Super Bowl Countdown Continued...

... 6 more days until Super Bowl!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

2 cans chicken, drained

2 pkg. cream cheese, softened

1 cup ranch

½ cup hot sauce

2 cups Colby Jack cheese

In a microwave safe bowl put cream cheese, ranch, and hot sauce.  Microwave for 1 minute.  Mix together. 

Drain chicken and add to cream cheese mixture.

Put in greased 9x13 pan.  Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes. 

Remove from oven and sprinkle with cheese, then return to oven long enough to melt cheese.

Serve with Club Crackers.

SUPER BOWL COUNTDOWN!

And let the countdown begin…

…7 days until the SUPER BOWL!!!!!

This week will be devoted to super easy and quick Super Bowl foods.

Easy Potato Boats

2 large baking potatos

Shredded Cheese (I used Colby Jack)

Real Bacon Bits

Spices: garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, salt, pepper

Clean potatoes.  Slice the potato lengthwise in 4 pieces.  Cut the inside out of the potato, leaving enough potato to taste.  Put on microwaveable plate and cover with wax paper.  Microwave for 7 minutes or until tender.

Once potatoes are tender sprinkle with spices.  Then sprinkle with cheese and bacon.

Now, you have several options for melting cheese:
Oven/Broiler- 2-3 minutes

Grill- 5 minutes

Microwave- 2-3 minutes

Top with green onions.  Serve with sour cream. 

Quicker Weeknight Meals

So typically, what takes the longest when you are cooking a meal?? Cooking the meat, right??  Here is an easy way to skip that step.

One day every few months, I spend browning hamburger and shredding chicken.  Then I put about 2 cups of the cooked meat in a baggie and freeze it.  That way when I’m ready to start cooking, that step is already over.

Sure, it’s a lot of work for one day, but it makes week night cooking for the next few weeks much easier.

Ground Beef/Sausage/Turkey/Chicken: I start with about 10-20 pounds of meat.  Put it in 2 skillets and begin cooking the meat on a slow temperature.  Make sure you stir and chop as you go.  The cooking process will take about 45 minutes.  Once the meat is done, drain all of the grease out.  Then spread the meat on a paper towel lined baking sheet. This will help the meat cool quicker and the paper towel will absorb any grease left over.  Once the meat is cool, you can begin to put it in baggies.  You can either use a measuring cup (if you like to be exact) or just grab a few handfuls, like I do.  Then, seal up the bags and put in freezer.

**Ideas for Ground Beef/Sausage/Turkey/Chicken: tacos, spaghetti meat sauce, sloppy joe, chili/soups, hamburger helper, etc.**

Shredded Chicken: Place 10-15 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts in slow cooker (can be frozen).  Let cook over night (or 8-10 hours) on low.  Once the meat is done, drain all of the liquid out (you can save the broth for soups, if you’d like).  Let the chicken cool slightly.  Once the chicken has cooled enough to be able to touch, you can begin to shred the meat.  If you wait until the chicken is too cool, the meat will not shred as easy.  At this point, you can begin to put it in baggies and freeze.

**Ideas for Shredded Chicken: tacos, stir fry, enchiladas, etc.**

Once you are ready to use the meat, all you have to do is put it in the microwave to defrost a few seconds or put it directly in a skillet.  At this point, you can start to add the ingredients you need for your recipe.  Just skip the step where it says to brown your meat!

T Bone Steak and Salad

My husband and I are trying to eat a lot of protein and cut back on the carbs.  Thinking this would be super hard, I was scared to start this ‘diet’.  But looking at the meal below… I love low carb meals!!!

T-Bone Seasonings: garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, grill seasoning.  Grill until desired temperature.

Caesar Salad: 1 bag, ready to use lettuce, croutons, shredded parmesan and mozzarella cheese, slices of red onions (optional), Caesar salad dressing.  Mix all ingredients together and ENJOY!



