Cheesy Italian Chicken - CROCK*POT CAFE 16

Hey all! It has been really strange time hasn't it? 2020 has to be the oddest year of my life yet, and I am sure many of yours too. With pandemic happening, a civil rights movement sweeping the nation, murder hornets, and who knows what else, the last thing we have time to think about is what's for dinner. So I have a solution for you! This easy, 4 ingredient, tasty recipe that you can set and forget. I found the recipe on TikTok. Several users posted it so I am not sure where it originated from. But I am glad we tried it because now it is a household favorite!

Cheesy Italian Chicken

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts ( you can easily double or triple the chicken in this recipe - or even sub boneless, skinless chicken thighs - and the other ingredients can remain the same)
• 1 block cream cheese
• 1 bottle Olive Garden Italian salad dressing (or sub whatever Italian dressing you like best)
• 1/2 bag shredded Parmesan (I would reserve the other half for topping)

Directions:
Place chicken in slow cooker. Cover with Italian dressing, cream cheese, and Parmesan. Cook on low for 4 hours. You can shred the chicken once cooked like we did or leave the breasts whole. Serve with rice or noodles & top with additional Parmesan if desired. Enjoy!

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole - CROCK*POT CAFE 15

It's always a bonus when I am searching for recipes and I end up making one that quickly becomes a family favorite. This dish is definitely one of those. Because who doesn't want a creamy, cheesy, comforting dish in winter? Or anytime? Because really, we don't have a whole lot of winter here where I live. But hubs and I always want a creamy, cheesy dinner! And the best part about this one is that your slow cooker will do the majority of the work for you. It is so easy and delicious - and easily adaptable!

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Slow Cooker Casserole

Ingredients:

• 3 chicken breasts, diced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 can condensed broccoli cheese soup
• 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 & 1/2 cups long grain white rice (NOT COOKED)
• 1/2 stick butter (4 TBSP) sliced
• 4 oz shredded cheddar

Directions:
Spray your slow cooker with cooking spray of your choice - do NOT skip this step. Mix together all ingredients EXCEPT shredded cheddar in a mixing bowl. Pour in to your greased slow cooker, making sure butter slices, chicken chunks, and rice are evenly distributed. Top with shredded cheddar. Cook on low for 4 hours. I serve it with a salad. ENJOY!

Slow Cooker Ravioli Casserole - CROCK*POT CAFE 14

I love a versatile dish that basically cooks itself. I came across a couple recipes on the internet for a similar dish and thought I would try it with my own spins on it. It is a super easy recipe that you can let cook while you are out of the house. There are many ways to make it your own and I will include some of those tips.

Slow Cooker Ravioli Casserole

Ingredients:

• 16oz bag frozen cheese ravioli (you can also use a meat filled if you prefer. Or really ravioli with any filling you like. It's up to you! You can also use refrigerated ravioli but I would reduce the cook time in half if you do)
• 1 jar of your favorite tomato sauce (I prefer Ragu meat flavored)
• 3 oz of pesto (I used 1/2 a jar of pesto from Aldi - you can make your own or use another brand)
• 8 oz heavy cream

***Optional: Some great additions include shredded mozzarella (which I would have used but I did not have any on hand), parmesan, ground beef, sausage, pepperoni, bell peppers, and much more. Just throw them on top before cooking!

Directions
Spray your crock pot with cooking spray. Layer in half the jar of tomato sauce. Pour on the raviolis. Pour on the remaining tomato sauce. Mix together the heavy cream and pesto and then pour over the top. Cook on low for 4 hours. Serve with garlic bread and a salad. Enjoy!

***I did not get a picture of the finished product but it basically looked like a baked ravioli dish and hubs loved it!

Southwest Queso Chicken - CROCK*POT CAFE 13

I know a lot of you have busy lives and now that kids have recently gone back to school in the area, I know a lot of parents are looking for a lot of easy dinner ideas. I tried this recipe yesterday and I have to tell ya, it doesn't get much simpler than this. Not only that but it's very few ingredients AND it is super delicious. Plus, it cooks itself since this dish uses your slow cooker as the cooking vessel. Prepare some rice in a rice cooker and a heat up a veggie like corn in the microwave for side dishes and you have a complete meal in no time! I served mine with a homemade version of rice you would get at a Mexican restaurant (super easy, I will post that recipe in the near future!). You can also add some great additions like black beans to bulk the dish up with virtually no effort. Also, you can start the chicken from fresh OR frozen with no change to the cooking time. In addition, you can easily double, triple, or quadruple the recipe depending on your family size. How great is that???

