Chicken Noodle Skillet

Okay, let’s see if this works, I’ve been having so many blogger issues. Thought they were resolved...well not resolved but that I had figured out a way to get around them but I’m having trouble again. So frustrating! Yay it appears this is working though! And I;m so happy to share this delicious recipe with you! This recipe was adapted from Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom.

2 tbsp butter
1/2 cup diced onion
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp granulated chicken bouillon 
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
3 cups chicken broth
4 cups egg noodles
1 rotisserie chicken (deboned and shredded)
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup frozen peas and carrots

Melt the butter in a large skillet and saute the onion until translucent. Stir in the garlic for 1 minute. Then stir in the the chicken bouillon, salt and pepper then pour in the chicken broth and stir in the egg noddles and chicken. Turn the heat up and cover. Let cook for 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the cream and reduce the heat to medium low. Stir in the corn, peas and carrots and cook until the mixture thickens.

Ranch Beef Tacos

This is such an easy taco recipe but with a fun twist from the normal! Tacos are always a hit at my little ones and happy kids at dinner time make for a happy mama. I love serve tacos with a big bowl of black beans and some chips and salsa.

1.5 lbs ground beef
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 pkg ranch seasoning mix
1 cup water
tortillas
shredded cheese
toppings: salsa, sour cream, guacamole, lettuce

Brown the ground beef in a medium skillet.  When the beef is browned, turn down the heat and drain off the grease. Stir in the taco seasoning, ranch seasoning and water. Stir for several minutes until it thickens up. Remove from heat and serve on tortillas with desired toppings.

Skillet Biscuit Pot Pie

Well, after an untended break, I'm back! Christmas got crazy then the start of the new year got even crazier but I'm finally sitting down to blog and hopeful that I can stay on top of it!  I made this recipe several weeks ago and it instantly became a favorite! I made it in my small skillet but next time I'll double it and put it in my big skillet because there wasn't a single bite left and everyone wanted more! This recipe was adapted from Kylee Cooks.

1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1 cup onion (chopped)
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/4 cup flour
2 cups chicken stock
1/4 cup half and half
1 lb chicken breast (cooked and cubed)
1 1/2 cups frozen peas and carrots
8 refrigerated canned biscuits
1 egg

Heat oven to 400. In a cast iron skillet heat the oil and butter. Saute the onion until soft and stir in the thyme, let cook for another minutes. Stir in the garlic then season with salt and pepper. Whisk in the flour. Cook for two to three minutes. Whisk in the chicken stock them the half and half. When the mixture begins to thicken stir in the chicken and let simmer for 5 minutes then stir in the frozen peas and carrots. Top with the biscuits. Whisk the egg in a bowl then brush over the biscuits. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the biscuits are browned on top. Remove from oven and let cool for 5-8 minutes before serving.

Turkey and Cheese Party Rolls

These were the perfect little pick up food for a get together I was going to!  Everyone raved about them and there wasn't a single one left at the end of the night! This recipe was adapted from Passion for Savings.

8oz cresecent rolls
8 thin cut slices deli turkey
8 slice provolone cheese
1 stick melted butter
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp poppy seeds

Heat oven to 350. Roll out the crescent rolls and press the seems together. Layer the turkey and cheese over the dough. Roll up tightly then cut into 12 pieces. Place in the bottom of a greased 9x11 pan. Mix together the melted butter, garlic powder and poppyseeds. Brush over the rolls until coated well. Bake for 12-16 minutes or until browned and melty. Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Creamy Minestone Tortellini Soup

This soup was delicious, I loved that it used tortellini. It was very filling and everyone in my family loved it. My 10 year old took the leftovers to school the next day! This recipe was adapted from Cooking Classy.

2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup diced onion
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced celery
1 1/2 tbsp minced garlic
42 oz chicken or vegetable broth
2 (14oz) cans diced tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 1/2 cups cut and quartered zucchini
2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 (14oz can) kidney beans
9oz refrigerated cheese tortellini
2 cups chopped fresh spinach
1 1/4 cups half and half
salt and pepper

Heat oil in a large pot and saute onions, carrots and celery until tender. Stir in the garlic and saute for 2 minutes. Add in the broth, tomatoes, tomato paste, zucchini, basil, oregano and thyme. Season with salt and pepper then bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir in the tortellini and kidney beans and cook for 7 minutes. Stir in the spinach and half and half and cook for another 5 minutes then serve.

