Homemade Taco Seasoning

FB Source: Carl Barbaro

Ingredients:
1 T chili powder
1 T ground cumin
1 T garlic powder
1 T onion powder
1/4 - 1/2 T crushed red pepper

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together.

Store in an air-tight container.

Use as you would regular taco seasoning, adjusting for taste.

Slow Cooker Chicken and Next Day Chicken Noodle Soup

FB Source: Carl Barbaro

Two Recipes in one post!

Slow Cooker Chicken

Ingredients:
1 Whole Chicken - thawed
Seasoned Salt
Garlic Power
Italian Seasoning
1 Box Chicken Stock (for after the chicken is cooked and taken out)

Directions:

1. **If chicken is frozen make sure to THAW it out first!!** Unwrap the chicken and discard the insides.
2. Rinse off the chicken
3. Spray your crock pot with non-stick cooking spray or rub it down with butter.
4. Place the whole thawed chicken into the crock pot and add seasoning to the top! (as little or as much as desired, although it doesnt take much.)
5. No water or stock needed the chicken will create its own juices!!
6. Set your slow cooker on LOW cover and let it cook for about 6-7 hours.
7. Serve your chicken for dinner, but, and this is an important step, **make sure to keep the juices and bones from the chicken for your soup**!! Add a box of Chicken Stock to the left over juice from the chicken in the slow cooker and let the bones simmer in it over night!

Next day Chicken Noodle Soup


Ingredients:
1-2 boxes of Chicken Stock
Carrots
Celery
Corn
Left over Chicken
Egg Noodles

Directions:

1. After you have allowed the broth and bones to simmer over night you can now strain the bones from the juice and discard.
2. Add the other 1-2 boxes of chicken stock depending on how much soup you want to make. (add water if still not desired amount)
3. Cut up vegetables and add them to the broth and let them cook on low or high until tender (about 4-5 hours depending on the crock pot setting)
4. Add Noodles and Chicken when vegetables are done! DO NOT ADD NOODLES UNTIL ABOUT 5 MIN BEFORE YOU EAT ( they will get soggy if they continue to cook)

ENJOY!!

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

FB Source: Sherry Kirkpatrick Patterson

Ingredients:
2 cups grated cauliflower
1/2 cup shredded light mozzarella cheese
2 eggs
1 tsp oregano
2 tsp basil
2 tsp parsley
Dash of Italian seasoning
1 green pepper
1 yellow or green onion
1 tomato
Bunch of fresh basil
Garlic powder, to taste

Directions:

1. Chop pepper, onion, tomato, and any other toppings you like. Set aside. 
2. Shred ½ cup light mozzarella (for topping) 
3. Use a cheese grater or processor fitted with an S blade to grate the cauliflower tops only. 
4. Add to bowl with the mozzarella, spices and eggs. 
5. Spray a round or rectangular metal pan with cooking oil before spreading the dough evenly. Bake at 450° F for 12-15 minutes. 
6. Remove the dough from the oven and sprinkle chopped green pepper, onion, tomato, fresh basil, Italian seasoning as well as the remaining mozzarella cheese on top. 
7. Return the pizza to the oven and bake until the cheese has melted and the crust is crispy. 

***Low carb crust that tastes so much better than bread pizza crust** 

Granny’s Beef Stew

FB Source: Carl Barbaro

Ingredients:
Stew meat
1 can of each Carrots, Corn, Peas, Green Beans, Tomatoes
1 cup celery, chopped
1 cup onion, chopped
1 can tomato paste
2 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 bay leaves
Garlic salt
pepper

Directions:

1. Brown stew meat in olive oil.
2. Put in Soup pot, add veggies and spices, bring to boil for several minutes. 
3. Turn to simmer for rest of day, stirring frequently.
4. Stew will thicken. Serve hot with biscuits or corn bread.

