Taco Pie

Taco Pie

• 1 lb, ground beef or turkey
• 1 onion, diced (optional)
• black pepper to taste
• 1 Tbsp. chili powder
• 1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 (15 oz.) can corn, drained (optional)
• 1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed (optional)
• 6 (8'') whole wheat tortillas
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Brown meat, onion, and black pepper in skillet. Add chili powder, tomato sauce, corn and black beans and simmer mixture over medium heat until heated through. In greased glass pie pan or 9'' square, place 1 cup meat mixture in bottom. Top with 3 tortillas, 2 cups meat mixture, 1 cup shredded cheese, 3 tortillas and top with remaining meat mixture. Cover with foil and cook at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove foil, top with remaining 1 cup cheese and return to oven, uncovered, for 5 minutes until cheese is melted.

Crock-Pot/Instant Pot Creamy Italian Chicken

Creamy Italian Chicken

• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 packet dry Italian dressing seasoning mix
• 1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, cubed
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 tsp. garlic salt
• 1 tsp. pepper
• Instant Pot Only- 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth

Crock-Pot: Place chicken breasts in bottom of Crock-Pot. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning mix and pour cream of chicken soup over top and  cream cheese cubes on top of chicken. Cover and cook on Low for 5-6 hours. Once finished, shred chicken with fork or mixer and add garlic salt and pepper. Add broth or milk to thin sauce if needed. Serve over cooked noodles or rice.

Instant Pot: Place broth, cream of chicken soup, and Italian seasoning in Instant Pot and mix well. Place chicken breasts in Instant Pot, coating both side with sauce. Cook on high manual pressure for 12 minutes and allow 10 minutes of natural pressure release then manually release remaining pressure. Remove chicken breasts to shred with fork or mixer. Turn Instant Pot to Saute setting and add cubed cream cheese. Stir continuously until cream cheese is almost melted then added in shredded chicken, garlic salt, and pepper and stir well until sauce is blended. Serve over cooked noodles or rice. 

Beef & Broccoli

Beef & Broccoli (Crock-Pot or Instant Pot)

• 2 lb. boneless chuck roast, cut into thin strips
• 3 Tbsp. canola oil
• 1 c. beef or vegetable broth
• 1 onion, diced
• 1/2 c. soy sauce
• 1/3 c. brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp. sesame oil
• 3 tsp. minced garlic
• 2 Tbsp. corn starch mixed with 2 Tbsp. cold water (optional for thickening)
• 16 oz. frozen broccoli florets, steamed

Heat canola oil in skillet (or on saute setting on Instant Pot) and add beef strips. Brown meat for a few minutes on each side and then remove meat and set aside (discard any excess oil from Instant Pot). In a separate bowl, combine broth, diced onion, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil and minced garlic and mix well. Pour sauce into Crock-Pot or Instant Pot and add meat back in. Cook on LOW in Crock-Pot for 4-6 hours OR in Instant Pot on High Pressure for 10 minutes (quick release or allow natural release if you have time). Once finished cooking, add corn starch/water mixture to Pot and stir well until sauce thickens. Then stir in steamed broccoli and serve over rice or noodles.

Crock-Pot Taco Soup

Crock-Pot Taco Soup

• 1 lb. ground beef or turkey, browned
• 1 pkg. mild taco seasoning
• 1 pkg. dry ranch mix
• 1 can petite diced tomatoes
• 2 cans mild Rotel
• 1 can corn, drained
• 1 can chili beans
• 1 can pinto beans, drained
• 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup water

Brown meat and then combine with all other ingredients in Crock-Pot and mix well. Cook on LOW for 4-6 hrs OR in Instant Pot for 20 minutes on high pressure. Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips or Fritos. 

Easy Alfredo Sauce

Easy Alfredo Sauce

• 1/2 cup butter
• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 2 tsp. garlic powder
• 2 cups milk
• 3/4 c. grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 tsp. pepper

Egg Roll in a Bowl

Healthy, low-carb weeknight favorite!

