Dump and Go Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy

It only takes 5 Ingredients and a Slow Cooker to make this hearty comfort meal!

It's New Year's Eve!  I'm kissing 2019 goodbye and looking forward to a strong, positive and forward moving 2020.  How about you?

We don't really make resolutions for the New Year as resolutions tend to be specific and goal oriented and let's be honest, we never really stick to them for very long.  Instead we do something we call New Year's "intentions".  I heard about these several years ago and they really resonated with me.  

Deepak Chopra said, “intentions are the starting point of every dream—the seed of creation.”  Don't you just love that?  Intentions are statements and declarations of what you both desire and consciously intend to be, learn, do, have, feel or experience in a coming period of time, like the coming year.  Instead of saying, "I want to lose 10 pounds" say "I would love to have a better relationship with food."

Some of my intentions deal with taking charge of my life and job.  Not to allow circumstances control me.  Just getting my strength back and creating my destiny.  Another has to do with food.  Such as, not stressing over creating the most perfect dish each night, and not worrying about repeat dishes.  As a blogger I cook a new dish most days with little repeats.  This is tiring!  So my intention is to ease up on cooking new meals constantly and to create a base of EASY dishes I can count on in a pinch.  In comes today's recipe.

DUMP AND GO SLOW COOKER CHICKEN AND GRAVY

Comfort food galore....and easy to boot!  This is a simple version of my mom's chicken and gravy she served while I was growing up...but easier.  All you need is a slow cooker and 5 ingredients.  Dump and go recipes are just that.  You literally dump everything in the slow cooker and turn it on.  4 hours later you will have the most wonderful chicken and mushrooms with gravy.  

Use whatever chicken pieces you enjoy.  I used boneless skinless chicken breast since that's what I had on hand.  Serve this with mashed potatoes or rice and a vegetable and a dinner roll and you are set.  But what about leftovers???  Yes! leftovers are fabulous too!  Just shred up that chicken and put it in a toasted french roll, and don't forget to drizzle on the mushrooms and some gravy. Ah Mazing!  

Go ahead and take a cooking break!  You deserve it, and this fabulous meal.
Enjoy!





Dump and Go Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy


serves 4-6

2 pounds chicken pieces - I used boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 (1-ounce) packet dried onion soup mix
2 (.75 to 1-ounce) packets brown gravy mix
3 cups water
8 oz sliced baby bella mushrooms

Mix the onion soup mix, gravy mixes and water together in the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the chicken, making sure it is covered with liquid.  Add the mushrooms and then cover.  Cook on low for 4 hours.

Note: if you prefer a thicker sauce mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water. Pour this in the slow cooker and stir. Turn the heat to high and cook for 20 minutes.

1 Hour Dinner Rolls

1 Hour Dinner Rolls is an honest to goodness simple basic dinner roll recipe that is done in a flash.

Yum

It's Christmas Eve, Eve...

We're getting ready for the Holiday over here and today I'm doing my last minute grocery shopping.  I like to start any make ahead items that I have on the menu the day before the holiday so that the cooking on the big day is stress free....or at least less frantic!

I make my dessert the day before, such as this Easy Chocolate Coconut Tart or my Pumpkin Pie with Orange Marmalade.  I prep my salads such as Ina's Winter Slaw or my Arugula Spinach Salad with Feta, Cranberries, and Pecans and dress them the day of.  Plus I also make any type of homemade bread if I'm serving that.

1 HOUR DINNER ROLLS

Today we are going to make 1 Hour Dinner Rolls.  These rolls are sooooo delicious and really super easy to make.  Honestly, a stand mixer does all the work for you so you can have hot steamy homemade rolls in an hour.  Don't be put off by the though of using yeast.  It really is easy to use and this recipe doesn't require any special yeast blooming techniques and very little proofing of the dough, so you get your rolls done quick and easy.  That's my kind of bread baking!  We don't have time these days, especially on a holiday, to put a lot of time and effort into one dish when there are so many to focus on.  This recipe is an honest to goodness simple basic dinner roll recipe that is done in a flash.  This will be your go-to recipe for dinner rolls from now on!

As I mentioned your stand mixer is the key here. You'll add your ingredients and mix up the dough, a really simple step.  You'll need to use the dough hook for this recipe, which will knead your dough so you don't  have to do it by hand.  Half the battle is done for you!  After a short proofing in a bowl, then you will just need to roll them into balls and place them on a tray to proof one more time and then bake!  Poof! fresh rolls!

How do you reheat dinner rolls?  As I am making these the day before our meal you can reheat these rolls easily by wrapping them in foil and placing them in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes. 

Storing dinner rolls:  Your rolls should be placed in an airtight bag or container on the counter for several days.

Can I freeze these dinner rolls?  Yes!  You can freeze these rolls for up to 6 weeks.  Thaw the rolls and heat them up or eat at room temperature.  They come out really well frozen.

Easy is the word that comes to mind when I think of making these rolls.  Hot, steamy rolls slathered in butter are the perfect accompaniment to any meal, especially when they are homemade!

Enjoy!


1 Hour Dinner Rolls

yield: 16 rolls


4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon instant yeast (rapid rise yeast) 

2 tablespoons sugar 

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons butter, softened 

1 1/2 cups warm water

Topping: 3 Tablespoons butter, melted

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, add the flour, yeast, sugar and salt. Mix to combine.

