Crockpot Pork Chops

So this is a recipe that is made as a "leftover" type meal. I had some grilled asparagus in the fridge (grilled it with sesame seeds, olive oil, and mrs dash in aluminum foil) and some spinach that needed to be used. Alas, here comes my masterpiece.

I shall name it Crockpot Pork Chops and it shall be mine.

Crockpot Pork Chops
Ingredients:
2 boneless pork chops
1 cup of chicken broth
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove of garlic

Seasonings: (add to taste)
1 tsp of Paprika
1 tsp of oregano
1 tsp of Italian seasoning (or Basil)
1 tsp of garlic powder
1 tsp of Poultry seasoning
salt and pepper (red and black pepper)

Base:
1 bag of spinach
1 90 second wild rice bag (Uncle Bens)..or just 2 servings of wild Rice
Almonds (if you want them)
1 tsp of italian Dressing (if you want more flavor)

Recipe:

1. In the bottom of the crock pot add olive oil, seasonings, chicken broth, and garlic. Stir.
2. Slit the tops of the pork chops and rub poultry seasoning, salt and peppers.
3. Put meat on top of liquid mixture in crockpot. Cook on High for 4 hours.
4. When meat is close to being done, microwave spinach, rice, almonds, and italian dressing in a bowl for 5 minutes with a plate over the bowl to prevent splashing.
5. Slice the asparagus into 2 inch pieces and put on top of rice and spinach mixture and cook in microwave until spinach has melted down.
6. Lay the vegetable/rice mixture on plate and put pork on top.
7. Garnish with onions from crockpot and sauce.
8. Enjoy!

Italian Sausage Sandwiches

It's a given that most of these recipes are convenient, mostly because I don't do inconvenient. After college I became a LeanCuisine girl, so anything more than that is a lot for me. Baby steps...

Tonight was SO easy. (and cheap!!) Granted it was not the most healthy option. I can imagine that the sausage and peppers can be served over whole grain pasta with a salad to make it better for you. I got it off of the McCormick website http://www.mccormick.com

Tonight we had a comfort food night. We served the Sausage on toasted hoagie rolls with green beans and mac-n-cheese. (I know, I know..it was our TGIF meal). It would be great for entertaining for football season!

Italian Sausage Sandwiches
Ingredients:
2-15oz. cans of stewed tomatoes
2-10oz. cans of tomato paste
2 lbs of italian sausage (we used hot, but you can go for mild if you don't like spicy stuff)
1 medium onion
2 green peppers (sliced in 1/2 inch longitudinal pieces)
1 Pkg of McCormick Italian Herb Chicken Seasoning

Recipe:
Combine all ingredients in Crock Pot and cook for 8-10 hours on low and 4-6 on high.

Berry Cobbler (WW Friendly!)

This is a recipe I found off Pinterest on an awesome blog found here: http://livingachangedlife.blogspot.com/2010/04/berry-cobbler.html She has great recipes that are very WW friendly.

Will and I tried it tonight and it was a very good summer guilt-free dessert! We served it with fat free whipped topping, but you can do it with ice cream or whatever sounds good to you. Also you don't have to buy strawberries and peaches, they were just the cheapest at the supermarket at the time. We used lemon flavored cake too (couldnt find white cake mix).

 Cost is relatively low (under $10).

Berry Cobbler
Ingredients:
1-15oz. bag of frozen strawberries
1-15oz. bag of frozen peaches
1-box of Super Moist Betty Crocker Cake Mix (we had lemon, but you can do white or yellow)
1-12oz. can of Sprite Zero (or any other diet lemon-lime soda--fresca might be great!!)

Recipe:

1. In separate bowl mix soda with cake mix until combined.
2. Sprinkle frozen fruit in a 9X13 pyrex pan (grease with cooking spray first)
3. Pour Cake Mixture over fruit and make sure it's evenly distributed
4. Bake at 350F for 45-50 minutes
5. Enjoy!

Italian Rice Bake

Under $15- serves 6-8 people.

