I don't pretend that any of these come close to healthy...but all are yummy, easy and real-life-worthy...
I also have found that a little of something I actually enjoy eating is often better than gobs of something deemed "healthy"....
Great for if you like to keep supplies on hand to make a quick meal for someone who needs it.
*my asterisk is that I rarely measure ANYTHING & I'm looking for large quantities with leftovers (if you don't have a large family--might want to 1/2 the recipes)....
Green Chile Chicken Rice
2 cans condensed cream of celery soup
1 container light sour cream
2 cans mild green chilies
2 cups cheddar cheese (sharp if you have it)
3 cups uncooked instant rice
Cooked chicken pieces or Costco-packs of sliced, cooked chicken
Mix all.
Put in "pammed" casserole dish (should be large)
Cover the top with sharp cheddar cheese
Bake at 350 for 45 min.
Serve with oven baked refried beans/tortilla chips/fruit or salad
Chili Sauce Beef--this is SO SO good!
Brisket or Round or Round Tip Roast (several pounds...I aim for 4lbs if I want left-overs)
Place meat in "pammed" crockpot (or Le Creuset roaster *see note below)
Sprinkle with 2 packets of lipton onion soup mix
Add 2 jars of Heinz chili sauce
Add 1/2 cup water around the edges (I just fill the chili jars with a bit of water and shake & then add)
Cook in crockpot on low for 8-ish hours.
Slice or shred to serve.
Great with baked or cheese or steamed potatoes.
*My mom gave me a Le Creuset roaster last year for my birthday and as skeptical as I was (because of the cost) it is absolutely amazing. If you are fortunate enough to have one...definitely use it for this one...same recipe....but bake at 350 for 3 hrs. with the lid on.
Pork Loin Spaghetti
Cut all fat off of pork loin package...at least 6 pieces
Put in "Pammed" crock pot
Cut up peppers (red, yellow, green) on top
Pour over 1 large Costco-sized jar of spaghetti sauce or two smaller sized jars
Cook on high for 6 hours
Around hour 5 pull apart pork loins/shred with two forks
Cook noodles as directed.
Top with pork sauce
Serve with salad, bread and cut up melons
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Costco pack of frozen meatballs
Sauce: 3.5 cups tomato juice
1 cup brown sugar
10 gingersnaps crushed
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 tsp. onion salt or minced onion
Put meatballs in 13 X 9 greased dish.
Heat sauce ingredients to boil over medium.
Pour over meatballs
Back uncovered at 350 for 40-45 min
Serve over rice.
Chicken Pazole
3 cloves garlic minced (or 3 tsp. already minced garlic)
1 chopped onion
1-2 lbs cooked chicken cut into little pieces (cook in light oil)
1 large can red enchilada (mild) sauce
1/2 tsp. dried oregano (or fresh)
2 cups chicken broth
2 cans (15oz.) white or yellow hominy drained
Bring all to boil and then reduce to simmer.
Ladle into bowl and top with lettuce, cheddar and lime.
Serve with tortilla chips or quesadilla wedges.
The Best Fruit Jello Salad:
(this is truly THE BEST fruit jello salad and it goes with pretty much everything):
2 large packages strawberry jello (not instant)
2 packages unflavored gelatin
2 large cans crushed pineapple (drained)
2 cans mandarin oranges (drained)
2 packages frozen raspberries
1 cup boiling water
Pour gelatin and strawberry jello packages into 9 X 13.
Boil water and pour into 9 X 13.
Mix until jello is melted.
Add the rest of the ingredients in order listed.
Mix well.
Stick in refrigerator for at least 3 hours.
Yum!
