Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore

My father is Italian. My mother is Irish. When they were dating, the first meal she made for him was chicken cacciatore. That was bold. But she forgot the spaghetti. That was a little embarrassing, and a cute story she's told many times, which makes a dish a sentimental favorite for me.

Now silly family stories aside, chicken cacciatore is a truly classic Italian dish. Translated, it means hunter chicken, and alla cacciatora means a dish prepared hunter-style. Now real chicken cacciatore involves braising the chicken slowly in wine, etc. But we don't have time for that in our busy lives, right? Of course not. But we do have a Crock Pot that will let us make a simplified yet delicious facsimile of the classic recipe.

Ingredients1 lb chicken
1 onion cut into eight pieces
1 green pepper cut into strips
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 small can tomato paste
1 lb pasta of your choice

DirectionsFirst a word about the chicken. Traditionally, you should use a cut up chicken still with the bones in. I find that a little more difficult to eat, especially when you're feeding it to children, so I prefer to use boneless chicken. When I made this the other day, I used breasts, but you can use whatever pieces of the chicken you'd like, including boneless thighs, which are readily available in your grocery store's meat department.

OK. Now that we have our chicken, put it in a Crock Pot. I like to put it in when the meat is still at least partly frozen so that it hold together a little better during a full-day's stewing. Next add in the onion and green pepper. Dump in the spaghetti sauce and the tomato paste. (I added this ingredient to the recipe even though I didn't use it myself the other day, because I found the sauce to be a little thin in the end, and I think the paste will help thicken it. I will update the recipe the next time I try it.)

Turn the Crock Pot on low, put on the lid and go to work. Dinner will be pretty much ready when you get home. All you'll have to do it make the pasta (I used rigatoni) when you get home.

Sorry for the bad photo. I'll update this, as well, the next time I make this.

The chicken will be fork tender. Serve it over pasta with some garlic bread and a side salad. It doesn't get much easier than this, and is perfect for a chilly day.

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

This is a family classic. My grandmother used to make this, and it is one of my Dad's favorites, so it's something we had fairly regularly, especially in the winter.

Now for those of you expecting regular old mac and cheese, think again. This is not a side dish. This is a meal in and of itself, though I seem to remember my grandmother occasionally serving it with baked flounder. But if you're looking for some serious comfort food, especially when it's cold, this is a legitimate, stick-to-your-ribs kinda meal. And on top of that, it's pretty darn easy to make. 

Ingredients

1 quart whole milk (you want to use whole milk, because you need the fat in it, or else the milk will cook off)

2 lbs. sharp cheddar (The traditional family recipe is white cheddar, but I like to use yellow as well just for color. The sharper the cheese the better!)

1 pound macaroni

Butter

Salt and pepper

Bread crumbs (I prefer Italian style)

Directions
Cook macaroni. Coat a large baking dish with cooking spray. Spread a layer of cooked macaroni in the dish and top with butter and cheese. Repeat until everything is used up with the top layer of cheese, sprinkling in a little salt and pepper as you go. Carefully pour in milk. You may not use it all. Sprinkle bread crumbs on top. Bake for at least 30 minutes at 350 until everything gets bubbly and melty, the milk is curdled and the top is well browned.

Again, this is not your usual mac and cheese. This is milky and a little messy, but oh, so good!

Cheesy Chicken Rolls

Full disclosure right off the top: This is not my recipe, and I don't know whose it is.

My Aunt RoseMary made this years ago during a trip I made to Illinois when I was in college, and I've always loved it. It does take a little time, which means it's nice for a Sunday afternoon, when you have a little extra time to cook. Believe me, it is worth the wait.

Ingredients
6 chicken breast halves, boned
garlic salt and onion salt to taste
1 small jar button mushrooms, drained (Per Aunt RoseMary's preference, I use regular mushrooms)
1/2 lb sharp cheddar cheese, cut into cubes
1/2 c. melted butter
1 1/2 c. cracker crumbs (saltines)
2 tsp dried parsley flakes

DirectionsPound breast halves until flat. Sprinkle with garlic and onion salts. Place one mushroom and one cube of cheese in center of breast and roll tightly. Hold it together with toothpicks. Dip chicken roll in melted butter. Mix cracker crumbs with parsley; roll chicken in crumb mixture. Place in buttered casserole. Cover. Bake at 300 for 1hr 30 min. Remove cover, Pour cream of chicken soup over rolls and bake 30 more minutes uncovered.

As you can see, it makes a great, creamy, cheesy sauce, which goes very well over egg noodles. It goes nicely with a green veggie on the side.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Don't forget to take out the toothpicks, especially if you're serving it to children. I make sure to use two toothpicks in each so that I know exactly how many to take out.

Christmas Breakfast Idea: Breakfast Casserole

We all know Christmas dinner is something most of us wait all year for, and if done right, it's certainly worth the wait and effort. Christmas breakfast, though, can be a little different experience.

As a kid, I was always up early on Christmas morning trying to get my family up to open presents. That was enough of a chore, but when I had to wait for my Mom to make coffee, it drove me nuts. Sometimes we had to wait until she made some cinnamon rolls, or else we didn't eat until after all the presents were open.

At some point, though, my Mom started making a breakfast casserole, which I've found to be the perfect Christmas breakfast.

First of all, it's easy and quick to make and can even be assembled ahead of time. Secondly, you can throw it in the oven when you start opening presents and not worry about it until it's done. Thirdly, it's delicious and filling enough to usually keep you going until a mid-afternoon feast.

