Pizza Nachos

Ingredients

• FOR THE GARLIC CREAM SAUCE:
• 1-½ Tablespoon Unsalted Butter
• ½ Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 3 cloves Garlic, Minced (or Use A Microplane If You Have It)
• ½ cups Heavy Cream
• ¼ cups 2% Milk
• 1 pinch Salt
• 1 pinch Cracked Black Pepper
• 1 pinch Red Pepper Flakes
• ¼ cups Parmesan Cheese, Grated

• FOR THE NACHOS:
• Your Favorite Crispy Tortilla Chips
• ½ cups Garlic Cream Sauce (Recipe Included)
• ¼ cups Onion, Diced
• ½ cups Pepperoni, Cut Into Bite Size Pieces
• ½ cups Black Olives Sliced
• ½ whole Green Bell Pepper, Seeds Removed, Diced
• 1 cup Colby-Jack Cheese, Shredded

Bacon, Pineapple, Chicken Kabobs

INGREDIENTS

• 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 pounds)
• 1 large pineapple, cut into 1½ inch chunks
• 2 large red bell peppers, cut into 1½ inch pieces
• 1 large onion, cut into 1½ inch pieces
• 12 strips of thick cut bacon
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• FOR THE HAWAIIAN SAUCE:
• 1½ cups pineapple juice
• 1½ tablespoons cornstarch
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 6 long skewers
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• InsTRUCTIONS

1. To make the Hawaiian sauce: Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan and stir until the cornstarch is dissolved. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 2 minutes. Set-aside until ready to use.
2. Thread the skewers. Weave the bacon around each piece of chicken and pineapple, stick the bell pepper and onion together and weave the bacon around both of those. You'll need two strips of bacon per skewer if using 4 pieces of chicken and 3 pieces each of pineapple, bell pepper and onion. Brush some olive or vegetable oil evenly over each kabob.
3. Preheat the grill to medium high. Grill the kabobs for 10-15, turning a couple of times, until done.
4. Slather with hot Hawaiian sauce and serve immediately.

Smokehouse Chicken Dutch Oven

Ingredients

• Bone in skin on chicken, however much will fit in a single layer of a baking dish or Dutch oven
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon smoked black pepper (can use regular)
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar (dark or light)
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce (the red kind in the glass bottle)
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1+1/2 cups cider vinegar

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients except for chicken in enamel Dutch oven, or other baking dish. Stir well until sugar is dissolved.
2. Place chicken in pot, skin side down. Cover and place in 300 degree oven for 45 minutes. Remove pot from oven and flip chicken. Cover again and return to oven for another 45 minutes.
3. Remove lid and place oven on broil. Broil for 20 minutes, or until skin is nicely browned and somewhat crispy on top, watching carefully so that it does not burn (this may take significantly less time in your
4. Spoon additional pan juices over to serve.

Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole (Gluten Free)

This hearty meal freezes beautifully! Tip: Use masking tape or a freezer label to label these, and put the baking instructions (350° for 30 minutes) right on the label so you won't have to go find the recipe again.

INGREDIENTS

• 6 Tbsp. salted butter
• 6 cups cooked long grain brown rice or basmati rice
• 2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
• 2 tsp. minced garlic
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 16 oz. (4 cups) cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
• 3 heads fresh broccoli
• 5 cups shredded chicken
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. garlic powder

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Precook your rice to yield 6 cups of cooked rice. Precook your chicken and shred, to yield 5 cups shredded chicken.
2. Spray three 8x8" oven and freezer safe baking pans (glass, aluminum, foil, or Gladware oven pans) with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
3. In a large stockpot, melt the butter. Once melted, add the cooked rice, sliced mushrooms, garlic, milk and half of the shredded cheddar cheese. Cook over medium heat until the cheese is all melted.
4. Add the broccoli, chicken, salt and garlic powder and cook over medium heat, for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
5. Remove from heat and divide the mixture evenly in the three baking pans. Sprinkle the remaining cheese evenly over the three pans.
6. Seal the containers, label and put in the freezer, or bake immediately.
7. When ready to bake, thaw completely, remove any lids, and preheat oven to 350°. Bake until casserole is heated throughout and broccoli is tender, about 30 minutes.

Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl

Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts about 2 large breasts

• 2 tablespoons of olive oil

• 3 teaspoons of onion powder

• 2 teaspoons of garlic powder

• 3 teaspoons of chili powder

• 2 teaspoons of cumin

• 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

• 3 cups of low-sodium chicken broth

• 1 15 oz can of diced tomatoes, drained

• 1 14 oz can of black beans, drained and rinsed

• 2 3/4 cups of instant whole grain brown rice

• 1 1/2 cups of shredded colby jack cheese
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1. Place chicken breasts in slow cooker.
2. Pour chicken broth over chicken breasts and stir in canned tomatoes, olive oil, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper.
3. Cook on low for about 4 hours, until chicken reaches 165 degrees.
4. Remove chicken breasts from slow cooker.
5. Turn slow cooker to high and stir in instant rice and black beans.
6. Let cook 30-45 minutes on high, or until rice is tender.
7. Add chicken back in, top with cheese and let cook a few minutes longer until cheese is melted.
8. Serve with fresh diced tomatoes, sour cream, green onions, avocados or guacamole.  You can also add a can of corn when you add the black beans.

Bread Machine Pizza Dough

Ingredients

• 2 c flour (I use King Aurthur Gluten Free Flour for Gluten free pizza dough)
• 1 Tbs butter, softened
• 1 Tbs sugar
• 1 tsp yeast
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ cups plus 2 Tbs water (105-110 degrees)
• Doubled (for 2 pizzas):
• 4 c flour
• 2 Tbs butter, softened
• 2 Tbs sugar
• 2 tsp yeast
• 2 tsp salt
• 1⅓ c water (105-110 degrees)

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients into your bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Make sure that the water is warm enough to proof the yeast (about 105-110 degrees).
2. Turn your bread machine to the dough setting and let 'er go! After a couple minutes check on your dough. Make sure that the ingredients are thoroughly combined and that the dough is not too wet or too dry. Depending on where you live and the flour you use there can be some variances in the dough. If it's too dry, add 1 tsp of water at a time. If the dough is too sticky, add 1 tsp of flour at a time.
3. After the bread machine is done (mine takes about 90 minutes on the dough cycle) - dump the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and work it until you achieve your desired shape.
4. Depending on the size of pizza pan or pizza stone you are using, you may not need all of the dough.
5. I like to lightly grease my pizza pan and dust with cornmeal. Make up your pizza and bake at 400-425 degrees for 18-25 minutes. You are looking for bubbly cheese and lightly browned crust. If you like a crunchier crust, brush some olive oil on the crust before baking.

Ritz Cracker Chicken

FOR THE CHICKEN:4 chicken breasts
1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed (I used Roasted Vegetable flavor)
¼ cup milk
1 large egg
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Salt
Garlic pepper

FOR THE SAUCE:10 ounce can cream of chicken soup
¼ cup milk
2 tablespoons sour cream
2 tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 400º.
Spray a baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Whisk together egg and ¼ cup milk.
Place crushed crumbs in a shallow dish and cheddar cheese in another.
Salt and pepper the chicken breasts, to taste.
Dip breasts into egg and milk mixture.
Cover breasts with shredded cheese using fingers to press cheese onto chicken.
Place breasts into crumbs; cover entirely.
Position chicken onto baking sheet; bake for 30 minutes or until breasts are fully cooked and centers no longer pink.
While chicken bakes, in a small saucepan, melt butter; add chicken soup, sour cream and milk. Whisk together until well-combined and warmed through. Serve sauce over chicken.

Cafe Rio Recipe

Beans:

1 can black or pinto beans
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves minced garlic
1 teaspoon cumin
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1/3 cup tomato juice

Rinse and drain beans and set aside.  Add all other ingredients and simmer slightly.  Add beans and cook until warm through.

Pork:

2 pounds boneless, ribmeat, shoulder or picnic butt pork roast
1 can Dr. pepper
1/4 cup water
2 dashes garlic salt

Do enough water, Dr. pepper, and garlic that will cover the pork in the crock pot.  Cook for 8 hours on low.  Then shred mean and top with the Cafe Rio Pork Sauce.

Sauce:

Amount for every 2-3 pounds of meat.
1 can Dr. pepper
1 can red enchilada sauce
1 cup brown sugar
1 can green chili

Add this sauce to shredded pork and cook on low for 2 hours to simmer.

Rice:

1 cup uncooked long grain rice
1 teaspoon butter
2 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon lime juice
1 can 15 ounces chicken broth
1 cup water
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 teaspoons sugar
3 teaspoons chopped cilantro

Combine all but last three ingredients in rice cooker and cook until done.  Then mix last three ingredients together and mix throughout rice once cooked.

Dressing:

1 (1 ounce) package hidden valley ranch dressing mix
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup mayo
1 large or 2 small tomatillos (they are green and by the tomatoes)
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped
1/2 teaspoon lime juice
1/2 to 1 small jalapeno, seeds removed

Blend all ingredients together in a blender or food processor and store in the refrigerator to let the flavors meld.  Beware that the dressing tends to get hotter the longer it sits.

