Saw it. Pinned It. Did it. - Crock Pot Creamy Italian Chicken

I haven't been home in time for dinner since...ummm...busy season started on February 1st. I announced to Chris that until April 15th, I will not - I repeat: I will not - be cooking dinner. 

Does putting something in the crock pot in the morning and having it be ready for dinner count as making dinner? If it does then I am super woman. Tax accountant, graduate student, and a wife that has a hot meal ready when the hubs gets home. Bada-bing-bada-boom!

So maybe I cheated a little bit by "cooking" dinner in a crock pot, but there we no complaints when this delicious meal graced the taste buds on our tongues. Yum, freakin' yum.

I pinned this recipe months ago, years ago, crap I don't know when I pinned it, but I knew that I had to try it.

via

Y'all, for real, it is SO simple.

Here is what you need:

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 packet Good Seasons Italian dressing mix
2 (10 ounce) cans cream of chicken soup
1 (8 ounce) block of cream cheese, cut into cubes
Egg Noodles or Rice, to serve with

**I used 1 can of cream of chicken coup and 1 can of cream of mushroom soup**

Here are the directions from the original source:

Directions: Spray crock pot with non-stick spray (I forgot this step and it was fine). Place the chicken breasts in crock pot, and sprinkle the Italian dressing mix over the tops. Pour the cream of chicken soups over chicken, and then spread the cubes of cream cheese evenly over all. 

Cover and cook on low for 6 hours (I cooked mine for about 5 hours on low. Just check it around 4.5 hours. You don't want your chicken to get too dry). Remove lid and stir mixture together. Cut chicken into bite-size pieces. (If the sauce seems too thick, you can thin it out with a little milk)

Serve chicken and sauce over cooked egg noodles or rice. Enjoy!

This recipe is a gem. "Shine bright like a diamond..." as in this recipe is a keeper. And a repeater. And husband approved. And super-busy wife approved.

Now, back to homework and taxes I go!

So happy to be linking up with Stephanie and Katie!

Pinterest Told Me To Cook It

I have been on a Pinterest Told Me To kick because of Sheaffer's blog and I have realized that with Pinterest making my outfit and meal decisions, life is so much easier! Seriously, I wake up in the mornings, look at outfits I have pinned, go to my closet, and get dressed. Then for dinner I pull up my Pinterest and decide on a meal. Simple as that.

I pinned this chicken recipe a long time ago and finally decided to make it. Well when you click on the source it takes you to an unavailable site. Whomp whomp. Determined that not be a roadblock, I looked at the picture and made my own version. Here is my recipe:


Picture on Pinterest


- 1 package of boneless, skinless chicken breast
- butter
- seasoning
- 2 packages of string cheese
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup of milk
-Breadcrumbs

Call me crazy, but doesn't that picture look like they are rolling string cheese in chicken?! So that is exactly what I did...if anyone has the original recipe pa-leaseee let me know!

I started by tenderizing my chicken by pounding pretty thin. Then I spread a very thin layer of butter on top of the chicken in order to help the seasoning stick. I used salt, pepper, garlic salt, and other random seasonings. After that I cut my string cheese in half and placed one half on each chicken breast and rolled it up, just like the picture. I secured it with toothpicks.

Once they were rolled up, I dipped them in my egg and milk mixture. I placed them in a baking dish and coated them with breadcrumbs.

After all sides were coated, I baked them for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

They were so good! Chris was so impressed with my "stuffed chicken." He didn't even realize how easy it was, or that it was stuffed with string cheese!

Have you ever made a delicious recipe from Pinterest? Have you ever made THIS recipe from Pinterest?! I'd love to have the original recipe!

Spaghetti Pie

Who doesn't love spaghetti and who doesn't love pie? Why not combine the two!

What you need:

• 4oz. dried spaghetti
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 8oz. ground beef (we used deer!)
• 3/4 chopped onion*
• 1 clove garlic, minced*
• 1 8oz. can of tomato sauce*
• 1 tsp dried oregano*
• 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
• 1/2+ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

*This is if you want to make your own spaghetti sauce. If you like the easy route like me then you can just add about 8oz. of spaghetti sauce to your browned meat (this is the way to go!). We used Prego 'Fresh Mushroom', but you can use whatever you'd like.

