Meaty Chili

This chili is chock-full of veggies, and had a secret ingredient that takes it over the edge.
It really hits the spot on a cold day!

Meaty Chili

2 lbs hamburger or ground turkey

small onion diced.

2 (15 oz) cans petite diced tomatoes

2 (8 oz) cans tomato sauce

1 (6 oz) can tomato paste

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

3-4 tablespoons chili powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 cup chicken or beef stock

2 cups vegetables

(I used a mix of green beans, diced bell peppers, and carrots)

salt and pepper, to taste

Brown meat with diced onion. Drain any fat. Place all ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on low 4 hours or Place all ingredients in a pressure cooker and cook on low pressure for 30 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.

My Favorite Way To Cook a Turkey Breast

I've been baking away coming up with some delicious new recipes for Cookies for Santa.  I'll be posting these starting this Sunday.  Be sure to come back.  In the meantime I wanted to share my favorite way to cook a turkey breast.  Each year when turkey goes on sale, I like to stock up.

My family doesn't like dark meat so a turkey breast works well or us.  Plus it's the perfect size to fit in a slow-cooker.  This is my favorite way to cook a turkey.  It comes out moist and tasty every time.

Trust me, Low and Slow is the way to Go!

Slow-Cooker Turkey

small whole turkey or breast (whatever size will fit in your slow cooker)

salt and pepper

1 packet onion soup mix

1 can whole cranberries

Salt and pepper turkey allover.  Sprinkle and rub in onion soup mix, again all over.  Spoon cranberries on top of seasoned turkey.  Cover and cook on Low 7-8 hours or until fully cooked, or until internal temperature reaches at least 165 degrees.  Remove from cooker (it will probably fall apart on you).  Carve and serve.

STEP-BY-STEP

 salt and pepper your turkey, I'm talking everywhere.  Inside outside, top and bottom.

However much you like according to your taste preferences.

 Sprinkle and rub-in the onion soup mix all over.  

 Forgive the blurry photo I think the Virgin Eggnog must have been kicking in.

Spoon the whole cranberry sauce over the top.  You can either cook your bird breast down or breast up - your preference.

 Cover with lid and cook on low heat for 7-8 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees+.

 Your turkey will probably be falling apart, which is just the way I like it.

Remove from the cooker

carve (or remove the meat from the bone) and serve.

Mock Cafe Rio Shredded Chicken

Dear Cafe Rio,

It appears as though I have a slight obsession with you (okay, who am I kidding?- a HUGE obsession with you).  I would marry you if I could, but since I can't I'll just eat your food. 

Sincerely,

You Biggest Fan

My sister-in-law Corinne shared this recipe with me.  She knows about my addiction  love for all things Cafe Rio.  This recipe is ridiculously easy.  You can use this chicken to make enchiladas, burritos, tacos, salad, nachos, whatever tickles your taste buds.

The best part of this recipe, besides the amazing taste, is it cooks in the slow cooker.  I live for slow cooker meals during the summer.

Slow Cooker Meals = 

1. A cool house because the oven didn't heat it up

2. Dinner is ready and practically waiting after a long crazy day of playing in the sun.

Mock Cafe Rio Shredded Chicken

2 lbs chicken

1 (16 oz.) bottle Italian salad dressing

1 (oz.) packets Ranch salad dressing mix

2 gloves of garlic, minced

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tablespoon cumin

Place chicken in slow cooker.  In a medium-size bowl, mix together remaining ingredients to make a sauce.  Pour sauce over chicken.  Cook on low 4-6 hours or High 3-4 hours, or until chicken is no longer pink.  Remove chicken from cooker.  Shred chicken using two forks.

STEP-by-STEP

 Place chicken in slow cooker (I'm using 14 chicken tenderloins).

 In a bowl mix Italian dressing

 Ranch dressing mix

 2 garlic cloves minced

 1 tablespoon chili powder

 and 1 tablespoon cumin together.

Pour the sauce over the chicken.

Cook on low 4-6 hours or on High 3-4 hours or until done.

Remove from cooker and shred using two forks.

NOTES:  I like to serve with Cilantro Lime Rice and Tomatilla Dressing

Tangy Cranberry Chicken (step-by-step)

 

This is one of my favorite dinners.  Maybe it's because you only need 4 ingredients to make it, or maybe because you throw everything into a slow cooker, or maybe because it tastes divine!  Whatever the reason, I love this chicken.

Tangy Cranberry Chicken

 

4 large chicken breasts (bone-in or boneless)

1 envelope onion soup mix

1 (8oz) bottle Catalina salad dressing 

1 can (16 oz.) whole berry cranberry sauce (do not use the jelly kind)

 

Place chicken in a slow cooker.  Sprinkle onion soup mix over chicken.  Drizzle dressing over the top.  Dump one can whole cranberry sauce on top.  Cook in 5-7 hours on low.  Serve over Rice or shred chicken and serve sandwich-style on a soft roll or croissant.

NOTE:  To cook in the oven, mix cranberry sauce, dressing, and onion soup mix together.  Place chicken in baking dish.  Pour Sauce over the top.  Cover and bake in a 350 degree oven, 50-60 minutes or until chicken is done.

 Throw 5 large chicken breasts or 12 tenderloins into a slow cooker (I prefer boneless).

 Sprinkle on a packet of onion soup mix

 and drizzle over the top, one bottle (8 oz.) of Catalina dressing.

 Top everything with one can WHOLE cranberry sauce.  No need to stir.

Cook on low 5-7 hours or until chicken is tender.

 Serve over rice or shred chicken and serve it sandwich-style on a soft roll or croissant.

Slow-Cooker Kalua Pork

I love the taste of this smoked pork!  I also love that it's made in a crock-pot.

 Place about 4 lbs of boneless pork roast into a slow-cooker.

 Pour an entire bottle of liquid smoke over the roast,

 the add 1 bunch of washed spinach.  Cook on low 8 hours or until pork is tender and falling apart.

Shred the pork using two forks.

There are several ways to serve this (all are delicious):  

- plain over rice

- over rice with chopped green onions, pineapple, tomatoes, and/or green peppers.

- as a sandwich on a Hawaiian dinner roll

Slow-Cooker Kalua Pork

4 lbs boneless pork roast

1 bottle liquid smoke

1 bunch of spinach, washed

Add all ingredients to crock-pot.  Cook on low 8 hours or until meat is tender and falling apart.  Shred.  Serve over rice or on a Hawaiian dinner roll.

Crock-Pot Chicken Burritos

 

Crock-Pot Chicken Burritos

 Add 6 chicken breasts (or 12 tenderloins) to a Crock-pot

 add 1 cup salsa

and 1 packet of taco seasoning

cook on low 6-8 hours or until completely cooked

 Use two forks to shred the chicken

 To make the burritos:

 On the middle of a warm tortilla place a large spoonful of Spanish Rice

 some beans (I used black, but refried or pinto would be good)

 a large spoonful of the chicken

 and some grated cheese

fold up the bottom and then roll it shut.  Serve with lettuce, sour cream, salsa, and guacamole.

 

CROCK-POT CHICKEN BURRITOS

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 cup salsa

1 pkg. taco seasoning

12 flour tortillas

Spanish Rice (optional)

1 can beans

2 cups grated cheese

 

In a crock-pot place chicken, salsa, and taco seasoning.  Cook on low 6-8 hours.  Shred chicken using forks.  On a middle of a warm flour tortilla, place some rice, beans, chicken, and cheese.  Fold up the bottom and roll it shut.  Serve with your choice of lettuce, sour cream, salsa, and guacamole.