FOOOOOD!

So my friend Lindsey and I were talking about cooking and how it is soooo hard to decide what to make for dinner each night. Its soooo hard to try new recipes, for fear you'll get the "maybe we should order pizza" from the husband.  And its sooo hard to find recipes that aren't made of a billion unfamiliar items.  I like a recipe with as few ingrediants as possible and that taste good, of course. Well, after talking about this we decided we would share a couple of the recipes we always rely on.  That way we could get some new ideas of what to make. I've decided to post mine on here for you readers (the few of you) in case you find yourself in the same dilemma.  Here's the catch...you should do the same thing on your blog or in a comment on here. I that way we can all benefit and get some great ideas.  So I tag you to post your favorite recipes that you find yourself making often.


Here are some of my favorites and they're husband approved, ps you'll need a crock pot:


Pork Roast
Pork Roast
1 cup water
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 onion halved and chopped
1/2 cup + 2 T. soy sauce
2-3 T brown sugar


Combine all ingredients except brown sugar in a slow cooker.  Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.  Add brown sugar just before serving (I added some into the mixture about an hour before taking it out of the crock pot).
*I used this meat to make enchiladas the next night and it worked really well; it reminded me a little of Cafe Rio which I miss so much.  Just mix shredded meat with 1 can black beans (drained), 1 cup cheese, 1 lg can green enchilada sauce, and 1 cup rice. Wrap mixture up in tortilla and lay in pan.  Cover enchiladas with 1 small can green enchilada sauce and more cheese.  Bake for 20 minutes in 325 (I just guesstimated the temp and time - just get the cheese melted).


French Dip Sandwich
1 lean beef roast
1 can beef consomme (ok, I know its unfamiliar but its just in the soup section and its like beef broth)
1 can water (use the beef consomme can)
1 pkg French au jus sauce mix (where the gravy mixes are)
1 pkg Italian dressing mix
Hoagie or French sourdough buns


In a slow cooker, combine consomme, water, sauce mix, and dressing mix.  Place roast in cooker and cook on low for 8-10 hours.  Meat will come apart easily when done.  Remove meat and place on buns. Pour juice in serving bowls; dip in juice.


Peanut Chicken
1 pound of chicken (cooked and chopped) or 1 can chicken (drained)
2 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup honey
2 T soy sauce
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 T corn starch (mix in 1/4 cup water separately)
2 tsp ground ginger
2 dashes of hot sauce (opt)
4 chopped green onions
4 garlic cloves or 2 T garlic chopped
Rice/Ramen Noodles/Spaghetti (cooked)


In a large pan, stir broth, honey, soy sauce, peanut butter, corn starch, ginger, and hot sauce together over medium heat until thick and smooth.  Add green onions and garlic.  Cook 2 minutes on medium heat. Add in chicken and heat for two minutes.  Serve over rice or noodles.
    
Russian Chicken
4 Chicken Breasts
1 pkg Lipton Onion Soup Mix
1 small jar apricot jam
2/3 small bottle Russian Dressing
Rice


Mix soup mix, apricot jam, and dressing together in a bowl.  Pour over chicken breasts in a baking dish.  Bake at 375 degrees for about and hour or until chicken is done in center.  Serve over rice.  This can also be make in the slow cooker.


Last one...


Waikiki Meatballs
Frozen Meatballs (I got mine from Costco - so good to have on hand)
2 T corn starch
1/2 cup brown sugar
L can pineapple
1/3 cup vinegar
1 T soy sauce
1/3 chopped green pepper
Rice


Heat up meatballs according to directions. Mix corn starch and brown sugar in bowl. Add pineapple juice, vinegar, and soy sauce then place in skillet. Stir constantly on medium heat until it starts to thicken. Add meatballs and peppers.  Once peppers are tender, add pineapple.  Serve over rice. 

K, I'm counting on you to share your little secrets with me so I can expand my menu a bit.