Cheesy Chicken and Rice Soup
Pin It1/2 split chicken or 2 breasts (bone-in)
1 onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tbs. Mrs. Dash seasoning
2 cups uncooked rice
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
12 ounces velveeta
Boil chicken in large pot. Once done, remove chicken and debone. Add the chicken back to pot when done. Add all remaining ingredients, except the velveeta. Cook until rice is done. Stir in velveeta, simmer until melted. Serve immediately.
Black Bean Soup
Pin It1/2 split chicken, or 2 breasts (bone in)
8 oz dried black beans (or 3 cans)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 jalapeno peppers, minced (optional)
1 tsp olive oil, vegetable oil, or butter
1 can diced tomatoes (or 2 cans rotel)
2 tsp cumin
1/4 cup chili seasoning
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp garlic salt
Boil chicken in large stock pot until fully cooked. Remove chicken from pot, let cool, and shred. Add beans to chicken broth and cook until tender. While beans are cooking, saute onion, bell pepper, garlic, jalapenos, and oil in skillet over medium heat. Add to chicken broth, along with tomatoes and seasoning. Let simmer for 20 minutes. Top with cheddar cheese and sliced jalapeno peppers before serving.
You may use any type of canned tomatoes you have in place of the diced. 2 tsp. chili powder can be substituted for chili seasoning.
Cooking Day
Pin ItI have spent the entire day slaving over the stove- yes, really! Although our freezer space is limited, I want to have some pre-made meals and items put up. Our schedule is just getting more and more hectic, and fall is just around the corner. It saves so much money, because we are not constantly running through a drive through because of time constraints.
I did not get as much done today as I would have liked, as I got a late start and we had a power outage for a while. Our power rarely goes out, but the last three cooking days, I’ve been stuck in a panic with several meals going at once.
Over the weekend, I was able to snag some hamburger and chicken at a good price. Of course, the chicken was previously frozen, so I had to do something with it.
Here’s what I got done today:
18 stuffed peppers
3 batches of Cheesy Chicken and Rice soup
1 batch of Black Bean Soup Base
Chicken Salad
Chicken and Biscuits
5 dozen Biscuits (to freeze)
All I have left on today’s list is Key Lime Pie, which I will be starting shortly. The other recipes will be posted soon.
New Rating System
Pin ItYou may have noticed that you can now rate each post. I ask that you use this to rate the recipes as you try them so that other readers can plan their meals accordingly.
Meatball Soup
Pin It1 package frozen meatballs ($.75)
1 jar spaghetti sauce ($.25)
2 1/2 cups water
1 package cheese tortellini ($1)
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese ($.50)
In large pot, combine meatballs, sauce, water, and tortellini. Bring to boil. Reduce to simmer for 20 minutes, or until tender. Top with Parmesan cheese.
Dinner: 7/31/09
Pin ItWe ended up eating out last night instead of tonight, which is a perfect example of why you should always leave wiggle room in your menu plan. I was busy all day, so I needed a quick fix.
Pork steaks are on sale for $.88/lb at Summer Fresh this week- STOCKPILE PRICE!
I love to sprinkle them with Lawry’s Seasoned Salt and grill them over the charcoal grill. Once they are almost done, baste them with BBQ sauce and flip. Repeat.
We had sliced fresh tomatoes and cucumbers as a side, along with green beans and new potatoes out of the garden.
It was a very inexpensive meal, at just under $2 for the meat, and everything else was free from the garden.
Chicken and Veggie Alfredo
Pin It
1 box penne pasta, cooked according to package (any other pasta will work)
1 lb. diced boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 jar Ragu Roasted Garlic Parmesan (or any other white pasta sauce you have stockpiled)
2 tsp olive oil (or butter)
Any assortment of veggies from the following, or any other fresh garden veggies (I use them all when possible!):
1 cup diced zucchini
1 cup diced yellow squash
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 green bell pepper, slivered
3 tomatoes, wedged
Cook pasta according to the directions on the package. Drain. Brown chicken with oil in large skillet. Saute chicken with veggies (except tomatoes). Stir in sauce, simmer. Toss in tomatoes just before serving.
Menu Planning
Pin ItAm I the only person that has a hard time doing this? I am terrible about throwing things together at last minute and causing undue stress on myself. I know that if I’d just do it, I’d feel so much better!
This week, I buckled down and made my menu plan again. We were set to be home almost every evening, so I was planning on making things that take a little longer and can’t be eaten on the run. Then, I found out we have football camp every evening this week.
I’m going to try to stick to it, luckily most of it is casserole type dishes that can be reheated easily.
Here’s the week’s plan:
Lasagna
Sweet & Sour Chicken
Chicken and Biscuits
Breakfast for Dinner
We have get togethers and dinners Friday-Sunday, so we only need 4 meals this week.
Do you guys menu plan? How are you able to adapt it to a busy schedule?
Pancake Battered Onion Rings
Pin ItIngredients:
oil (for frying)
boxed pancake mix, prepared according to box (can substitute beer for water)
salt
pepper
garlic
large onion
Directions:
Add seasonings to pancake batter, stir. Slice onion in to rings. Dip rings into pancake mix. Deep or pan fry until golden brown. Enjoy!