Breakfast Casserole

I was shocked when I realized I hadn't posted this recipe yet! This is one of our biggest breakfast for dinner fav's EVER! My kids devour this pan so quickly that unfortunately, there is never enough for next night leftovers haha! This meal freezes so good, and I love to make a couple of extra pans to stick in the freezer. (Just note, that it takes quite a while to thaw out though and if not completely thawed out, plan on an extra 20-30 minutes cooking time!). 

1 lb bacon crumbled (or buy the pre-cooked crumbled bacon for an even quicker version :)

1/2 cup onion chopped

3/4 cup red bell pepper, chopped (optional. We like it both ways)

2 tbsp Dijon mustard

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

3/4 cup milk

12 eggs

1 pkg frozen hash browns, thawed

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Cook bacon and then remove and saute onion and pepper. Set aside. In large bowl beat milk and eggs. Add the mustard, salt and pepper. Set aside. Grease a 9x13 and spread half of the hash browns in the dish. Spread the bacon onion pepper mixture on top. Sprinkle on 1 cup of cheese. Spread remaining hash browns  over top. Pour egg mixture over the top of hash browns. Bake, uncovered at 325 degrees for 50-60 minutes. Sprinkle remaining cup of cheese (and any extra bacon if you have it) on top! Serve with toasted English muffins or bread.

Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken

This is the easiest meal I think I have ever made! I kid you not! I threw the chicken in still frozen, opened 2 cans and started the slow cooker! Eight hours later, with some cream cheese and chips, I had a meal that my family literally devoured! Baby doll took one look at it and said "I don't like this stuff" (granted, it's not the prettiest looking stuff in the world) but after one bite, she changed her mind and even came back for a big helping of seconds. So glad for another dang good recipe!!

1-15 oz can Pinto Beans

1- 4 oz can chopped green chilies

1 pkg. of taco seasoning

2-3 chicken breasts (depending on size)

1 pkg. cream cheese

Add beans and chilies with juice, chicken and seasoning in slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. An hour before it is done shred the chicken and add the cream cheese. Serve with hot tortilla chips, rice or on tortillas.

Easy Peasy Pumpkin Cookies

I love that Rachel loves to bake! And I love even more that she likes to make my fav sweets :). These awesome cookies are so simple and so quick to make up, you just might find yourself making them more often than you should (not to mention stocking up on Spice cake mixes)!

1 box Spice cake mix

1 small can pumpkin pie

½ tsp cloves

1 tsp cinnamon

3/4 bag of chocolate chips

1/4 bag cinnamon chips (optional but super yummy ;)

Mix everything together and then spoon onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake 375 for 8-10 minutes and then let cool on the pan for a couple more minutes.

Frito and Corn Salad

I have been looking for more summer salad recipes, and I am so glad I ran into this one from thethrifycouple.com! We had this as a side to the Baked Creamy Taquitos and it was a hit! Even baby girl kept asking for more! You'll want to stock up on chili cheese Fritos because this is sure to become a fast favorite!

2 (15 oz) cans whole kernel corn, drained

2 cups grated cheddar cheese

1 cup mayo

1 cup bell pepper, chopped

1/2 cup red onion, chopped

1 (10 1/2 oz) bag coarsely crushed chili cheese Fritos corn chips

Mix the first 5 ingredients and chill. Stir in corn chips just before serving. Enjoy!!

Asian Summer Salad

The first time I tried this, my friend Debra had brought it over after I'd had my son. I've never liked Ramen noodles or cared for cabbage, but one bite of this changed my whole perspective! I seriously could not stop eating it. Of course I had to immediately get the recipe and start bombarding my family with my newest love affair every other week. Seven years later, this is still one of our fav summer salads (especially with a nice juicy hot-off-the-grill hamburger!).

1 head cabbage, shredded or 1 bag of Coleslaw

5 green onions, chopped

1/2 cup slivered almonds

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

2 packages Chicken Top Ramen uncooked, broken into pieces

Mix all of these ingredients together

In a separate bowl combine:

1/2 cup oil

4 tbsp vinegar

2 tbsp sugar

2 tsp chicken bouillon

1/2 tsp pepper

2 envelopes seasoning packets from the Top Ramen

Combine all and pour over salad 1-2 hours before serving.

For another variation, add cooked chicken for a one bowl meal!

One Pot Mac and CheeseI

I ran into this recipe the other day on tipgarden.blogspot.com and thought it would be a perfect addition to the River Chicken (and easy meal for a super busy day). I threw all the ingredients into the crock pot 3 hours before dinner, and voila! My family had thought I had made the best meal ever :)

Cooking oil spray

2 cups milk

1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk

1 egg

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 1/2 cups preshredded sharp cheddar cheese

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni

Spray the pot of the slow cooker. In a mixing bowl whisk together milk, evaporate milk, egg, salt and pepper. Pour milk mixture into the crockpot. Add cheese and uncooked macaroni. Stir gently to mix.

Turn slow cooker on low and cook for 3 hours (this is a custard style mac and cheese so it gets really thick so it is supposed to be able to be cut like a brownie. I don't like this style as much, and it was plenty cooked at 3 hours, but was still creamy so don't cook more than 3 hours ON LOW if you don't want custard style and if you do want custard style, still don't cook more than 4 hours on low).

River Chicken

Don't be fooled by the simpleness of this recipe! My friend Lilly's dad was a river guide years ago and part of his responsibilities including providing lunch for the people on the raft, so he would make them River Chicken. This seriously couldn't get any easier (or much cheaper for that matter), and yet it is so satisfying! My husband is ecstatic every time he comes and smells this cooking! What's great about it is that if it gets done cooking before you are ready to eat, just fold the tinfoil up on and over itself to trap the moisture inside. And its just as good cold for leftovers.

Bone-in chicken (any part works so choose what your fam likes the best or what's on sale :)

Lawry's Season Salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place tinfoil on a cookie sheet and place chicken on top. Sprinkle Lawry's season salt generously all over the top of the chicken. Bake, uncovered, for 60 minutes. Enjoy one of the juiciest, crispiest pieces of baked chicken you'll ever have!