Granny's Favorites Cookbooks

Chicken Pot Pie Cupcakes

ORIGINAL Source: Sunny Slide Up

Ingredients:
2 cups of cooked chicken breasts diced
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup frozen mixed veggies
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 tablespoon of dried thyme
1/2 tablespoon of dried basil
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic salt
2 (10 oz) cans Pillsbury biscuits

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400.
2. In a large bowl, combine the cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, frozen veggies, cheese, herbs and spices.
3. Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin and place the Pillsbury biscuits into each cup, pressing into the bottom and up the sides.
4. Evenly spoon the pot pie mixture into each biscuit cup. Slide into the oven and bake for about 15 minutes. Check at the 12 minute mark.
5. Let rest for about 3 minutes and dig in!

Smothered Pork Chops

FB Source: Carl Barbaro

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
2 Tbsp onion powder
2 Tbsp garlic powder
1 tsp red pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
4 thin pork chops
2 Tbsp bacon fat
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 cups buttermilk
Chopped fresh parsley or green onions, for garnish, optional

Directions:

1. Mix together flour, onion powder, garlic powder, red pepper, salt, and black pepper in a pie plate. Coat pork chops in flour mixture; shaking off the excess.
2. Over medium heat in cast iron skillet, melt bacon fat and oil together well. Gently lay pork chops in skillet; fry about 5 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove pork chops from skillet.
3. Mix ½ cup flour mixture and buttermilk together well; pour into skillet, stir into hot fat; bring gravy to boil then reduce heat to simmer until nice and thick, stirring often. 
4. Return pork chops to skillet; cover with gravy. Simmer for 5 minutes or so until pork chops are cooked through. 
5. Season with salt and pepper; garnish with chopped parsley or green onions if using, before serving.

Variation: May sauté onions and or mushrooms with pork chops and add to gravy mixture.
Granny's Favorites Cookbooks

Breakfast Bites

FB Source: Heather Pettit

Ingredients:

1 package of pre-shredded potatoes (refrigerated section next to the eggs)

3 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 finely chopped onion (optional)

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

 salt and pepper to taste. 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a mini muffin pan. 
2. Pour potatoes into a bowl, add the salt, garlic powder and onion, stir to combine. 
3. Pour in the egg and give it another stir, then add the cheese and mix it all up. 
4. Spoon into mini muffin tins and bake for 20 – 25 minutes or until golden brown and tops and edges begin to get crispy. 

Eat warm, or cool and freeze into individual packs and heat for about 20 seconds in the microwave. 

Breakfast is made for the whole week!

Stacie says: "Add crumbled bacon or sausage and other fun add-ins to this before you bake them. YUM!"

Pork Tenderloin

FB Source: Dail Stuart

Ingredients:
3 pounds Pork Tenderloin (1 Pkg. Of 2 Tenderloins), Cut Into 4 Pieces Total
1 pound Bacon
¾ cups Soy Sauce
1 Tablespoon Minced Onions
½ teaspoons Garlic Salt
1 Tablespoon Wine Vinegar Or White Vinegar
¼ teaspoons Salt
1 dash Pepper
¾ cups Brown Sugar

Directions:

1. Wrap the tenderloin pieces in bacon. Place in an 8 1/2″ x 11″ pan. Poke holes in meat with a fork.
2. Combine rest of ingredients in a small bowl; stir well. Pour marinade over meat. Refrigerate, uncovered, 2 to 3 hours or overnight.
3. Bake in a 300 degree oven for two to three hours. If the bacon burns, place foil over the top after approximately 1 1/2 hours of baking. Remove from oven, cut meat into small pieces and allow the meat to soak up the excess juices in the pan.

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

FB Source: Yvonne Turnbow-Nisley

Ingredients:
Asparagus

Bacon

1/2 C Butter

1/2 C Brown Sugar

1 Tbsp Soy Sauce

1/2 tsp Garlic Salt

1/4 tsp Black Pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. Divide asparagus into bundles of 3-4 spears.
3. Wrap each bundle in a slice of bacon, and place in a baking pan that has a lip around the edge.
4. In a saucepan, melt butter, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic salt, and black pepper. Bring to a boil.
5. Pour mix over bundles and bake until bacon looks done.

