It’s still nasty, cold and snowing in Pennsylvania. There’s not much to do besides scroll around on the Internet while my sister is working (she works from home). I said I would make dinner, so when she is done with work we can eat right away.
But what to make? I have so many “go to” recipes. These recipes can be made right away, as I usually have most of these ingredients on hand. None of them are fancy, but they are easy and are always received well (that means little or no leftovers).
Sloppy Joes
Can of Sloppy Joe sauce
l lb ground beef
Rolls (I like the potato rolls from Dollar Tree, very good)
Follow directions on sauce can, which usually says to brown the beef, drain. Add the meat back in and add the sauce. Simmer until bubbly.
Most of the times when I make this I double the recipe, and I usually have cole slaw with it, too
Chicken and Rice
4 chicken breasts
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can of your choice, either – cream of mushroom OR cream of celery
1 cup of milk
Spray 13 x 9 baking pan with nonstick spray. Arrange the chicken evenly. To have a smoothly distributed topping, add the soups and milk in a bowl and mix. If it still seems a bit thick, you can add more milk or if you want, water.
Cover with foil and bake for an hour at 350, take foil off and bake 15 more minutes if you think it needs it
Mock Chicken Pot Pie
Line bottom of greased or sprayed 13 x 9 baking pan with SMALL POP OUT BISCUITS (usually two will do, 8 in each roll). In a separate bowl, mix 2 cans CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP and 1 large or two small cans of CANNED CHICKEN. To this mixture, add one frozen package of PEAS AND CARROTS (or mixed veggies, your choice). Mix well, adding one cup of MILK, give or take that amount. Make it as thick or thin as you like. It should kind of look like gravy. Pour over the BISCUITS and bake it at 350 – check after 30 minutes. It should be done for good by the time 45 minutes passes.
Ritzy Chicken
4 chicken breasts
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 16 oz container sour cream
1/2 sleeve Ritz crackers
1/2 stick butter or margarine
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix soup and sour cream in a separate bowl. Arrange chicken breasts in a greased 13 x 9 baking pan. Pour soup and sour cream over chicken mixture. Cook for about 50 minutes. Take ritz crackers and crumble them well and mix (again of course in a separate bowl) and for the last ten minutes of baking, pour the crumb mixture over the top of the chicken
It goes without saying that you can use any “Ritz-like” crackers. Even ones that are slightly stale work!
Buffalo Chicken Soup
2 small or 1 large can canned chicken
1/2 bottle of hot sauce (adjust to taste)
1 container (32 oz) chicken broth
Combine all and simmer. This can be done all day in a crock pot, or on the stove top. I usually serve this with blue cheese dressing (which I love) and celery (which I don’t) on the side.
Chicken Taco Soup
2 small or 1 large can canned chicken
2 cans beans (your choice, I usually use two different kinds, at least two different colors)
container of 32 oz chicken broth
1 package taco seasoning
1 can rotel (or mild salsa if you don’t like spicy)
Combine all and simmer. As with the Buffalo Chicken Soup, it can be done all day in a crock pot or on the stove top. I usually will make white rice or maybe taco rice on the side, and have sour cream and shredded cheese to add.
Chicken Casserole
1 small can canned chicken
1 box macaroni and cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
Prepare macaroni and cheese. Mix in the soup and chicken, and if you want a can of peas and carrots. Transfer into a greased casserole dish, bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes and serve.
Pizza
Quick and Easy
Split English Muffins and or Bagels – spread with tomato sauce, add shredded mozzarella cheese. If you want, you could add peppers, mushrooms, whatever else you like as a pizza topping. Bake or broil in the oven until they look melty and done
Bubble Pizza
Grease a 13 x 9 baking pan – use two cans of Pop Up biscuits – 16, you’ll have – line them up. Pour tomato sauce over, and add mozzarella cheese. You can divide the pizza into halves, thirds or quarters, adding whatever toppings you like. Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes.
Variations –
Do the same with the biscuits – you can use canned chicken and alfredo sauce, alfredo sauce with chopped broccoli, canned chicken with either hot sauce or barbeque…
CHILI
3 cans of tomato soup
3 soup cans of water
1 lb each ground beef (or turkey, chicken – whatever you choose)
Garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper
*you can substitute 1 large can of tomato juice
Cook on high for 2-2 1/2 hours then simmer on low for 4 hours…
CHILI (large portion)
Brown and drain – 1 lb ground beef, one lb. ground turkey, one lb. sausage
2 cans beans (your choice)
Chili seasoning powder, one package
A cup of tomato sauce
Simmer for two hours on high, then 4-5 hours on low
BARBEQUE PULLED
4 chicken breasts OR 6 boneless pork chops or one pork roast (3 lbs)
1 bottle of barbeque sauce
Fill the bottle up with water to rinse and add that to the crock pot
High for two hours, low for 3.
Take meat out, shred…put back in for one more hour
Love this with potato rolls (from the dollar store) and cole slaw
CAJUN BEANS
5 15 oz cans of beans – either pork and beans or vegetarian beans
one small chopped onion
1/4 bottle of bbq sauce (at least)
If you want this just as a meatless side, simmer in the crock on high for 2, then low for however many hours after
If you want this more as a meal, its good with sausage in – I use the large brat size ones, I boil them first, then cut them into links, then if I have the time or inclination, I cut those into halves or quarters. Usually the just go in as rounds
This always tastes good with add ins – hot sauce, worchestire sauce, Cajun seasonings, mustard or brown sugar
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