Pepper Jelly Pot Roast

Okay, so this was supposed to be a yummy dinner for my hubby tonight, but he called and said that the crock pot didn't turn on properly so it was only half cooked. He cooked it anyways, but there will be no eating it tonight.  I also made rice in the rice cooker, which did turn out, but there is no yummy pot roast to go with it.  So, here is the recipe...

Ingredients

Pork roast (3 lb)
1 jar red pepper jelly
1 can mandarine oranges
3-4 carrots chopped
2 Tablespoons Soy sauce
Sprinkle of ginger
Sprinkle of white pepper
Sprinkle of garlic salt

Directions

Add pork to crock pot, pile everything else on top (spreading jelly over pork). Cook on low at least 6 or 7 hours, or on high for 2-3 hours and then on low for another 2 hours, or until pork is thoroughly cooked.

Budget Friendly Pasta

Okay, so this dish is not only cheap to the extreme, but it is quick and easy too.

1 box whole grain rotini pasta ($1.00)

1 jar tomato sauce ($1.49 on sale)

1 package ground turkey ($3.55)

pepper and salt to taste (already in pantry)

That's right, this meal only costs about $6.00 and it will feed a family of up to 6!

Boil 3-5 cups water, add pasta (whole grain pasta makes this dish healthier) and a pinch of salt and cook for 10 minutes, or until pasta is al-dente. While pasta is cooking, add turkey to a skillet on medium heat and begin breaking up with fork while cooking (the turkey is a bit cheaper than sausage or beef and adds another healthy twist). By the time the pasta is done, the turkey is also done. Drain pasta, add sausage to pot that held pasta.  Tip: use slotted spoon to transfer turkey to pot from sauté pan to minimize grease. Sprinkle sausage with ground pepper and add tomato sauce. Mix together and then add pasta, mixing all ingredients thoroughly. Serve hot.

Slow Cooker Chicken & Stuffing

My new goal is to start hunting down budget friendly recipes. After buying a house last year, our dine-out budget has gone way down and so has our budget for shopping for food. As a result, I have begun scouring websites and cookbooks to find tasty and budget-friendly creations.  I am amazed at the resources available and am a firm believer of customizing recipes to meet your own needs or unique tastes.

Although the picture may not be all that flattering, I swear by this recipe. It is cheap, quick, easy, and perfect for anyone with an on-the-go lifestyle.  It also came not from any online resource, but from my friend Paula’s test kitchen. Next time I make it, I will post a tempting photo. In the meantime, if you make this recipe, feel free to take pictures and post!

3-4 chicken breasts (I have put in as many as 6)

1 package sliced mozzarella cheese

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 container Stovetop or other instant stuffing mix

1 stick butter

1.5 cups water (can also use chicken stock)

1 chopped onion (optional)

In slow cooker, place chicken breasts on bottom with sliced onion. Layer mozzarella cheese slices on top, then layer cream of mushroom soup. Pour stuffing on top of soup and add water or chicken stock. Slice butter and place slices throughout top of dish. Turn crock-pot on low and cook at least 6 hours. I left mine go all day and cooked for 9 hours and it was still delicious and moist.  Also, the original recipe states to melt the butter first, but this is not necessary if you are a hurried cook like myself.

Breakfast Sausage Casserole

Cooked sausage, frozen potatoes, milk, eggs, mushrooms and cream of mushroom soup...add some shredded cheese at the end. YUM!

Tangy Chicken and Roasted Chickpea Salad

The chicken is just Russian salad dressing, apricot preserves and onion soup mix...put it all together then bake for an hour at 400 degrees Farenheight.

The salad is a bit more involved but well worth the effort!

Smothered tilapia and Brussels sprouts

I loved this quick and easy meal! Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheight. Take 4 to 6 tilapia filets and layer them in the bottom of a glass pan. Squeeze 2 lemons and toss to coat fish.  Then, season with pepper, garlic powder and seasoning salt.  Layer slices of Swiss cheese on top of fish, slice 3 or 4 roma tomatoes and layer those on top of cheese; then sprinkle with oregano and bake in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes.  For the Brussels sprouts, saute over medium heat in butter for 10 to 15 minutes, then season with lemon juice, pepper and a dash of salt. Yum!

Slow cooker goodness

This week I have made three slow cooker meals and I have enjoyed them all!  The first one was my favorite and I found it in a cookbook titled 150 of the Healthiest Slow Cooker Recipes on Earth.  The first recipe was by far my favorite....

Ingredients
1/2 head of cabbage, cut into eight sections
1/2 bag baby carrots
1 yellow onion, quartered
3 turnips, sliced (the original recipe calls for 4 but I thought 3 was plenty) 
Corned beef roast
Hot mustard (about 1 Tbs)
3 cups Apple juice or cider

The best part about this recipe is that you just plunk everything in the crock pot and let it go on low for 8 to 9 hours. It also is healthy and makes your home smell delicious!

The next day, I made pork fajitas in my crock pot

6 boneless pork loins
2 bell peppers (any color)
1 can green chiles
1 chopped yellow onion
pepper and salt to taste
taco seasoning
1/2 can chunky salsa
2 cups water

I let it also cook on low all day

Then I put it all in a tortilla and topped it with sour cream, shredded Mexican cheese, guacamole, and fresh tomatoe....I didn't so much enjoy this one, but my in laws did!

Lastly, we crocked BBQ wings. My husband put them in for 4 hours on high, and although I do not have the ingredient details, they were fall off the bone good and I will definitely make them again. 20 wings was not enough for 4 people, so next time, more is better!

I also made a broccoli salad to go with the wings that was equally stunning.
 2 heads broccoli, chopped
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 cup craisins
1/2 cup hazelnuts

mix all of these, then drizzle with

1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup rice venegar
1 cup mayonaise

Mix these three, then mix in with rest of salad and YUM!