Caesar Pasta Salad

1 bag store bought Caesar Salad kit
1 box Suddenly Pasta Salad -Classic style
1/2 cup ranch dressing
1 large tomato, chopped or 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup olives, halved
4 sticks of mozzarella string cheese, chopped

Boil and drain pasta. Set aside.

Combine the seasoning packet from the pasta and the dressing packet from your Caesar salad with the ranch dressing together in a small bowl.

Combine the salad lettuce and the pasta together in a large bowl. Add tomatoes, olives and cheese. Pour dressing mix over top, turning to coat evenly.

If your Caesar salad kit comes with cheeses and croutons and can add that as well.

Slow Cooker Baked Beans

1-2 large can store-bought baked beans
1 small can Pork and Beans
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
3 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. Honey
5 strips of bacon, cooked and chopped

Place in a crock pot and cook on low 5 hours or on high for 3 hours. EASY and YUMMY. The two best combinations!

Chicken salad sandwiches

This is a family favorite. I like to make this for almost any occasion. Lunch, dinner, showers, luncheons, picnics etc. It is oh so yummy!


2 large or 3 medium chicken breasts; cooked and cubed. (I think this way tastes much better than the canned chicken!)
1 cup red grapes, cut if half
1 cup chopped celery
*1/2- 3/4 cup toasted slivered almonds (opt.)
1 cup Craisens
1- 1 1/2 cups mayo (or enough to coat)

Mix all together in a bowl and refrigerate 2-3 hours. Serve on butter croissants, rolls or your favorite sandwich bread.

*To toast your almonds place them in a small pan with 1 tbsp. sugar on medium heat. Stir continuously until golden brown. Remove immediately and let them cool on a paper towel.

Chicken Siesta Stew

I found this recipe somewhere? Then lost it... then came up with my own similar version. It's easy and full of flavor.
What you will need:

• 2 cups chicken broth
• 4 boneless, skinless, chicken breast
• 1 can stewed tomatoes, drained
  
• 1 can diced green chilies
  
• 1 can pinto beans, drained
  
• 1 can corn, drained
• 1 Tbsp. Orange juice
• 2 Tbsp. crushed garlic
• 1 Tbsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. red cayenne pepper (use only 1/2 tsp. if your family doesn't like it spicy)
• S & P
  

Add everything into crock pot and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Shred chicken before serving.

*** If you like your stew chunky add 2 cans instead on one for veggies and beans.

Portobello Pork Chops

The title alone says it all AND it's easy!

What you need:

• 4 bone-in (or not, whatever you prefer) pork rib or lion chops 3/4 inch thick
• 1 1/2 cup mild chunky salsa
• 1 cup chopped portobella mushrooms
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 Tbsp. maple syrup
• 1/2 Cup fresh parsley

Heat oven to 375

Spoon salsa on the bottom of baking dish. Arrange pork chops on top of salsa. Combine mushrooms, cheese, and syrup in medium bowl. Spoon over chops.
Bake, uncovered, for 25- 30 min. Sprinkle with Parsley.
Serve chops with salsa mixture.

Island Pineapple Pork Chops

Yummy, can be HOT or Sweet, depending on your taste.

What you will need:

• 4 boneless pork chops 1/2 inch thick
• 4 tsp. Jamaican Jerk seasoning
• 1/3 cup hot pepper jelly *** if this is too hot for the family sub in apricot Jam for a sweeter flavor
• 2 Tbsp. pineapple juice
• 1 tsp. minced ginger

Coat chops with jerk seasonings; set aside for 5 min.
Meanwhile, microwave jelly, pineapple juice, and ginger on high for 45 sec. or until melted. Grill pork over med.-high heat for 5 -6 min per side, turn once. Baste frequently with glaze.

Thai Chicken

Even if your not a fan of Thai inspired cooking, this is a great recipe to open your horizons to a different dish. My family, yes even Jackie, has loved it.

What you will need:

• 1 1/2 lbs. chicken breast cut into 1 inch peices
  
• 2 Tbsp. Thai seasonings (I have only found this at Smith's in a paste, worked just as well)
• 1 tsp. crushed garlic
• 1 cup sauteed mushrooms
• 1 (16 oz.) pkg. frozen cut green beans
• 1/4 cup chicken broth stock
• 1 can coconut milk
• 1 lemon zested
• freshly chopped cilantro, garnish

season chicken with Thai seasoning, set a side.
in med-high heat skillet, add chicken, garlic, and mushrooms. Saute until chicken is cooked through, about 8-10 min.
Add green beans, chicken stock, coconut milk, and lemon zest.
bring to a boil then let simmer about 8 min., stir occasionally

Chicken Tacos

Super easy, full of flavor, and great left overs as well. This is a must have for your recipes.

What you will need:

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 can black beans
• 1 can corn
• 1 package taco seasoning mix

Mix all together and throw it in a crock pot for 6-8 hours. Shred chicken before serving. Serve on top of tortillas with:

• Lettuce
• tomato
  
• sour cream
• cheese
• olives

whatever you can think of!!!

*** My families personal fav is those uncooked tortillas from Costco. It takes seconds to cook them and they are fresh and delicious. I know you can also get them at Macey's as well.

Country Mustard Rubbed Pork Chops

Who would have thought of mustard and pork chops? It so yummy, your whole family will love it!

What you need:

• 1/2 cup dijon mustard
• 2 tsp. herb garden seasonings
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. honey
• 1/2 Tbsp. crushed garlic
• 1 Tbsp. freshly chopped parsley
• 1 1/2 lbs. thick cut boneless pork chops

In small bowl combine all ingredients. Reserve a 1/4 of the mixture for serving. Transfer mustard mix into a bag and let pork sit at least a hour or overnight. Grill 6-7 min. per side.

Beef Stew

1-2 pounds beef stew meat (or you can use bottom round or cubed round steak, like I did)
1 small onion, diced
2 cups diced celery
2 cups baby carrots
3 small potatoes, cubed
1 1/2- 2 (14 oz.) cans beef broth
1 can tomato soup
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
seasonings of choice (I used garlic seasoning and salt and pepper)
2 tbsp. flour

Combine all ingredients into crock pot. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. Check an hour before serving. If its not thick enough add a little more flour and turn on high for 1/2 hour- 1 hour.

Beef Stroganoff

• 1 1/2 pounds cubed round steak, cut into thin strips
• salt
• pepper
• garlic powder
  
• All-purpose flour
  
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
  
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can beef broth
• 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
• salt and black pepper
• 1 cup sour cream
• Cooked egg noodles

Season the steak strips with salt and pepper and garlic powder. Then dust with flour. In a large skillet, quickly brown them on both sides in the olive oil and butter. Remove the steak from the pan. Add the onion slices and mushrooms to the pan drippings. Saute for a few minutes, until the onion is tender. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon flour. Put the steak back into the pan with the onion and mushrooms. Add the mushroom soup and beef broth. Cook over low heat for about 30 minutes, covered. Adjust seasoning to taste, adding salt and pepper, as needed. Stir in the sour cream the last few minutes, right before you serve. Serve over cooked noodles.

*recipe comes from food network, by Paula Deen