Incredible Chicken Casserole

Ingredients

3	cups chopped cooked chicken
2	cups finely chopped celery
1	cup (4 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
1	cup sour cream
1	cup mayonnaise
1	(4-ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and chopped
1	(10-¾-ounce) can cream of chicken soup (Use Gluten Free Cream of Chicken for GF)
½	cup slivered almonds

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9- x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl, stir together chicken, celery, cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, water chestnuts, soup, and almonds. Spoon into prepared baking dish. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Sprinkle 1/2 chopped onion evenly over top and bake 5 more minutes, or until bubbly around edges. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Mexican Chicken Casserole

3 chicken breasts, diced, about 2 cups

1 cup salsa

1/2 cup cream cheese

1/2 4 oz. can diced green chilies

1/2 15 oz. can black beans

1 cup sour cream

1 tomato, diced

2 green onions, sliced

2 cups shredded cheddar/jack cheese

1 cup crushed tortilla chips

 

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and prepare an 8" square or round dish.

 

2. Place cooked chicken in a sauté pan, add salsa and cream cheese and heat through until cream cheese is melted.

3. Add black beans and green chilies and heat through.

 

4. Layer ingredients in your prepared dish as follows:

Crushed tortilla chips

Chicken mixture

Sour cream

Tomatoes

Green Onions

Cheese

5. Bake for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Chicken and Bacon Lasagna Roll-ups

Ingredients:

• 8 lasagna pasta, cooked and drained.
• 1 pound bacon, diced, cooked and drained
• 1 small red or yellow onion
• 6 cloves of garlic, crushed
• 2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
• 2 cups of Alfredo cream sauce
• ½ cup mozzarella (to sprinkle on top)
• ½ cup grated parmesan (to sprinkle on top)

 

Filling:

• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• ½ cup sour cream
• 6 oz. cream cheese
• ½ cup grated parmesan
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• salt and pepper (to taste)

 

Instructions

1. Add 8 pieces of lasagna pasta to a large pot of boiling water.
2. Cook pasta 2 minutes less than the directions on the package. It will finish cooking in the oven.
3. Drain pasta in strainer and lay pasta onto paper towels to dry off excess water.
4. Shred chicken breasts. Set aside.
5. Cut and fry bacon.
6. Add diced onions and crushed garlic 3 minutes prior to baking being finished.
7. Drain bacon mixture onto a plate with paper towels. (It will catch the excess fat.)
8. In a medium size bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, parmesan and seasonings.
9. Divide and spread the filling onto the cooked pasta evenly.
10. Add the shredded chicken onto each pasta.
11. Sprinkle the bacon mixture on top of the chicken and cheese mixture. (Save some for the top after you roll up the pasta.)
12. Sprinkle some parmesan on top of the bacon and chicken.
13. Spread ½ cup of cream sauce on the bottom of a medium baking dish.
14. Roll the pasta and put seam side facing down into the sauce that is in the baking dish.
15. Cover the roll ups with the rest of the cream sauce.
16. Top with pieces of bacon.
17. Sprinkle mozzarella and parmesan on top.
18. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 25 to 35 minutes.

Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients:

1 rotisserie chicken

1 package of corn tortillas

2 cups of Mexican mix cheese

1 12-ounce jar of enchilada sauce

 

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Remove and discard the chicken skin.
3. Tear the chicken into bite-sized strips. Set aside.
4. Lay one corn tortilla on a cutting board and spread 1/4 cup of chicken into the tortilla.
5. Spread 1/8 cup of cheese mix over the chicken. Roll the tortilla into a cigar shape, and place the rolled tortilla in a casserole dish.
6. Repeat for remaining tortillas.
7. Pour enchilada sauce on top of tortillas, spread the remaining cheese over the dish, and cover with aluminum foil.
8. Bake until cheese melts, about 25 minutes.

Don’t worry about the edges of the enchiladas coming undone. They’ll cook together in the oven, sealing the chicken inside.

Taco Casserole

6 oz. broad egg noodles (I used Quinoa for Gluten Free)
1 lb. ground beef
1 med. onion
1 can tomato soup
Chili powder to taste
Salt & pepper to taste
16 oz. can red kidney beans, drained
Corn chips, crushed
1 c. grated sharp Cheddar cheese

 

Cook noodles and drain. Saute ground beef and onion. Stir in tomato soup, chili powder, salt and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes. Add kidney beans. Arrange alternate layers of meat mixture and noodles in 2 quart dish. Sprinkle crushed corn chips over top and cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serves 6-8.

Pasta Sauce

Ingredients:
4 lbs. tomatoes (about 12 medium sized tomatoes)
3 Tablespoons olive oil
1 onion
1 green pepper
4 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons basil
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
optional: 1, 6 oz. can tomato paste

Directions:
Bring a pot of water to a boil.  Cut an X on the bottom of all the tomatoes. Prepare a bowl of ice water.  Blanche tomatoes, a few at a time, X side down for 30 seconds. Remove and place in ice water for 20 seconds. Remove and set aside. Repeat with remaining tomatoes.  Peel the tomatoes. It should be really easy to do.

