Weeknight Rush

Is it just me or are the weeknights becoming more and more rushed? Between homework, after school activities and every day life, I am pretty sure the hours between 3:30 and 8 pm are some of the busiest in my life. So, it's so nice when I can come up with a meal that is quick, tasty and has us going back out the door on time!

You've heard me say it before, but I think it bears repeating. Casseroles are a mom's best friend. I know many people turn their noses up at just the word, but to me, if I can put a bunch of things into one pan, throw it in the oven and in about 30 minutes have dinner on the table, I am a happy mama. Sure, there are some casseroles out there that were simply never meant to be, most likely because someone started throwing ingredients together that had no business being paired, but those aren't the ones I'm talking about. I mean the ones that are made up of things we already love, that compliment each other, and simply make sense hanging out in one simple dish.

Tacos. We love them. Taco fixins'. We love those too. So why not take everything I would normally have out for a "taco bar", and see what kind of casserole I can make? See, this is my thought process. And I know I'm not the first one to have this crazy notion.

So here is a simple, delicious Mexican casserole perfect for any crazy, crammed full of things to do, weeknight! Adapt it with your favorite ingredients. Have the kids help pick out what things they want in it. Easy, yummy and fun for the whole family. I told you a good casserole is a mom's best friend!

Taco Casserole
1 lb. ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning
1 (16 oz.) can refried black beans with onion and garlic
1 (16 oz.) jar mild chunky salsa
1 green pepper, chopped
1 (2.2 oz) can sliced black olives
3 Roma tomatoes, chopped, divided
1 c. shredded taco cheese
Shredded Lettuce
Tortilla Chips, slightly crushed

Preheat oven to 350. Add enough broken tortilla chips to bottom of 9x13 dish to cover. In a large skillet brown beef until no longer pink. Add taco seasoning, stir well. Add beans and salsa. Stir well. Cook 5-7 minutes to allow flavors to combine. Add to top of chips. Spread evenly. Add green pepper and 2/3 chopped tomato. Sprinkle top with cheese and black olives. Bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese melts. Top with rest of tomato, lettuce and more broken chips.

Shared on The Country Cook Oct. 11, 2013

  Casseroles at Very Good Recipes

Is it just me or are the weeknights becoming more and more rushed? Between homework, after school activities and every day life, I am pretty sure the hours between 3:30 and 8 pm are some of the busiest in my life. So, it's so nice when I can come up with a meal that is quick, tasty and has us going back out the door on time!

You've heard me say it before, but I think it bears repeating. Casseroles are a mom's best friend. I know many people turn their noses up at just the word, but to me, if I can put a bunch of things into one pan, throw it in the oven and in about 30 minutes have dinner on the table, I am a happy mama. Sure, there are some casseroles out there that were simply never meant to be, most likely because someone started throwing ingredients together that had no business being paired, but those aren't the ones I'm talking about. I mean the ones that are made up of things we already love, that compliment each other, and simply make sense hanging out in one simple dish.

Tacos. We love them. Taco fixins'. We love those too. So why not take everything I would normally have out for a "taco bar", and see what kind of casserole I can make? See, this is my thought process. And I know I'm not the first one to have this crazy notion.

So here is a simple, delicious Mexican casserole perfect for any crazy, crammed full of things to do, weeknight! Adapt it with your favorite ingredients. Have the kids help pick out what things they want in it. Easy, yummy and fun for the whole family. I told you a good casserole is a mom's best friend!

Taco Casserole
1 lb. ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning
1 (16 oz.) can refried black beans with onion and garlic
1 (16 oz.) jar mild chunky salsa
1 green pepper, chopped
1 (2.2 oz) can sliced black olives
3 Roma tomatoes, chopped, divided
1 c. shredded taco cheese
Shredded Lettuce
Tortilla Chips, slightly crushed

Preheat oven to 350. Add enough broken tortilla chips to bottom of 9x13 dish to cover. In a large skillet brown beef until no longer pink. Add taco seasoning, stir well. Add beans and salsa. Stir well. Cook 5-7 minutes to allow flavors to combine. Add to top of chips. Spread evenly. Add green pepper and 2/3 chopped tomato. Sprinkle top with cheese and black olives. Bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese melts. Top with rest of tomato, lettuce and more broken chips.

Shared on The Country Cook Oct. 11, 2013

  Casseroles at Very Good Recipes

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Mexican Night Via Crock Pot

We love Mexican food, but I will admit not many of the recipes I make include the words Crock Pot. Honestly, with the exception of my Taco Soup and Chicken Enchiladas, I can't think of any others! So when a friend told me about this "go-to" recipe she makes, I figured it was worth a try to add another to that short list. She couldn't remember the entire recipe off the top of her head, but she did know it had cream cheese and black beans in it. Well, with the Internet, there really is nothing you can't find. Just by typing those two ingredients plus chicken into a search engine, I found something I had to believe was close to what she makes...and indeed I was right.

