This chili is so "easy breezy". You can cook on stovetop or even throw into a crockpot.







Ingredients:
1lb Ground Beef ( try to buy as lean as possible)
1+ canned beans ( I use 3 different kinds)
2 cans diced tomatoes (not pictured)
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
Chili Mix package

Brown the ground beef in a skillet, drain any excess grease.

Open all cans of beans ( I am using black, pinto and kidney beans) and diced tomatoes. Chop the onion and mince the garlic.

Put the ground beef into the chili pot.

Put one tablespoon of olive oil into skillet and lightly brown the onion. When it becomes translucent, add the garlic.

Once ready add to the ground beef.

Add cans of beans rinsed. (Rinsing the beans helps keep the effect of the beans to a minimum.)

Add the chili mix package and the cans of tomatoes, stir and let cook to allow all the flavors to blend. You can cook for as little as 30 min to most of day; if in a crockpot.

You can add diced fresh tomatoes, jalapeños, or several different spices such as paprika, cayenne pepper, chili powder etc if the chili package is not enough flavor or spice for you.

Add diced fresh onion or shredded cheese on top and a few crackers and it is a complete meal. All for well under $10!

This freezes well and is even better the next day!

Rotisserie Chicken use #1 Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

Rotisserie chicken is a godsend to busy people like me. I can make a few meals out of one. Here is use #1 for a rotisserie chicken.







"Easy breezy" chicken soup in the crock-pot. Set it and forget it; my favorite kind of cooking!

 

I usually put aside some for dinner that night with a salad and maybe a starch such as a rice or potato. Sandwiches for the next day's lunch, some for some sort of soup and of course some for the dog...

For the soup base I use the chicken carcass I picked as clean as  possible, add a few pcs of chicken such as the drumsticks, wings and a few pcs of white meat.

 

You can skip all the ingredients and put in the parts of chicken including the carcass, stick 2-3 boulin cubes into the pot and veggies and you are good to go. And you can adjust seasonings to your liking. I do not like celery so you do not see any here, but the classic recipes all use celery.

 Ingredients:
Chicken carcass and chicken pieces
2/3 cup carrots
12/3 cup mushroom
1 onion
2 teaspoons Magi (or soy sauce)
1 teaspoon Seasoned Salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika (optional)

I use the Reynolds Crock-pot Liners for super fast clean up. Put all the chicken, seasonings, veggies in and enough water to cover. Set on high for 3-4 hrs and low 6 up to 8hrs.

You can take out the carcass and add noddles to the broth last 10 min but they will be soggy. I suggest cooking noodles separately and then adding the broth.













I add a little fresh parsley right before serving. (I try to sneak a green or veggie any chance I get and with this it is delicious.)

If you are using rice or barley which are both delicious, add then about 30 min before the dish is to be done. Super easy, healthy, delicious and under $5 to make!

Crockpot Beef Stew

Now that the weather is getting colder and our schedules are so busy, I love to look to the crock pot for fast, inexpensive, set it and forget it meals.

This crock pot beef stew is amazing and so "Easy Breezy". Took me 15-20 min prep time and then it cooked high 4 hrs or low up to 8.

Ingredients:

2 lbs beef stew meat
5 sm/med potato
2 cups reg (chopped) or baby carrots
1 onion
3 cloves of garlic
1 fresh jalapeno (optional)
1/2 cup flour
salt/pepper to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
         


I love love love these liners!! I love to cook in the crock pot but it is such a pain to clean it. These take all the pain away. Most of the time its just a quick rinse, since I just toss the liner. These babies run around $2-$3 bucks and highly recommend. Saves hours of soaking.

I put a little flour, salt and pepper into a plastic bag and add the stew meat, shake to coat lightly. I add the flour a little at a time so not to over coat.

Heat on med/high heat 2 tbsp oil ( I use olive). Add the beef and allow at least 3-4 min on each side to get a nice beautiful brown sear. This will lock in the flavors and the juiciness. 

While the beef is cooking. Clean and cut the potatoes, garlic and jalapeno (optional). I put it in because we like just a little heat. Most people put celery but I do not like it.

Put the veggies on the bottom as they take longer than proteins to cook in a crock pot.



You want a sear and the beef to get juicy, it will cook in the crock pot. Add enough beef stock to cover the meat and cook. Add pinch of salt and pepper or other seasoning you think you may like. You can even buy a .99 cent pkg of seasoning at the store if prefer.

Bullion cubes found in the seasoning isle are just concentrated cubes of stock. Comes in all kinds of flavors. You dilute it w/ water to save in buying actually stock in cans or containers.

4 hrs on high and about 8 hrs on low. Can go longer. Will be even more tender if sits a little longer. That is why the crock pot is  a great work day kitchen aid.

Even though it is tempting do not lift the lid. If you do add about 20 min of time. You know when it is done because the house smells amazing at this point.

         
             Beef stew was on sale for $3.99 lb. So the whole crock pot was right around $10!
                                                                    Enjoy!