Ingredients2 bags Simply Potatoes (They're in a green bag in the dairy section, usually by the eggs. I like to use one bag of plain and one of Southwest style, which adds a little flavor)
1 large carton of Egg Beaters (or any egg substitute)
1 package Butterball Everyday pre-cooked turkey sausage patties (This is great, because it keeps it from being greasy)
2 cups shredded cheese, divided (I like Mexican style, but just cheddar will work fine, too)

DirectionsChop up the sausage patties into little pieces and mix everything together in a large bowl, except for some of the cheese. Dump it all into a baking dish or casserole coated with cooking spray. Top with the rest of the cheese. Bake at at least 375 for at least 45-60 minutes. The key is to make sure the eggs are cooked in the middle. If it's not, microwave it until it is, or just be patient with the oven.

NOTE: You may need more eggs. If so, just add them in one at a time until you think everything is the right consistency.

By the way, if you like things like ketchup or hot sauce on your eggs, they'll work here, too.

Christmas Dinner Idea: Squash Casserole

One of the neat things about getting married is having your spouses family traditions become yours and vice versa. Well, at least the traditions you can get on board with. Let's be honest. Sometimes there are things your family has always done that your spouse things is crazy, and sometimes there are things her/his family does that you think are crazy.

But when things mesh, it's great! Take, for example, my wife's family tradition of Squash Casserole, that has found its place on our holiday table.

The Mrs. says she always remembers having here Nana's Squash Casserole at the holidays. Most of the time, she says, Nana showed up with it half-made, and they'd just have to bake it and enjoy! At age 95, Nana will join us this Christmas, and I hope she likes how I make her recipe. I made it for the first time at Thanksgiving, and I got high praise from my wife, and she said I could share it with all of you, so here goes.

Ingredients3 lbs yellow squash
3 eggs
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 sweet onion
10-12 Ritz crackers, crushed
1 bag (2 cups) 2% cheddar cheese, divided
French's fried onions

DirectionsCut up squash and dice onion. Combine and coil covered for about 30 minutes. Drain. Beat the eggs. Combine with squash, onions, soup, crackers and 1/2 cup of cheese. Mix and put in greased casserole dish. Bake in 350-375 degree oven for about 30 minutes. Test to make sure egg has gelled. Top with remainder of cheese. Put back in oven until cheese melts. Top with fried onions and put in oven until onions have browned.

If you have any issues in the middle with the eggs not setting, you can put it in the microwave for a few minutes.

Christmas Dinner Idea: Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Christmas is quickly approaching, and unfortunately I've fallen behind in my plans to share some dishes that have found a regular place on my family's holiday menu. But just like everything else involved in getting ready for Christmas, better late than never, right? So here goes.

One Christmas a couple decades ago my Aunt Rose Mary introduced us to this recipe. I don't know how often she's made it since, but there's rarely been a holiday dinner since on my side of the family that didn't include Broccoli Cheese Casserole. It's delicious, easy to make and even looks festive with its colors of red, green and gold.

Try it out at your holiday table, and you won't be disappointed. Even folks who are not big broccoli fans usually like it!

Ingredients20 oz. Frozen chopped broccoli

1 can cheddar cheese soup

1 can Italian recipe stewed tomatoes

2 eggs

2 cups Cheddar cheese – shredded, divided

Directions

Cook broccoli until tender and drain.

Beat eggs. Add to soup and tomatoes and mix together. Add broccoli and half of cheese, and mix together. Put mixture into a casserole dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle rest of cheese on top. Bake in a pre-heated 350-degree oven for 30 minutes.

By the way, you can use low fat cheese and soup to make this a little healthier. It tastes just as good.

Mexican Lasagna

Back during my bachelor days in Kentucky I found a recipe for something called Mexican Lasagna on a package of ground turkey. I used to make it fairly often, as it was super easy and made enough for a couple days worth of leftovers.

For some reason, after I moved to North Carolina, I never made it again, which is strange, because my wife loves Mexican. So a few weeks ago, when we were looking for a fresh meal idea, I searched for that little recipe sticker that I was certain I had kept all those years ago. Alas, I could not find it in my collection of recipes or anywhere online, but a few similar recipes jogged my memory, and I've been able to recreate it. My wife loves it, but the two-year-old is not a huge fan, as it's a little spicy, though that can be adjusted, which we hope means he will start eating it the next time we make it.

IngredientsCorn tortillas
1 lb ground beef or turkey
Taco seasoning (Or your own spices. I use cumin, chili powder, cayenne, garlic powder and red pepper)
1 can diced tomatoes (I've used ones with green chiles and ones that are seasoned for chili, but I'm gonna try plain for the youthful palate at the table)
1 small can green chiles (optional)
1 can red enchilada sauce
1 can black beans, drained
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese

DirectionsBrown beef or turkey and season to taste. Stir in tomatoes (including liquid), black beans and green chiles if desired. Simmer for 5-10 minutes.

Coat a baking dish with cooking spray. Spread some enchilada sauce in the bottom of the dish. Line the dish with tortillas. In the oval dish I use, I put two whole tortillas and then tear a third in half to cover the whole surface for each layer. Top the tortillas with more enchilada sauce, half the meat mixture, then one third of the cheese. Add another layer of tortillas, sauce, rest of the meat mixture, another third of the cheese. Put on one more layer of tortillas, the rest of the enchilada sauce and cheese.

Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes until the cheese is melted and everything is bubbly and hot.

Serve up like regular lasagna, but with your favorite Mexican toppings, like guacamole, salsa and sour cream.