Thanksgiving Turkey

You may already have your own way to make turkey.  This is for people who do not.  I heard someone on the radio briefly say how they make turkey in 2005 (our first Thanksgiving as a married couple) and I wanted to make my first turkey, so when I got home I jotted it down as best I could remember.  It is super yummy and very tender.  I love it!!!

oven baking bag
2 sticks of butter, melted
1 cup red wine
Whatever spices you like (I use salt, pepper, savory, cumin, rosemary, sage, celery seed, thyme, oragano, and basil)- 1 tsp. each
1 turkey
Combine spices into 1 melted butter stick.  Rub on turkey skin.
Put turkey (after bags are removed) in an oven baking bag (prepare the turkey according to directions that the cooking bag gives you)
mix 1 stick of melted butter with spices (again- 1 tsp. both times) and wine.  Pour mixture inside and around the turkey.
Cook the turkey according to the directions on the cooking bag!

Enjoy!

Chicken Enchiladas

 I have to add this recipe because it is one of my personal favorites.  I am pretty sure it came from my friend, Jessica Krassow.  It is super yummy and easy!

1 lb cooked chicken

1 pkg taco seasoning

2 cans cream of chicken soup

2 small cans of chopped green chilis

16 oz sour cream

your favorite shredded cheese (I like Colby Jack or Fiesta Blend)

tortillas (I use either Carb Balance tortillas or whole wheat)

Mix chicken and taco seasoning together

In a large bowl, mix soup, chilis, and sour cream

Place 1/2 of the sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 dish.  Place chicken into tortillas (just as full as you want it) and spring with cheese.  Roll them up and place them in dish.  Top with remaining sauce and sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top.  Back at 325 for 30 minutes. 

Bacon Ranch Chicken

Found another winner!  How could I not try this recipe from Crockin' Girls that's title includes three of my favorite things?!

4 chicken breasts

2T real bacon bits

1t minced garlic

1 can cream of chicken
I pkg. ranch mix

1c sour cream

egg noodles

Put chicken in crock pot.  Combine bacon, garlic, ranch, soup, and sour cream.  Mix well and pour over chicken.  Cook on high for 3-4 hours.  Cook noodles according to package.  Shred chicken in crock pot and mix in noodles.  Yum!

World's Greatest Chili!

I made up the title because it is true.  This recipe came from my dear friend, Deedee.  It is absolutely the best chili I have ever had.  I am a Texan and I like my chili hearty.  I am not a fan of runny chili... that is just soup.  This chili is so good that I am going to give you the original recipe and I will just tell you in parentheses what I do.

1.5 lbs extra lean ground beef (I use 2 lbs)

2-3 cans (15 oz) pinto beans, drained (I use 3 cans)

1 onion, chopped

3 cloves minced garlic

1- 15 oz can whole tomatoes cut, juice rsvd.

1- 6 oz can tomato paste

1/2 c. water

2-3 T chili powder (I use 2 because Brittney hates spicy things.)

2 t. salt

1 t. dried oregano leaves

1 t ground cumin

1/4 t. pepper

Crumble ground beef into cooker with beans, onion, and garlic.  Mix everything else in a bowl and pour into cooker.  Stir.  Cook high 3.5-4 hours or Low 7-8 hours.  (I just leave mine in all day on low and it is fine).

And of course, I top it with LOTS of cheese.  My family keeps the dairy industry in business!  Seriously fantastic chili.  Even Mallory ate it (and if you know my child, you know that is a big deal!)

Most Amazing Pork Chops Ever

As you probably know, the crock pot is my hands-down, absolute favorite kitchen appliance.  I use it so much that the one I got for our wedding (just 6 years ago) bit the dust and I recently had to go get another one.  Tonight was the first time I tried this recipe and it skyrocketed up the list of family favorites.  And to top it off, it could not be easier!  I got it off the crock pot girls facebook page (another favorite!)  The picture at the bottom is not pretty because the meat literally falls off the bone.  It was very difficult to get it out of the crock pot.  I hope you love it as much as we did!

Most Amazing Pork Chops Ever

4 bone-in, thick cut pork chops (I think the thick cut is important, I think it I had gotten the regular chops, they would have cooked through more quickly and not been as tender)
1 can of cream of chicken
1 package dry onion soup mix
1 package of brown gravy mix
1.5 c. of chicken broth

Put chops in the slow cooker
in a mixing bowl, whisk cream of chicken, soup, gravy, and broth.  Pour over chops.  Cook low all day.  Serve with mashed potatoes. 

critics acclaim: "These are the bomb!" -Branden
"These are literally the best pork chops I have ever had.  I will never eat pork chops any other way again." -Steven

Baked Parmesan Spaghetti

This recipe came from another blog: howsweettreats.com (got it from Pinterest).  I did venture off the recipe slightly, so I will tell you what I did.  Very easy and yummy. 
3/4 lb. whole wheat spaghetti (you can use regular, but whole wheat is better for you)
1/2 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1T olive oil
1 lb. ground beef (I used very lean)
1t salt
1t pepper
10-12 fresh basil leaves (I could not find fresh, so I use dry basil to taste, but I definitely want to try with fresh!)
jar of spaghetti sauce
1 lb. bag of shredded mozzerella
1/2 c. grated parmesan

Preheat oven to 350.  Cook spaghetti according to package.  Heat skillet to medium.  Add olive oil and onion.  Saute onion until soft.  Add garlic.  Stir for another minute.  Add meat.  Season meat with salt, pepper, and basil.  Cook in skillet until browned.  Add spaghetti sauce.  Drain spaghetti and put half of it in a 9x13 dish or a casserole dish.  Top with half of sauce mixture and half of each cheese.  Repeat layers.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Yum!

Crock Pot BBQ Ribs

 The only problem I had with these ribs was actually getting them out of the crock pot because the meat was literally falling off the bone.  They were delicious.  Brittney just sat at the table sucking on the bones for a while.  I am not sure where this recipe came from.  Enjoy!

4-6 lbs. Baby Back Ribs

1/3c. dark brown sugar

1 T. paprika

1.5t chili powder

1t salt

1t ground coriander seed

1/2 t cayenne pepper

3/4 t ground oregano

3/4 t ground peppercorns

1/4 t sugar

1 bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce

*Note- I did not measure the seasonings exactly.  I just guestimated.  

Mix all dry seasonings in a bowl.  Rub all over ribs (both sides)  Place ribs in crock pot on their edge so they are standing up in a circle and the meat is not actually touching the pot.  Cook low all day.  Serve with BBQ sauce.