Crock Pot Whole Chicken/ Chicken Broth

RECIPE: THE BEST WHOLE CHICKEN IN A CROCK POT

 

INGREDIENTS

• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne (red) pepper
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 onion
• 1 large chicken

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Combine the dried spices in a small bowl.
2. Loosely chop the onion and place it in the bottom of the slow cooker.
3. Remove any giblets from the chicken and then rub the spice mixture all over. You can even put some of the spices inside the cavity and under the skin covering the breasts.
4. Put prepared chicken on top of the onions in the slow cooker, cover it, and turn it on to high. There is no need to add any liquid.
5. Cook for 4 – 5 hours on high (for a 3 or 4 pound chicken) or until the chicken is falling off the bone. Don't forget to make your homemade stock with the leftover bones!

NOTES

We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.

Another great trick (that I learned from a friend!) is that after you pick off the good chicken meat you can leave the bones in the crock pot to make some stock. I usually start the chicken stock after dinner by filling it to the top with water, and then adding whatever I have on hand…bay leaf, carrot, celery, onion, parsley and/or thyme. Even if I am missing parsley or celery I still make it anyway, and it always turns out just fine. I keep it on low all night, and then in the morning I strain it into 1 or 2 cup Tupperware containers to store in the freezer. It works great and couldn’t be easier!

Chicken Fried Rice

Chicken Fried Rice

Ingredients

• 1 cup brown rice
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 large eggs, beaten to blend
• 2 cups cooked chicken
• 2 large peeled and finely diced carrots
• 1 1/2 cups frozen peas
• salt and pepper
• 1/3 cup tamari (or reduced sodium soy sauce)

Instructions

1. Cook brown rice according to package directions. Once cooked, place in bowl in the refrigerator while cooking the rest of the ingredients.
2. Thaw peas by running under warm water.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet. Add the eggs and scramble. Remove and set aside.
4. Add remaining oil to skillet. Add the carrots and peas and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the cooled rice and chicken and cook until warmed through. Stir in the eggs. Add tamari, taste, then add salt and pepper as needed.

Pizza Pockets

Homemade Pizza Pockets

Author: Six Sisters Stuff

Recipe type: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Prep time:  10 mins

Cook time:  15 mins

Total time:  25 mins

Serves: 6

 

These pizza pockets are the perfect handheld food for little kids!

Ingredients

• 12 frozen rhodes dinner rolls
• 24 slices pepperoni
• 2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup pizza sauce

Instructions

1. Thaw rolls according to directions on the package.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. After the rolls are thawed (but not risen), stretch out each roll and lay it flat on a greased cookie sheet.
4. Spoon a small amount of pizza sauce onto each roll. Top with a small handful of shredded cheese, and two pepperonis.
5. Fold the dough over the toppings and pinch the edges together. Try to not have any holes in your dough, as your cheese will melt out of it.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool a few minutes before serving.
   

Salisbury Steak

Salisbury Steak

Author: Six Sisters Stuff

Recipe type: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Prep time:  10 mins

Cook time:  20 mins

Total time:  30 mins

Serves: 4

This Salisbury Steak is a simple, hearty meal that's perfect for Sunday Dinner - but it's easy enough that you can make it any night of the week!

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• ¼ cup italian bread crumbs
• 1.4 oz dry french onion recipe mix (I used Knorr's)
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 12-oz jar of beef gravy (I used heinz homestyle beef gravy)

Instructions

1. Mix together the ground beef, bread crumbs, french onion mix, egg and water. Shape the mixture into 4 oval-shaped patties, about ½" thick.
2. Spray a large skillet with cooking spray and warm up over medium heat.
3. Add the patties to the skillet and cook for 10 minutes on each side.
4. Drain the grease from the skillet, and then add in the jar of gravy.
5. Continue to cook in the gravy, covered, for 10 more minutes, flipping halfway through.
   

Quick and Easy Shepherds Pie

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

Quick and Easy Shepherd's Pie

This is one of my "go-to" recipes when I need something quick, warm, and filling. My kids love it with ketchup on top (who am I kidding? I do too!) and this is one of those recipes my whole family enjoys. It makes a huge 9x13" pan, so sometimes I will freeze half of it and save for another day (hooray for freezer meals!).

Quick and Easy Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef (or turkey)

1 can condensed tomato soup

1 can condensed minestrone soup

1 can green beans

4 cups mashed potatoes

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Brown hamburger and drain. Add soup and green beans; season with salt and pepper. Pour into large 9x13 casserole dish. Top with mashed potatoes (real potatoes are the best, but if you are in a hurry, instant potatoes will work fine! If you are in a BIG hurry, I have even thrown frozen tater tots on top and it works great!). Spread cheese on top of potatoes. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Cheese Stuffed Manicotti

1 box (14 count) manicotti noodles
1 1b (4 cups) grated mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 Cup cottage cheese
1/2 Cup grated parmesan cheese
2 eggs
4 Tbsp. softened butter
1/4 teasp. pepper
1 clove garlic pressed
1 can or jar (26oz) spaghetti sauce.

Boil noodles for 5 min. Run cold water over. Combine all ingredients except spaghetti sauce and 1/4 cup parmesan cheese. Stuff noodles, be careful not to tear. Pour sauce over noodles and the 1/4 cup parmesan cheese. Cover with foil and bake 350 for 45 min. I usually double or triple this recipe and make freezer meals.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Cut up chunks of chicken. Salt and pepper. Then coat with flour. Brown both sides in a little vegetable oil.

Sauce:

1/2 C. Brown sugar
1/4 C. Vinegar
2 T pineapple juice ( I usually triple this)
2 T catsup
1 1/2 tsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp salt

You may want to double or triple this sauce depending on how much chicken you have.

Pour the sauce over the chicken. Including chunks of pineapple is good too!

Bake 350 for 1 hour.