Italian Rice Bake
Ingredients:
1-6.9oz box of rice (Chicken flavor)
1 lb. of Jimmy Dean Mild sausage
1/2 cup of chopped onion
2 small zucchini cut in 1/4 inch slices
1 clove of garlic
2 cups of spaghetti sauce (Classico Tomato Basil or 3 cheese)
1/2 tsp of basil
2 Cups of shredded mozzarella cheese

Recipe:

1. Prepare Rice in one pan, brown onion and sausage in frying pan.
2. Drain sausage, and sautee zucchini and garlic in frying pan you used for sausage for 1 minute.
3. When Rice is prepared, add sausage and onion, add basil, add 1.5 cups of spaghetti sauce
4. Spread rice mixture into 11x7 pyrex baking pan in two layers. In between layers, sprinkle cheese and remaining spaghetti sauce. Sprinkle cheese and zucchini on top
5. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350F

Lemonade Stand Pie

This is a great ice cream pie for a summer picnic! Also very cheap-- under $20

Lemonade Stand Pie
8 Servings
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of country time lemonade drink mix (raspberry, strawberry, or regular)
1/2 cup of water
1 pint (2 cups) of Breyers Vanilla Ice Cream (softened)
1-8oz. tub of Cool Whip
1 prepared Nabisco Honey Maid Graham Pie Crust (6 oz. or 9 in.)

Recipe:

1. Stir drink mix and water until dissolved
2. Beat lemonated mixture and ice cream in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed until blended.
3. Gently stir in whipped topping until smooth
4. Freeze ntil mixture mounds, if necessary. Spoon into crust
5. Freeze 4 hours or overnight until mixture is firm. Let stand for 15 minutes at room temperature or until pie can be cut easily
6. Garnish with lemon slices
7. Enjoy!

Texas Sheet Cake

This is my grandmothers recipe and my dad's favorite. It was made for my parents wedding and probably for one birthday a year after (this is also a family favorite). Do not be scared off by the crisco--it makes the cake so amazing and isn't any worse than loads of butter. I used household items, so I don't know how much it would cost to make this cake, but I can't imagine much more than $20.

Texas Sheet Cake

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of Crisco
1/2 cup margarine
1 Cup of water
6 Tablespoons of cocoa

1/2 cup of sour cream
1 tsp of baking soda

2 cups of flour
2 cups of sugar
1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp of vanilla
2 eggs

Recipe:

1. Cream together second two ingredients in a small bowl and set aside to let it rise for 5-10 minutes (this makes the cake really moist!)
2.  Melt together first four ingredients on low heat in a saucepan, let cool.
3. Combine flour, sugar and salt in separate bowl. So at this point, you'll have three bowls (#1, #2, and #3)
4. In mixing bowl, beat two eggs and vanilla together and add chocolate mixture (#2). Then add sour cream mixture (#1). Slowly add flour mixture (#3).
5. Pour batter in greased cooking pan (9X13 pyrex is what I use, but you can make two circle pans to make layered cake)
6. Bake 30-35 mins on 350F

Icing
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of margarine
1/2 cup of crisco
3/4 cup of sugar
1/2 package of Philly Cream Cheese (can be reduced if needed)

1/2 cup of milk
7 Tablespoons of flour
1 tsp of vanilla

Recipe:

1. Cream first 4 ingredients
2. Add last three and beat on high for 7-10 minutes until sugar is dissolved
3. Ice the cake!

I normally ice the cake and top with strawberries and blueberries. Sometimes I layer the fruits with the layered cake ( I use bananas most of the time if I layer the cake)

Crock-Pot Creamy Chicken and Rice

Crock Pot Creamy Chicken and Rice

Haven't tried this yet, but it looks amazing and it was about only $20 at the supermarket.

Recipe:
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 cups of brown rice (can be substituted with wild or white rice)
1 can of cream of chicken soup (98% fat free)
1 carrot
3 stems of celery
1 onion
2 cloves of garlic
1 small bag of spinach (optional)
1 cup of water
Basil, oregano, garlic salt and pepper

1. Pour brown rice in bottom of crock pot. Top with can of cream of chicken soup with water.
2. Chop up carrot, onion, garlic, and celery and put on top of rice with chicken mixture.
3. Sprinkle basil oregano garlic salt etc on both sides of each chicken breast and place on top of rice.
4. Cook on HIGH for 4-6 hours or LOW for 8-10 hours. Before serving add bag of spinach and mix.
5. Serve chicken over rice and sauce on top and enjoy!