Chuckwagon Casserole

I have been debating if I should put this recipe on here, but I did say I would post all the ones I try out. Although it wasn't that bad, it could have used a little bit of tweaking to help make it not so bland.


Below I will add the original recipe and then right after that just show my ideas of what I would have changed. It will be a little bit before we make this again, but when I cook it with my changes, I will take this one off and put the new one up.

                                                       *Right before I put it in the oven


*If your not serving for friends and family then I would half the recipe or you can put half of it in a freezer bag and freeze it.

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. Olive Oil

1 cup chopped Onion

1/2 cup chopped Green Bell Pepper

1 Tsp. minced Garlic

1-1/2 Lbs. Ground Beef

2 cans Red Kidney Beans; drained

2 (14 oz) cans of whole kernel corn; drained

2 cans of condensed tomato soup or 3/4 cup BBQ Sauce

1/2 cup Milk

1-1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

1 tsp. Chili powder

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp. Cayenne pepper

Kosher salt and cracked black pepper to taste

Ingredients I would change:

2 cans of Ranch Style Beans instead of kidney beans

1-1/2 cans instead of 2 of whole kernel corn

Use the BBQ sauce instead of tomato soup

A little more Cayenne pepper

If you use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic, use more than 1 tsp.

1/2 chopped Jalapeno

What to do:

Preheat oven to 375. 

Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Saute the onion and bell pepper until soft. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Add the ground beef and cook until browned; drain. Add beef back to skillet and then add the beans, corn, tomato soup (or BBQ sauce), milk, cheese, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce and Cayenne pepper.

Stir over medium heat until it is mixed well. Add salt and pepper as needed.

Transfer to a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish. Bake uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes.

Kyle and I ate this with biscuits and a side salad.

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

I am sure that most of you know this recipe or a very similar one, but I still had to share it. It was one of those busy weeks where I loved being able to pull out my crock pot and cook while I was at work.


This makes quite a bit so if it is just 2 of you, I recommend halving the recipe. The full recipe served 2 nights for dinner and a lunch.

             *I angled the bun for the picture so it looks like I put a whole lot of the chicken on there.

Ingredients:

3 boneless chicken breasts

1 bottle of BBQ sauce (I wouldn't recommend the whole bottle)

1/2 cup Zesty Italian Dressing

1/4 cup Brown Sugar

2 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce

What to do:

• Place all the ingredients (except Chicken) in a bowl and mix together
• Pour half into the bottom of your crock pot
• Place chicken breasts into your crock pot
• Pour remaining sauce mixture over the chicken

Cook for 4 hours on low. 

Take the chicken out to shred and then place back into your crock pot for another 30 minutes.

Southwest Chicken (Tacos, Nachos, etc.)

I found this recipe for a crock pot Southwest Chicken that looked simple, but really good! No other easy way, but to cook in a crockpot when you have a busy week ahead of you.

I made this before I did the blog so I should have taken an after picture. The picture below is before I added ALL the chicken and mixed it up:

*It doesn't look like a lot, but trust me it is. I had leftovers for a couple of days at work which works for me!

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups frozen corn

1 can black beans

2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 1/2 cups salsa

*1 Tsp. Chili Powder-I added this so it's optional

*1 small Jalapeno pepper-I added this so it's optional

What to do:

• Lightly spray the bottom and sides of your crock pot with Pam
• Pour the frozen corn into the bottom
• Place chicken breasts on top
• Sprinkle Chili powder over chicken breasts
• Seed and dice Jalapeno pepper and mix in a bowl with salsa
• Cover the chicken with black beans and salsa mixture

Cook on low for 5 hours. Remove the chicken and shred with forks. Place shredded chicken back into the pot and mix well.

While Kyle put his portion in a tortilla for a taco, I put mine of top of a bed of lettuce and then topped with avocado...sooo yummy! You could do either or even make nachos.

Turkey Lettuce Wrap Tacos :)

So after seeing these Turkey Lettuce Wrap Tacos, I was very excited to try these out. My sister and I decided to make these when they came down to stay with Kyle and I. What better way to try new food than with your family?! Of course, they are nothing like P F Changs, but these were so good!



Like I said, actual pictures sometimes do not look that appetizing

 My sister is my witness that they look better than this :)

Ingredients for Tacos:

1 T olive oil

1 tsp. minced garlic

1 to 2 T diced green chiles (we used the can of green chiles)

1 tsp. ground cumin

1/4 tsp. cayenne (you can use chipotle chile powder also)

1 1/2 lbs. ground turkey

1/2 tsp. salt (or a little more if you're like me)

1/2 cup sliced green onions

1 1/4 cups chopped cilantro

2 T fresh lime juice

Large heads of romaine lettuce

Ingredients for Salsa:

(I could have eaten this as a chunky dip with chips)

2 medium avocados

1/2 cups chopped cherry tomatoes

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

2 T fresh lime juice

2 T olive oil-Optional (we used about 1 T)

Sea salt to taste (we used Kosher salt instead)

What to do: (Tacos)

• Heat olive oil in frying pan then add the minced garlic & diced green chiles (cook for about 1 min.)
• Add cumin and cayenne (cook for about another min.)
• Add Turkey and salt; cook over medium-high heat until turkey is lightly browned
• To the lightly browned Turkey, add sliced green onions and cook about 2 more min.
• Turn off heat and then stir in 1 cup chopped cilantro and 2 T lime juice

What to do: (Salsa)

• Peel and dice avocados
• Place in bowl and toss with lime juice
• Stir in chopped tomato, chopped cilantro, and olive oil
• Toss well and then season to taste with salt

Place turkey mixture in romaine lettuce heads (cups) and then top with salsa.....ENJOY :)

Hello!!

Hi Family & Friends (& whoever else might see this)!

I started this as a way to share old and new recipes along with creating some of my own. It may take me a little bit to get used to organizing my blog and splitting items up into sections, but just stick with me.

This is not going to be a blog where I write all these long posts about the food or why I love food, but just simply a place to journal recipes. I love to cook and be in the kitchen so what better way to share ideas than on here.

I will be putting in the original recipes along with any extra marks of things I have omitted or added to put in a little bit more spice. Pictures will be posted along with the recipes, but remember this is not a cookbook :) so the pictures may not look all that appetizing and neat haha.

Family and friends, I want y'all to join in as well. If you have recipes that you have tried, are wanting to try, or want me to try....please send them over to me (khix20@gmail.com) along with the ingredients and any pictures.