Weekend Cooking

Souper Sunday

Brunswick Stew

2 (15-ounce) cans stewed tomatoes
2 (15-ounce) cans creamed corn
2 (13-ounce) cans chicken
2 (10-ounce) cans BBQ pork
1 (14-ounce) bottle ketchup
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker and cook on low for two to three hour. Serve with Jiffy cornbread or Ritz crackers

Thoughts
I had both Jiffy cornbread and Ritz crackers so decided to have use the crackers and save the cornbread for beans.

I ordered the ingredients online and the canned BBQ pork was out of stock so I bought a container of Jack Daniel’s Pulled Pork, hoping it would turn out ok. It was very good.  I’ve made this before and forgot to use less ketchup, it was still good, but hopefully next time I’ll remember to use 3 or 4 oz. and see how that tastes.

This is a very quick and easy recipe and I love it any time of year.

Weekend Cooking

Chicken and Veggies Ramen Noodles Skillet

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 small yellow onion , diced
2 garlic cloves , minced
4 carrots , cut in long ribbons (use a vegetable peeler)
salt and fresh ground pepper , to taste
1 bag (8 ounces) fresh sugar snap peas
2 cups cubed cooked chicken breasts (rotisserie chicken works great)
2 packages (3 ounces each) any flavor ramen noodles, broken (discard flavor-package)
2 cups low-sodium organic chicken broth
2 green onions diced , green parts only, for garnish

Heat olive oil in a large skillet
Add onions, garlic, and carrots; season with salt and pepper and sautee for 3 minutes
Stir in snap peas and continue to cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the sugar snap peas are crisp tender
If mixture is dry, add a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
Add cooked chicken, broken noodles and chicken broth; bring to a boil
Cook and stir about 3 minutes, or until noodles are tender and most of the liquid is absorbed
Remove from heat
Garnish with green onions
Serve

Thoughts
We thought this was very good. I decided to use rotisserie chicken instead of breasts. When I tasted it before serving it, it was a bit bland so I stirred in the chicken flavor packets (I LOVE the flavor) from the Ramen noodles and let it cook a little longer. I also added and mixed in the cut up green onions instead of using them for garnish, and used matchstick carrots because I had some and they needed to be used.

So quick, easy, and good. I’ll be making it again.

Skyline Chili Recipe

2 lbs ground beef
2 cups chopped onions
4 cups beef stock
2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
2 -3 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1⁄2 ounce grated unsweetened chocolate or 2 3/4 tablespoons cocoa
2 teaspoons instant minced garlic
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
1⁄2 teaspoon ground red pepper or 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1⁄4 teaspoon ground allspice
1⁄4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 bay leaves or 1/8 teaspoon bay leaf powder

Toppings
chopped onion (optional)
finely shredded cheddar cheese (certainly NOT optional)
kidney bean (optional)

Brown ground beef and onion
Drain
Add beef stock to beef mixture and simmer 10 minutes
Add remaining 13 ingredients, simmer uncovered 1 hour
Remove bay leaf, skim off extra fat
Serve over hot spaghetti, or hot dogs in buns for chili dogs
Top with plenty of cheese and other optional toppings

Thoughts
Sorry the picture is a mess, it was late and I was tired and didn’t want to stand in the kitchen until I got the lighting etc. just right.

My son and I went to Skyline Chili a few years ago and he loved it, me not so much. The other day he asked me to find a recipe and make it so I did. I didn’t think I’d like it but to my surprise I loved it. He said it tasted like what the restaurant had but I thought it was a lot better. I’m thinking it was all the shredded cheese I put in mine, they don’t give you very much.

You can add beans to the chili (my personal recipe has beans in it) but they don’t add beans at the restaurant so I didn’t. You can also serve it over spaghetti or hotdogs.

This is a quick and easy recipe and since we both liked it I plan on making it again sometime.

The Hillbillies Meatloaf

3 lb. hamburger
3 eggs
13oz, bag Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream Potato Chips
2 bunches green onion
3/4 c. milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Ketchup (as much as you want)
2 spoons brown sugar

Put some butter in pan and saute onions
Crush chips & put in big bowl
Add milk
Add some salt & pepper
Add eggs
Add cheese
Add onions
Add hamburger
Mix well
Put in glass pan
Make loaf w/gaps on side for grease
Bake at 350 for 45 min.

While it’s in the oven:
Put ketchup in a bowl
Add brown sugar
Mix

When the meatloaf is done:
Spread ketchup/brown sugar mix on top of meatloaf
Put back in oven for 15-20 min.

Thoughts
When I first saw this recipe I thought “Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream Potato Chips in meatloaf? Yuck!” I don’t like cheddar or sour cream chips and thought that it would taste terrible but I thought I’d give it a try.

Adaptions: I used more brown sugar

The recipe was easy to make and not very time consuming. I was going to cut the recipe in half since there are only two of us but decided to not to and just freeze the leftovers, which will make two more meals.

I was very surprised that the meatloaf was so good! It’s one of the best I’ve ever had and I’m glad I didn’t cut the recipe in half. Now all I have to do is take a bag out of the freezer to thaw and then reheat it.  Will be making it again!

I love when I’m not sure about a recipe and it ends up being a favorite!

Weekend Cooking