Sausage & Kale Soup

*sautéed 1/2 onion (chopped)

 end part of a leek (chopped) 

*2 mixed garlic cloves minced. 

*Then added water (about 6cups) & 3    onion bullion cubes. 

*chopped butternut squash

*1 sliced zucchini

*sliced link sausage (2packs)

*boil until everything is tender. 

* added thyme, oregano, basil, s&p. 

*At the end I added about 1/2 a cup of heavy cream

*1/2 cup cream cheese until melted & then added 1/2 bag of kale. 

*Cooked for a few more mins & serve. 

I have lots left over for this week. We have a crazy week with concerts Mon, Tues & Wed.

You could use ground sausage instead of link. 

If you don't want to use heavy cream you can sub it for milk, half & half or coconut milk. 

If you want to add parm cheese on top or goat cheese. You don't have to add the cream cheese if you don't want to. 

Italian Chili

http://www.theslowroasteditalian.com/2011/10/italian-chili.html?m=1

Italian Chili

makes 12 cups –    6 (2 cup) servings 
Pinch kosher salt
1 pound 90% lean ground beef
1 pound hot Italian chicken sausage, casings removed

*1 package of link sausage cut into pieces (I added this too)
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 ½ cups chopped onion
1 cup chopped green peppers
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes
2 15-ounce cans chili beans (I prefer S&W) *(I didn't add beans to mine)

2 10-ounce cans tomato sauce
1 teaspoon chili powder
¼ teaspoon cumin
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
Pecorino Romano, grated for serving
Garlic cheese croutons, for serving

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sprinkle salt.  Add beef, sausage and Italian seasoning.  Cook until meats are browned.  Drain drippings.

In a large pot over medium high heat add browned meats, peppers and onion, cook until onions are translucent.  Add garlic and cook for 2 – 3 minutes.    

Add diced tomatoes, chili beans, tomato sauce, chili powder and cumin.  Simmer for 1 hour.  Add parsley, stir well to combine.

Serve with grated Pecorino Romano and croutons. *i didn't use croutons. 

Cream Cheese Crust Pizza

http://www.plainchicken.com/2012/03/wheres-crust-pizza.html?m=1

This was amazing too! I made Italian chili and then used some if the chili to top the pizza crust with pepperoni and cheese. Yummo! I will post the chili recipe too. :)

Cream Cheese Crust Pizza

Crust

1 (8 oz) package of full fat cream cheese, room temperature
2 eggs
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Topping
1/2 cup pizza sauce
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
toppings - pepperoni, ham, sausage, mushrooms, peppers
Garlic powder


Preheat oven to 350.

Lightly spay a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. With a handheld mixer, mix cream cheese, eggs, pepper, garlic powder and parmesan cheese until combined. Spread into baking dish. Bake for 12-15 minutes, our until golden brown. Allow crust to cool for 10 minutes.

Spread pizza sauce on crust. Top with cheese and toppings. Sprinkle pizza with garlic powder. Bake 8-10 minutes, until cheese is melted.

Crockpot Orange Chicken

http://thefrugalgirls.com/2013/04/crockpot-orange-chicken-recipe.html

I made this from The frugal girls. It was faboulous! 

Crockpot Orange Chicken

• 4 – 5 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, thawed
• 3/4 cup Smuckers Sweet Orange Marmalade
• 3/4 cup of Sweet Baby Ray’s Original BBQ Sauce {it’s SO good!}
• 2 tbsp. Soy Sauce
• Crockpot

What You’ll Do:

• Cook chicken in crockpot on high for 3 hours {covered}
• After 3 hours, drain juices from crockpot
• Mix together bbq sauce, orange marmalade, and soy sauce
• Pour mixture over chicken, and cook on high for 30 more minutes {covered}

Chicken tortilla bake

Chicken Tortilla bake...was yummy. Needs a bit more seasoning from original recipe. I added cumin, Chili powder, smoked chipotle seasoning, salt & pepper. Served plain Greek yogurt & chopped lettuce with it. My daughter says next time I should add corn & also too with cilantro.
Original recipe:
3 cups cooked chopped chicken(I used 5 chicken breasts)
2 can cream of chicken soup
(I used 1 cream of chicken, 1 cream of plabono soup)
1 can rotel
1 cup cheese
8 corn tortillas (used 3)
I mixed rotel with cream of soups spread 1/2 at the bottom of pan, put chicken next, poured the rest of mixture. Cut tortillas in strips place on top cook 350 for 39 mins, then too with cheese bake 10 mins, and then I broiled about 4 mins until cheese is browned. Serve with whatever topping you want.

Original recipe:
http://homemakingchallenged.blogspot.com/2012/01/chicken-tortilla-bake.html?m=1

Won ton taco cups

These were amazing!

1)place won ton wrappers in mini muffin pans cook @350 for 7 mins.

2) Cook 1-2 lbs ground meat or sausage with taco seasonings
(i used HEB taco sausage over in the breakfast sausage area)

3) Mix about 1cup salsa & 1 small can od diced mild green chilies to taco meat after its cooked.

4) Add meat mixture to cups & top with cheese. (Any kind will do)

5) baked 7 mins & broil additional 2-3 mins to brown the cheese on top.

6) serve with quacamole, Greek yogurt or sour cream, pico & HEB queso dip if you would like. Steve with a green salad.

Won ton Lasagna & Pizza Cups

Won ton Lasagna & Pizza cups... Won ton baked 7 mins @350-then cook Italian ground sausage, added pasta sauce, basil, garlic & Greek yogurt...then added some cheese & mixed together put in cooked cups & topped with more cheese & baked 7 mins. Then broil an additional 2 mins to brown cheese.

Bake won tons 7 mins @350. Pizza cups mix pepperoni (cut in small pieces), cheese, pasta sauce, Greek yogurt, basil & garlic or garlic powder. Fill cups & Top with cheese. You can use any cheese. I had jack, sharp cheddar, mozzarella...so I mixed them all.

***i did brown the tops under the broiler for 2 mins after the 7 mins to brown the cheese.

We sliced red bell peppers & cucumbers to eat as a side.