I would slap these bad boys on the grill!!!

I made these this past past Thanksgiving, and they were to die for!!!!!!! 

Garlic-Bread-Wrapped Meatballs

FB Source: Kathy's Kitchen

Ingredients:
1 can Pillsbury Grands Jr. Golden Layers refrigerated buttermilk or flaky biscuits
20 frozen cooked Italian-style meatballs (about 5 oz), thawed
4 sticks (1 oz each) string cheese, each cut into 5 pieces 
grated Parmesan cheese
teaspoon Italian seasoning
teaspoon garlic powder or garlic salt
1 cup marinara sauce, heated

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Separate dough into 10 biscuits. Separate each biscuit into 2 layers. Press each biscuit layer into 3-inch round.
2. Place 1 meatball and 1 string cheese piece in center of each dough round. Wrap dough around meatball and cheese, pressing edges to seal. In ungreased 8- or 9-inch round cake pan, place seam side down in single layer.
3. Sprinkle evenly with Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning and garlic powder.
4. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and biscuits are no longer doughy in center. Serve warm biscuits with warm marinara sauce for dipping.

Crispy Southwest Chicken Wraps

FB Source: Pampered Chef with Cathy Zastoupil

Ingredients:
1 cup cooked rice, warm or at room temperature 
1 cup cooked, shredded chicken (or other leftover meat, like shredded pork or beef)
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 green onion, finely sliced (white and green parts)
1/2 red or green pepper, diced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
juice of 1 lime
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
2 cups shredded cheese (I use a combination of Monterey jack and sharp cheddar)
Sour cream (optional)
6 burrito-sized flour tortillas

Directions:

1. Mix rice together with chili powder, cumin and garlic salt. Add remaining ingredients except for cheese and sour cream. 
2. Sprinkle cheese over tortillas, leaving 1/2-inch border around edges, then arrange chicken and rice mixture down the center of each tortilla. (Optional: I like to dollop little bits of sour cream over the cheese before arranging chicken and rice mixture down the center – it makes the wraps delightfully creamy.)
3. Roll stuffed tortillas, leaving edges open and slightly flatten the wraps with the palm of your hand. 
4. Spray seam-side of the wrap lightly with cooking spray.
5. Heat a large non-stick skillet (or griddle) over medium heat for 1 minute. 
6. Arrange wraps, seam-side down, in pan or griddle and cook until golden brown and crisp, about 2-3 minutes per side. Cooking them seam-side down first helps seal the long edge so they don’t fall apart. 
7. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining wraps. Serve warm.

Yield: 6 wraps

Pepperoni Stromboli

FB Source: Easy Recipes

Ingredients:
1 Pillsbury Classic Pizza Crust (they come in the cans)
2 eggs
1 Tbsp Parmesan cheese
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp parsley
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp pepper
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 pound pepperoni
1/2 pound (2 cups) mozzarella cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Open up your crust and roll out flat. It will be a rectangle shape. 
2. Separate your egg yolks from the egg whites. 
3. Place the egg yolks in a bowl and mix your parmesan cheese, oregano, parsley, garlic powder, pepper and vegetable oil.
4. Spread your mixture evenly onto your crust. (I used a spatula to spread)
5. Layer on all of your pepperoni. Top with all of the cheese. 
6. Starting on one end, roll up like a jelly roll. Pinch the ends of your dough together to seal it all together. 
7. Brush the outside of the dough with your egg whites (I used a pastry brush to do this) 
8. Spray some non-stick cooking spray onto a baking sheet and place your stromboli on top. 
9. Bake in 350° oven for about 20-25 minutes. Remove and enjoy!!

