Meals: Week 2!

The weather is cold! Why not warm it up with some good homemade food?

Monday - Taco Soup

Ingredients - 1 lb. hamburger meat (browned and chopped), 2 cans corn, not drained, 2 cans chili beans, 2 cans tomato sauce, taco seasoning packet, dry ranch packet

Yes, there are many varieties to taco soup. I like this one because it is simple! And simple is good...especially with little bit that can eat everything under the sun one day and be beyond picky the next! With this one, I usually brown my meat the night before. This morning, I dumped all of the cans (as is!), dumped the meat, and the 2 seasoning packets into my crockpot. Turn it on low for 8-10 hours, and there's supper! We add a variety of toppings to suit everyone's needs including jalapenos, salsa, sour cream, sprinkle cheese, tostitos, and occasionally black olives (little bit LOVES black olives!) This makes plenty, so get ready for leftovers the next day...another win in my book!


TUESDAY - Chicken Salad croissants, green beans, macaroni and cheese

Ingredients - rotisserie chicken (deboned and shredded), 1 package cream cheese, salt and pepper, can of croissants, can of green beans, 2 beef bouillon cubes, boxed mac and cheese (and the things needed as mentioned on the box)

So, tonight I'm taking it easy! Preheat oven to 375. Take the deboned chicken and place in a mixing bowl. Add cream cheese, and salt and pepper to taste, and mix well with a handheld mixer. Blend well, set aside. Open the green beans, bouillon cubes and put in a sauce pan to simmer on medium. Open the can of croissants and spread out each triangle. Place about 2 heaping tablespoons of chicken salad on the long part of the croissant and roll up. Place on cookie sheet for baking. Repeat until all croissants are used (I usually have tons of chicken salad left over that we eat the next day on toast, or I'll pop open another can of croissants and keep on going). Place in oven on 375 for about 10-15 minutes (make sure they are cooked thoroughly...sometimes the tops look more done than they actually are!). While croissants are baking, start macaroni (so simple, just follow directions on the box). Everything should be finished about the same time, so a nice warm meal will be ready to eat!


WEDNESDAY - Ravioli Bake

Ingredients - 1 lb. hamburger meat (cooked and drained), jar of pasta sauce, 1 bag frozen cheese raviolis, mozzarella cheese

Brown hamburger meat, drain fat and add jar of sauce. Allow to simmer just a minute. Take a 9x13 (or we sometimes do a square casserole dish) and spread a small amount of sauce on the bottom. Next, make a layer of raviolis, follow with sauce, then a little bit of mozzarella cheese, repeat layers until raviolis run out. MAKE SURE TO HAVE ENOUGH SAUCE TO COVER...SAUCE MUST BE TOP LAYER TO KEEP THEM FROM BAKING HARD!! Cover with aluminum foil and bake in oven on 350 about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and toss aluminum foil. Cover with remainder of cheese (I like to keep at least 2 cups for the top) and place back in oven to melt cheese. Small tip: I usually put my Ravioli Bake together the night before so the flavors can soak in. Great with a side salad and some type of toast.


THURSDAY - Pot Pie

Ingredients - 1 box (refrigerated) pie crust, 1 can of chicken (drained) 2 cans mixed vegetables (drained), 1/2 block cream cheese, cream of Chicken soup. 

Preheat oven as directed on pie crust box (I believe 350, but check!).  Place canned veggies in a sauce pan to warm up.  Once they're warm, drain, and immediately add drained chicken, salt and pepper to taste, and cream cheese.  (Warming just helps the cream cheese melt easier without smashing up all the yummy veggies).  After it is mixed, carefully pour in the cream of chicken soup.  Put one crust in the bottom of a pie dish, pour veggie/cream cheese/chicken mixture and then cover with other pie crust.  Trim edges and seal them together with your fingers.  Slice small slits in the middle of the top in a "flower" shape.  Bake for about an hour until the crust is nice and tan.  Oh nothing beats pot pie on a cold night!


FRIDAY - Chili Cheese Dogs and Fries

Ingredients - can chili, hot dogs, hot dog buns,  condiments to your liking, sprinkle cheese, and fries

YES!!  A night to gorge in all things bad for you!!  Boil your dogs, put em on the bun, and top with whatever you choose!  I like my fries cooked in the deep fryer, but that's all up to you!  Another week of meals at home in the books!