Cugino's Chili Fixins' Mix - Eating From the Pantry/Freezer

1 package of Cugino's Chili Fixin's Mix (bought at Wal-Mart)
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 15 oz can chili beans
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes
4 cups water
1-2 lb ground beef
(I had all of this on hand!)


Just follow the directions on the package.  So easy!                                                      It is good for 'quick' chili.  I've made others I like better but for a quick meal this one will do.

Eating From The Pantry/Freezer

Well folks, we are going to try something new for awhile.  The other day I cleaned out my refrigerator, pantry and freezer.  I filled up four trash bags full of trash!  Expired condiments, freezer burned meats, science projects, etc.  I had some limes in my fridge that were a whole different shade of green than the one they are suppose to be!  Yuck!  Anyway, it made me ashamed at ourselves for being so wasteful with food and the money we spent on it!!!  So here is what I decided, after seeing all of the canned goods, condiments,
sauces, frozen vegetables and meat that I have stocked up on, we are going to eat out of the pantry and freezer until we run out.  I may have to get creative but by goodness we are going to use up what we have before we buy more.  Which brings me to our first recipe.....

Crockpot Barbecue Chicken
 
4-6 pieces boneless, skinless chicken breast (can be frozen)
1 bottle BBQ sauce
1/4 c vinegar
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 c brown sugar
1/2 tsp garlic powder


Mix bbq sauce with all ingredients listed under it.  Place chicken in crockpot, pour sauce over chicken and cook on low for 4-6 hours.

This chicken looked and smelled great and was falling off the bone when I took it out to serve.  It was kind of dry for some reason.  It was better when you drizzled the sauce over it.  It made a lot of juices so I was kind of disappointed that the sauce didn't stick to it more and have more of a roasted flavor.  It was still pretty good, I think next time I will start watching it after 4 hours and maybe drain off some of the liquid.  I got this recipe off of Pinterest which I have become obsessed with "surfing" on for my own entertainment.

Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Bread - April Sugar Block of the Month Club

1/2 cup oil
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
3 tbsp milk
3 medium size mashed bananas

Mix first 6 ingredients together then add,
1 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 - 1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
1/2 - 1 cup chocolate chips

Mix all ingredients well then pour into greased and floured loaf pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.  Makes 2 loaves

This was a very easy recipe to make.  I don't usually make banana nut bread very often because the recipe that I normally use as several steps and it just frankly takes way to long to prepare.  I'm all about quick and easy.  Recipes....I'm talking recipes here!!! LOL

I like the chocolate chips in the banana nut bread.  I've never had it that way and the chocolate just helped make a good bread even better.  If you use dark chocolate chips, along with the bananas and nuts, why I think we can just call this a "healthy" bread.  We'll just pretend that the sugar doesn't count!  It's yummy....try this one, you'll like it!!!

And here is my April quilt block.  I waited until the last day of April to make it because it involved paper piecing and I am not a fan!!!  It was actually pretty easy compared to one I've done before.  It only took me 3 1/2 hours to do, LOL!  I think it turned out okay.  It's called Sunny Day. 

Grandmother's Refrigerator Bran Muffins

1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup Crisco
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
2 1/2 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups buttermilk
1 cup boiling water
1 cup 100 % Bran Cereal
3/4 cup raisins
2 cups All Bran Cereal

Cream sugar and shortening, add eggs, flour, soda, salt, buttermilk.  Mix until smooth.  In a separate bowl, pour boiling water over the cup of 100% Bran Cereal flakes and let stand until water is absorbed, mix into batter and add raisins and All Bran Cereal, mix thoroughly.  Refrigerate.  Grease muffin pans with cooking spray.  Spoon batter into muffin cups (do not stir batter before adding to pan)  Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

I haven't had these in ages.  My mom use to make them a lot when we were younger.  They seem like muffins for old, constipated people but really they are for anyone who just likes a good muffin.  Oh, they are good for what ales ya if you know what I mean, but they are a great way to start off your day too.  I can't really describe the flavor but trust me, take these babies out of them oven and butter them while they are hot.  You can thank me later!

Cinnamon Roll Waffles

1 can of Grands Flaky Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting
1 tbsp water
1 tbsp karo syrup
waffle iron
cooking spray

Preheat waffle iron.  When iron is hot, generously spray with cooking spray.  Place uncooked cinnamon rolls in each waffle space.  (some have 4, mine had 2).  Close the waffle iron all the way down and lock if it has one.  You will need to keep an eye on these so you don't burn them.  2-4 minutes should do it but waffle irons may vary.  It's okay to open the iron up and check on the roll, just make sure it is not burning.  You want it browned and crispy like a waffle.

Cream Cheese Syrup:
Mix the can of cream cheese frosting that comes with the rolls with the water and karo.  Stir to combine and heat in microwave for about 15 seconds or serve at room temperature.  Drizzle over warm waffles.

How easy is this?!  If you like waffles and cinnamon rolls you will love these.  It's a fast, easy way to get the same great taste only with the consistency of a waffle.  I was amazed how these seemed like real waffles, crispy!  Yummo!!!!  Try! Try! Try!!!!

King Ranch Chicken

3 large chicken breasts, cooked
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 onion, chopped
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 jar (8oz) cheese whiz
dash of Tabasco
dash of Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper
tortilla chips, crushed
8 oz cheddar
4 oz mozzarella

Dice the cooked chicken breasts.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a saucepan over medium heat, mix the soups, onion, tomatoes, Cheese Whiz, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce until blended.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Line the bottom of a casserole dish with the crushed tortilla chips.  Place the chicken on top and pour some of the soup mixture over the chips.  Add a layer of half of the cheddar cheese.  Repeat the process, then add cheddar and mozzarella cheese on top.  Bake for 35-45 minutes until bubbly.

Now I love King Ranch Chicken.  It's a great comfort food.  I think there is even another recipe on this blog for it but is a little bit different.  I think I prefer it to this one.  This recipe turned out okay but I have had better.  It was easy to put together but I had a hard time finding Cheese Whiz.  I haven't used this stuff in years.  And I was at Wal-Mart of all places looking for it.  You'd think that if anyone in town had processed cheese in a jar it would be them! 

Yummy Fruit Salad

1 cup sugar
1 cup water
juice of 1 orange
zest of 1 orange
2 whole Vanilla beans, caviar scraped out (or 2 tsp Vanilla extract)
4 pints strawberries, cleaned and halved
2 pints blueberries
2 cups red grapes, halved
2 cups green grapes, halved
mint leaves

Place the sugar, water, orange juice and zest into a small saucepan and stir to combine.  Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes.  Set aside to cool then store in fridge until cold.  Mix together all of the fruit in a large bowl and pour the cooled syrup over the top, tossing gently.  Garnish with fresh mint leaves.

This was fabulous!  So easy, pretty, delicious and impressive.  Very colorful and fragrant too!  I made this with blackberries and I've had it with blueberries and either one works great.  It's the color effect that you are going for here.  We eat with our eyes first so when something looks this pretty and good you know you are going to love how it taste!!!

P.S.  I got this recipe from my mom who saw it on Pioneer Woman.  Now you know it's got to be good!