White Beans

YUM! Great fall supper when it's chilly outside:-) I usually make it with some cornbread. It's super simple...put it in the crock pot and let it cook!

Ingredients:
1 bag of white beans
1 small yellow onion
1 ham hock
1 tbsp garlic powder
pepper

Directions:
Soak the beans overnight in 6 cups of water. The next morning drain the beans and put in fridge until you are ready to cook them. I usually put them in the crock pot around noon and they are ready to eat around 5:30 that evening:-)

Put the beans in the crock pot with enough water to cover them. Add chopped onion, garlic powder, ham hock and pepper. Don't salt the beans...there is plenty of salt in the ham hock. Turn crock pot on low, cover and simmer for about 5-6 hours.

Make cornbread to go with the beans...and there you go...dinner is served!! How easy is that???

Baked Chops

I tried a new pork chop recipe tonight. It turned out great! The sauce is REALLY good on rice:-) mmmmmmm. Try it out!

4-6 boneless pork loin chops
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 soup can water
1 pkg. onion soup mix

Preheat oven to 350°F. Place chops in baking dish. In bowl, combine soups with water. Pour mixture over chops.

Cover with foil and bake for 30-45 minutes, depending on thickness of chops.

This dish creates its own gravy and is great served with rice!

Turkey Chili

Ok I have to start by saying this chili ROCKS! I have been trying to find "the" recipe for me and this is it! I was a little worried that Joel wouldn't like it because it's healthy....but he is a trooper and tried it. Guess what??? He LOVED it!!! He wants me to keep making it! YAY! I FINALLY found a chili recipe that I really love! If you are looking for a healthier chili recipe that doesn't taste healthier....this is it!!

Ingredients:
1 med onio, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 package (1lb) lean ground turkey
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 (14 1/2 ounce) can salsa-style or regular stewed tomatoes..undrained
1 (16 ounce) can kidney beans drained and rinsed
1 green bell pepper, diced
3/4 cup picante sauce

Directions:
Coat a large saucepan with cooking spray. Add onion and garlic, cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Crumble turkey into saucepan; sprinkle with chili powder, cumin and salt. Cook until turkey is done...about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add tomatoes, beans, bell pepper and picante sauce. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes. YUMMO!!!!

Broccoli and Cheese

Yum! I love me some broccoli and cheese. I guess I am blessed that I have always liked my veggies. I am blessed to also have a son that will eat anything:-) Most kiddos that don't really care for broccoli will eat it when it's covered in goodness!!! This is another totally simple side dish and yummy!

You need:
broccoli (FRESH...NOT FROZEN..YUCK!)
1 clove of fresh garlic
salt
pepper
(2 tablespoons of butter)
A LOT of good sharp cheddar cheese!!

Preheat oven to 350-375

Clean and cut up about 2-3 heads of fresh broccoli...seriously don't even try this is all you have is frozen broccoli...you don't know what you are missing!!! Steam broccoli for about 10 minutes. You don't want the broccoli mushy...but you want it cooked.

Put steamed broccoli into a baking dish. Melt butter and choped clove of garlic in a bowl together in microwave for about 30 seconds. Drizzle butter and garlic mixture on broccoli...stir. Sprinkle with salt and pepper....then comes the goodness! Oh yeah! I say be just about as generous as you want to with the cheese...especially if you are trying to get your kiddos to eat veggies lol!! No, seriously I probably use about 1 cup of shredded cheese...but feel free to use as much as you would like.

Bake for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly! Now that's good stuff!

Fried Taters

Ok...here is another one that most people already know how to make...but hey! I remember when I would look for simple recipes like this and I couldn't find them. So....figured I would put this recipe up in case anyone needs a simple potatoe recipe that is to die for!!!

You need:
Potatoes
veg oil (2-3 tablespoons)
butter (2 tablespoons)
salt
pepper blend seasoning
garlic powder

Peel and chope potatoes into cubes. Wash potatoes

I use an electric skillet for my potatoes. They always seem to turn out better for some reason! Put the skillet on 350. Put oil and butter in skillet and let it get good and hot. Add potatoes and sprinkle with garlic and pepper blend. Don't add salt to your potatoes until they are done or they will get soggy...yuck! Who likes a soogy fried potato?? NOT ME!!!

Cook for about 5-7 minutes then trun. Turn as needed for about 25 more minutes or until the potatoes are cooked through and nice and brown:-) Drain on paper towel...then salt potatoes before serving. This is one of my faves....it really doesn't get much better then some fried taters...I could eat them every day...but won't because I want to live past 50!!!!

BBQ Chicken

Such a simple yet totally yummy meal:-) I am sure most everyone has their own way to make it...but I thought I would share mine:-)

What you need:
(3) chicken breasts
a good BBQ sauce (or you can make a homemade sauce)
salt/pepper

Preheat oven to 375. Put chicken breasts in a baking dish. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Drizzle both sides of the chicken with BBQ sauce. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes or until chicken is done. Once the chicken is done remove the foil and turn oven on broil. Let chicken broil on each side for 2-3 minutes...this will make the outside of the chicken a little crisp...mmmm...so good:-)

French Puffs

This is another Pioneer Woman recipe. It sounded so good and easy to make so I decided to try it out on the kids this weekend. What kid isn't going to like something that is covered in cinnamon and sugar?? DUH! They turned out super delicious!!! I will make them again no questions asked:-)

3 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup shortening (Crisco)
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 teaspoons cinnamon
2 sticks butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 12 muffin cups. Stir together flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Set aside. Pray. In a different bowl, cream together 1 cup sugar and shortening, then add eggs and mix. Add flour mixture and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beating well after each addition. Fill prepared muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until golden. In a bowl, melt 2 sticks butter. In a separate bowl combine remaining sugar and cinnamon. Dip baked muffins in butter, coating thoroughly, then coat with cinnamon-sugar mixture. Eat. Faint.