Night Before Grocery Day Casserole

Where is everyone? I need new recipes. I'm getting bored enough to start experimenting, and that doesn't always turn out well. This, however, did.

As the name suggests, this is what I made tonight when we didn't have any food. You will need:

1 box of cheap, slimy, nasty, pre-packaged macaroni and cheese (Kroger Value Brand. $0.35. Woot!)
3 Tablespoons butter or margarine
1/3 cup milk (Or more. Eyeball it.)
5 frozen chicken tenders (about a pound)
1 cup frozen chopped broccoli
Extra-sharp cheddar cheese

1) Boil water, add macaroni and cook according to directions. Or accidentally throw away the box, don't worry about it, and cook it until it's finished and completely ignore the directions for macaroni and cheese.
2) While macaroni is cooking, thaw the chicken and then cook it. I threw mine on the George Foreman grill. A pan also works. I guess you could boil it, but I think it takes out all the taste.
3) In a bowl, whisk together the creepy pseudo-cheese mix packet, butter, milk, and broccoli.
4) Spray a baking dish with cooking spray and dump in the drained macaroni. Shred chicken and add to the dish. Then pour the creepy cheese mixture over your pasta and chicken, stir a little, and then grate some real cheese over the top. Put it in the oven at 400 degrees until it's bubbly and looks gourmet.

This actually turned out really well. It was good, and reminded me of the chicken penne dish I've gotten at Applebee's that I paid $8 for. It's a great way to stretch macaroni and cheese. I seriously considered chopping up the lone hot dog we had in the refrigerator, but I thought that might be overkill on the poor-man casserole. I was pleasantly surprised.

Non-Gross Granola

I'll start by saying that I don't really like granola. Actually, I hate granola bars. I think they're nasty. However, needing a different and healthy breakfast, I decided to make my own granola. I always like things better when I make it myself.

You'll need:
3 cups rolled oats (old-school)
*1/2 cup whole raw almonds
*1/2 cup walnuts
*1/2 cup pecans
1/2 cup (or more... I use more) real maple syrup
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
Raisins or something (highly optional. I never put in raisins because for some reason mine always explode in the oven.)

***Note about the nuts: they are expensive if you buy them in the packages you find in the grocery store. If you don't use them that often, either buy them like that and store in the freezer, or just buy what you need. I bought mine at the Sunflower Farmer's Market, and just scooped out a little portion and put it in my bag. It cost me less than $3 for all the nuts.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Chop the almonds, pecans, and walnuts and combine in a bowl with everything else. I like to add the maple syrup last. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and spread your granola out in an even layer. Bake for about 15 minutes, stirring once. Let cool and store in an air-tight container.

Serving suggestions: eat it with milk (like cereal), combine with yogurt, eat with fruit, or just put it in snack bags and munch on it.

Quick Candy Cookies

From the Kitchen of Pioneer Woman thepioneerwoman.com

What you will need:

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Refrigerator Cookie Dough (any kind or a varitey)

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Miniature Chocolate candies (kisses, peanut butter cups, etc.)

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Mini-Muffin Tin

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First, Slice the cookie dough into 1 to 1 1/2 inch slices.

Next, lay the slices on their side and cut them into quarters (that means 4 equal slices)

Please each quarter into a greased mini-muffin tin.

Next, peel the wrapper from as many pieces of candy as cookies you will be making.

Don't be afraid to try different combinations of candies and dough.

Bake the cookies dough in a 350 degree oven for just a few minutes, about 6 to 8 at the most. You'll want to take them out just when they start to turn golden.

Now, this is important. Almost as soon as you pull the warm cookies from the oven, you'll want to begin lightly pressing one piece of candy into each cookie. The warmer the cookies, the better.

They'll grab onto the pieces of candy and work their magic, making the candy nice and soft and melty.

When they're all done, carefully remove from muffin tins with a spoon and arrange on a nice decorative platter.

I haven't actually tried this recipe yet, but I plan to this week. Cookies and Candy, I don't think you can go wrong.

Easy Baked Ziti

My Mom Gave Me This Recipe & We Tried It

For The First Time Last Night. This Is Now

A Family Favorite! ...And Once Again, Very Easy!

You Will Need:
12 oz Penne Pasta
1 Jar Of Your Favorite Spaghetti Sauce
1 Cup Grated Mozzarella Cheese
1 Cup Parmesan Cheese

Directions:
Cook Pasta. In Greased Casserole Dish, Mix Pasta,

Spaghetti Sauce & Cheeses. (I Just Mixed Everything

In the Pot That I Cooked The Noodles In) Top

With Any Leftover Cheese If You Have Extra.