Crunchy Honey Garlic Pork Chops

FB Source: Jana Guest

Ingredients:
6-9 pork chops (not too thick, you can use boneless pork loin)
2 eggs
4 Tbsp water
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
Canola or vegetable oil for frying chops

Glaze:
1 Tbsp chopped garlic
2 Tbsp butter
1 1/2 cups honey
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp  ginger
dash of cayenne pepper (to your taste)
1/2 cup soy sauce

Directions:

1. Whisk the eggs and water together in a shallow dish.
2. Mix the flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in another shallow dish.
3. Dip the chops in the flour, then over into the egg. Then back over into the flour mixture once again. This is what puts the extra crispy coating on the chops. Be sure to get plenty of flour on in this last coating, then shake them a little and place in a pan with about a half inch of oil. Be sure the oil is hot, but not too hot or the chops will cook too fast. You need to get it good and hot and then turn to about medium.
4. Cook for about 6 minutes on each side. Try not to turn more than twice or your breading will come off.
5. Remove from the pan to a 9"x13" baking dish.
6. To make the glaze, saute the garlic a little in the butter. Add the honey, soy sauce, brown sugar, cayenne, and ginger. Bring to a boil then reduce to low and simmer for about 5 minutes. Watch this carefully because it will foam and might boil over.
7. Pour 1/2 of the glaze over the pork chops. Flip them over and pour the other 1/2 over the other side. Bake uncovered in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 20-25 minutes. This sets the glaze and finishes them to be sure they are cooked through.

~Works great with chicken too!!!

Seasoned Ritz Crackers

FB Source: Amanda Harness

Ingredients:
1 stick melted butter,
1 packet Ranch dressing mix
¼ c. grated Parmesan,
1 Tbsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp garlic powder
1 box Ritz crackers

Directions:

1. Toss box of Ritz crackers with all 5 ingredients
2. Bake in 300 degree oven for 15 minutes

Hasselback Garlic Potatoes with Bacon and Cheese

Source: Kris Maks

Ingredients:

Potatoes:
16 oz potatoes
3 to 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
4 Tbsp butter, melted
2 Tbsp olive oil
salt and fresh black pepper
Fresh chives (diced)
Bacon (cut into large chunks)
1 cup Shredded Cheese of your choice

Herbed Sour Cream:
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley leaves
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Potatoes:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Using a wooden spoon as a cradle, place each potato in the spoon and make several parallel slits into each potato top making sure not to slice completely through. 
3. Place 3 garlic slices between slits at the crown of each potato. Toss in a medium bowl with butter and olive oil. 
4. Place on a baking sheet lined with tin foil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
5. When the potatoes begin to “fan out” it’s time to make the magic happen.Carefully slip a hunk of bacon into each slit of the potato like so and continue to cook
6. Once the potatoes and bacon are fully cooked (use a knife poke test), coat the potatoes with heaping helping of shredded cheese. .
7. Bake until tops are crispy and potatoes are cooked through, about 1 hour. Transfer to a platter and top with Herbed Sour Cream and chives.

Herbed Sour Cream:
Combine ingredients in a small bowl. Season, to taste, and refrigerate until use.

Original Source: Easy Recipes, Healthy Eating Ideas

For many people, Hasselback style potatoes are nothing new.
Make some slices in a potato, bake, and it magically fans out into an impressive looking potato with LOTS of character indeed, making for a brilliant addition to any meal!

Creamy White Chicken Alfredo Lasagna

Alishia Willardson

Ingredients:
2 cups shredded cooked chicken breasts 
1 can (14 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained, chopped
1 pkg. (8 oz.) Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
1/2 cup chopped drained oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
2 pkg. (8 oz. each) Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 cup tightly packed fresh basil, chopped, divided
12 lasagna noodles, cooked

Directions:

1. HEAT oven to 350°F.
2. COMBINE chicken, artichokes, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan and tomatoes. Beat cream cheese, milk and garlic powder with mixer until well blended; stir in 2 Tbsp. basil. Mix half with the chicken mixture. 
3. SPREAD half the remaining cream cheese mixture onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish; cover with 3 noodles and 1/3 of the chicken mixture. Repeat layers of noodles and chicken mixture twice. Top with remaining noodles, cream cheese mixture and mozzarella; cover. 
4. BAKE 25 min. or until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining basil. Let stand 5 min. before cutting to serve. 