Southwest Queso Chicken


Ingredients:

• 1 lb chicken breasts 
• 1 can Rotel (I use the one with fire roasted tomatoes, great flavor)
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 jar queso (I use Tostitos, it's the only one I like)
• 1 packet taco seasoning (use your favorite, I favor Old El Paso)

Directions:
Place chicken breasts in your slow cooker. Sprinkle on the packet of taco seasoning. Combine the chicken broth and Rotel, and pour over the chicken. Cook on low for 4 hours. Stir in the queso and let cook 30 more minutes. Serve with your favorite Southwest sides. Enjoy!

Creamy Tortellini Soup - Pinterest Pick #24

Two years ago I made a delicious tortellini soup (you can find that recipe HERE). Because the weather has actually been pretty cold this winter in FL I was looking for comforting soup, stew, and one pot meal recipes. I came across this recipe on Pinterest for CREAMY tortellini soup and I remembered how good my other recipe was, so I decided to give it a try. Both hubs and I loved it! And it fit the bill for a comforting soup dinner on a chilly night.  Not to mention you make it in your slow cooker so it's super easy as well. I made a couple of adjustments, as I always do. Instead of both cans of diced tomatoes I only used 1 can and then a can of plain tomato sauce. I used frozen spinach instead of fresh. And because my diced tomatoes were plain and not Italian style, I spiced up the soup with a couple of dashes of garlic salt, a big pinch of Italian seasoning, and lots of black pepper. Also, I made this soup without meat for meatless Monday, but you can easily add in some chicken or sausage if you choose. You can find the original pin HERE and the original recipe is listed on the pin, it does not link to a website. 

Creamy Tortellini Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of frozen tortellini
• 1 box (10 oz) frozen spinach (or a bag of fresh baby spinach)
• 2 cans diced tomatoes (or 1 can of diced, and 1 can of tomato sauce)
• 1 block of cream cheese, cut into 4 chunks
• 1 carton chicken broth
• garlic salt
• black pepper
• Italian seasoning

***Parmesan cheese for topping (optional)
***Garlic bread for serving (optional)

Directions:
Put all ingredients in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 4 hours. Enjoy!

Ropa Vieja - Home Cooked Recipe #80

I am a BIG fan of latin flavors. I was perusing the internet for a good Rope Vieja recipe to try, and decided to actually combine flavors from several different ones to come up with my own spin on this dish. Some of the ingredients are probably not traditional but it came out fantastic! Also, it's made in the slow cooker so it's a one pot dish that cooks itself which is super convenient. Give it a try!

Ropa Vieja

Ingredients:

• 2-3lb boneless chuck roast
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 bell peppers (any color), sliced
• 1/2 jar whole green olives w/pimentos (& brine)
• 1 can Rotel
• 16 ounces tomato sauce
• 2 cups beef broth
• 4 tbs ketchup
• 2 tbs apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbs cumin
• 1 tsp coriander
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp minced dried onion
• 1 tbs Adobo
• 1 packet Sazon
• freshly ground black pepper

Directions:
In a slow cooker, mix all ingredients from tomato sauce to black pepper. Stir in onion, peppers, olives, & Rotel. Place chuck roast over sauce, spooning some of the liquid over the top. Cook on high for 4 to 6 hours, or low for 8 hours.  Shred meat and return to liquid. Serve over rice. 
Enjoy!

GIRL'S CROCK*POT DAY #1 - CROCK*POT CAFE 11

A few weeks ago the girls and I did another crockpot day.  This time we only made one recipe I have made before, which was the beer chicken (you can find the original recipe HERE).  Then we also made smothered pork chops and beef stroganoff.  They all came out delicious! We served them with copious amounts of egg noodles and had plenty of leftovers.  All these recipes were winners so I advise you to try them!

Smothered Pork Chops

Ingredients:

• 8 boneless center cut pork chops
• salt & pepper (to taste)
• 1 tbs paprika (I used the smoked paprika, great flavor)
• 1 tbs garlic powder
• 1 small onion, sliced
• 2 8oz pkg sliced mushrooms
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup low sodium beef broth

Directions:

Mix all ingredients except pork, mushrooms, and onions in a bowl.  Place onions on bottom of slow cooker, place pork on top.  Cover with mushrooms, then pour soup mixture over.  Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Beef Stroganoff

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef stew meat
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 8oz pkg sliced mushrooms
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 tsp ground thyme
• 1 to 2 bay leaves
• 2 cups beef broth
• 2 tbs worcestershire
• 1 tbs red wine vinegar
• 1 tbs mustard (I prefer Dijon)
• 8 oz sour cream

Directions
Place beef chunks on bottom of slow cooker. Top with mushrooms and onions.  Mix all other ingredients EXCEPT sour cream. Pour over beef.  Cook on low for 8 hours.

ENJOY!

GIRL'S CROCK*POT DAY #1 - CROCK*POT CAFE 10

Hello readers!

