Crock Pot Pork Chops

I went on a mission one week that all our meals were coming out of a crock pot.  I had no idea I could cook pork chops in the crock pot but I tried it anyway.  They turned out so tender!  I love it. No baking in a hot oven or frying on the stove.

I have cooked them with Apples and Cinnamon, BBQ sauce and Cream of Chicken soup.  This picture is with the Cream of Chicken soup.  I will share all they ways with you.  I like to serve with rice or cream potatoes and add a vegetable and a piece of bread.

Cream of Chicken Pork Chops:
Thick or Thin Boneless Pork Chops (frozen or thawed)
1 can of Cream of Chicken soup
1/2 can of water
salt/pepper
onion/garlic salt

Place pork chops in bottom on crock pot.  Season them as you please.  Pour soup over them and add 1/2 can of water.  Spread the mixture so that most of the pork chops are covered.  Cook on low 8 hours if frozen or high 6 hours if thawed.  If you are able to, you might want to stir them around about half way through.







BBQ Pork Chops:
Thick or Thin Boneless Pork Chops (frozen or thawed)
1 bottle of favorite BBQ sauce

Place pork chops on bottom and pour BBQ sauce over top to cover.  Cook on low 8 hours if frozen or high for 6 hours if thawed.  If you are able, stir half way through to make sure the BBQ sauce isn't sticking to the side of the crock pot.


Apple  Cinnamon Pork Chops:
Thick or Thin Boneless Pork Chops (frozen or thawed)
2 apples peeled and sliced
1 can of Cream of Chicken soup
2 tsp ground cinnamon
salt/pepper

Place apples on bottom of crock pot and sprinkle with cinnamon.  Lay pork chops over apples and cover with soup.  Add salt and pepper.  Cook on low for 8 hours if frozen or high 6 hours if thawed.  If you are able to, you can stir about half way through to make sure the apples aren't sticking to the bottom of the crock pot.

Beef Stew

I made this one day last week and it was so good.  I've made it before but I tend to make it more during the Fall/Winter months.  I usually make homemade mash potatoes and crescent rolls to go with it.  I have also served it over rice.  It is so simple and delicious!

Ingredients:

Stew beef (frozen or thawed)

*Carrots

*Celery

*Potatoes

* Onions

1 beef stew seasoning packet (or veg. beef soup packet)

1 cup water or beef broth

You can omit any of the items with an * by them.  I tend to leave out the potatoes because I serve it with mash potatoes.

Place everything in crock pot and cook on low 6- 8 hours if stew beef is frozen or High for 4-5 hours if beef is thawed.

Chunky Potato, Cheese and Ham Soup

This is one of my favorite Fall/Winter soups.  It is supper easy to make and smells so good cooking.  You can cook this two ways.  Of course my favorite way is in the crock pot, but it can be cooked on the stove top as well.  It all depends on how much time you have.

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups water (add more as needed)
2 cups diced peeled potatoes
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup cubed fully cooked ham
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
2 cups (8oz) shredded Cheddar cheese
*You can omit the carrots and celery if you don't like them.  You really can't taste them once the soup is done.*

Crock Pot Directions
1- Combine the  first eight ingredients in crock pot.
2-Cook on high for 6 hours.
3- About 30 minutes before serving, melt butter, stir in the f lour untill smooth. Gradually add the milk. (in separate bowl)
4- Pour in crock pot and stir for about 2 minutes until there are no clumps of flour. 
5-Add cheese and stir until melted.

*You may need to add more milk and/or cheese, to your liking.  Taste it before you do.*

Stove Top Directions
1-Combine the first eight ingredients in large saucepan and bring to a boil.
2-Reduce heat; cover and simmer until the vegetable are tender.
3-In another saucepan, melt the butter, stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add milk.  Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
4- Stir in cheese until melted; add to the soup.

This recipe yields: 6-8 servings.

BBQ Pulled Pork

I've been a slacker  this week with cooking because my husband was out of town.  No need to cook for just 1 person since my 3 yr old won't eat much of what I cook.  But I will share a recipe in case you get tired of leftovers from Thanksgiving.

Ingridents:

1lb to 1 1/2lb Pork Loin

1 onion cut up

2 bottles of favorite BBQ sauce

1-Put onions in bottom of crock pot then set pork on top.

2-Cover with BBQ sauce

3-Cook on low 6-8 hours.  About 1 to 2 hrs before done, shred pork.

4-Serve on hamburger bun or Kaiser rolls

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Crock Pot Italian Meatball Subs

This is such a simple meal.  We usually have fries with ours although I'm sure a vegetable would be better.  It's a nice comfort food without having to get takeout from a sub restaurant.