Cut the tomatoes in half or quarters and remove as many seeds as possible. Place the tomatoes in a kitchen towel and squeeze to remove as much moisture as possible. Roughly chop up the tomatoes and set aside.

Warm up the olive oil in a large saucepan on medium heat.  Finely chop up the onion and green pepper. Add to the pan and cook for 8 minutes. Next, mince the garlic and add to the pan and cook for 1 minute.

Add all the tomatoes and the rest of the ingredients and simmer for at least an hour, stirring occasionally. Using a potato masher or a fork press down on the tomatoes occasionally to help them break down. If you want thicker sauce add the tomato paste. Serve over your favorite type of pasta.

*Variations: You can add celery or carrot along with the onion and green pepper.  Also, you can add cooked Italian sausage or ground beef to the pasta sauce.

Gluten Free Cream of Tomato Soup

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons light olive oil
• 3 tablespoons potato starch OR sweet rice flour
• 1 1/2 cup milk OR cream OR dairy free milk substitute (I use organic light coconut milk)
• 1 1/2 cups Muir Glen brand Organic Pizza Sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon honey
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

1. Heat light olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add amaranth flour and whisk until smooth and bubbly.
3. Add pizza sauce and whisk until blended and smooth.
4. Add milk or dairy free substitute, honey and water and continue to whisk until soup mixture is smooth and creamy.
5. Salt and pepper to taste.

Makes about 3 1/2 cups of soup.

Lasagna

2 lbs hamburger
3 cans tomato soup undiluted
 salt, pepper, garlic powder
1 package lawery's taco seasoning
8 oz mozzarella cheese shredded
8 oz cheddar cheese shredded
 1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 large box lasagna noodles

Brown meat, drain of fat, season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.  Add soup and taco seasoning, simmer.  Cook noodles, do not drain, run cold water on noodles until you can handle.  In a greased 13*9 pan alternate noodles meat mixture, and cheese.  Label and freeze.  Bake 350' 30-45 minutes.  If frozen let thaw before cooking.

Chicken Broccoli Bake

10 oz chopped cooked broccoli
4 cups cooked cubed chicken
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup mayonnaise
4 oz chopped mushrooms
1/4 tsp curry powder
3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Stir together all the ingredients and place in greased pan.  Label and freeze.  When thawed bake covered 350' degrees for 40 minutes.  Uncover and bake another 20 minutes.

Chicken Noodle Soup

1 Tbs minced onion
1 Tbs chicken bouillon granules
1 Tsp celery flakes
1/2 tsp pepper
2 cups noodles
5 cups water
1-5 oz cans chicken

Put all ingredients in baggie except water and chicken.  When ready to cook place water in pan, bring to a boil.  Add chicken (breaking it up well with fork) and add rest of ingredients, bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer uncovered for 12-15 minutes or until noodles are tender.  (For Gluten Free utilize Gluten Free Noodles).

Sour Cream Enchiladas

4 cups cooked cubed chicken
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups sour cream
1 4 oz can chopped green enchiladas
 3 cups grated mexican blend cheese
10 flour tortillas

Mix the chicken soup, sour cream, green enchiladas, and cheese together.  Spoon enough mixture to cover 1/2 of the tortilla.  Place seam side down in greased pan, sprinkle cheese on top.  Label and freeze.  Bake 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.  If frozen thaw 1 hour before baking.

Honey BBQ Chicken and Bacon Dippers (Gluten Free Option)

Nonstick Cooking Spray
3/4 cup plain greek yogurt
1/4 cup honey bbq sauce
Shredded Chicken (cooked)
3 oz. bacon bits
1 cup frozen sweet corn
1/2 red pepper, seeded and finely diced
10 ct. package tortillas, fajita size (instead of flour tortillas we use corn tortillas)
8 oz monterey jack cheese (cut into strips)
Ranch dressing (for dipping)
Sour cream (for dipping)

Preheat oven to 425'

Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray

Combine the yogurt and honey bbq sauce in a large bowl.  Stir in chicken, bacon bits, corn and red pepper.
Spread 1/3 cup of chicken mixture across the center of each tortilla.  Place 1 strip monterey Jack cheese on top and roll tightly.  Place on greased cookie sheet with seam-side down.  Spray top of each rolled tortilla with cooking spray.

Bake on center oven rack for 8 minutes.  Using a spatula, carefully turn over and bake an additional 8 minutes. 

Serve bbq sauce, ranch dressing, and sour cream alongside for dipping if desired.