Gluten free: GF noodles.

Original recipe from tasteofhome.com

Homemade Pimiento Cheese

Julie Branstetter

Ingredients:
2 Cups of Sharp Cheddar
8 oz. of softened Cream Cheese
1/2 Cup of Mayo
1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
1/4 tsp of Onion Powder
1 Jalapeno Pepper, seeded and minced (more or less to taste)
1 (4 oz.) Jar of Pimento, drained
Salt & Black Pepper (to taste)

Directions:

1. Put all the ingredients in a bowl together and mix on medium speed with a mixer until mixed together well. 
2. Keep in an airtight container in the fridge.

Tips:

• I like to mix everything together without the shredded cheese and then add the cheese shred and mix again.
• You can eat it right away or store it covered in the fridge for sandwiches or dip over the next couple of days.
• Toast a couple of slices of bread and make a warm toasted pimento cheese sandwich to go along with soup for dinner.

I'm making this to take on vacation this weekend for lunches on the beach! So good!

This is one delicious recipe; full flavored, not bland like some of the store bought pimento cheeses. Pack a few of these in zip bags the next time you pack a cooler and go to the beach or a game. You will be glad you did. You can also use this for grilled cheese sandwiches or on toasted bread sandwiches.

Julie Branstetter

Best Ranch Dressing

It's a MOM thing
Original Source: The Crafty Blog Stalker

Ingredients:
Powdered Mix:

¼ C Black Pepper 
1 1/2 C Parsley Flakes
½ C Garlic Salt
2 Tbsp Kosher Salt
¼ C Granulated Garlic
3/4 C Granulated Onion
2 Tbsp Dill Weed

Dressing Base:
2 cups mayonnaise
2 cups buttermilk
1 1/2 cups sour cream
1 teaspoon of lemon juice

Directions:
Combine all Powdered Mix ingredients, store in an airtight container. Makes about 3 ½ cups of dry mix.

1. To Make Dressing, whisk together 2 Tbsp of mix with 2 Cups each of mayonnaise and buttermilk 1 ½ Cups sour cream, & 1 tsp Lemon Juice.
2. Refrigerate for 2 hours. 

Makes 1 ¾ Quarts

- Heather C.

Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken

Easy Recipes, Healthy Eating Ideas

Ingredients:
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tsp dried minced onion
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 24 ounces) or breasts
sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley

Directions:

1. Combine the first five dry spices in a small bowl and spread over chicken on both sides. Set aside.
2. Pour olive oil and garlic on the bottom of the slow cooker. Place chicken on top. Pour balsamic vinegar over the chicken.
3. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours.
4. Sprinkle with fresh parsley on top to serve.

By Metabolic Cooking Book: http://tiny.cc/Metabolic

Zucchini Oven Chips

Homesteading / Survivalism

Zucchini oven chips. Better than potato chips!

Ingredients:
1/4 cup ground almonds
1/4 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese
1/4 t seasoned salt
1/4 t garlic powder
1/8 t black pepper
2 T whole milk (or almond milk, etc)
2 1/2 cups (1/8 inch-thick) slices zucchini (about 2 small)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425.
2. Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk.
3. Place milk in a shallow bowl.
4. Dip zucchini slices in milk, and then coat in dry mixture.
5. Place coated slices on an oven proof wire rack coated with cooking spray; place rack on a baking sheet.
6. Bake at 425 for 20 minutes or until browned and crisp.

Serve immediately.

Minutes to Prepare: 10
Minutes to Cook: 20
Number of Servings: 4

Get yourself a mandoline slicer and save some time: http://amzn.to/146LrQn