1. Preheat oven to 350. Cook spaghetti according to package. Drain. Return spaghetti to warm saucepan. Stir in butter until melted, then add egg and Parmesan cheese.
2. Meanwhile, brown meat. Add spaghetti sauce, or go the difficult route and add all the * items :)
3. Coat a 9-inch pie plate with nonstick cooking spray. Press spaghetti/egg/cheese mixture onto the bottom and sides of the pie plate. You are making a spaghetti crust.
4. Spread cottage cheese on the bottom and sides of the pasta crust.
5. Spread meat and sauce mixture over the cottage cheese (I promise you cannot taste the cottage cheese for those of you cringing right now...I hate cottage cheese, but love this recipe).
6. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella. 
7. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly and heated through. Cut into wedges just like a pie, and enjoy!

*Recipe based off of Better Homes and Gardens "Our Best Recipes"

Chris's Spaghetti and Meatballs

Chris loves spaghetti and meatballs. Not spaghetti and meatsauce, meatballs. And, he prefers Prego's Fresh Mushroom spaghetti sauce. Another fact: he makes the meatballs himself! And they are delicious. If they weren't, I would say so :)

Here is how Chris makes his delicious meatballs:

• 1 pound of ground meat (we use deer or beef, but turkey and chicken work fine)
• 1 egg
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• about a tablespoon of garlic power
• fresh garlic, about 2-4 cloves, chopped
• about 3/4 cup of breadcrumbs
• random other seasonings (pepper, onion powder, etc)

He mixes all the ingredients together with his hands and forms meatballs, about the size of a golf ball.

In a frying pan, he heats about three tablespoons of olive oil. He places the meatballs in the frying pan. He, or I, rotate the meatballs around until a brown crust forms around the outside. They might look like they are burning...but hopefully they aren't!

Once brown on all sides, place the meatballs in sauce. Turn on medium heat and let meatballs cook in sauce for about 15 minutes. Enjoy!

There ya have it! Chris Tucker can cook!

Does your man have a recipe up his sleeve?!

Pork, Rice, and Gravy

Chris's Mom, Terry, and sister, Lauren, came over last Thursday to hangout and have dinner (His Dad was in Colorado, so he missed out!). Chris and I have been loving our Crock-Pot that we got for our wedding (Thank you Tony and Leann!). For this occasion I decided to throw together a pork, rice, and gravy concoction. I based it off of this recipe.

Here is the recipe I used:

• 1 package of boneless pork, country style ribs
• 1 package of onion soup mix
• 1 package of brown gravy mix
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups of beef broth
• 1 can of cream of chicken soup

Place the pork at the bottom of the Crock-Pot. Mix all the other ingredients in a bowl and pour over the pork. Cook on low for 6 1/2 hours.

I served it over rice and it was to die for.

Chris's family has their own secret recipe for pork, rice, and gravy, so I was nervous about their reaction. They loved it! His mom even wanted the recipe!

Do you make pork, rice, and gravy? What is your recipe?!

Meatloaf and a Toad

Growing up my Mom always encouraged me to help her cook so that one day I would be able to cook for my family. I think she secretly knew that I'd marry a man who loved to eat! She made home cooked meals almost every night and I enjoyed cooking with her. One of my favorites growing up (it gets a bad rep, but it's sooo good!) is meatloaf. To me it is like a giant hamburger without the bun, and more flavorful!

Meatloaf right before it went in the oven!

Here is my Mom's meatloaf recipe:

Preheat oven to 350. Cook for 45 minutes.

• 1 pound of lean ground beef
• Half an onion, chopped
• 1 tbs of Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/2 cup of oats
• 3/4 cup of ketchup
• 1 egg
• garlic salt
• pepper
• seasoning salt
• any other seasoning you want!

Usually I use more onion, more or less oats, more or less ketchup, and I always guess on the seasoning. Just remember to not make it too salty!

Mix all the ingredients together with your hands...yes I said with your hands! Squish and squash the meat together until everything is thoroughly blended.

I use a cast iron skillet, but a regular Pyrex baking dish would work. Form a "meat-loaf" in the pan.

My Mom always made a "canal" with the side of her hand down the middle of the "loaf." Then she drizzled ketchup all over the top.

Put it in the oven and you've got one delicious meal coming right up!

Chris and I had this dish last night with home style mac and cheese and veggies. Being that there is only two of us, we will be having left overs tonight!

After we ate Chris went outside to give the pups food and water. He came back inside with this:

I found a smaller one the day before when I was outside watering the flowers.

Just adorable little creatures.

So you have a great meatloaf recipe? Seen any cute toads lately?!

Happy Wednesday!