Now I will be honest with you. The original recipe calls for the chicken breasts to be added to the Crock Pot frozen, and while I can understand the convenience of that, (Heck, I forget to thaw meat out all the time!), I'm just not comfortable with it. I think it will cook more evenly, and to a safer temperature if it's thawed beforehand. But that is my hang up, so if it's something you do and feel okay about, then by all means, skip the browning steps below and throw those suckers in rock solid!

This is a great Mexican dish as is, or served over rice, which is what I did. Or you could shred the chicken and have a fantastic filling for tortillas! It truly is very versatile. I could even see shredding the chicken, mixing everything together and keeping it warm for a party. Set out a stack of tortillas or chips and let your guests make their own burrito or nachos.

Mexican nights at our house are always a good time, and something we look forward to. But I especially look forward to them when they are this easy and turn out so incredibly delicious!

Crock Pot Creamy Chicken and Black Beans Adapted from Food.com
4 boneless chicken breasts, thawed
2 TBS olive oil
Garlic Salt
Shallot-Pepper Seasoning Blend (Any grill seasoning would work)
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 oz.) can corn, drained
1 (15 oz.) jar salsa
Salt and Pepper to taste
8 oz. cream cheese, cubed
3 green onions, chopped
1/4 c. cilantro, chopped
Cooked Rice, optional

In a large skillet, heat oil to medium heat. Season both sides of chicken with garlic salt, seasoning blend, salt and pepper. Brown chicken in oil for 2-3 minutes on both sides. Combine corn, black beans and salsa in Crock Pot. Lay chicken on top. Cook on HIGH for 1 hour. Reduce to LOW and cook for 4-5 hours until chicken in cooked through. Remove chicken from Crock Pot. Stir in cream cheese and mix well to combine. Replace chicken and cook for 20-30 minutes until cream cheese melted and mixture is smooth. About 5 minutes before serving remove chicken, add green onions and mix well. To serve, divide cooked rice among 4 plates. Top each with a chicken breast. Spoon bean mixture over chicken and garnish with cilantro.

Shared on Mandy's Recipe Box Feb. 26, 2013
Shared on Lady Behind The Curtain Feb. 27, 2013
Shared on Miz Helen's Country Cottage Feb. 28, 2013
Shared on The Country Cook Mar. 1, 2013

Mexican at Very Good Recipes
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We love Mexican food, but I will admit not many of the recipes I make include the words Crock Pot. Honestly, with the exception of my Taco Soup and Chicken Enchiladas, I can't think of any others! So when a friend told me about this "go-to" recipe she makes, I figured it was worth a try to add another to that short list. She couldn't remember the entire recipe off the top of her head, but she did know it had cream cheese and black beans in it. Well, with the Internet, there really is nothing you can't find. Just by typing those two ingredients plus chicken into a search engine, I found something I had to believe was close to what she makes...and indeed I was right.

Now I will be honest with you. The original recipe calls for the chicken breasts to be added to the Crock Pot frozen, and while I can understand the convenience of that, (Heck, I forget to thaw meat out all the time!), I'm just not comfortable with it. I think it will cook more evenly, and to a safer temperature if it's thawed beforehand. But that is my hang up, so if it's something you do and feel okay about, then by all means, skip the browning steps below and throw those suckers in rock solid!

This is a great Mexican dish as is, or served over rice, which is what I did. Or you could shred the chicken and have a fantastic filling for tortillas! It truly is very versatile. I could even see shredding the chicken, mixing everything together and keeping it warm for a party. Set out a stack of tortillas or chips and let your guests make their own burrito or nachos.

Mexican nights at our house are always a good time, and something we look forward to. But I especially look forward to them when they are this easy and turn out so incredibly delicious!

Crock Pot Creamy Chicken and Black Beans Adapted from Food.com
4 boneless chicken breasts, thawed
2 TBS olive oil
Garlic Salt
Shallot-Pepper Seasoning Blend (Any grill seasoning would work)
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 oz.) can corn, drained
1 (15 oz.) jar salsa
Salt and Pepper to taste
8 oz. cream cheese, cubed
3 green onions, chopped
1/4 c. cilantro, chopped
Cooked Rice, optional

In a large skillet, heat oil to medium heat. Season both sides of chicken with garlic salt, seasoning blend, salt and pepper. Brown chicken in oil for 2-3 minutes on both sides. Combine corn, black beans and salsa in Crock Pot. Lay chicken on top. Cook on HIGH for 1 hour. Reduce to LOW and cook for 4-5 hours until chicken in cooked through. Remove chicken from Crock Pot. Stir in cream cheese and mix well to combine. Replace chicken and cook for 20-30 minutes until cream cheese melted and mixture is smooth. About 5 minutes before serving remove chicken, add green onions and mix well. To serve, divide cooked rice among 4 plates. Top each with a chicken breast. Spoon bean mixture over chicken and garnish with cilantro.

