Winter Lasagna Rolls - Crock Pot

Alright so this is lasagna without any of the normal lasagna ingredients - weird I know. But who honestly has all those ingredients or all that time sitting around to make actual lasagna. This was a delicious creation rolled up in a lasagna noodle. 

Another Crock-Pot success!!!

Time to prep: 40 min
Time to cook: 1.5 hours in a crock pot
Servings: 2 (5 rolls)

Ingredients:

• 5 lasagna noodles
• 2 turkey burgers
• 1/2 bag of frozen sliced spinach (thawed)
• 1/2 cup of diced onions
• 2 ounces of fat free cream cheese
• 4 slices of pre-packaged american cheese slices
• 1 tbsp minced garlic in olive oil
• 1/2 jar 6 cheese marinara sauce
• **1 serving cup of Barbarito's Green Verde Salsa**
• 1 tbsp crumbled feta cheese
• 3 tbsp of water
• Italian Seasonings, Sea Salt, and Black Peppercorn

Instructions:

1. Bring a pot of water to boil, add the lasagna noodles, and make sure not to break them
2. While waiting for the noodles to cook, in medium sized frying pan cook 2 turkey burgers with a 1/2 tbsp of olive oil
3. After about 6 minutes with two forks shred the turkey burgers
4. Then add the garlic, onions, spinach and cream cheese and cook until the cream cheese is completely melted into the meat mixture

   

   This is after I started adding it to the noodles

5. Set the meat mixture aside, until the noodles are cooked al dente
6. Drain the noodles and lay them out long ways
7. Break each slice of american cheese, and lay about 3 of these thin slices along each noodle
8. Spoon the meat mixture along the noodle, over top the cheese

9. 

   This is what it should look like before you roll it

10. Using your fingers roll from one end to the other (I made it about 3 times around)
11. Place each roll in the crock pot (I managed to fit 4 rolls in mine with a 5th roll sitting on top in the center)
    
    
    
12. Pour the marinara sauce across the rolls (add the verde sauce if you have it)
    ***Make sure to add a small amount of water- approx 2-3 tbsp- to help prevent the rolls from cooking to the bottom of the pot***
13. Then sprinkle the feta cheese/ seasonings/ salt/ pepper over the rolls 
14. Cook in crock-pot for 1.5 hours
15. Serve and Enjoy!!!

Simple Green Turkey Burgers

So I've been having cravings for a burger so large you have to stretch your whole face to get your mouth around it. Well these came close. I'm not the world's largest turkey burger fan, but hey don't knock it until you try it. So I dressed these bad boys up with some fresh ingredients and they did the trick. Super easy for a quick fix and an inexpensive fix.

Beautiful isn't it >.<

Servings: patty/person
Time to cook/prep: 10min

Ingredients:

•  Frozen Turkey Pattys
  (generally inexpensive and quick to cook)
• 1/4 cup of diced onion 
• Fresh handful of baby romaine lettuce
• 1/2 fresh avocado
• 1/2 tbsp of olive oil
• 1/2 tbsp of garlic in olive oil
• 1/2 tbsp of feta cheese
• Dijon Mustard
• Wheat buns

Instructions:

1. In a medium sized pan, add the olive oil and garlic, once the oil begins to sizzle add the turkey pattie
   (I fit 2 patties to the medium pan)
2. After about 5 minutes, flip the burgers and add the onions to the pan
3. After about 3 more minutes place the buns in the toaster to give them a crisp edge
4. While the buns and the patties are cooking, wash a handful of baby romaines and slice an avocado
   (as many slices as you prefer, I like 2 per pattie)
5. Spread desired amount of dijon mustard on the buns
6. Place pattie on bottom bun, top with feta cheese and onions
7. Then add the avocado slices and the lettuce
8. Then top off with the top-bun
9. Enjoy!

