Chicken and Wild Rice Soup in the Crockpot

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

1 medium onion, chopped

3-4 carrots, peeled and chopped

3 stalks celery, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup uncooked wild rice, rinsed and drained

1 cup uncooked brown rice, rinsed and drained

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1/2 tsp. dried thyme

1/4 tsp. mustard powder

1/2 tsp. basil

1/2 tsp. sage

10-12 cups chicken broth

salt and pepper, to taste

Combine prepared vegetables, chicken, 

broth, and wild rice.

Add seasonings and brown rice.

Cover and cook on high for 4 hours.

Remove chicken breasts to a plate and shred into bite

size pieces. Return to crockpot.

Reduce crockpot setting to low.

Salt and pepper to taste.

Cheesy Broccoli Soup in the Crockpot

Cheesy Broccoli Soup

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can cream of celery soup

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can evaporated milk

1 16 oz. pkg. frozen chopped broccoli

1 lb. processed cheese product (like Velveeta)

frozen hashbrowns with onions and peppers

pepper to taste

Line your crockpot to make clean-up easier.

Remember this "Tuesday Tip of the Day" post?

Start with the canned soups.

Add the chopped broccoli,

frozen hash browns, and cheese.

Gently fold together until ingredients are combined.

Cook on high for approximately 4 hours.

Omelet Breakfast Bites ~and Tuesday's Tips of the Day

Omelet Breakfast Bites

36 tator tots or potato crispy crowns

6 eggs

3 tbsp. milk

freshly ground nutmeg

Diced Ham

Chopped Red and Green Peppers

Minced Yellow Onion

Chopped Fresh Spinach

Chopped Fresh Mushrooms

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Generously grease muffin tin.

Place 3 tator tots or potato crispy crowns in each cup.

Tuesday's tip:  When we made these in my foods class, students used a cooking spray.

The breakfast bites were difficult to remove and the pans were difficult to wash.

Here, I am using plenty of shortening to grease the pan.

Flatten potato tots or crowns in bottom of muffin cups.

Bake at for 8- 10 minutes.

Tuesday's tip: I used my Pampered Chef Tart Shaper.

Or you may use the bottom of a small glass.

While potato crusts are baking,

prepare the rest of your ingredients.

When potatos are done, remove from oven 

and reduce the temperature to 350 degrees.

Peppers, Onions, Spinach, Ham and Cheese.

Use whatever omelet ingredients you have in your refrigerator.

Tuesday's Tip: For ease in food preparation, 

use small sauce dishes for individual ingredients.

Whisk together eggs, milk and freshly ground nutmeg.

Tuesday's Tip: Other online recipes call for 8 eggs and 1/4 cup milk.

We found that the muffin cups overflowed, 

which contributed to our problem of getting them out of the pan in one piece.

Fill cups with desired ingredients.

You can individualize these according to tastes.

Pour in egg/milk mixture.

Top with shredded cheddar.

Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Rim with a table knife and remove from the pan.

Tuesday's Tip:

Make a full batch and freeze the leftovers.

Later, you can zap them in your microwave 

for just a couple of minutes for a quick breakfast to go.

I placed them in a plastic container with waxed paper between the layers.

Old Farmhouse Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken Cacciatore

6-8 meaty chicken pieces (breasts, thighs, drumsticks)

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced

2 tbsp. olive oil

 1 28 oz. can tomatoes, cut up

3/4 cup chicken broth

2 tsp. oregano

1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

salt and pepper to taste

Prepare vegetables.

Gather ingredients.

Skin chicken. Rinse and pat dry.

In a large skillet, cook chicken in hot oil about 15 minutes or until chicken is lightly browned.

Remove chicken to a platter.

Add more olive oil, if needed. 

Saute onions and garlic.

Peppers,

and Mushrooms.

Saute until onions are translucent.

Drain off fat.

Add tomatoes, crushed red pepper, oregano, salt and pepper.

(And, if you have a bottle of white wine open, add about a half cup)

Return the chicken to your pan.

Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer.

Cover and cook for 30 minutes or until chicken is tender and no longer pink.

As chicken cooks prepare your pasta and salad.

I used Fettucini for this dish...

and served a green salad on the side.

Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup

Cheeseburger Soup

1 pound ground beef

1 medium onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 ribs celery, chopped

2 carrots, shredded

1 tsp. dried basil

1 tsp. dried parsley flakes

3 to 4 cups chicken broth

1  12 oz. can evaporated milk

3 cups frozen hash browns

1/2 tsp. paprikia

1 tbsp. Worchestershire sauce

1 tbsp. yellow mustard

1/8 tsp. black pepper

8 oz. cubed cheese (Velveeta)

for garnish

additional cheese

sour cream

hamburger dills

Gather ingredients.

Brown ground beef, drain and set aside.

Chop vegetables. Saute onion, garlic, carrots, celery, 

basil and parsley until tender, about 10 minutes.

Place in the bottom of your slowcooker.

Add the browned ground beef to your slowcooker.

Add the broth, evaporated milk, potatoes, and pepper.

Cook on low for approx. 4 hours.

Times may vary depending on your crockpot/slowcooker.

Stir in the cubed cheese and continue cooking until it melts.

The hamburger dills are the perfect garnish!

Tuesday Tip of the Day ~Adding Interest to your Green Salad

With spring weather right around the corner, 

we are focusing on light and fresh dishes for dinner.

I like to add some fruit to my Green Salads,

so I am taking advantage of the strawberries that are in peak season.

You can add flavor and crunch with purchased salad toppings.

Just remember to use moderation...

there are 40 calories and 3 grams of fat in 1.5 tablespoons.

These 100 calorie snack packs are great to have on hand.

I used a package of these walnuts and almonds for our salad on Easter.

It was just the right amount for our small gathering.

Happy Spring!