large soup pot.
Add frozen vegetables, chicken bouillon cubes, and enough water to cover everything.
Bring to a boil.
Cook 5 minutes.
Reduce heat and add cream of chicken soup.
Mixture should be thick.  If it is not, discard some soup mixture and cook longer.
Pour into two deep dish pie plates and roll the pre-made pie crusts on top. 
Trim excess and cut small holes in top of crust for ventilation and preventing it from cooking over.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes

Chicken Casserole

This came from the new HEA cookbook that my mom bought me!  She made this a couple of weeks ago and we all really really liked it!  Make some rolls and a side veggie with this and it will feel like Thanksgiving dinner!

1 box Stove Top dressing -chicken
1 (8 oz) container sour cream
1 can chicken broth
1 chicken, cooked, deboned, and cut into bite size pieces
1 can cream of mushroom soup
onion (optional)
celery (optional)
 1 egg beaten

Mix all ingredients.  Pour into buttered 9x13 pan or 2 8x8 pans.  (Freeze one for later or take to a friend!) Drizzle with 1/4 c melted margarine.  Bake 40-60 minutes at 350 degrees.  (Top should be brown)

When preparing a frozen casserole, thaw in fridge before baking or bake an additional 20 minutes.

Mendi's Lasagna

I had to add this because it has changed the word "LASAGNA" in so many ways....
It's AWESOME!
I make two 8x8 pans of this, one in which we eat right away and the other I save (freeze) for a busy day.
I think that it's time consuming for the first pan, but its easy to throw the 2nd pan together!!!

Sauce:   
1 lb sweet Italian Sausage
1 lb ground beef
2 cloves garlic (crushed)
1 can crushed tomatoes (28 oz)
2 cans tomato paste (6 oz)
1/2 c water
2 tbsps white sugar
1 1/2 tsp dried basil leaves
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tbsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp fennel
1 (28 oz) tomato sauce

Brown your sausage, hamburger, onion, and garlic.  Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, fennel, Italian seasoning, 1 tbsp salt, pepper. 
Simmer and cook for 1 1/2 hrs.    (THIS SEEMS FOREVER... I know... just stir occasionally.)

I know it seems like a big job, but its totally worth it in the end!

For a good cheese layer in your lasagna - combine the following ingredients:
16 oz ricotta cheese
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 lb mozzarella cheese (sliced)
3/4 shredded parmesan cheese

To assemble:
Layer of Meat Sauce on bottom
Layer of Lasagna noodles (cooked or you can use the No-Boil Noodles)
Ricotta Cheese mixture on top of that
Mozarella Slices on top of that...
Parmesan Cheese on top of that...

REPEAT LAYERS TILL FULL

Roadside Chicken

Here is an awesome marinade and sauce for your grilled chicken...

1 c white vinegar
1/4 c worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp white sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tbsp black pepper ground
1 tsp celery seed ground

Marinade chicken in the above mixture.    (2-8 hrs for marinade)

Make up another batch of the mixture for basting. 
Add:  1/2 c vegetable oil and 1 tsp prepared mustard

Our recipe says, "Don't be cheap with the baste, the more the merrier!"

Shish-ka-Bob Marinade

For Chicken or Beef...  Get those grills out!!

1/2 tbsp pepper
1 tbsp oregano
1 tsp onion salt
1 tsp garlic salt
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 c olive oil
1 tsp salt

We really liked this when I made it for the first time and I pulled it out tonight for us to make again this week!

Sweet & Tangy Wings

1/4 c apricot preserves
1/4 c balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
3/4 tsp salt

Set aside 1/4 c mixture.  Add wings to a large bowl and toss to coat.  Grill.

Bast with preserve mixture during last 10 minutes of cooking on the grill!

Hawaiian Meatballs

You can either make your own meatballs or I buy the frozen meatballs for a FASTER meal!!!