Cinnamon Fruit Oatmeal with Walnuts

I spend so much time focusing on dinner creations. Well I thought I would remind all the young cooks, cooks on budgets, and hungry cooks like myself that breakfast is delicious too. Somehow eating something delicious to start the day just makes my day that much better. And on a cold day like today, oatmeal was the warm delight that I was craving. P.S. never underestimate throwing things into oatmeal (or grits). Just about anything can be thrown in. In this case I added a handful of fresh Blueberries, a handful of walnuts, and a tablespoon of apple butter (one day I'll make my own). So simple. So healthy. So delicious. Remember everyone deserves to start each day with something they enjoy!

Gumbo Chili

After many, and I mean MANY, failed attempts at making chili (how I fail at making chili I'll never understand) I finally did it. I made chili. I made chili that was so good, that not only did my boyfriend get seconds, but he requested that I pack up some so he could take it to work for lunch. Now that is some supreme chili if i do say so myself. (Keep in mind this is not a spicy chili- if you want it spicy you can substitute the can of tomato sauce with a tomato sauce with jalapenos, you can add fresh jalapenos, you can use a Hot Chili Seasonings packet, etc).

Time to prep: 5 min

Time to cook: 20 min

Servings: 5-6

Ingredients:

• 1/2lb of ground beef
• 4 chicken tenderloins: diced into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1tbsp of olive oil
• 1 tbsp of minced garlic in olive oil
• 1 can of dark red kidney beans
• 1 can of great northern beans
• 1 can of tomato sauce
• 1/2 jar of 6 cheese spaghetti sauce
• 1 bag of frozen gumbo medly: okra, celery, onions, corn, and red peppers
• 1 packet of Original Chili Seasonings
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. In a pot place the chicken, ground beef, garlic, and tbsp of olive oil
2. Cook until the chicken is cooked through and the beef is browned
3. Drain the excess fat and oil from the pan
   ***REMEMBER NOT DOWN THE DRAIN- THIS WILL CLOG YOUR SINK!!!***
4. Add the two cans of beans, the can of tomato sauce, and the vegetables cook until heated all the way through
5. Add the spaghetti sauce and the Original Chili Seasonings packet
6. Season to taste, (Top with cheese, add Hot Sauce, add saltines)
7. Enjoy!!!!

Danielle's Biscuit Crusted Chicken Pot Pie

That's right. I claim this recipe. It's my new favorite. It's easy, amazingly delicious, and my boyfriend asked for seconds. There, that last statement. That's my proof. My boyfriend asked for seconds and took like half of the 3 servings that remained. It's that good. My pictures don't do it justice, try it and test it out for yourself - let me know what you think.

As you can see, this was also baked in the stoneware dish of my Crock-Pot. WHO KNEW RIGHT?!?! Ok, on to the important information. 

Time to prep: 20 min
Time to cook: 15 min- or until crust is golden brown
Servings: 4-6 depending on serving size (we ate like hogs that night, so ours only made 4 servings)

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken tenderloins: cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 1lb bag of frozen carrots, peas, and corn (thawed)
• 1/2 can of mushrooms
• 1 can of Kroger - Chicken Pot Pie soup
• 1 bag of Cheddar Garlic biscuit mix
• 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tbsp of minced garlic in olive oil
• Salt; Pepper; Italian seasoning

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In a pot add olive oil, chicken, mushrooms, and garlic and cook until the chicken is cooked all the way through
3. Add the mixed vegetables, can of Chicken Pot Pie soup, and spices 
4. Cook the pot pie innards until simmering (just about to boil)
5. Pour into baking container (I used the stoneware from my crock pot)
6. In a seperate bowl, mix the package of biscuit mix according to the directions on the packet (I believe it was add 1/2 cup of water and stir. Frustratingly simple.) 
7. Once its mixed (should be a thick dough) drop spoonfuls of the dough across the top of the pot pie innards using a wooden spoon, and attempt to spread out and cover as much of the top as possible
   **If you can't get it to spread all over-it's ok. Mine didn't either. It will spread as it bakes. Trust me**
8. Sprinkle seasonings across the top of the dough
9. Bake for 15-20min or until the biscuit crust is golden brown
10. Enjoy!!