After a crazy last year of planning and having a wedding, I am finally getting back to normal. I have included pictures from the wedding (just a couple!) Now that I'm back in realty, that will mean more food blog posts, hooray! One of my first missions of 2017 was to organize a slow cooker day with 2 of my girlfriends who are interested in learning to make more delicious and healthy meals in their slow cookers. We all know how much I love a good crockpot dinner! For our first day of slow cooking, we made 3 recipes, one pork, one beef, one chicken.  These were all recipes that I have made prior, and I will provide the links at the end of this post. I wanted my girls to feel comfortable and I wanted to have us cook something I knew would taste delicious. The upcoming days we slow cook will be of mostly all new recipes, so I'll be trying new things along with them, and will be able to share the recipes with you, my dear readers! I hope you enjoy the pictures, we had such a fun day!!!

Cooking with Tanya and Kimmie!

Beef and Broccoli

Bourbon Chicken

Pork Carnitas

Find the recipe for Pork Carnitas HERE
Find the recipe for Beef and Broccoli HERE
Find the recipe for Bourbon Chicken HERE

Orange Chicken - Crock*Pot Cafe 9

As you know, I just love my slow cooker!  It is so easy to just throw some ingredients in it and let it cook dinner for me.  Oranges were in season when I made this, so I decided to devise my own healthy, fresh, orange chicken crockpot dinner! I used my small crockpot, but you can easily double, triple, or quadruple the recipe and just place it in a larger slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Orange Chicken

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (mine were frozen)
• zest of 1 orange
• juice of 4 naval oranges
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 clove grated garlic
• 1 1/2 inch knob of ginger, grated
• 1 tsp sesame oil

Directions:
Mix together zest, garlic, ginger, oil, honey, and juice together in bottom of your slow cooker. Add in chicken breasts.  Toss in sauce.  Cook on low for 4-6 hours.  Serve with rice.  Enjoy!

Pot Roast - Crock*Pot Cafe 8

I adore pot roast.  Especially during the winter months, and especially when I can just throw it in the slow cooker and let it go.  Tender meat in a savory gravy with a few vegetables?  Very comforting!  This recipe is easy, can feed a lot of people, and is fairly cost effective.  Serve it with mashed potatoes, buttered noodles, or rice.  Yum!

Crock*Pot Pot Roast

Ingredients:

• 2lb beef stew meat ( you can also use a chuck roast, about 3 lbs)
• 2 packets beef gravy mix (I use store brand but use whichever your prefer)
• 2 bay leaves
• salt and pepper
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• adobo seasoning (optional)
• 3 cups beef stock or broth
• 3 garlic cloves, smashed
• 4 carrots, chopped
• 2 onions, cut into eight chunks each
• ***optional - you can cook potatoes right in this as well if you prefer, just cut 3 or 4 potatoes in to quarters and toss in when you add carrots

Directions:
Preheat a pan on the stovetop over medium high.  Quickly sear beef on all sides until browned.  (About a minute a side.) In slow cooker, pour in two cups of broth/stock and mix in 1 gravy packet.  Season with a dash of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and adobo seasoning.  Stir in both bay leaves.  Add meat, onions, carrots, and garlic.  Give a quick stir and set slow cooker on high for four hours or low for eight hours.When roast is about done, on stove top, mix remaining cup of broth with last gravy packet.  When thick, stir into slow cooker.  Enjoy!

Crock*Pot Italian Beef - Pinterest Pick #9

OK, I'll admit it, I have been slacking with this blog for the last few weeks.  To be honest, I am so tired from being back at the office.  Hopefully I will be back home telecommuting again soon and will be able to bring you more recipes.  In the meantime, I did make a great dish this weekend!  It was another combo of slow cooker and Pinterest, and the results were delicious.  I can't wait to eat the leftovers for lunch today.  Few ingredients, little prep... And super tasty!
Find the original recipe HERE and the original pin HERE.  I made a few adjustments, but nothing major.  Serve the beef on a sandwich, over noodles, over rice, with potatoes... Very versatile!

Crock*Pot Italian Beef

Ingredients:

• 1 lb beef stew meat
• 1/2 jar of pepperoncini
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 beef bouillon cube
• 1 packet Italian dressing seasoning
• salt and pepper

*** hoagie rolls, mayo, and sliced provolone if making my sandwiches

Directions:
Place beef in slow cooker.  Add salt and pepper (I eyeball these, use about a teaspoon each).  Add Italian dressing mix.  Toss beef with spices well until each cube is coated.  Pour half the jar of peppers, including juice, into slow cooker.  Dissolve bouillon cube in chicken broth and pour into slow cooker.  Stir well.  Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4.  Discard peppers and shred beef.  
*To make sandwiches:
Spread mayo on roll.  Place on cheese slices.  Top with beef.  Add giardiniera (a mix of carrots, cauliflower, celery, etc) or fresh pepperoncini if desired.  
Enjoy!