Taco Crescent Cups

I love anything that is perfect for little kid hands! These taco crescent cups were a super easy dinner and also easy for my kids to eat! Everyone could top them with whatever they wanted and they made for a great quick dinner!

1lb ground beef
1 pkg taco seasoning
2/3 cup water
2 cans crescent rolls
1 cup shredded colby jack cheese
toppings: salsa, sour cream, guacamole, lettuce, tomato

Heat oven to 375. Brown the ground beef then drain off the grease and stir in the taco seasoning and water. Turn the heat down to low.  Open the crescent rolls and seal the edges together then cut into 8 squares. Grease a muffin tin then carefully put the crescent squares down in the muffin tin. Spoon the taco meat into each crescent up then top with cheese. Bake for 14-18 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan and serving.

Buttermilk Chicken Tenders

I just made these a little over an house ago, it was such an easy lunch! I had plans to make some fancy sauces but I was just tired so I pulled out the big bag of chickfila sauces and served those instead and they were great! This recipe is from Cassie Craves.

1 lb chicken tenderloins
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 cup flour
1 tsp seasoning salt
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
1/4 tsp black pepper
oil for frying

Place the chicken tenderloins in a bowl a coat with buttermilk.  Let sit for 15 minutes. In a separate bowl combine the flour, seasoning salt, poultry seasoning and black pepper.  Coat the chicken tenders in the flour mixture. Heat about one inch of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken tenders until they are golden brown and cooked through. Remove and let cool down before serving with your favorite sauces.

Crock Pot Black Bean Soup

Black Beans are a big hit at our house and when I saw this easy crock pot recipe I had to try it! It was so good! We topped it with a little cheese and sour cream and it was delicious.  It was still pretty warm out on the night I made this but it's going to be great for cold winter nights or snow days! This recipe was adapted from The Country Cook.

3 cups vegetable or beef broth
28oz can crushed tomatoes
4 16oz cans black beans
1 small onion (diced)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 1/2 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup water
4 tbsp cornstarch

Place the broth, crushed tomatoes, black beans, onion, garlic, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper in the crock pot.  Cook on low fro 5-8 hours. After cooking use a potato masher and mash some of the beans. In a small bowl whisk together the water and cornstarch then stir it into the soup and cook for another 30 minutes. Serve with cheese and sour cream.

Apple Brie and Honey Grilled Cheese

I love a yummy grilled cheese recipe and this is a copycat of one of my favorite sandwiches from one of my favorite food trucks, the big cheese.

2 slices of hearty bread
4-5 slices brie
4-5 thinly sliced granny smith apple
honey
1 tbsp butter

Place half the butter into a hot skillet then place one piece of bread down in the butter.  Place the brie on the bread then top with the apple and a drizzle of honey then the last slice of bread.  Let cook until the bread begins to brown then melt the remaining butter and flip the sandwich.  Cook until brown on both sides and the cheese is slightly melted.

Crock Pot Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

I was going to make a different recipe this night but I couldn't get one of the ingredients I needed at the grocery store and I just didn't have it in me to go to another store. I created this on a whim and it was a great recipe. The kids loved the sweetness from the brown sugar.

3-4 chicken breasts
1 cup bbq sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar

Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the crock pot. Sprinkle with brown sugar and pour the bbq sauce on top. Cook for 6-8 hours on low.  Shred the chicken in the sauce and serve on buns.

Sloppy Joe Sliders

I was going to make these when we were getting together with friends but at the last minute that got cancelled so I just made them for dinner for my family.  There wasn't a single one left! They devoured them them all and my son was sad there weren't more.  My 2 year old called them "fluffy joes" which kept us laughing all through dinner too.  This recipe was adapted from Valerie's Kitchen.