Bake @ 350 For 15 Minutes

Slow-Cooker Taco Soup

I made this the other night and loved it... I found it on the Year of CrockPotting blog. You could make it on the stove top, or in your crockpot, or if you have an awesome Presto magic cooker like I do, you can do both. I added an onion, used black beans instead of kidney beans, and I actually used dried beans and soaked them the night before, but whatever. Cans would work.

The Ingredients:
1 lb lean hamburger. Or turkey. Or chicken? Or no meat at all.
1 onion
2 cans black beans
2 cans pinto beans
2 cans corn
1 large can of diced tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes with chiles (aka Rotel)
1 packet taco seasoning (or seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, chili powder...)
1 packet ranch dressing mix (yes. I know this sounds weird. Trust me.)

Brown and drain the meat. Put everything in the slow cooker and stir it. Then cook on low for 8 hours or so or cook it on high for 4-5 hours. Add a little water if it looks too thick, and serve with sour cream and crunched tortilla chips.

Pie Crust

Easy, and delicious.  I get this crust recipe from my Mater.  This is also the one I used for the Chicken Pot Pie.  It can be frozen for about 6-8 months and thaw in the microwave or let sit to reuse.

Okay, So I lied.  I think I used this a tart crust. mostly the same but sweeter so it is kinda nice here goes.

Tart Crust

1 1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup confectioner's sugar

1/4 tsp salt

9 Tbl Frozen unsalted butter - 1cm cube chunks

1 large egg yolk

Put flour, sugar, and salt in food processor.  Add butter and pulse until the butter is coarsely cut in.  Add egg yolk and pulse several times from 10 sec. each.  Dough should begin to clump. 

** Note - if you use the tart crust for the chicken pot pie, you will actually want to melt the butter, instead of keeping it frozen.  Frozen makes it crumbly.

Pie crust 

3 cups flour 

1 tsp salt 

1.5 cup crisco 

Mix together   

1 egg slitghly beaten 

1 tbs vinegar 

9 tbs water 

Mix together   

Mix together both mixtures and roll out    Makes 3 shells.

Sorry, I never make things easy on anyone.  The pie crust is super easy though and I think it ends up about the same as those that take considerably longer.

Chicken Pot Pie

I just made this one tonight, actually about 1 hour ago.   We really enjoyed it.

Sorry, this is not all that easy, from start to finish it will probably take about 2 hours.  It is worth it though.

Crust:

You can use a store bought uncooked crust or make your own.  I recommend making it but to save some time, store bought is fine.

What you need:

1 and 1/2 cup Broccoli chopped

1 cup chopped carrots.  

1 and 1/2 cup chicken broth or bullion

1 cup cheddar cheese cubed (about one cm)

1 small onion, finely chopped.  (I recommend a yellow onion as they are semi sweet)

1 Tbl Olive Oil

1 tsp salt

1/4 cup cooking wine (optional)

1 and 1/2 cups milk

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup sour cream

1 1/2 tbl pepper

2 bay leaves

2 tsp garlic powder

2-3 cups cubed chicken breast

Preparation:

saute' the onions in olive oil. If you're using the wine, add it now, it will sweeten and bring out a wonder flavor in the onions.  

If you are using fresh carrots and broccoli, boil them with the chicken broth, keep the pot coved so that they steam.  Just cook them until they are the crispness you prefer.  If they are frozen, just make sure they are room temp.  

After the onions are transparent, add the chicken and cook the two together until the chicken is ready.  

Meanwhile prepare your crust.  Bake it about halfway, usually around 10 minutes.

Allow the crust to cool slightly

Mix flour, sour cream and milk together until smooth, make sure to remove all lumps.  Then slowly add in the chicken broth.  When mixture is almost to a boil add cubed cheese.  I recommend using a whisk to make sure the cheese is well mixed in.  (If the mild is too hot the cheese will seperate and the whole thing will go south fast)  Bring mixture to a light boil, stirring constantly.  Add pepper, salt, bay leaves and garlic.  Boil until slightly thickened.   remove from heat.

Mix vegetables, and meat together and place in crust.  Pour milk-mixture over-top until crust is full.  Place top crust oven the pie and bake (at 375 or whatever your crust recommends) for 30 minutes or until brown.  

Serve and enjoy.