Shared on Mandy's Recipe Box Feb. 26, 2013
Shared on Lady Behind The Curtain Feb. 27, 2013
Shared on Miz Helen's Country Cottage Feb. 28, 2013
Shared on The Country Cook Mar. 1, 2013

Mexican at Very Good Recipes
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New Crock Pot

Was Santa good to you this Christmas? Boy, he sure was to our family! In fact, I must have been even better this year than I thought I was because I couldn't have asked for me! Between my wonderful husband, parents, brother,  in-laws, and future sister-in-law, (And near future....Saturday is the big day!) I got some fantastic new "toys" for my kitchen!

From new cook books, to a "Queen" wine glass (for those special Mommy needs a time out moments), to measuring cups, a Twinkie bake set, ceramic skillet and many more, it was a great foodie Christmas! One of my favorites, and something I wished and wished for was a new Crock Pot! My mom outdid her self. It's a beauty and such a improvement over my 1970's version that was nice, but just needed upgraded!

So on the 26th, what better recipe to try out than a new soup for said Crock Pot??? I was like a little kid playing with his new video games, I was so excited. I woke up, knowing I was headed into the kitchen to test out my new toy.

This soup couldn't be easier. Seriously browning meat, chopping some onions and opening a few cans is all it takes to have a piping hot bowl of soup on the table for supper. It's so incredibly filling too! Believe me after the snow storm hit Wednesday we were very happy to be sitting down to this at the end of a cold, blustery day!

Thank you to everyone who helped to make me such a blessed food blogger this Christmas. I thank you. My family thanks you. And all EMM fans everywhere thank you!

Black Bean Taco Soup From Gooseberry Patch
1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, undrained
1 ( 15 oz) can chili beans, undrained
1 ( 15 oz) can corn, undrained
1 ( 28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
1 (1 oz) packet taco seasoning
1 ( 1 oz) packet ranch dressing mix
Salt and Pepper to taste
Shredded Cheese, optional for topping
Tortilla Chips, optional for topping

Place all ingredients in slow cooker, except toppings. Stir well. Cook on LOW for 6 hours, stirring occasionally. Top with tortilla chips and cheese.

Crock Pot at Very Good Recipes
Pin It

Was Santa good to you this Christmas? Boy, he sure was to our family! In fact, I must have been even better this year than I thought I was because I couldn't have asked for me! Between my wonderful husband, parents, brother,  in-laws, and future sister-in-law, (And near future....Saturday is the big day!) I got some fantastic new "toys" for my kitchen!

From new cook books, to a "Queen" wine glass (for those special Mommy needs a time out moments), to measuring cups, a Twinkie bake set, ceramic skillet and many more, it was a great foodie Christmas! One of my favorites, and something I wished and wished for was a new Crock Pot! My mom outdid her self. It's a beauty and such a improvement over my 1970's version that was nice, but just needed upgraded!

So on the 26th, what better recipe to try out than a new soup for said Crock Pot??? I was like a little kid playing with his new video games, I was so excited. I woke up, knowing I was headed into the kitchen to test out my new toy.

This soup couldn't be easier. Seriously browning meat, chopping some onions and opening a few cans is all it takes to have a piping hot bowl of soup on the table for supper. It's so incredibly filling too! Believe me after the snow storm hit Wednesday we were very happy to be sitting down to this at the end of a cold, blustery day!

Thank you to everyone who helped to make me such a blessed food blogger this Christmas. I thank you. My family thanks you. And all EMM fans everywhere thank you!

Black Bean Taco Soup From Gooseberry Patch
1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, undrained
1 ( 15 oz) can chili beans, undrained
1 ( 15 oz) can corn, undrained
1 ( 28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
1 (1 oz) packet taco seasoning
1 ( 1 oz) packet ranch dressing mix
Salt and Pepper to taste
Shredded Cheese, optional for topping
Tortilla Chips, optional for topping

Place all ingredients in slow cooker, except toppings. Stir well. Cook on LOW for 6 hours, stirring occasionally. Top with tortilla chips and cheese.

Crock Pot at Very Good Recipes
Pin It

reade more... Résuméabuiyad