Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Soup

It's that time of year again when it begins to get cold outside and a hearty soup is the only thing that sounds good for dinner!  The other night was one of those nights so I whipped this soup together in the morning and put it in my crock pot to cook all day long.  Makes life easier in the evening for dinner because it is already done!  This recipe will warm you right up and make your heart go pitter-patter!

What I used:
2 cans chicken broth
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 can Campbells cheddar cheese soup
steamed broccoli
 garlic powder (to taste)
1/4 cup sour cream
3 boneless skinless chicken thighs
2 cups cooked rice

Pour your broth, soups, and chicken into your crockpot.  Turn your crockpot on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hrs.  When you are ready for dinner steam your broccoli first and then add to your soup.  Add your sour cream and garlic to taste.  Take out your chicken and shred it with forks because yes, it will be that tender! 

I made up some rice {because I am not a dainty soup girl.... I'm a hearty soup girl ;) } and placed cooked rice in the bottom of the bowl and then poured the soup on top of it.  Oh. My. Goodness.  Seriously.  Warms you right to your soul!  The perfect soup for those cold blustery days!

From my kitchen to yours, ENJOY!!

Million $ Spaghetti

I'm about to change your life!  Seriously! 

Okay, so if you are crazy about health foods you probably should exit off of this recipe right now.  Though we do eat healthier, this is a special treat to wow your taste buds!  I found an original recipe on pinterest, but as always, tweaked it and made it my own!  Give it a whirl, you won't be sorry you did!

What I used:
1 lb. lean ground beef
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
8oz. cream cheese (best if used at room temperature)
spaghetti noodles
spaghetti sauce (I made my own recipe for this but a jar of it would be fine I'm sure)
butter

Pre-heat your oven to 350* and get water boiling in a pot for your pasta while you brown your ground beef.  Once your meat is browned add your sauce.  I use two cans of tomato sauce, and season with cilantro, basil, and garlic.... so yummy! 

While your pasta is cooking get your cream cheese in the kitchen aid and beat it with your sour cream and cottage cheese.  Mix until your cream cheese mixture is smooth.  Get out a baking dish, I used a dish smaller than a 9x13 because we didn't need to make a batch that big!  Put a few tablespoons of butter in the bottom of the dish and then pour your cream cheese mixture on top of it.  Then pour your cooked and drained pasta on top of the cream cheese mixture and add a few more tablespoons of butter.  Last, pour your meat mixture on top of the noddles.  Do not mix, just layer it all.

Place in the oven and bake for 30 min.  

Remove from oven and serve. 

Seriously guys, this is A-MA-ZING! 

Photo courtesy of this blogger!

From my kitchen to yours, ENJOY!

BBQ Chicken Ranch Open faced sandwich

Oh my lanta friends!  You would not believe how A-MA-ZING this meal is!  Seriously!  Not only was it the best thing I have eaten recently but it did not cost a lot and it was simple to throw together! 

What I used:
1 loaf french bread
2 cups shredded chicken
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (I used both cheddar and mozzarella)
bbq sauce (choose your favorite!)
1 tomato
garlic powder
1 avocado
ranch dressing
Butter

Turn on the broiler to get it heated up.  Slice your bread in half, the long ways.  Spread your butter on your bread and then sprinkle garlic powder on top and spread around with your butter knife.  Put it on a pan and pop that baby in the oven to crisp up.  It won't take long to cook so keep a close eye on it.

Remove your bread from the oven and set aside.  Cook up your chicken and then shred it.  I marinated my chicken in some bbq sauce previously for a few hours.  Use some bbq sauce and spread a thin layer across your bread.  Top with a thin layer of cheese and your shredded chicken.  Top with another thin layer of cheese and sprinkling of garlic powder.  Put back in the oven just until warm and crispy.  Remove your bread again from the oven and dice up your tomato and avocado and place on top of chicken on bread. Top with a dash here and there of ranch dressing, slice up your sandwich and voila!  It is AMAZING!  I promise, you will not regret making and eating this dish! 

From my kitchen to yours, ENJOY!

Chicken Bagel Burger

Wow.  Just wow.

I was on the hunt for a yummy tasting meal and did I ever hit the jackpot!  Do you ever get tired of making the same thing week after week?  I do too!  A little creativity can get you very yummy places!  You want to talk about bursting with flavor, this baby has got it! Not only is it tasty, which is a very important thing when cooking :)  But it is also SUPER duper easy to make!

Give it a whirl, your taste buds (and probably your family!) will thank you!