1lb ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
8oz can tomato sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp mustard
2 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cumin
12 slider buns
1 cup cheddar cheese
2 tbsp melted butter
1/2 tsp sesame seeds

Heat oven to 350. Cook the ground beef and onions in a skillet.  Drain off the grease. Stir in the tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, brown sugar, garlic powder and cumin.  Let it simmer for 10 minutes. Place the bottom half of the buns in a 9x13 baking dish. Spoon the sloppy joe meat onto each bun. Sprinkle with cheese. Top with the other half of the bun then brush with butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Crock Pot Chicken with Bacon Gravy

I made this the first week of school because I needed easy!  This recipe was delicious, flavorful and super easy to throw in the crock pot. I served it over brown rice.

3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
6 slices bacon
2 packages chicken gravy
1 1/2 cups water
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp thyme
2/3 cup cream

Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the crock pot then top with bacon, garlic and thyme. Whisk together the chicken gravy and water and pour over the chicken. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Shred the chicken in the gravy and stir in the heavy cream and cook uncovered for 20 minutes then serve.

Quick and Easy Chicken Lo Mein

This is officially one of my new favorite dinners.  I'm a harsh critic on my own cooking and it takes a lot for me to exclaim "oh this is so good" after just one bite. But this had me at first bite and I know I will be making it a lot! The great thing is you can use whatever veggies your family likes, I used onion, mushrooms, red, yellow and orange peppers. But it would be so great with broccoli, carrots, sugar snap peas, bok choy, so many things! I used lo mein noodles from the freezer section but really any will work!

2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite size strips)
4 cups sliced or diced vegetables
1 tbsp olive oil
21 oz Lo Mein noodles
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup chicken stock
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp minced garlic
2 tbsp cornstarch

 Heat a skillet over medium heat with oil. Saute the chicken until it is cooked through, remove from heat and set to the side. Add the vegetables to the pan and saute. Cook the lo mein noodles according to directions on the package and set to the side. Whisk together the soy sauce, chicken stock, honey, brown sugar, ground ginger, garlic and cornstarch. Once the vegetables are tender stir in the noodles, chicken and sauce. Toss it all together. When the sauce begins to thicken, remove from heat and serve.

Grilled Brown Sugar Chili Pork Tenderloin

Easy, delicious, flavorful! That perfectly sums up this grilled pork tenderloin. This was Gray's pick for his birthday dinner and it was a great pick! This recipe is adapted from Katie's Cucina.

2 pork tenderloins
2 tbsp chili powder
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp olive oil

In a bowl combine the chili powder, brown sugar, paprika and cinnamon. Rub the olive oil over the pork tenderloin then rub the chili powder mixture into the pork tenderloin. Heat grill over medium high heat and grill for 10 minutes on each side or until the pork tenderloin is cooked through. Remove from grill and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Creamy Margherita Pasta

Pasta pasta pasta. My two year old loves pasta. Almost every night she asks if we are having pasta and if I say yes it's met with cheers! This creamy cheesy pasta was delicious! This recipe was adapted from Carlsbad Cravings.

1lb penne pasta
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter
1/4 cup onion (chopped)
6 roma tomatoes (chopped)
4 cloves garlic (minced)
1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cup chicken broth
1 1/2 cup milk
2 tsp chicken bouillon
1 tsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
2 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup chopped basil

Cook the pasta according to directions and drain,  reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Melt the butter and oil over medium low heat in a large skillet. Turn the heat up to medium and saute the onion and half of the tomatoes for 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 second. Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes. Turn the heat to low and whisk in the chicken broth then milk until the sauce is smooth. Turn the heat back up to medium and bring to a simmer. Stir in the chicken bouillon, dried parsley, dried oregano, salt and pepper. Keep stirring until the sauce has thickened slightly. Turn the heat down and add the cream cheese then stir in the parmesan cheese and mozzarella until smooth. Stir in the remaining tomatoes and fresh basil. Toss with the pasta. If the sauce has thickened too much then thin out with the pasta water until the constancy is right.

