Slow Cooked Cheater Chicken and Dumplings

My husband requests chicken and dumplings all winter long.  This is a quick and easy version that doesn't require canned soup or extra time.  If you have the time to make homemade dumplings, go for it!  With three kids I never have extra time, so making this "cheater version" really works for me and still tastes great for my family!

Slow Cooked Cheater Chicken & Dumplings

3 cups of precooked chicken, cubed (I usually use leftover rotisserie chicken) 

2 cups of peeled baby carrots, cut into thirds

1 cup of celery, diced

1 cup of onion, diced

2 cloves of garlic, minced (or more, depending on preference) 

2 TBL butter

5 cups of chicken broth

1 1/2 cups of milk 

3/4 cup of flour

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp parsley

salt and pepper to taste

2 cans of refrigerated biscuits

Turn your slow cooker on low heat, put in the butter and cover with the lid. Combine 2 1/2 cups of chicken broth with 1/2 a cup of milk in a medium saucepan and bring to a low boil on the stove.  In a separate small bowl combine the remaining milk (1c) with the flour and seasonings until the mixture has thickened and is smooth.  Pour the flour mixture into the saucepan and continuously stir while simmering over low heat.  After about 5-10 minutes the mixture should be thick and smooth; set aside. Place the chicken, carrots, celery, onion and garlic in your slow cooker on top of the melted butter.  Pour the soup mixture and remaining chicken broth on top. Season with salt and pepper to taste and give it all a good stir.  Cook on low until carrots and celery are tender.  Quarter the biscuits and add them to the slow cooker 90 minutes before eating, making sure to dunk them all in the broth to soak up the liquid.  (if mixture is too thick, add a little water; add flour if there is too much liquid) 

My slow cooker seems to run hotter than some of the older models, so I usually cook on low about 3-5 hours and leave it on warm until we are ready to eat it.  Mmmm it is sooo yummy and my house always smells amazing while it is cooking.  Enjoy!

Slow Cooked Taco Soup

This is a staple in our house!  I was inspired by this recipe over a year ago, but I have changed it a lot to fit our taste buds!  This recipe is SO easy because it's mostly a bunch of canned goods that are always in my pantry;  the ingredients are all thrown into the crock pot and ready when you are!

Slow Cooked Taco Soup

1 pound ground beef
1 chopped onion
2 15 ounce cans of undrained beans- kidney, pinto, black, chili, etc. (I usually just use kidney beans because my kids prefer them)
1 10 ounce can of enchilada sauce
2 14.5 ounce cans undrained diced tomatoes
1 4 ounce can undrained diced green chilies
Dash of lime juice
1 package of taco seasoning (I use this recipe to make my own seasoning)
3 cups of water
Garnish
chopped cilantro
diced avocado
chopped green onion
shredded cheese
dollop of sour cream
lime wedges
crushed tortilla chips

Cook ground beef in a medium skillet until crumbly and no longer pink.  Drain grease and put meat in your slow cooker.  Add chopped onion, undrained beans, undrained tomatoes, undrained chilies, lime juice, taco seasoning and water.  Mix everything together until the spices are well incorporated and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Garnish with whatever you choose, or all the ideas listed above. (my preferred way to eat this!)

My slow cooker seems to run hotter than some of the older models, so I usually cook on low about 3-4 hours and leave it on warm until we are ready to eat it.  Mmmm it is sooo yummy and my house always smells amazing while it is cooking.  Enjoy!

Ziti Tacos

I needed something quick, easy and delicious tonight, and this was all three!  I modified this recipe to fit my family's preferences and the ingredients we had on hand. We all loved it, even the kids!  
My husband came up with the name. lol

 Ziti Tacos

1 pound lean ground beef
12 ounces ziti
1/2 cup chopped white onion
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (4 ounce) can diced mild green chilies
3 TBL taco seasoning mix (found here)
2 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese
2 ounces shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup sliced black olives
1 cup crushed tortilla chips
1/4 cup chopped green onions (optional garnish)
1 diced avocado (optional garnish)
1/2 cup sour cream (optional garnish)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water until al dente. About 9 minutes. Drain pasta.  In a large skillet, cook and stir ground beef and chopped onion over medium heat until brown. Mix in tomato soup, diced tomatoes, diced chilies and taco seasoning mix. Stir in pasta.  Spoon mixture into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Add grated cheese and olives on top.  Bake for 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbly. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.  Garnish with chips, chopped green onions, avocado and sour cream, if desired.

And one more photo because a shot of the cheese giving the noodles a hug is a must, right? lol

Banana-Berry Muffins

I tried these on the kids this morning and all three gave me a big thumbs up. I figured I better share with blog land since the recipe turned out so yummy! Enjoy!!

Banana-Berry Muffins


1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/3 cup of butter (applesauce can be used as a substitute, but I didn't do that today)
1 egg
1 teaspoon of vanilla
3/4 sugar
3 large overripe bananas
1 1/2 cups of fresh or frozen berries (I used a frozen mix with raspberries, blueberries and blackberries)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium size bowl combine all the dry ingredients and set aside. In a large bowl combine everything but the berries while mashing up the bananas within the mixture; the bananas should be dime size clumps. Fold in the berries. Fold in the dry ingredients being sure not to over mix. Add muffin mixture to greased, or paper-lined muffin cups, about 2/3 full. Oven temperatures can vary, bake for 18-25 minutes or until the muffins test done. Place on a wire rack for cooling. Enjoy!

I know my little muffin face did.