Bacon Feta Chicken

I salivate just thinking about this delicious concoction. When I made it this time, I came to the conclusion that my family is finally big enough that I need to actually do a full recipe. My kids actually like this one... and cutting a little bit of chicken off of mine isn't working anymore. I have been halving it for years (except for the bacon and feta cheese... you can never have too much)!!

Here is the full recipe

Bacon Feta Chicken

4 boneless chicken breasts
1/4 cup feta cheese (or more)
1/4 cup crumbled bacon (or more)
salt/pepper to season
1 Tbsp oil (or bacon grease) to brown chicken in
2 cans (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
1 Tbsp basil

Cut a pocket in each chicken breast.

Fill with bacon and cheese, secure with toothpicks.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Brown chicken in oil (or bacon grease for more flavor)

Add undrained cans of tomatoes to skillet. Sprinkle with basil.

Cover and simmer 10 minutes.
Uncover and simmer 5 minutes longer until chicken is no longer pink and tomato mixture is thickened.

Printable Recipe

mmm.... so delicious!! :)
linking up with Feasting in Fellowship

Cheddar Chicken Soup

It's been a mild winter, but I have still discovered that my favorite recipes lately are soups. I also discovered Soupapalooza, so I'm linking up!!

I've had this soup for ages and we love it. I have had to add to the original because my family has grown! :)  and I've increased the vegetables to make it a little healthier. This soup is made delicious by it's secret ingredient!

Cheddar Chicken Soup

Ingredients:
2 cups diced potatoes
2 cups diced carrots
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
4 cups chicken broth

Dice your potatoes... and your celery & onions... and your carrots, using the handy-dandy Pampered Chef Food chopper... one of my favorite Kitchen tools. Mine is starting to crack and I am very sad!!

Combine first 5 ingredients and bring to a boil and simmer 5 minutes until vegetables are tender.  Add 1 cup water w/ bouillon cube if you need more broth.

Dice your 3 cups cooked chicken (with Pampered Chef food chopper, as well)

Add SECRET INGREDIENT: 1 Tbsp steak sauce (I highly recommend A1)

Then add 1 1/2 cups milk. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium.

Stir 1/2 cup milk, 1/4 cup flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper together till smooth.

Gradually stir into soup until boiling and slightly thickened.

Add 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese. Heat and stir on medium low until melted. Do not boil.

Serve and enjoy!!

It even passes the test of my most picky 4 YO!!

 

Come join SoupaPalooza at TidyMom and Dine and Dish sponsored by KitchenAid, Red Star Yeast and Le Creuset

also linked up to Works For Me Wednesday, because my Pampered Chef Chopper works for me!
and Feasting in Fellowship; Tasty Tuesday

Printable Recipe available here

Soup... ultimate comfort food!

So, I make soup a lot in the winter and I almost always use my slow cooker. I am still looking for the miracle soup that all of my kids will eat without complaining and the closest I come is Taco Soup...

but today is about Pasta Fagioli... Olive Garden knock-off! I started with my favorite Crockpot Lady's recipe and here's my version!!

Ingredients

1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained (I had mine pre-cooked ready in my freezer at a moment's notice)
1/2 large onion
2-3 carrots (depending on size, mine were small)
2 celery stalks
1 large garlic clove (because garlic makes everything better)
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can white beans, drained and rinsed
1 can petite diced tomatoes (to make it easier on my kids)
1/2 jar (or so) of 24 oz jar spaghetti sauce
4 cups beef broth
2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 Tbsp hot sauce
3/4 cup dry small pasta

Brown meat and drain, (unless you already did that) then dump it in the slow cooker.
Chop up the veggies and add them to slow cooker.

Drain and rinse the beans and add them.  can I just say how much I love this quick little colander I got at the dollar tree... perfect for these moments!!

Add the tomatoes and spaghetti sauce and beef broth.
Add spices and hot sauce.
Stir

Cover and cook for 6-8 hours on low.
Then add pasta and cook for another hour on low.

Serve with Parmesan cheese and these delightful garlic knots I found... on Pinterest! :)

Pin It


Linking up to The CSI Project this week.


I'm also joining up with Small Kitchen College and their Slow Cooker Challenge this week. Go check it out!

Using the crockpot Works For Me! Go check out other great ideas at Works For Me Wednesday!

save the day dinner!

I finally found a Friday blog link up to participate in... this will help me post regularly, plus I will find new recipes every Friday... and I love recipes!!

Updated in 2012 with PHOTOS!!



Today I am sharing a recipe that saved my day yesterday!!  LOVE IT!!!  My favorite kitchen tool ever is the slow cooker!!  it is so wonderful for saving mealtime!!  Yes you have to think ahead a little bit, but not always... and I have A Year of Slow Cooking to thank for that!!  Now I don't think this recipe is from her website... I couldn't find the source at all, but I love it!  and even better, my kids love it (well most of them... except for the one that seems to be boycotting anything I put in front of her, which could be just because she is 2 almost 3!)  I digress!

You can call this Frozen Chicken, Cream Cheese Chicken, Salsa & Black Bean Chicken... what ever you want, just call it delicious!!

Ingredients
4 boneless chicken breasts
1 15oz can black beans (drained)
1 15oz can corn (drained)
1 15oz jar salsa, any kind
1 8oz package cream cheese

Put the frozen (Yes, FROZEN) chicken breast in crockpot

Pour in black beans, corn and salsa.

Turn the crockpot on high and walk away.
Come back in 4 hours
Toss in the cream cheese and put the lid back on for 1/2 hour.

Mix it all up and serve over rice...YUM!

I love this, because it is easily doubled if necessary, and I was going to be gone longer than 5 hours, so I just put it on low for 6+ hours!!

tonight is homemade pizza... better go get started!
also linking up to Foodie Friday
and Food on Fridays