Melissa's Made Up Crockpot Chicken

Today was rainy and in the 40's, so I decided to make something in the crockpot that included chicken. Not really finding a winning recipe on the internet, I combined several and came up with my very own! Here it is:

4-8 skinless chicken breasts (frozen or thawed)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of broccoli soup
approx. 1/2 Tbsp. minced garlic
1/2 box of Barilla Piccolini Mini Fusilli (or any small pasta you want)
1 cup water
salt and pepper to taste


Turn crockpot on high and put the water, all 3 cans of soup, and garlic inside. Mix around (it will still be a bit lumpy, but that's ok). Place your chicken breasts in and cover up with soup mixture. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the top.
Cook for about 3-4 hours, depending on whether you use frozen or thawed chicken breasts. I used 8 frozen breasts and it took right at 4 hours for them to get super tender. Once the chicken is cooked, put crockpot on low and add the pasta. Let that simmer for about 20-30 minutes. The pasta will soak up the soup mixture and will give you sort of a stroganoff effect. Once the pasta is as tender as you want it, then turn off crockpot and serve.
It made enough to feed us for 2 nights--with enough left for the kids' lunches.

Remember that all crockpots are different, so just continue to check on the chicken and pasta and cook for the amount of time your crockpot requires. YUM!

The Most Dangerous Cake Recipe In The World

5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

1 Coffee Mug
4 tablespoons flour(that's plain flour, not self-rising)
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
Small splash of vanilla

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to share!)

And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

MELISSA

Malt-O-Meal Magic Muffins

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup Original Malt-O-Meal hot wheat cereal, dry (I also used Chocolate flavored Malt-O-Meal)
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400deg. In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Stir together until all ingredients are moistened. Pour batter into greased or paper-lined muffin pans, filling cups 3/4 full. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until center is firm to the touch.

Yields 12 muffins


I got this recipe from the side of the Malt-O-Meal box. I made 12 original and 12 chocolate muffins, and my kids love them! Very easy and great for small children to help with. Enjoy!

Chuy's Dip

Sorry it's been so long since any of us have posted! Summer can be a crazy time, but hopefully we'll get back into the recipe-sharing groove soon. Meanwhile, here is a fun one to start us off and running again. :)

CHUY'S DIP

Ingredients:

32oz. Kraft Mayo
1 cup buttermilk
2 pkgs Ranch Dressing Mix
12oz. jalepenos, drained
12oz. tomatillos, drained
cilantro (to taste)

Instructions:
Combine all items above in medium sized bowl. Serve with your favorite dipping chip and enjoy!

This recipe came from Deanna Warren, a woman that works with my husband. It's an incredible dip--one of his favorites!

Granola Peanut Butter Balls

2 Tbsp. honey
4 Tbsp. peanut butter
2 cups granola
2 to 4 Tbsp. milk, or as needed

In a large bowl, mix together the honey and peanut butter. Using a spatula, stir in the granola. Add enough milk to just moisten--you want it to stick together. Form into balls. Chill until ready to serve.
This recipe came from http://www.foodnetwork.com/, a site that I frequent. My children LOVE these, and it's something they can help me make.

Buttermilk Pie

9 in. frozen pie crust
3 3/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup flour
6 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
2 sticks melted butter

Mix flour, salt, and sugar and set aside. Beat eggs with a fork or whisk to mix them together. Add buttermilk, your flour mixture, and vanilla to the eggs. Then stir in the butter. Pour into pie crust. Bake at 350 deg. for 50 minutes to 1 hour. It should be golden brown--shake it a tad to make sure center is jiggly, but not liquidy.
This recipe came from my mother-in-law. John is usually the one that makes this for holidays. He has told me several times that it's his favorite dessert.

Best Garlic Bread Ever!

1 Loaf of fresh French or Italian bread sliced longways down the middle (like for sandwich)
1 stick of butter... only real butter works good for this
1/2 tsp of Garlic Salt (less or more depending on your taste) Can also use fresh finely chopped garlic 3-4 cloves plus a dash of salt.
2 tsp of dill weed (I use and Love Pampered Chefs Dill seasoning mix for this but regular ole dill weed works great).

Melt butter and stir in seasonings... taste to determine the garlic salt content.

Use a pastry brush or spoon and slather all over both sides of the bread. Cover them liberally with the butter mixture.

Wrap in foil and place in hot oven 350 for about 10 minutes.

For crispier, browner bread place under the broiler for a few minutes... watch carefully to prevent burning.

Variations: add some fresh grated Parmesan Cheese to the butter mixture and put under the broiler.