Quick N Healthy Black Bean Chili

Total Cook Time: 20-30 min Serves 8-10 

• 1.5 lbs of ground turkey or 90/10 hamburger
• 1 Pkt Chili Seasonings
• 2 C diced tomatoes (w/ juice)
• 1C(small) diced green chilies (w/ juice) 
• 3 C Black Beans (w/ juice)
• 1 C Corn (drained)
• 1 Boulion Cube (chicken)
• 3 C water
• 1-2 tsp Cumin
• 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper (Ground) if desired
• 1/3 C Dried Chopped Onions

Brown meat, add in 1/2 of chopped onions. 
Once cooked strain and rinse. 
Return meat back to stock pot add in Chili Seasonings, Boulion Cube, Cumin, Cayenne (if desired) and remaining chopped onions and water. Bring to a boil and let boil for a few min allowing some of the water to cook off. 
While boiling add in Tomatoes, Chilies & Corn and allow to boil for apx 2-5 min. Stir occasionally to keep from scorching bottom. 
Add in Beans while boiling reduce heat and allow to simmer for 10 to 15 min. 


Top with Sour Cream or Cheese Cubes and serve in a bread bowl! 


Dani

Creamy Comfort Potato Soup

Serves 6. Prep time 15min Cook time about 15min.

• 6-10 med/small white potatoes (cubed & boiled w or w/out skins)
• 1 cup chopped carrots (boiled w potatoes) 
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 T butter
• 1 C heavy cream
• 1 can E milk 
• 2 C water
• 1 chicken boulion cube
• 1 can corn
• 1 can cream of chicken
• salt, pepper & celery salt to taste
• abt 2/3 C Instant potatoes 

Boil potatoes & carrots till tender then drain and set aside.
Return stockpot to stove & saute onions w/ butter.
once onions are ready add in water, chicken boulion cube and cream of chicken then bring to a boil. 
Add in corn & continue to boil for a few min add in potatoes & carrots & continue to boil for a few more min. 
Reduce heat to a simmer add in cream and milk. 
Season w salt, pepper (abt 1 Tbs) & celery salt (abt 2 tsp) to taste.
Use a potato masher to break up potatoes, carrots and corn a little but not into mush. 
Finally add in Instant potatoes 1/2 C at a time to thicken the soup up!

It tastes awesome with sourdough or you can add in ham or bacon... Parmesan is not a delicious add in lol.

Cranberry Chicken

I found this easy recipe and it's pretty yummy! I made it for ladies at a church Christmas Dunner and also for a school staff luncheon. You could also cook it in the crockpot on low for about 6 hours-


6 whole chicken breasts (deboned and skinless)
16 oz. can whole cranberry sauce
8 oz. French dressing
1 pkg. dry onion soup mix

Make sauce mixing cranberry sauce, dressing and soup mix. Pour over chicken breasts in glass baking dish. Marinate for about 4 hours. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 Serves 6to 8.

Spinach, Apple, and Pecan Salad

This recipe is totally easy and so scrumptious!  I have made it 3 times in the past week for different gatherings and everyone has given me the best compliments.  This is one that you want to add to your favorites!  Yum, yum, yum!

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon prepared mustard
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• apple slices, cut into bite-size pieces (prize slice apples from costco)
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
• spinach leaves
• 1/2 cup toasted pecans

In a large serving bowl whisk together oil, vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt and pepper.  Just before serving add apples, onion, spinach and pecan.  Toss until well coated with dressing.

{Smart Cooking The Costco Way}

Dani's Kickin Taco Soup

I have been making Taco Soup like crazy lately and just cannot seem to get enough of it! There is just enough spice, flavor & hartyness for pretty much everyone to enjoy! Total cook time is only about 30 min. and it serves 8 with plenty of left overs! It keeps very well in the fridge and freezes perfectly!

Ingredients:

• 2 lb Hamburger or ground turkey(browned)
• 1 chicken bouillon cube
• 3-4 cups water
• 2 can black beans
• 2 can corn
• 2 can hominy
• 2 can diced tomatoes w/ chilies
• 1 packet taco seasonings
• 1 1/2 cup cubed velveta cheese (cubed)
• 1/3 cup of Dried Chopped Onions

Cooking Instructions:

Brown hamburger or ground turkey in skillet w taco seasonings & chopped onions. 
Drain fat and transfer to med pot. 
Add in water and bouillon cube. 
Set on high and add in corn, hominy, tomatoes & additional taco seasonings to taste and bring to a boil. 
Add in beans followed by cheese, reduce heat to medium high continue to boil for a few min and then reduce to a simmer for 10 min stirring occasionally so cheese doesnt settle and scorch on the bottom. 
Remove from heath. Top with sour cream & tortilla chips!

Danielle

Banana Pudding

Here is a Banana Pudding recipe tweaked by my husband. Hope you enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 box Nilla Wafers
4 Bananas
1 8oz pkg Cream Cheese (room temp.)
1 3.4 oz pkg French Vanilla instant pudding
Half of a 3.4 oz pkg Vanilla instant pudding
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 large tub of Cool Whip (you may not use it all)
3 cups cold milk

Directions:

Whip room temperature cream cheese in a bowl using an electric mixer. And dry pudding mix, milk, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla and mix until smooth. Fold in 1/3 of the cool whip into the pudding mixture. Line a 9x13 pan with Nilla Wafers. Top the wafers with sliced banana until the wafers are covered. Add 1/2 the pudding mixture to the pan and cover the bananas. Add another layer of bananas then the other 1/2 of the pudding mixture to cover the bananas. Top with 1/2 of the remaining cool whip. Crush remaining Nilla wafers and sprinkle over the top. Chill for 2 hours before serving.

Enjoy!

Sopapilla Cheesecake!

We tried this new dessert last night and thought it was quick, easy and good! Hope you enjoy!

Ingredients
1- 8 oz package of cream cheese, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 (8 ounce) packages refrigerated crescent rolls
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 baking dish.
Beat Cream cheese with one cup of sugar and the vanilla, until smooth.
Unroll the cans of crescent dough, and use a rolling pin of shape each sheet into a 9x13 shape for the bottom and top of the pan. (I rolled out with a bit of flour on my counter). Put one sheet of dough in the bottom of your baking dish. Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture into the baking dish, then cover with the remaining piece of crescent dough. Stir together 1/2 cup melted butter, 1/2 cup of sugar, and the cinnamon in a small bowl. Spread this mixture over the top of the final layer of dough. Bake until the dough has puffed and turned golden brown...about 30-35 minutes. Mine took the full 35 minutes. Allow to cool at least ten minutes before serving!!!! Hope you enjoy!