Meatballs (if you want to take the time to do it):   BUY FROZEN... they taste the same to me!
1.5 lbs ground beef
2/3 c cracker crumbs
1/3 c minced onion
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 c milk
1 tbsp shortening (to put in pan before frying)

Sauce - I DOUBLE this recipe!
2 tbsp corn starch
1/2 c brown sugar
1 can pineapple tidbits - drain syrup and keep it!  (13 1/2 oz can)
1/3 c vinegar
1 tbsp soy sauce
1/3 c chopped green pepper
I add a little green onion, too.

Mix corn starch & sugar.  Stir in pineapple syrup, vinegar, soy sauce.  Pour into pan over medium heat.  Stir till it boils.  Boil and stir 1 minute.  Add meatballs, pineapple, and green peppers.  (onion, too, if you want...)  Heat thoroughly. 

I love this!

I make white rice to put the hawaiian meatballs over and its delicious!

Beef Stroganoff

1 lb ground hamburger
1/3 cup water
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
1 small can mushrooms
egg noodles or rice

Brown the beef.  Cook your noodles.  Add together and you're DONE!

For a creamier beef stoganoff:
1 lb ground beef
2/3 c water
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
2 cups evaporated milk
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 small can mushrooms
egg noodles

Follow the same directions as above!
Thanks Dawn D.!

Italian Beef

I think a lot of people have this recipe or one similar, but I thought I would add it anyways...

Put a roast in the crockpot.
Add 1 package of dry Italian salad dressing mix
1 jar of Banana Peppers (including the juices)
1 beer

Let it cook for 8 hours on low.
When finished, shred the meat and take out any of the banana peppers that you don't want to stay in there.  (My husband was mad that I removed the banana peppers!!!)
I also removed any large pieces of fat.

Place it on some good fresh buns and you have supper!

Stuffed Hamburgers

Chris made some awesome stuffed hamburgers tonight on the charcoal grill!!

1 lb hamburger (thawed)
1/4 - 1/2 package fresh mushrooms
slices of provolone cheese (or whatever cheese you like the best on sandwiches)

He started with a thin patty of hamburger on the bottom.
Piled a small amount of cut-up mushrooms & cheese pieces into the middle.
He topped it with another small patty.
He then worked around the edges to mold the 2 patties together.

He placed it on a charcoal grill until done.  Don't overcook them... we are addicted to our digital thermometer that we stick into our meat until its cooked to the recommended temperature.  This allows us to eat juicy meat, versus dried out hamburgers, chicken, steak, etc.  We love it!  BUY ONE!

Very good!!!

Broccoli-Potato-Cheese Soup

1/4 c chopped onion
3 tbsp butter
4 c boiling water
1 lb. broccoli (cut up)
4 c hash brown potatoes (shredded)
1 1/2 c milk
1/2 c evaporated milk
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4-1/2 loaf velveeta cheese
Shredded cheddar cheese (1 (8 oz) bag)

Cook & stir onion in butter in 3 qt. pan.
Slowly add water, stir in broccoli and potatoes.
Heat to boiling, then reduce heat and cover to simmer for about 15 min.
Stir in evaporated milk and milk.  Cover and simmer 10 min.
Stir in remaining ingredients.
Add velveeta cheese and cheddar cheese to taste. 
Heat and stir until melted.

I made this for the teachers at school the other day!  The only problem I had was that I didn't add enough Velveeta.  I needed another 1/4.  I would start with a 1/4 of a loaf, taste it, and then add more if you think it needs to be cheesier. 
There is no meat in here so it works great for Catholics on Fridays!
The night before I put this together, I cut up my broccoli and onion.  The night that I made it, I was able to just throw things in when it came time. 


Serves 6-8.

Taco Soup

Its getting a little late for soup recipes, but I wanted to share this with you in case we get another cool day that is suited for a good soup.

There are many taco soup recipes out there.  This is the one I have been using, and we all really enjoy it.