1 bag of Italian Frozen Meatballs

1 jar of favorite Spaghetti Sauce

*Dump everything in crock pot*

I cook mine on low for 6- 8 hrs then keep warm until we're ready to eat.  However, we had these last night and I was in a hurry so I cooked them on high for 3 hours and they were just as good.  Serve on sub roll with cheese.

Crock Pot Italian Chicken and Potatoes

This is a great meal that all you have to do is add a vegetable and bread to when you get home from work or when you are ready to have dinner.  I love how easy this is and the chicken just falls off the bone.  It also has a great flavor to it.

1 whole chicken  (thawed)
5 or 6 whole red or golden potatoes cut up
Italian seasoning ( in the spice section)
1 can of cream of chicken.
1/2 bottle of Italian dressing ( I use zesty Italian)

1-Put a few potatoes on bottom of crock pot.
2-Place chicken on top of them, then add the rest of potatoes.
3-Add as much Italian seasoning as you'd like over top chicken and potatoes.
4-Pour dressing and soup over top.
5-Cook on low 8 to 10 hrs.

* I tend to start mine early in the morning around 8 a.m.*

Chicken Pot Pie Pockets

An alternative to Chicken Pot Pie.  Simple and taste just the same.

Ingredients:
6 Chicken Strips
1 can of Veg-All
1 can of Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can of Pilsbury Flakey Biscuits

1- Cook and shred chicken.
2- Mix soup, veg-all and chicken
3- Pull apart biscuits. Flatten out the bottoms.
4- Spoon mixture onto bottom of biscuit and cover with top biscuit, pinching sides together.

*Bake in 350 oven for about 18-20 minutes or until top of biscuits start to brown.*

Turkey Burger

Every now and then I like a good Turkey burger.  I played around with some different mixtures and this is the one I like the best.

Burger:

1 lb. ground Turkey

1/2 teaspoon Garlic salt (or powder)

1/2 teaspoon Onion salt (or powder)

2 tablespoons of Worcestershire Sauce

salt/pepper

Toppings:

Turkey Bacon

Lettuce

Tomato

Onion

Guacamole

*Mix your ground turkey, garlic, onion salt/powder, worcestershire sauce together.  Pat your patties out.  I think with 1lb of turkey I was able to get 4 or 5 burgers.  Salt and pepper the top of your burgers.*

Side Note:  I like to pat my patties out and set them in the fridge for about 2 hours.  This does not need to happen if you are in a rush.  But if you have time, it gives the meat time to marinate.  Take them out about 30 minutes before you want to cook them.

Also, I make my own guacamole.  I got the recipe from a great friend who made it all the time.  I can't make it like she can but it still turns out good.

-3 or 4 avocados

-little pinch of salt

-little bit of salsa

-teaspoon of lemon juice

*Mix all together to get it really creamy.  Taste it and add to it, if it's missing something.

Creamy Pumpkin Pie

With Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner, I start thinking about the sweets!  I love a pie!  It doesn't matter what kind.  My Grandma makes the best pies ever!  But since I won't be going home for Thanksgiving I decided I better try to make some on my own.  First up: Pumpkin Pie!

This recipe came from a page out of my Woman's Day or Parenting Magazine.  I can't remember which, but I am glad I saved it.  It was so good and I will be making again at Thanksgiving!

Ingredients:
1 can pumpkin (15oz)
1 can sweetened condensed milk (14oz)
2 eggs
1 tbsp Pumpkin Pie Spice (I didn't have this so I used a mixture of cinnamon and nutmeg)
1 pie crust (I used Pillsbury Pie Crust that comes 2 in a box.)

*Mix all ingredients together and pour into pie crust.  Bake in a preheated oven at 425 for 15 minutes.  Reduce heat to 350 and bake 40 minutes longer or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool completely on wire rack.  Top with whipped cream or cool whip.  Makes 8 servings*

Chicken and Broccoli Bake

This reminds me of a Broccoli Casserole, but with Chicken added in.  It is so good!  I usually serve this over rice.  I'm sure you could use noodles or just serve it plain.  Again, this is a Pinterest recipe I found!  :)

Ingredients:

4-6 chicken strips (cooked & shredded)

2 cans of cream of chicken soup

1 cup of mayo

1 cup to 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup colby & monterrey jack cheese

1 bag frozen broccoli (thawed and chopped)

salt & pepper to taste

1- Cook and shred chicken.  While the chicken is cooking, chop your broccoli.

2- Mix all ingredients together and pour in baking dish.

3- Bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes or until your cheese starts to bubble.

Take out and sever over rice or noodles.  Enjoy!

Spicy Ranch Chicken Wrap

This is another Pinterest recipe.  You can add a salad or some vegetables to go along with it. 