Egg Roll in a Bowl

• 1 pound ground turkey sausage
• 4 cloves (tsp.) minced garlic
• 16 oz. bag coleslaw mix
• 1/3 cup chopped green onion
• 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
• 1/2 Tbsp. sesame oil
• 1/4 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/3 cup frozen peas (optional)
• 2 Tbsp. sunflower seeds (optional)

Brown sausage with garlic over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and add all other ingredients and cover and heat about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is soft. Serve topped with additional chopped green onion, soy sauce, sesame seeds and hot sauce as desired.

Simple Salisbury Steak

Simple Salisbury Steak

• 1 lb. lean ground beef
• 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• salt to taste
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup, divided
• 1/2 cup water

Combine beef, breadcrumbs, egg, onion, salt & pepper, and 1/4 cup cream of mushroom soup and form into 6-7 patties. Place patties in greased shallow baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Spoon out grease. Combine remaining cream of mushroom soup and water and pour over patties. Return to oven for 10 more minutes, until heated through.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake Bars

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake Bars

• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 1 stick of butter, melted
• 2 eggs
• 1 (12 oz) bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Beat eggs together with melted butter. Add dry cake mix and blend well. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread evenly in greased 9x13 baking dish (batter will be very thick). Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes.

Meal Plan Week #3

Meal Plan Week #3

Chicken and Rice Casserole- http://apinchoftheplains.blogspot.com/2017/03/chicken-and-rice-casserole.html

Tator Tot Casserole- http://apinchoftheplains.blogspot.com/2013/01/tator-tot-casserole.html

Lemon Basil Grilled Chicken Sandwiches- http://apinchoftheplains.blogspot.com/2013/02/lemon-basil-grilled-chicken.html

Pulled Pork Tacos (using leftover meat from last week's Crock-Pot pulled pork)- http://www.vindulge.com/2016/06/leftover-smoked-pulled-pork-tacos/

Bisquick Chicken Tenders- https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/ultimate-chicken-fingers/423c3b75-4f0b-4236-9d70-13213f645d05

Leftovers

Eat Out

Meal Plan Week #2

Here is this week's meal plan...

Meal Plan Week #2

Chicken Enchiladas- http://apinchoftheplains.blogspot.com/2013/03/chicken-and-black-bean-enchiladas.html

Crock-Pot Pulled Pork- http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/recipe-best-pulled-pork-crock-pot/

Sweet & Sour Chicken- http://apinchoftheplains.blogspot.com/2013/09/sweet-and-sour-chicken.html

Skinny Stroganoff- http://apinchoftheplains.blogspot.com/2013/02/skinny-stroganoff.html

Squash Boats- http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/spaghetti-squash-boats

Leftovers

Eat Out

Meal Plan Week #1

I've recently had some friends asking about meal planning, and so I thought I would try something new on my blog and post my weekly meal plans with recipe links to help save you some time! Meal planning has really saved me time since I make one big trip to the grocery store instead of lots of little trips. Some recipes are my own and some are from outside links. I usually plan to cook 5 nights a week and then we eat out once and have leftovers. Enjoy! Let me know if you have any questions!

Meal Plan Week #1

Crock-Pot Lasagna- http://apinchoftheplains.blogspot.com/2013/03/crock-pot-lasagna.html

BBQ Chicken Salad- http://damndelicious.net/2014/01/03/bbq-chicken-salad/

Sausage Skillet- http://apinchoftheplains.blogspot.com/2013/02/sausage-skillet.html

Chicken Bowtie Festival- http://www.copykat.com/2009/05/19/johnny-carinos-bowtie-festival/

Crock-Pot Beef & Broccoli- http://bsrecipe.blogspot.com/2012/04/crock-pot-beef-and-broccoli.html

Leftovers

Eat Out