Low Country Smothered Pork Chops

Ingredients:

4 - center-cut pork chops (inch thick)
salt and pepper
ground cayenne pepper, to taste (optional)
2 - tablespoons butter
1/4 - cup all-purpose flour
2 - medium green bell peppers, stemmed, cored, and seeds removed, cut into strips
2 - small onions or 1 large. trimmed, cut lengthwise
2 - cloves garlic, minced
2 - cups low sodium chicken broth or stock
2 - 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce

Directions:

Trim the excess fat from the chops and season well with salt, pepper, and cayenne if using. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.

Lightly roll the chops in flour, shake off any excess, and place them into the pan. Brown well, about 3 minutes per side, and remove to a plate and set aside.

In the same skillet add the green peppers and onions and saute until softened (about 3 minutes). Stir in the minced garlic and cook until fragrant (about one minute). 

Push the vegetables to the side of the skillet. Add pork chops to pan and place vegetables on top of pork chops. Pour in the chicken broth and sprinkle with Worcestershire sauce.

Tightly cover the skillet with foil and allow to simmer for 45 minutes or until chops are tender.

Crockpot Taco Chicken Bowls

Ingredients

1½ lbs. chicken breasts
1 (16 oz.) jar salsa
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained
½ lb. (8 oz.) frozen corn
1 Tbsp chili powder
½ Tbsp cumin
½ Tbsp minced garlic
½ tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
¼ tsp salt
to taste cracked pepper
2 cups dry rice
8 oz. shredded cheddar
½ bunch cilantro (optional)

Instructions

Add everything except the rice, cheese, and cilantro to the slow cooker along with ¼ cup of water (for good measure). Give everything a good stir and make sure the chicken is covered in the mixture.
Secure the lid on your slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hrs.

Near the end of the cooking time, cook the two cups of rice according to the package directions (Bring the rice and 3 cups of water to a boil in a medium pot with a lid in place, as soon as it reaches a boil, reduced the heat to low and let simmer for 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving).
After 8 hours of cooking, carefully remove the lid of the slow cooker. Stir with a fork to shred the chicken (it should be super tender and will shred easily). Build the taco bowls by placing rice on the bottom, then the taco chicken mix, shredded cheese and fresh cilantro.

Baked Parmesan Zucchini

INGREDIENTS

4 zucchini, quartered lengthwise
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a cooling rack with nonstick spray and place on a baking sheet; set aside.
In a small bowl, combine Parmesan, thyme, oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt and pepper, to taste.
Place zucchini onto prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with Parmesan mixture. Place into oven and bake until tender, about 15 minutes. Then broil for 2-3 minutes, or until the crisp and golden brown.
Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.

Crockpot Lasagna

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, finely diced
1 tbsp. garlic, minced
1 jar (26 oz.) spaghetti sauce
1 cup water
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
1 (15 oz.) container small curd cottage cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
1 egg
2 tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
1 teaspoon pepper
lasagna noodles, uncooked
salt, to taste

Directions:

Brown and crumble ground beef in a large skillet.
(You need a larger skillet for this because you'll be adding the spaghetti sauce and water to it later). Then add in onion and garlic and cook for additional 1-2 minutes. I like to season my beef mixture with a little salt at this point too.
Drain excess grease from beef. And put back into skillet. Pour in spaghetti sauce, water and cherry tomatoes (if using).

Give it all a good stir (you can turn the heat off at this point). Give it a taste test, add additional salt if necessary.

In a separate bowl, mix together cottage cheese, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, 2 tbsp. parmesan cheese, egg, pepper and chopped parsley. (Put your remaining cheeses back in the fridge, you'll be using those as a topping later).

Spray Crock Pot with non-stick cooking spray. Scoop approximately 1 cup of meat sauce into bottom of slow cooker. Top with one layer of uncooked lasagna noodles.
Just do your best to break them up to fit into your crock pot. Next top with a layer of the cheese mixture. Keep adding layers, ending with meat sauce.

I was able to get 3 layers in my 5-quart slow cooker.

Put the lid on and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
(It took exactly 4 hours in my slow cooker).
You want most of the liquid to be absorbed and noodles should be soft. When it is finished cooked add the remaining cheeses.
Put the lid back on for about 10-15 more minutes until cheese is melted.

Applesauce Puffs

Ingredients:

2 c. Bisquick
3/4 c. sugar (divided)
3 t. cinnamon (divided)
1/2 c. applesauce
1/4 c. milk
1 egg
2 T. oil
5 T. melted butter

Directions:

Combine Bisquick, 1/4c. sugar and 1 t. innamon.
Stir in applesauce, milk, egg and oil until well mixed.
Fill greases muffin pan 2/3 full.
Back at 400 for 10 min.
In a bowl mix 1/2 c. sugar with 2 t. cinnamon.
Dip hot puffs in bowl of melted butter and then in bowl of cinnamon and sugar.

Easy Garlic Chicken

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons olive oil
1/4 cup diced onion
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
4 tablespoons brown sugar

Directions:

Heat oven to 450°F. Line shallow roasting pan with foil; spray foil with nonstick cooking spray.

Heat oil in small nonstick skillet over medium-low heat until hot. Add garlic; cook 1 to 2 minutes or until garlic begins to soften, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; stir in brown sugar until well mixed.

Place chicken breast halves in sprayed foil-lined pan. Spread garlic mixture evenly over chicken.

Bake at 450°F. for 20 to 30 minutes or until chicken is fork-tender and juices run clear.

One Pot Burrito Bowl

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup red bell pepper
1/2 cup diced sweet onion
1 pound lean hamburger
1/3 cup Salsa
1 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 15 oz can corn, drained
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
1 4 oz can diced green chiles
1 cup rice
1 Tablespoon taco seasoning
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
2 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 cup shredded cheddar/jack cheese
S & P to taste

Optional toppings:

Sour cream
Cilantro
Green Onions
Tomatoes
Avocado

Directions:

In a large pan heat the olive oil over medium heat. Saute the onions and red peppers. Add in hamburger and cook until browned. Stir in salsa, black beans, corn, tomatoes, green chiles, jasmine rice, taco seasoning and chili powder. Pour in chicken stock and then bring to a light boil. Cover the pan and reduce heat to low. Cook for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the rice is all the way cooked.

When rice is done, S&P to taste. Top with your favorite toppings. We like to serve over lettuce in a salad bowl and eat with tortilla chips.