Bacon Cheeseburger Roll Up

I got my inspiration for this recipe from Kraft Food Magazine.  Like most things I make, I find a recipe I like and then change/add ingredients to make it more personal for my family and me.

I have made it several times and found the perfect ingredients for a quick and delicious dinner.

Bacon Cheeseburger Roll Up

1 Pillsbury pizza dough crust (MUST be Pillsbury)

1 lb. hamburger

1 small-medium onion, chopped

½-1 pkg. real bacon bits

1 TBSP. Worcestershire Sauce

1 tsp. Hot Sauce

Garlic powder

Red Pepper Flakes, to taste (optional)

¼ block Velveeta cheese (this can be off brand)

Preheat oven to 400.

In a skillet, brown hamburger.  Once hamburger is drained, add chopped onion, real bacon bits, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and other spices.  Cook until onions are tender.

Then, add Velveeta cheese and stir often until cheese is melted and mixed well with hamburger mixture.

Let cool for about 7-10 minutes (If not, pizza dough will get too soft to roll).

Line baking pan with aluminum foil.  Then spray foil with non-stick cooking spray.

Unroll pizza dough into a rectangle in the center of the baking sheet.

Spread hamburger mixture evenly in the center of the dough.

Start on long side of the dough and gently roll into a log.

Bake for about 30 minutes or until dough is golden brown.

Let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice

I love to cook in a slow cooker.  It's a fix it and forget it kind of thing! The food comes out so moist and the flavors are infused throughout the meat... YUM!!!

This recipe is very easy and can be changed in many ways.  Feel free to add sour cream, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, vegetables, etc.  I also combine all the ingredients the night before, that way it is ready to be cooked the next day.  If you are like me, you don’t have any extra time in the morning to spare.

Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice

4 chicken breasts

1/2-1 cup rice

1 onion, chopped

1 can cream of chicken or cream of mushroom

1 can mushrooms, drained

1 1/2 cup chicken broth (you can use water or milk)

To taste: garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper

Spray your slow cooker insert with non-stick cooking spray.

Place the chicken breasts on the bottom of slow cooker.

In a separate bowl, combine cream of chicken, onion, mushrooms, spices, and ½ cup broth (this is also where you can add any other extra ingredients you may choose).  Once mixed well, pour over chicken breast. 

Put rice on top of soup mixture. 

**At this point, if you are not cooking immediately, put in the refrigerator until ready to cook**

Once you are ready to begin the cooking process, pour 1 cup broth into the slow cooker insert.  This will give a little extra moisture and make a thin gravy for your rice to soak up (optional step, if left out the chicken and rice will be thicker).

Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

National Peanut Butter Day!

A Super Easy Peanut Butter Pie recipe just for National Peanut Butter Day.

Super Easy Peanut Butter Pie

1 pre-made chocolate pie crust

1 pkg. cream cheese, softened

½ cup peanut butter

1 cup milk

1 pkg. instant vanilla pudding

1 tub whipped topping

1 pkg. Chocolate Chips (semi sweet or milk chocolate will work)

In a large bowl, blend together cream cheese and peanut butter. 

In a separate bowl, mix together milk and pudding.

Pour pudding mixture into peanut butter mixture.  Mix well. 

Add 1 cup whipped topping.  Mix well and set aside.

In a microwave safe bowl, put ½ bag of chocolate chips.  Microwave until completely melted (Make sure you use short cooking times and stir frequently to prevent chocolate from burning).

Once chocolate is melted, pour into bottom of chocolate pie crust.

Once the chocolate has set up a little (about 5 minutes), pour peanut butter mixture into pie crust. 

Place the remaining chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave until almost melted.  Then add about 1 cup whipped topping.  Microwave for another 10-15 seconds (enough to melt whipped topping).  Mix together. 

Once mixed, pour over top of peanut butter mixture in pie crust. 

Tips to make your pie extra special:  Drizzle with melted peanut butter, peanut butter chips or sprinkle with powdered sugar.  You can also top with remaining whipping cream.  Peanut butter cups cut in half would also be a nice touch.