Ingredients

Pizza Dough

Hot Sauce (Franks)

4-6 Chicken Strips

1 cup Cheddar Cheese

1/2 cup to 1 cup of Ranch Dressing or Blue Cheese

1- Cook Chicken on stove.  Cool and shred.
2- Take pizza dough out and spread in a long rectangle going horizontal. May want to spray your cookie sheet.
3- Mix chicken, ranch/blue cheese and hot sauce together.
4- Spread along the middle of the dough leaving about 1 inch from the sides.
5- Sprinkle Cheese on chicken mixture.
6- Starting on left side, roll the dough to the right like a pinwheel. Make sure to pinch the sides or tuck them together.

*Place in middle of cookie sheet and bake at 425 for 20 to 25 minutes.  Let stand about 5 minutes when done.*

My Meal Plan ( 2 weeks)

This weeks' meal plan is for two weeks.  Make changes that fit your schedule and swap out ingredients to your likings.  I will post recipes along the way or post the date to click on where you can find the recipe already posted.  If you need a recipe before I get it posted, just let me know and I will get it to you!  Hope this helps to make dinner easy! 



Monday 5th- Tacos

Tuesday 6th- Sausage and Spinach Cream Cheese Stuffed Shells

Wednesday 7th- Spicy Ranch Chicken Wrap

Thursday 8th- Crock Pot Lasagna

Friday 9th- Broccoli and Chicken Bake

Saturday 10th- Crock Pot Italian Chicken and Potatoes

Sunday 11th- Baked Pork Chops

Monday 12th- Spaghetti with Garlic Bread

Tuesday 13th- Baked Chicken with Vegetables

Wednesday 14th- Meatball Subs

Thursday 15th- Pancakes, Bacon, and Sausage

Friday 16th- Pizza

Saturday and Sunday- leftovers

Shopping List

Week 1

Monday 5th

Hamburger or Chicken

Taco fixings

Tuesday 6th

Sausage

Spinach

Cream Cheese

Pasta sauce

Jumbo Stuffed Shells

Mozzarella Cheese

Wednesday 7th

Chicken

Hot Sauce

Ranch Dressing

Pizza Dough

Cheddar Cheese

Thursday 8th

See Earlier Post on October 19th

Friday 9th

Chicken

Frozen Broccoli

Mayo

Cheddar Cheese
Colby/monterrey Cheese

Cream of chicken soup (2)

Saturday 10th

Whole Chicken

Whole potatoes

Italian Dressing

Italian seasoning

Sunday 11th

Boneless Pork Chops

Week 2

Monday 12th

Spaghetti Sauce

Spaghetti

Sausage

Garlic Bread

Tuesday 13th

Chicken Breast

Wednesday 14th

Italian Style Meatballs

Sub  Rolls

Pasta Sauce

Mozzarella Cheese

Thursday 15th

Bisquick

Turkey bacon

Sausage

Friday 16th

Pizza crust

Pepperoni

Pizza sauce

Mozzarella Cheese

RECIPES

Sausage and Spinach Cream Cheese Stuffed Shells (Tuesday)

1 lb. sausage

1 bag of spinach (thawed)

1 block of cream cheese (soften)

1 box of Jumbo Stuffed Shells

Pasta sauce

Mozzarella Cheese

1- Brown Sausage and drain.  While sausage is cooking squeeze out the water from the spinach. Also start your pot of water for the shells.

2- Once your water boils, add the number of shells you want. Let them cook about 10 minutes but don't let them over cook.

3- Mix cream cheese, spinach and sausage.

4- Drain shells and rinse with cold water.

5- Stuff shells with mixture. Pour pasta sauce over and add cheese.

6- Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or until the cheese starts to bubble.

Breakfast Burritos



As I have mentioned before, I am addicted to Pinterest.  I found these breakfast burritos and gave them a try.  They are simple and delicious.  It is an easy and quick out-the-door breakfast.

I used eggs, cheese and sausage, but you could easily put anything you want in them.  I also made mine on Sunday and froze them for the week ahead. 

Ingredients: (made 4)

5 eggs

A splash of milk

1/2 lb. sausage

1 cup sharp cheddar cheese

1 package of burrito wraps

1- Cook sausage and drain.

2- In a bowl, crack your 5 eggs, add the splash of milk, add the cheese and add the sausage.

3- Mix well and pour into a heated pan on the stove. Scramble.

4- Lay out your burrito and add about 2 table spoons of mixture.  Fold sides in and roll.

*If you're going to freeze them, lay out the saran wrap first and lay your burrito on it.  Then after you roll them, roll them up with the saran wrap to place in the freezer.*



scambled eggs, cheese and sausage



lay out your burritos



add your mixture



roll and wrap

  

 In the morning, take out of freezer and unwrap.  Place in microwave and heat for 90 seconds.  There you have a nice, easy and hot breakfast.