Spiced Chai Mix

Spiced Chai Mix

“One Christmas, my sister-in-law mixed up this drink for our family gathering. I asked for the recipe and have been enjoying it's warm, spicy flavor ever since. It tastes great with a warm blanket and a good book!” —Dee Falk, Stromsburg, Nebraska

26 ServingsPrep/Total Time: 15 min.

Ingredients

• 3 cups nonfat dry milk powder
• 1-1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup unsweetened instant tea
• 3/4 cup vanilla powdered nondairy creamer
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• OPTIONAL GARNISH:
• Whipped cream

Directions

• In a food processor, combine all dry ingredients; cover and process
• until powdery. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place
• for up to 6 months.
• 
  
• To prepare 1 serving: Dissolve 3 tablespoons of mix in 3/4 cup
• boiling water; stir well. Dollop with whipped cream if desired.
• Yield: about 5 cups mix (26 servings).
• 
  

Nutritional Facts: 1 serving (calculated without cream) equals 114 calories, 1 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 3 mg cholesterol, 75 mg sodium, 21 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 5 g protein. Diabetic Exchange: 1-1/2 starch.

© Taste of Home 2013

Mexican Meatball Stew

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Makes: 8 to 10 servings

Prep 10 mins Cook 6 hrs to 7 hrs  (low)

Mexican Meatball Stew

Ingredients

• 2 14 1/2ounce cansMexican-style stewed tomatoes, undrained
• 2 12 ounce packages frozen cooked Italian-style turkey meatballs, thawed (24 total)
• 1 15 ounce canblack beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 14 ounce canseasoned chicken broth with roasted garlic
• 1 10 ounce packagefrozen whole kernel corn, thawed
• Fresh oregano (optional)

Directions

1. In a 4- to 5-quart slow cooker, combine undrained tomatoes, meatballs, drained beans, broth, and corn.

2. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 6 to 7 hours or on high-heat setting for 3 to 3 1/2 hours. If desired, garnish each serving with oregano.

Nutrition Facts (Mexican Meatball Stew)

• Servings Per Recipe 8,
• cal. (kcal) 287,
• Fat, total (g) 13,
• chol. (mg) 37,
• sat. fat (g) 6,
• carb. (g) 30,
• Monosaturated fat (g) 0,
• Polyunsaturated fat (g) 0,
• fiber (g) 6,
• sugar (g) 3,
• pro. (g) 16,
• sodium (mg) 1134,
• Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Zuppa Toscana

Zuppa Toscana (yes, the same one from Olive Garden)

1 pound bulk Mild or Hot Italian sausage (I use Hot, always)
1 1/4 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes (More to taste)
1 large onion, diced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
5 (14 ounce) cans chicken broth
6 potatoes, cut small
1 cup heavy cream (or 1 cup milk + 1-2 TBS. Cornstarch)
1-2 Cups Kale, chopped.

My changes - replace Kale with 1 box of frozen spinach; reduce chicken broth in half; add one chopped red pepper; add 1 tsp basil

Cook the Italian sausage in a stock pot over medium-high heat until crumbled, browned, and no longer pink, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain, rinse (to remove excess oil) and set aside.
Saute the onions and garlic; cook until onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
Pour the chicken broth into the Dutch oven with onion mixture; bring to a boil over high heat. Add the potatoes, and boil until fork tender, about 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the heavy cream, red pepper flakes, and the cooked sausage; heat through. Mix the Kale into the soup 5 minutes before serving.

This soup makes about 4-5 large bowls. It can be made vegetarian if you sub in Vegetarian Sausage Crumbles.

Shepherd's Pie

Photo by: Photo: William Dickey; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

Shepherd's Pie

This potato-topped shepherd’s pie gets extra flavor from the cheese and carrots that are added to the mashed potato crust. And you can take a shortcut with the crust because the recipe calls for frozen mashed potatoes.

Southern Living JULY 2008

• Yield: Makes 8 servings
• Cook time:40 Minutes
• Prep time:15 Minutes
• Stand:5 Minutes

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds ground round
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 (8-oz.) package fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 4 teaspoons beef bouillon granules
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 (14 1/2-oz.) can stewed tomatoes
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• Cheese-and-Carrot Mashed Potatoes

Preparation

1. Brown beef in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often, 10 minutes or until meat crumbles and is no longer pink. Remove ground beef from skillet using a slotted spoon; reserve 2 Tbsp. drippings in skillet. Reduce heat to medium.
2. Sauté onion, mushrooms, and garlic in hot drippings over medium heat 10 to 11 minutes or until tender. Stir in ground beef, peas, and next 4 ingredients. Sprinkle flour over meat mixture. Increase heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes, bay leaf, and vinegar, breaking up large tomato pieces with a spoon. Reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring often, 3 minutes or until slightly thickened. Remove bay leaf. Transfer mixture to a lightly greased 3-qt. baking dish or pan. Spoon Cheese-and-Carrot Mashed Potatoes evenly over meat mixture, smoothing with back of spoon.
3. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Note: To make ahead, prepare recipe as directed through Step 2. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Freeze up to 1 month. Thaw in refrigerator 24 hours. Bake at 400° for 40 minutes or until thoroughly heated, shielding with aluminum foil after 25 minutes to prevent excessive browning.