Grilled Brown Sugar Balsamic Chicken

I love an easy grilled chicken recipe and this one was perfect and so flavorful! My kids devoured all of theirs and were asking for more even though there wasn't any more! This recipe is from Delightful E Made.

3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil
3 tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp ground pepper
1/2 tsp salt

Whisk the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, brown sugar, garlic, pepper and salt together. Place the chicken in a ziploc bag and pour the marinade over the chicken. Let marinate for 3-8 hours. Grill chicken over medium heat 6-8 minutes on each side or until the chicken is cooked through. 

Baked Ravioli with Charred Tomatoes and Spinach

Ravioli has become one of the things I can almost always guarantee that both of my kids will devour, specifically my two year old who can be persnickety about dinner. Speaking of that two year old, this page has been open for the last 45 minutes as I try to get this recipe blogged but she has asked for water, to go potty for goldfish and to change the movie 234323 times. Bless it. This recipe is adapted from I Heart Naptime.

1 pint grape tomatoes
25oz frozen cheese ravioli
6oz fresh baby spinach
1/3 cup basil
1 jar marinara sauce
8oz fresh mozzarella (cubed)

Place the broiler on high. Spread the cherry tomatoes out on a foil lined sheet pan and place on the top rack of the oven. Broil until they start to blister, about 5 minutes. Remove and heat oven to 400. Toss together the frozen ravioli, charred tomatoes, spinach, basil, marinara sauce and cubed mozzerella. Pour into a 9x13 pan. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for 10 more minutes. Remove from oven and serve.

Cheeseburger Meatball Sandwiches

Both of my children are currently loving meatballs of any kind. My oldest LOVES meatball sandwiches so I thought this was a fun twist on it! They turned out great and everyone loved them!

Meatballs:
1lb ground beef
1/4 cup finely diced onion
1 egg
1 tbsp worchestershire sauce
1 tbsp ketchup
1/2 tsp garlic salt
pepper to taste
1/2 cup panko

Sauce:
8oz tomato sauce
1/3 cup ketchup
1 tbsp mustard
1 tbsp worchestershire sauce
1/4 tsp onion powder
pinch of pepper

4 Hoagie Rolls
8 slices cheddar cheese 

Heat oven to 400. In a bowl combine the ground beef, onion, egg, worchestershire, ketchup, garlic salt and pepper until combined. Stir in the panko. Form the meatballs and place in the bottom of a greased baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes or until cooked through.  While the meatballs are baking, make the sauce by whisking all the ingredients together in a pot then heating until hot.  Once the meatballs are done, place them in the sauce and let them sit for 5 minutes. Then place the meatballs on the rolls, top with cheddar cheese and serve.

Grilled Vegetable Primavera

This recipe is a great meatless summer recipe! Loaded with lots of yummy vegetables, it's pretty quick to throw together and very filling!

1 lbs bowtie pasta
2 zucchini
2 yellow squash
1 red pepper
1 orange pepper
1 cup mushrooms
1 red onion
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup grated parmesan cheese 
4 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp italian seasoning 

Cut the veggies into bite size pieces, toss in olive oil, salt, pepper and italian seasoning. Place in a foil packet and grill over medium heat for 7-8 minutes on each side. Boil the pasta in the chicken brother and water. Drain the pasta and toss with parmesan cheese and grilled vegetables.

Grilled Chicken Pitas

New favorite! This chicken had great flavor since it was grilled and I loved topping it with fresh ingredients and tzatziki. Everyone devoured this meal.

3 boneless skinless chicken breast
4 tbsp olive oil
4 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp plain greek yogurt
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tsp minced garlic
2 tsp salt
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp black pepper
4 pitas
cucumber
tomato
lettuce
tzatziki

Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, plain greek yogurt, red wine vinegar, garlic, salt, thyme, oregano and black pepper. Place chicken breasts in a plastic ziplock bag and pour the marinade over the chicken. Marinate for 1-12 hours.  Heat grill over medium high heat and grill the chicken for 7-9 minutes on each side or until the chicken is cooked through. Let sit for 5 minutes then slice and place on the pita with toppings.