1 lb ground beef
1/4 c diced onion (add more if you really like onion)
1 can drained chili beans
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 pkg hidden valley ranch dressing mix (dry)
3 c tomato juice
1 can tomato soup
1 can rotel tomatoes
1 can stewed tomatoes (mexican style)

Brown beef and onion.
Add remaining ingredients.
Simmer for 1 hour or more.

We use tortilla chips instead of saltine crackers.
We also add a dallop of sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese to the top before serving.

Mom's Meatloaf

I wondered for years how my mom's meatloaf can taste so dang good and everyone else's.... well... isn't so great.  She hooked me up with her recipe (off the top of her head, of course... she never uses recipes!) and I even convinced my husband that meatloaf can be good if made with the right ingredients!

Mix together:
1 lb hamburger
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/8 c diced onion
3/4-1 c oatmeal
3/4 c tomato juice
1/2 c milk

-grease pan

350 degrees for 1 hour
In the last 15 minutes, add catsup on top. 

Hearty Chicken & Noodle Casserole

Nancy had made this for me once, and I fell in love with it!  Its a great casserole that has plenty of vegetables for those little kiddies in your house!

1 can Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1/2 c milk
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 c frozen vegetables
2 c cubed cooked chicken
2 c egg noodles, cooked & drained
1/2 c shredded Cheddar Cheese

Stir soups, milk, pepper, Parmesan cheese, vegetables, chicken, and noodles in 1.5 qt casserole dish.
Bake at 400 degrees for 25 min or until hot.  Stir.
Top with Cheddar cheese.

To make it crunchy:  Omit cheese.  Use 1/2 c French fried onions.

Chicken Sweet 'n Sour Stir-Fry

I found this recipe as I was checking out the Dole website.  It was pretty good and extremely FAST, but if I make this again, I'm going to use FRESH vegetables and my husband preferred using store bought Stir Fry Sauce versus the sauce they suggest.

Sauce: 
3 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce

Meat:
2 boneless chicken breasts, cut into small bite size pieces
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Vegetables:
1/2 package (I used the entire thing.) frozen stir-fry vegetables
1 can (20 oz) DOLE Pineapple Chunks, drained

Hot cooked rice

DIRECTIONS
Combine ketchup, soy sauce, vinegar into bowl.  Stir.  (I doubled the ingredients for more sauce.) (My husband preferred using store bought stir fry sauce.)

Cook and stir chicken in large skillet in hot oil.
 Stir in vegetables, cover.  Reduce heat to low.  Cook 2-3 minutes or until vegetables are tender-crisp. 
Stir in pineapple chunks and sauce.
Cook & stir until pineapple is heated through. 
Serve over hot rice.

Tip:  Fresh stir fry vegetables can be used in place of frozen vegetables.  When adding fresh vegetables, add 2 tablespoons of juice from pineapple and increase cooking time to 4 minutes or until vegetables are tender-crisp.

Pizza Subs

From Cooks.com

1/2 lb hamburger
1/4 c. chopped onion
1 (8 oz) can pizza sauce
2 tbsp chopped black olives
1 tsp basil
1/2 tsp oregano
1 1/2 c shredded mozzarella cheese
4 French rolls, sliced in half lengthwise

Microwave meat until browned.  Add onion.  Cook on high 5 minutes, stirring after 2 1/2 minutes.  Drain off fat and stir in pizza sauce, olives, basil, oregano.
Sprinkle 3 tablespoons cheese over 1/2 slice of french roll.
Spoon 1/4 of meat mixture over loaf and top with 3 tablespoons cheese.
Top with other half of french roll.
Slice in half and wrap securely with foil.
Prepare remaining rolls the same way.
Bake at 375 fr 40 minutes.

They noted that you can make these and freeze them for quick dinners.  If frozen, cook 60-70 minutes at 375 degrees.