Crock Pot Beef Strogonaff

Joscelyn MilstoneSLOW COOKER RECIPES

I've been told this is The Absolute BEST Crockpot Beef Stroganoff Recipe

2 pounds cubed stew meat
2 cans Condensed Golden Mushroom Soup
1 largish onion diced
2-3-4 tabls of Worcestershire
1/2 cup water
8 oz of cream cheese
couple of dashes of Garlic Salt (1 tsp?)
couple dashes of Hot Paprika

In the slow cooker stir in all the ingredients together, (except the meat AND the Cream Cheese). Once combined add the meat and mix together.
Cook on Low for 8 hours.

Cut up the cream cheese into cubes just before serving and turn crockpot on high. Stir the cream cheese in until all combined. You might have to put the lid back on and leave for 10 minutes.
Oh my gosh! This was so good and so easy.
Oh, and I doubled it the second time I made it.

So good to freeze BEFORE adding the cream cheese. Just re-heat on the stove and add cream cheese 10 minutes before serving. The meat becomes even more tender when reheated after freezing-perfect for toast.

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:
• 3 pounds boneless/skinless chicken breasts
• 1 12-ounce bottle of your favorite buffalo sauce
• 1 1-ounce packet of dry Ranch mix
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 3 cups uncooked macaroni
• 12-16 ounces shredded cheese (such as cheddar)
• 3 eggs (beaten)
• 1 can cheddar cheese soup
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 cup milk
• Seasoning to taste (salt, pepper, dry mustard, oregano, etc.)

Directions:
• Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and add to Crock-Pot® Slow Cooker
• Pour entire bottle of buffalo sauce and packet of ranch mix on top of chicken
• Cook on low for 5-6 hours (until chicken is cooked through)
• Once chicken is ready, boil and drain the macaroni and set aside
• Melt butter and grated cheese in a saucepan over medium heat
• Place cooked macaroni, melted cheese, sour cream, beaten eggs, cheese soup and seasonings on top of the buffalo chicken
• Cook on high for about 2 hours

Crock Pot Mexican Chicken

Easiest Dinner Ever.

Get ready for one of the easiest meals ever.
Of course it involves the crock pot!
Here is what you need:

- Bag of frozen Chicken Breast Tenderloins (2.5-3lb bag)
- 8 oz block of cream cheese (don't use Fat Free! 1/3 less fat or regular is fine)
- Can of Black Beans, drained & rinsed. (or Pinto Beans if you prefer)
- Can of Corn, drained.
- Can of Rotel

Directions:
Put frozen chicken in the crock pot.
Put Cream cheese on top of the chicken.
Dump in the Black Beans (make sure they are drained & rinsed!!!)
Dump in the drained corn.
Dump in the Rotel,

Cover & cook in your Crock Pot on low for 6-8 hours.
Every 2 hours, I stir the ingredients.
You can shred the chicken when it is done, or just leave it as tenderloins.
This is what it looks like after 6 hours:

I turn the crock pot off & let it sit for about 30-45 minutes.
It is a little soupy, but letting it sit causes it to not be as soupy.

I serve this over rice. The rice soaks up some of the soupy-ness.

It makes a lot, it feeds 6-8 adults. You could have it for dinner a couple nights & for lunch.
I actually like it better on the 2nd day, when it isn't as soupy.
So, you could make this the day before & then keep it in your fridge overnight.
When we have it on a leftover day, sometimes I combine the rice & the cream cheese chicken mixture and use it for burritos. Add a tortilla, some lettuce, cheese & salsa.
Easy. Good. Healthy.

And, you could use pinto beans instead of black beans.
Make a tostada or a rice bowl.
So many options!
Whatever floats your boat!

I don't even have a name for it.
I call it "Cream Cheese Crock Pot Chicken"
But, it is like Cream Cheese Chicken Goodness.
Call it whatever you want. It is yummy & so easy to make!
Enjoy!

***Edited to Add***
Some of you have said there isn't much of a kick, so if you want to add more flavors, you can add a packet of taco seasoning, or a packet of dry ranch dressing mix, or use Hot Rotel (or Hot Salsa).