Add in the softened butter and mix on low speed until the butter breaks up into large breadcrumbs. While still mixing, slowly stream in the water. (Note: add enough water all for your dough to form a tight ball and clean the bottom of the bowl. You might not need all the liquid)

Increase the speed to medium and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and form it into an even ball. Using a dough cutter or knife, cut the dough in half. Roll each half of the dough into a long log. Cut each log into 8 rolls. Roll each one into the shape of a ball (see easy rolling technique in video above) Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Place each rolled piece of dough about 1 inch apart.

While the rolls are rising, melt the butter in a small bowl. Set aside.

When the rolls have risen for the second time and joined together, lightly brush the rolls with half of the melted butter (reserve the other half for after they are baked).

Bake until golden brown, roughly 18-22 minutes. Immediately after removing the rolls from the oven, brush them with the remaining melted butter.

After cooling slightly pull apart and serve. 
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• recipe source: Bigger Bolder Baking

Holiday Treat: Yogurt Pecan Streusel Muffins

Yum

It's holiday baking time and I've got a treat for you today!

Each year for Christmas breakfast I make a special treat that's a holiday tradition.  But what do you make the day after Christmas?  Everyone is tired but you still want that holiday feel to your meal.  Never fear, turn to my latest holiday treat:

YOGURT PECAN STREUSEL MUFFINS

These holiday inspired muffins will fill your house with holiday scents of cinnamon!  They are moist and sinfully delicious inside and topped with a decadent pecan cinnamon brown sugar streusel.  These muffins are to die for!

This is a small batch of 6 muffins.   Just easy enough to whip up for a holiday breakfast treat.  One the kids and the whole family will devour in no time!  The muffins whip up in one bowl so clean up is easy.  Plus, they have the addition of Greek Yogurt for a healthier treat plus a kick of protein. 

These are defiantly something you will want to make right away.  You can double the recipe for a batch of 12 with no problems.  You may want to because these babies will be gone in no time!

Enjoy!








Yogurt Pecan Streusel Muffins


yield: 6 muffins



Streusel topping:
1/3 cups pecans, finely chopped
1/6 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 

Muffins:

2 tablespoons canola oil  

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1/2 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt (such as Fage)

2 tablespoons 2% milk

1 large egg 

1/3 cup sugar
1 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 heaping teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Spray a 6 well muffin tin with cooking spray.  Set aside.

In a small bowl, combine streusel ingredients and mix together into large crumbs. 

In a large bowl add oil, vanilla, yogurt, and the egg.  Whisk until well combined.  Add the sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.  Mix until just combined.  Do not overmix.

Scoop into a prepared muffin tin.  Top with streusel topping.  Bake for 17-19 minutes until golden brown.  Remove from the oven and cool in pan for 5 minutes.  Remove from the pan to a cooling rack.  Serve.



adapted from: My Recipes

3 Ingredient Tomato Gnocchi Soup

A steamy hot bowl of delicious tomato soup loaded with plump gnocchi and a dash of spinach.  Served with a salad and some crusty hot bread, this dinner is a nice hearty meal on a cold winter night.  

Yum

Hi everyone!  It's been a couple of weeks since I posted anything.  We took a little time off for the holidays!  Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with family and love (and good food!).

I wanted to pop in today with a quick recipe.  Well, it's not really a recipe because you don't actually have to make anything from scratch!  When we are in holiday mode and there are a zillion things to do to get ready I don't have all day to cook.  Do you feel that way too?  The question becomes "how do we get all this done and still put something hearty and satisfying on the table?  Today's I'm bringing your the perfect convenience item recipe to solve that dilemma.

3 INGREDIENT TOMATO GNOCCHI SOUP

Picture a steamy hot bowl of delicious tomato soup loaded with plump gnocchi and a dash of spinach.  Served with a salad and some crusty hot bread, this dinner is a nice hearty meal on a cold winter night.  

It only takes 3 ingredients to make this....yes 3!  And, I purchased all of them at Trader Joe's.  But, don't worry if you don't have a Trader Joe's near you, you can find similar items at Target, or your local grocery store!

What ingredients do I need?

• tomato soup
• frozen or fresh gnocchi
• baby spinach

That's all it takes and it couldn't be simpler than heating it all up!  Trader Joe's frozen gnocchi are stuffed with tomato sauce and mozzarella, so they create and extra creamy bite in your soup.  But don't stop there....you can substitute the gnocchi with tortellini or ravioli.  Both of which will make an excellent soup add-in and you cook them right in the heating soup!

So take a break from all the holiday rush and serve up a warm bowl of soup with the held of some store bought items.  The recipe below will show you how!

Enjoy!

3 Ingredient Tomato Gnocchi Soup

make 4 cups

32 oz carton tomato soup (such as Trader Joe's Creamy Tomato Soup)

16 oz. bag frozen gnocchi (such as Trader Joe's Outside-In  Stuffed Gnocchi)

2 handfuls baby spinach

In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, add tomato soup and gnocchi.  Bring soup to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer and allow to cook about 5-7 minutes.  Once gnocchi are heated through add in spinach and stir until wilted.  Serve immediately.  

Source: www.thekitchn.com