Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

This was a simple recipe that I was able to throw together in no time and was done super fast... This would be perfect for those days when I forget to take something out of the freezer and need something quick! It was delicious and a great filling meal for the kids and I!

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
(recipe found at pinterest via http://millerfamilyorganizer.blogspot.com)

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, frozen
1 cup salsa
1 packet taco seasoning
1 can cream of chicken soup (or use cream of everything soup mix)
1/2 cup sour cream
tortillas

Spray crockpot with nonstick cooking spray. Put chicken in the bottom of crockpot and cover with taco seasoning. Mix cream of chicken soup and salsa together until combined. Pour over chicken. Cook on high for 4 hours. Shred chicken and stir in sour cream. Serve on tortillas.

Coconut Oatmeal No Bake Cookies

Since my oven is still out I was in a pinch about what to make for Beau's swimming lessons teacher. I try to make a little something to say thank you for the hard work that my kids' teachers do - especially when Beau can be a little shyster... These turned out pretty good and were a little bit of a change but I definitely still like the regular no bake cookies better!

Coconut Oatmeal No Bake Cookies
(recipe found on pinterest via http://auntpegsrecipebox.blogspot.com)

2 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter
2/3 cup milk
1 (3.4 ounces) box coconut flavor pudding mix (I didn't have this, so I substituted cheesecake flavor)
2 1/2 cups quick cooking oatmeal
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

In a large pan mix together sugar, butter and milk. Bring to a boil and let boil for 2 minutes. Turn off heat, add in pudding mix, oatmeal, coconut and vanilla. Stir and let sit for 5 minutes. Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper and let cool. Store in airtight container.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Yep - here's another smoothie!! I didn't have any spinach to throw in so it turned out a beautiful pink color... If you have some spinach, throw some in and you won't even taste it - fabulous and extra healthy!

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

1 banana, frozen
handful of strawberries
1 cup milk
1 cup yogurt (I used raspberry cause that is what I had...)

Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth.

Hoecakes and The Secret Recipe Club

As I spent some time looking through Camilla's blog I was amazed by all the interesting ideas that she has and the variety of recipes that there is to choose from. It definitely was a culinary adventure just to peruse through her blog... there were a lot of ingredients that left me thinking "Where would I find those around my area?" LOL! So keeping in my mind that I am STILL without an oven and that I needed a recipe that I could get my hands on the ingredients I set out to find something that I knew my family and I would enjoy... It didn't take long until I had a list of recipes that I want to try as soon as possible that fit my criteria! :)

I can't wait until my oven is fixed to try her Sour Cream Rhubarb Muffins! On my list that fit the "no oven" part of the criteria was also Chocolate en Leche de Coco and her Savory Potato Pancakes.

But for today's secret recipe club, I chose to make hoecakes. Now I have to tell you that I have seen people talk about hoecakes before but have never gotten around to figuring out what they were let alone how to make them. So, I figured that this was the perfect opportunity to make them. I am a big fan of cornmeal and since this is obviously a key ingredient I figured this would be a sure fire recipe!! Obviously my kids thought the same thing too since I only made a single batch and that left them all begging for more. Next time, and yes there WILL be a next time, I will definitely have to double the recipe! My oldest ate 4 of them on his own!! So, thanks Camilla for the great recipe, we thoroughly enjoyed it...

Hoecakes
(recipe found at culinary-adventures-with-cam.blogspot.com)

1 cup flour (next time I will try 1/2 whole wheat and 1/2 all purpose)
1 cup cornmeal
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup butter, melted

Mix all dry ingredients together in a bowl. Add wet ingredients and stir until just combined. Let sit while preheating griddle or pan. Coat griddle with butter and place batter in scoopfuls onto butter coated griddle. Cook until browned on both sides. Camilla used a fennel pollen honey butter to top hers, I just went with plain old butter and syrup! :)

Weekly Line Up 7/30-8/7

Ugh... Going on over a month with no stove and I am getting extremely annoyed!! Secret Recipe Club is right around the corner again and with no stove it makes my picks very limited... I am definitely ready for that part to come in - made the call today and hopefully I will hear good news back from the repair guy! Okay, done whining...

Other then that - cooking this week is back in my house since bible school is done and the summer meal program ended on Tuesday... Time to bust out the crockpot, stove top and grill! :) I have a lot of recipes pinned on pinterest that I have been dying to try out so keeping that criteria in mind I scrounged through and found some that sound really tasty... Can't wait to try them out!

Tuesday - *Hoecakes
Wednesday - Taco Night
Thursday - Cocoa and Chili Rubbed Pork Chops
Friday - *Chicken Taco Chili
Saturday - *Honey Mustard Pork Tenderloin
Sunday - Waffles and Side Pork
Monday - *Shrimp Cobb Salad
Tuesday - *Pasta Toss

Extras: *Laughing Cow Wraps

* New Recipes

Cilantro Lime Chicken Sandwiches

Yumm.... It was a fabulous night that we had these sandwiches! The avocado and cream cheese spread pushed this sandwich over the top! Everything is better grilled!

Cilantro Lime Chicken Sandwiches
(recipe found in Taste of Home Healthy Cooking)

1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup lime juice
4 teaspoon ground cumin
8 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1 cup fat free spreadable cream cheese
1/3 cup minced fresh cilantro
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
8 whole wheat hamburger buns, split
1 medium ripe avocado, peeled and thinly sliced
2 medium tomatoes, sliced

In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the oil, lime juice and cumin. Add the chicken; seal bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, cilantro, onion, salt and pepper; chill until serving. Drain and discard marinade. Grill chicken, covered, over medium heat or broil 4" from heat for 6-8 minutes on each side or until thermometer reads 170. Spread cream cheese mixture onto buns. layer with avocado, tomatoes and chicken; replace bun tops.

Serves: 8
Points: 10 points per sandwich

Egg Brunch Casserole

This was a great breakfast recipe that I busted out while we were camping a few weekends ago and let me tell you - waking up to the smell of this in our camper in the morning and knowing that I can just get up and dish it up for the kids and us was the best feeling in the world!! We did all the hard work while we were in the camper waiting for the kids to settle in for the night and enjoyed the fruits of our labor in the morning... It was delicious!

Egg Brunch Casserole
(recipe found at www.pinterest.com)

6-8 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 red or green pepper, chopped
1 (2 pound) bag frozen hashbrowns
1 1/4 cups shredded cheese
12 eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon dried dill
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Spray crockpot with nonstick cooking spray. Saute onion, garlic and bell pepper for 5 minutes. Place 1/3 of frozen hashbrowns in the bottom of crock pot. Add 1/3 bacon, and 1/3 onion, garlic, pepper mixture and 1/3 cheese. Repeat layers, ending with cheese. In a large bowl, mix eggs, milk, dill, salt and pepper. Pour over ingredients in crockpot, cover and turn on low. Cook for 8-10 hours.