What I used:
1 stick butter, divided
4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
4 bagels
4oz cream cheese (hey I never said it was uber healthy! ;)
2 TBS Worcestershire sauce
dash of garlic powder
1 avocado, peeled, pitted, sliced
1 tomato, sliced
4 sliced Mozz. cheese
mayo/mustard/ketchup (whatever you typically fancy on your burger)

Go ahead and warm up your skillet.  Place a few pads of butter in it and let it begin melting.  Place your bagels sliced side down in the skillet and let 'em toast.  Cook them until they are nice and crispy.  Remove and set aside.

Add a little bit of oil or more butter and add your cream cheese and sauce. Melt the cream cheese down and then add your chicken. Add a dash of garlic powder. Cook until your chicken is cooked through.

Spread your condiments on the bagel, add your chicken, top with a slice of cheese, tomato and avocado.

Now take a bite.

Delicious right?

It was a HUGE hit with my family and will definitely be on our menu again!

From my kitchen to yours, ENJOY!

Peppermint Puppy Chow

Hold onto your sweet tooth!

Where has this recipe been my entire life?  Probably keeping me from gaining 500 pounds in one night!

Peppermint and puppy chow, the two combined make fireworks!!

It is a good thing that I'm going to be giving these away in goody bags because if not, that could be dangerous!!


So here's the down low on what I used:

16oz. vanilla candy coating
1pkg Andes peppermints
2 cups powdered sugar
1 box chex cereal

Put your candy coating in the microwave along with 1/2 the bag of peppermints and nook them for 30 seconds at a time.  Stir after each 30 seconds is up and it will take about 2 minutes total before it is all melted.
Pour your cereal into a big bowl and begin pouring melted candy coating mixture into the cereal.  Coat all the chex cereal.  Add your powdered sugar and mix well until all the cereal is coated completely. Toss in the rest of the bag of peppermints and voila!

Store in an air tight container.

A little bit of Heaven on earth!

You're welcome :)

Merry Christmas!

Buffalo Chicken Roll Ups

Okay you all, seriously, this recipe should be hidden away because it can be dangerous!  If you are a bread lover like I am, I know... bad Wendy, so bad! then this recipe is right up your alley! It is pretty simple and my hubby and kids gave it a two thumbs up!

What I used:
1 cup shredded chicken breast, cooked
1/2 cup Mozzarella shredded cheese
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1/4 cup hot sauce/ buffalo sauce
4 tbsp butter (the real stuff, not the imitation margarine that is not even good for ya!)
2 envelopes rapid rise yeast
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 cup warm milk (I used 2%)
2 1/2 cups flour

Warm up your milk first and add your yeast and brown sugar and mixed it up until it was all dissolved.  I then added my flour and used my kitchen aid (aka my bestie in the kitchen!) with the dough hook on to mix that dough into shape!  (About 5-7 minutes)

Cover the dough in the bowl with a kitchen towel and place in a warm non-drafty area in the house.  I typically heat my oven up a little bit and then turn it off and place my dough in the oven.  It works like a charm!  It takes about an hour for it to rise.  While your dough is rising would be a great time to cook up and shred your chicken.

For the buffalo mixture, add your hot sauce with your cheese and add to the chicken.

Once your dough is ready pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees and place your dough on a floured surface to be rolled out.  Once your dough is rolled out nice and thin cut it into about 4-5 inch strips.  Take a spoon and pour some of your chicken mixture and place it in the middle of your dough strips.  Roll the dough up and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake in the oven for approximately 5-7 minutes or until the bread is a light golden brown.

Oh my stars is this ever tasty!  If you are not a fan of hot sauce, which I readily admit I am not, I was pleasantly surprised to find how not spicy this little piece of heaven was!  It was perfect for the kids and I and yet my hubby who likes the my mouth is on fire kind of sauces was able to spice his up!

Seriously? This is a MUST try :)

BBQ Beef Biscuits

Easy peasy recipe that will satisfy the bread lover in yourself!

What I used:

1lb ground beef
2/3 cup honey garlic bbq sauce
1 can grands biscuits
shredded cheddar cheese

Brown your beef and preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Once your meat is cooked through add the bbq sauce and simmer until sauce is a little thickened.  Spray a jumbo muffin tin and smoosh the biscuit into the bottom and up the side of the muffin tin.  It is totally fine if your biscuit does not reach all the way up the sides.  Spoon some of your meat and bbq sauce mixture onto the top of the biscuit.  Be sure to not over fill your muffin tin because the bread is going to rise as it cooks.  Top with cheese and bake for 10-13 minutes and top with a smidgen of parsley if you so desire.  A simply tasty meal!!

From my kitchen to yours, enjoy!