My thoughts:  I actually order a pizza sub almost every time I go to Subway.  They do the same thing, except they put down the large pepperoni for the meat, top that with a little sauce, and then I put black olives, green peppers, and parmesan cheese on top of that.  They toast it... YUM.  I could do that at home now!!!  The hamburger mixture sounds good, too. 

Tawny's Meatloaf

Enjoy this meatloaf recipe!!  It sounds like an easy thing to mix together and throw in the oven!!

Ingredients:
1 pound ground chuck
1 small bag of prepared real bacon bits (about 1 cup)
1 (8oz) package sharp or mild Cheddar, grated
2 large eggs
1/4 c bread crumbs
1/4 c mayo
1 tblsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/3 c ketchup
2 tblsp prepared yellow mustard
1 (3 oz) can French fried onions  (optional)

Directions:
Preheat over to 350 degrees
In large bowl, combine ground chuck and next 8 ingredients.  Mix well.
In small bowl, combine ketchup and mustard, reserving ketchup mixture for topping.

In a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan, shape meat mixture into loaf.  Spread ketchup mixture over the loaf.
Bake 40 minutes.  (optional:  top with french fried onions, and bake another 10-15 minutes) or until meat is no longer pink.

Pairs well with green beans or broccoli or any style potato.

Tawny's Creamy Chicken Soup (a.k.a. Comfort Soup)

4 skinless boneless chicken breasts
6-8 chicken bouillon cubes
2.5 - 3 quarts water
24 oz sour cream, divided
1 bag country pasta (try the clear & red bag of noodles found at WalMart - homemade noodles work, too)
1 large can cream of chicken soup

In 5 qt. soup pot, boil water with bouillon cubes, add chicken breast, boil until cooked through.
Remove chicken from broth, set aside. 
Add bag of noodles to broth, boil till preferred doneness.    DO NOT DRAIN NOODLES.
Add in can of cream of chicken soup, stir until fully incorporated to noodle/broth mixture.
Add cubed chicken breast back to soup. 
When heated through, remove from heat and add in 1/2 container of sour cream, stir until fully incorporated.
Use remaining sour cream as garnish by adding a spoonful to the top of each bowl.

Goes great with Hawaiian bread!


Thank you Tawny for a soup recipe!! I could make soup every night of the week if my husband would let me!!!  I'll let you know how it goes!

Shelli's Lazy Lasagna

1-1 1/2 lb hamburger
32 oz spaghetti sauce
16 oz cottage cheese
8 oz sour cream
2 bags shredded mozerella cheese
1/2 c parmesan
1 c water
uncooked lasagna noodles

Brown the hamburger, drain, and mix with spaghetti sauce.
Mix cottage cheese and sour cream in separate bowl.
Start with 1/2 of hamburger/sauce mix on bottom of pan.  Layer in order of noodles, 1/2 sour cream/cottage cheese mix, bag of mozerella.
Repeat for second layer using all of the sour cream/cottage cheese mix. 
Finish with remaining hamburger mix, parm, and water.

Bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour covered.  Uncover and bake an additional 30 minutes.

Make some salad and garlic bread!!

Shelli's Mexican Chicken

3-4 lb whole chicken (or 3-4 lb boneless chicken breasts)
1 can diced rotel tomatoes
1 can cream of chicken
1 can cream of mushroom
8 oz mexican velveeta cheese (Shelli uses 2 8 oz. bags of taco cheese)
small bag of doritos (2  $.99 bags)

Boil chicken (pressure pan works well), cool, shred. in large bowl.
Add chicken, tomatoes, both soups, and cheese. 
Crush 1/2 bag of doritos (or both small bags) and mix well.
Place in a greased 9 x 13 pan and bake 30-45 minutes at 350 degrees.

Shelli says this works well just out of the pan or in tortilla shells.

Warning:  watch your doritos!  Too many will dry it out!

Thanks Shelli, I look forward to making this for the James Family!