Main Dishes Archives

Crock Pot Cheeseburger Meatloaf

You might recall that I already have a recipe on this site for Crock Pot Meatloaf, but it calls for potatoes and carrots…this crock pot cheeseburger meatloaf is like one big cheeseburger patty. It’s just heaven on a plate.

I first came across a recipe for Cheeseburger Meatloaf somewhere on the internet and I changed it to suit our tastes…and then I knew I could re-create it to be fixed in the crock pot. It is literally the best meatloaf I’ve ever had.

In fact, when I made it the first time, Barry was out of town. I got up from the table and got my phone to text him. I said “I just made the best meatloaf of my entire life.” And then we ate it all without him. Sad how things work out that way for him. Oh well. I was happy and so was Annie.

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Crock Pot Lasagna

Holy Moly. How can something so simple be so good? Usually I make lasagna from scratch (my Mama’s recipe), but I wanted to try this one because it just seemed too easy to be true. The reviews were great, so I went for it. And I was blown away. This crock pot lasagna is AMAZING!

Even Annie, who hated noodles AND meat when I first came up with this recipe, ate her entire plate of this. I liked it because I was able to start it during the day and have dinner done later when things were busy. Nice. On the 8^th Day, God invented Crock Pots. Amen.

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Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup

I love soup…that should be evident by all the soup recipes on here. And I have to warn you – more are coming. It’s inevitable. Something about a hot and spicy, or thick and creamy, soup just gets me all excited. I’m a huge fan of enchiladas, so putting them in soup form just makes get all giddy. Add in the crock pot and I don’t quite know what to do with myself. I’m not sure where this obsession with my crock pot might take me…but wherever it is, I hope you’ll visit me. Put this crock pot chicken enchilada soup on your next meal plan. You’ll thank me later. 😉

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10 Portable Meals On-the-Go to Save Time and Money

In the Spring of 2014, we officially became a soccer family who can also bet on sites like 먹튀검증. And you know what time spring soccer games for 9 year old girls happen? If you guessed dinnertime, you are right! As a mom, and a frugal mom at that, I quickly realized that if we were going to avoid the Taco Bell Drive-Thru, I was going to have to think ahead and get some portable meals going.

Seriously, it adds up going through the drive-thru. Don’t deceive yourself thinking that you are buying something from the dollar menu. Each and every dollar adds up. You get in debt dollar by dollar, and you also get out of debt dollar by dollar. You can go buy a pack of tortillas, and a can of beans for a couple of dollars. And even though you can buy these foods pre-made, if you use these convenience foods to make burritos, it is WAY cheaper than buying a bean burrito at a fast food restaurant. You could make about 10 burritos for the cost it takes you to buy 2 or 3 in the drive-thru. [Read more…]

How to Cook a Whole Chicken in a Pressure Cooker {video}

Whoop! I told you in the pressure cooker post that I wanted to do three more videos where I showed you exactly how to use each cooker. And behold! I got one done! I hate stuff hanging over my head…so – one down, two more to go!

In this video I show you how to cook a whole chicken in a pressure cooker. I’m using a 6 quart Fissler pressure cooker on a Duxtop Induction Burner.

I used this general recipe from Food.com for a Pressure Cooker Whole Chicken. The only difference is that I only browned it on the breast side for 7 minutes and flipped it over THEN put the lid on – instead of browning it on all sides. Also, I let my pressure fall naturally instead of doing the quick-release method. [Read more…]

How to Get Three Meals from One Chicken

A long while back, when I conquered my fear of cooking a whole, naked chicken in the crock pot (Crock Pot Baked Chicken), I felt like the world opened up to me! Behold! All those glorious Pinterest recipes calling for 2 cups cooked chicken would no longer add 20 minutes on to making a meal! A whole neeeeeeeeeeew worlddddddddddddddddddd! Come with me on my magic carpet.

So, today we’re talking chicken – and how you can make three meals from one chicken. That’s right – ONE whole chicken to make three meals. First off, let’s clear the air: I’m only feeding 2 adults and 4 small children people. So, if you’re feeding more than that, you might only be able to get two meals.

Honestly, we don’t eat a lot of meat. I I try to make sure vegetables and healthy whole grains are a bigger part of our diet than meat…mainly because I’m stinking’ ~~cheap~~ frugal. And high quality meat can get expensive! [Read more…]

100 Days of Meal Plans – Whole Foods Style (for FREE)

So, I have this thing I like do to do in my spare time…it’s called – planning meals. Yeah, okay. Stop your laughing. Some people knit. Some people sew. Some people play sports. I read cookbooks and dream up meal plans. I’m a wild and crazy girl.

You already know how much I love Plan to Eat. But what you don’t know is that planning meals is one of the highlights of my week. I also enjoy making beds, ironing clothes, and de-boogering my children. Gosh…I AM a weirdo.

But something I’ve learned is that not everyone enjoys de-boogering their children with a Nose Frida – and not everyone enjoys making their bed daily – and some people don’t even own an iron (THE HORROR!). And the most crazy thing of all is….some of you hate making meal plans! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Cue the freaky scary movie music! What is wrong with you people!? [Read more…]

Postpartum Freezer Meals List

My friend Erinn from Embracing Everything asked for a list of the freezer meals that I used after this pregnancy, so I thought it might be helpful to a few other people as well. Why kill two birds with one stone when there are eggs in your bush that you shouldn’t count?

I started too late preparing for Eli Benjamin. I felt like doo-doo for most of the pregnancy, so I blame it on that. In all honesty, you should start prepping freezer meals in the middle of your second trimester. Most meals and foods will be fine for 6 months in the freezer. Even starting late, I managed to get quite a bit put away. I used a lot of meal components this time so I would be able to throw a meal together quickly instead of making a vast amount of fully cooked meals.

Also, 4 weeks before my due date, I made a HUGE shopping trip and stocked up on everything I might need: snacks, condiments, nuts, butter, etc. After my babies are born, I don’t get out much…I usually take a 2 month hiatus from shopping and gallivanting around the countryside. My mom went with me on this trip and I literally filled the car up with supplies and groceries. [Read more…]

Build Your Own Chicken Salad

There are about as many Chicken Salad variations as there are episodes of Law and Order…approximately 1.5 million. You’ve got traditional Chicken Salad, Chicken Pasta Salad, Mexican Chicken Salad, Oriental Chicken Salad, Kitchen Sink Chicken Salad, Sweet Chicken Salad, Savory Chicken Salad, Hot Chicken Salad, and on and on and on.

But really, with the right ratios you can make your own chicken salad based on what you like or what you currently have about to die in the refrigerator. So today I’m going to give you a basic formula that you can use to make any chicken salad that floats your boat. [Read more…]

Pick Pocket Tacos

So, let it be said that I totally get the fanny pack thing. I’m not going to wear one, but I get it. I don’t really want any excess stuff hanging around my middle – in fact, don’t most people spend time trying to get RID of excess baggage around the waist? But anyway, I get why you would want your money and personal belonging attached to your body in your front. Because really, no one is going to start messing with your front and YOU NOT NOTICE.

I always have this lingering fear in the back of my head when we go somewhere in a large crowd that I’m going to be pick-pocketed. I usually wear a back pack with all the kids’ stuff in it – and how easy would that be to open and take off with my baby butt wipes? Come back, diaper thief! So, anyway…fanny packs make sense to me, even if I don’t wear them…I’m having flashbacks to the 80s, y’all. [Read more…]