Cream Cheese Chilli Dip

This one's for you Amanda!

2 cans of chilli (your favorite)

2 packages cream cheese

Let cream cheese soften, cut into cubes to help melt faster. Heat chilli, add cream cheese, stir until there aren't any clumps of cream cheese. I think you can do this in the crock-pot. My guess is that it wouldn't take very long to heat up, just on low. It's delicious!!! Jake loves it!

Tortilla Casserole

Okay ladies, get your crockpots out! I really enjoyed this one, and it was totally simple. And I promise, it's tastier than it looks here.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cooking time: 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 hours

4-6 white tortillas (you could probably use corn)

1 lb ground beef

1 envelope dry taco seasoning

16 oz. can refried beans

1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (divided)

3-4 tblspoons sour cream

1. Spray inside of cooker with coooking spray. Tear about 3/4 of tortilla into pieces and line sides and bottom of cooker.

2. Brown ground beef in a non-stick skillet. Drain, return to skillet and add taco seasoning.

3. Layer refried beans, hamburger, 1 cup cheese and sour cream if you wish (I didn't add sour cream, and it was still good), over tortilla pieces.

4. Place remaining tortilla pieces on top. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

5. Cover and cook on low 3-4 hours.

Sloppy Joes

This is one of my favorites! No picture it looked very un-yummy . I got the base of the recipe from The Essential Mormon Cookbook, but I think I have made enough changes to call it my own.

1 1/2 lbs ground beef (or so)
salt to task
1 onion (1/2 chopped, 1/2 sliced)
3/4 c ketchup
2 BIG T tomato paste
2 T vinegar
2 T Worcestershire sauce
2 T packed brown sugar (be careful here not to add too much)
1 can of black beans (drain)
toasted hamburger buns (toasted really makes a big difference)

After browning and draining the meat add the onion and salt and cook until tender. I like onion that is why I slice and chop, but if you want it all small then chop it all. Add ketchup, tomato paste, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar and stir until mixed-taste and add more of anything depending on preference. Stir in the beans and let simmer for about 15 minutes. Toast your buns and put the meat on them and eat it up!

-to be honest I really don't measure anything, I do it to taste. I am guess on the measurements so if you want to add more or less go for it.

Chicken Soup Monterey

We LOVE this soup! Yes, that includes the little guy. He actually asked for 2nds! WOW! I know. It is so easy and again something Jared helped me with.

2 cans chicken broth (I use bullion and water)

2 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 celery stalk, sliced
2 carrots, sliced
1 onion, chopped
1/8 pound deli smoked chicken breast, diced *
1/2 c snipped fresh parsley**
1/2 t dried marjoram leaves
1/2 t black pepper
2/3 reduced-fat Monterey Jack Cheese***
1 t mesquite smoke flavoring****

Combine EVERYTHING in the pot, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce and simmer until tender. About 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in the cheese and smoke flavoring.
YES THAT IS REALLY IT!

*I use chicken breast with mesquite seasoning and I BBQ instead(one less pan to clean) **parsley looks so pretty but really isn't a must.
***Moneterey Jack can be pricey...tonight we used a blend of Jack and cheddar. Although it didn't thicken as well it tasted just as good.
****Instead of buying the liquid smoke flavoring I use the same mesquite seasoning I used on chicken. Be careful it can get spicy and little ones might not like it.

-Tonight I didn't have celery so I put in more carrots. That is the joy of this recipe...well and most soups. There is a lot of room to improvise.
-Tonight I also tried sweet potatoes instead of regualr and that was so good! Makes it something a little different. and really colorful.
-It is also really easy to double and freeze or just add extra veggies so there is left overs.

What do you think?

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Chicken Rolls

Chicken Roll-Ups
(Thanks to my little Sister)

2-3 chicken breasts
½ cream cheese-softened
1 pkg Crescent rolls
¼ c Margarine –melted
Crushed Ritz


Cook Chicken and then dice. The smaller the better I think, but can be larger chucks if you want to save time. Combine chicken and cream cheese, mix well. Roll out rolls, works best if not too cold. Drop a heaping spoonful of chicken on large part of roll. Roll up the edges of the rolls to form a ball of chicken. Dip into margarine and then Ritz. Place on a greased pan. Cook at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until golden.

Spaghetti Carbonara: Pasta with Bacon and Eggs

I really like this one when I want pasta, but not red sauce. It's super easy, and enjoyed by all!

1/4 lb pancetta ( I use ham or bacon, whichever I have on hand)
1 lb spaghetti
3 cloves of garlic, minced
3 tablesp. evoo
2 large eggs, beaten with a splash of milk and a couple tablespoons of boiling pasta water
1/2 grated parmesan cheese
chopped parsley
ground black pepper to taste
(I usually add a little salt for taste, because it is a little bland)

Cook pancetta (or bacon) in small pan over medium-high heat. Drop pasta into boiling water, let cook about 5 minutes before starting the sauce. Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve a few tablespoons of water for egg mixture.

Heat garlic and olive oil in skillet or frying pan over very low heat. Dump pasta into a colander, give it a quick rinse. Turn the heat up from low to medium. Toss the pasta in with the garlic and evoo, and coat evenly. Add pancetta pieces. Pour egg mixture evenly over pasta. Toss fast and firmly. Turn heat off. Add cheese, parsley and a generous amount of pepper (and salt if you like). Serve it hot with extra parm and black pepper.