Chicken Stuffing Casserole

I just love casseroles like this. They are so warm and filling on a cold night. It got two thumbs up from everyone - hubby, sister-in-law and my 3 year old (almost 4!) niece. It's pretty easy and quick so it's great for weeknights.

Chicken Stuffing Casserole

adapted from multiple recipes

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 6-8

Ingredients

14 oz package Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Stuffing

14 oz can of chicken broth

1 medium onion, diced

celery, optional

Butter

1 1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 can reduced fat and/or reduced sodium cream of chicken soup

8 oz container of low fat sour cream

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 tsp Kosher salt

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400.

Prepare the stuffing according to the package for a medium sized turkey (I think this was the middle column using 4 cups of stuffing). The only changes I made was I cut down the amount of onion by half and I didn't use celery since I didn't have any. Set aside.

Cut the chicken into cubes. In a medium bowl, mix together the soup, sour cream, garlic, salt and pepper. Add a splash of chicken broth. Stir in the chicken. 

Spread the chicken mixture in a 9x13 pan that has been well-coated with cooking spray. Top with the stuffing. Bake for 30 minutes. 

Enjoy!

Hash Brown Casserole

This is definitely a family favorite. Every get together, holiday, birthday, etc., I've been asked to make this casserole. I will say that it is also pretty tried and true. I have tried making multiple changes, but it always tastes the best as written.

Photo from MyRecipes

Hash Brown Casserole

adapted from Cooking Light

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 60 minutes

Servings: 8-12

Ingredients

1/2 cup diced onion

1/2 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

32 oz package frozen Southern-style hash brown potatoes (little cubes - I think Publix brand tends to work best if you have them)

2 TBS butter

1 can reduced fat and/or reduced sodium cream of chicken soup

8 oz block of Velveeta Light

8 oz carton of reduced fat sour cream

2 cups cornflakes, coarsely crushed

Directions

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine soup, 1 TBS butter and Velveeta in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 6 minutes or until cheese melts, stirring every 2 minutes.

Stir in the sour cream. Stir in the onions, paprika and black pepper. Pour hash browns into cheese mixture and stir well. Spread into a 9x13 dish that has been coated with cooking spray. 

Melt remaining TBS of butter and toss with cornflakes. Sprinkle over the top of the potatoes. Bake for one hour. 

Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin

This was amazing! The pork was so tender and juicy. The flavor was amazing. Hubby and I both gave this two thumbs up and I will definitely making it again. You could even try substituting with turkey tenderloin or beef tenderloin <--- this would probably be amazing with the sauce! I served this with some potatoes and veggies.

Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin

adapted from Allrecipes

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-6 hours

Servings: 4-6

Ingredients

2 lb pork tenderloin

1 packet of dry onion soup mix

1 cup water

3/4 cup red wine (I used Merlot)

2 TBS minced garlic

3 TBS low-sodium soy sauce

Directions

Put the tenderloin in the slow cooker and sprinkle the dry onion soup mix over it. Pour water, wine and soy sauce over the pork. Spread the garlic over the top of the tenderloin. Splash a little of the liquid in the bottom over the top of the tenderloin. Set slow cooker on low and cook for 4 hours. It's okay if it goes a little longer - mine was in for a little over 5 hours before I turned it down to warm. 

Enjoy!

Mac & Cheese Soup

This was actually pretty good! It's very much like a runny mac & cheese. The original recipe was written very weird and at one point I was afraid that the soup might not turn out okay. I followed the original directions, but I have changed them for you. The way I have written them below makes much more sense then the original. It also contained onion and celery (which I have removed). Frankly, it was just kind of weird in mac & cheese. If you want to try it with the celery and onion just email me and I will send you the original recipe. 

Mac & Cheese Soup

adapted from Cuisine at Home

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Makes: 7 cups

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups dry elbow macaroni

5 TBS unsalted butter

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup dry white wine

2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

1 tsp dry mustard

1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

1 cup fat-free half-and-half

1 cup skim or 2% milk

4 cups shredded sharp Cheddar

Salt and black pepper to taste

Directions

Cook the macaroni according to the package, drain and spray with cool water. 

In a dutch oven or large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add the flour and whisk until smooth. Let the mixture cook until it's a light golden color, about 6-7 minutes. 

Warm the milk and half-and-half in the microwave or in a saucepan. Add the milk mixture to the butter mixture slowly while whisking constantly until very smooth.

Slowly whisk in the broth and then the wine. Stir in the nutmeg, mustard and cayenne pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes or until slightly thickened. 

Add the cheese, one cup at a time and let it melt completely. Stir in the macaroni. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve in bowls.

Enjoy!

Weekly Menu - November 6-12

Brrrrr! It's chilly around here lately. We went from having nice fall weather to it being only 50 during the day and 23 at night! It's a little early for that kind of weather around here. I think my menu is slightly reflective of that though. A couple of favorites this week and some new recipes. I'm very excited!

Hashbrown Casserole

Turkey Chili

Chicken Stuffing Casserole

Chicken Chimichangas

Slow Cooker Italian Beef

Buffalo Chicken Fries

These were really yummy. Great way to get in your craving for wings without adding all the fat and grease to your diet. They are fairly easy to make. If someone doesn't like buffalo sauce then you can just as easily toss them in barbecue sauce or even leave them plain. You could even pick up some sauces from Buffalo Wild Wings for some variety. 

Buffalo Chicken Fries

adapted from Cuisine at Home

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/8 tsp table salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Canola Oil 

Frank's RedHot Buffalo Wing Sauce

Directions

Cut the chicken into 1/2 inch wide strips. Combine the flour, salt and pepper in a bowl or ziplock bag. Toss until all the chicken is coated evenly.

Heat 2 TBS canola oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add half of the chicken and cook until browned, about 2 minutes on each side. Repeat with remaining chicken.

In a bowl, place your chicken. Drizzle with a little sauce and toss to coat.

Enjoy!

Sticky Chicken

So I have made this before and it's always very yummy. Oddly enough, while it got thumbs up from everyone, both my sister-in-law and my husband thought it tasted kind of like breakfast sausage. I have no clue why they thought this. Maybe it's the sweetness of the glaze combined with the red pepper flakes? I don't know. Regardless, this is delish. I like to serve it over some basmati rice with a little bit of the left over glaze poured over it. 

Sticky Chicken

adapted from This Mommy Cooks

Prep Time: 5 minutes, plus 4-5 hours to marinate

Cooking Time: 15-20 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 cup reduced fat coconut milk

1/2 TBS chopped ginger

1 tsp ground black pepper

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

Glaze:

3/4 cup rice vinegar

1/2 cup of sugar

3 TBS soy sauce

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

Directions

Pound out each chicken breast to even thickness. Marinate the chicken in the coconut milk, ginger, pepper and red pepper flakes for 4-5 hours. 

In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the ingredients for the glaze to a boil. Cook the mixture until it thickens, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from the burner and set aside.

Place a grill pan over medium heat and add the chicken. Cook on each side for 5-8 minutes. In the last few minutes of cooking, baste the chicken with the glaze.

Enjoy!