Saucy Pork chops in the crock pot

This one is an easy main course that you can ignore all day...

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon minced dried garlic
1 tablespoon dried cilantro
2 cups water
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 packet vegetable soup/dip mix
4 pork chops

Place pork chops in the crock pot. Whisk all other ingredients together and pour over the pork chops. Make sure they are completely covered so that they will not dry out. If you do not have enough liquid, add additional water as necessary. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Serve pork chops and sauce over rice or couscous.
Enjoy!

Chicken and petite green beans in mushroom sauce

Serves 4

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
4 boneless chicken breasts
1 16oz bag frozen petite green beans
Ground black pepper
Hot hungarian paprika
Dried chopped rosemary

Spread green beans over the bottom of a greased 13x9 glass baking dish. Lay chicken breasts over green beans. In a separate bowl, whisk together soup and sour cream, then spread over chicken and green beans. Sprinkle top with pepper, paprika, and rosemary. Bake for 30-45 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Serve over rice, couscous, or quinoa.

Cost for meal? About $10 using rice or $2.50/person

Smoked Gouda Mac N Cheese

Dinner for 2 or a side for 4-6 people

1 box whole wheat macaroni
1 cup milk
1 can Campbell's condensed cheese soup
8 oz smoked gouda, sliced or grated
Hot Hungarian paprika to taste

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, but do not rinse. Return pasta to pot over medium heat. Add cheese soup and milk. Stir to combine. Add gouda and continue stirring until its melted. Sprinkle with paprika and serve!

Start to finish in about 15 minutes!

Laotian style peanut coconut rice

The following makes a rich, tasty side dish. Turn it into a main course by cooking chopped chicken or pork with the rice.
This recipe is designed to be used with a rice cooker. If you don't have one, you can pick up a cheap one at Walmart for around $10. For a more lasting investment, pick up one at your local Asian grocery.

2 rice cooker cups brown jasmine rice
1 can coconut milk
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
2 T Bacon grease (can sub corn oil)
2 T curry powder
1 t cinnamon
1 t fennel seeds
1 T sambal oelek
1 T garlic, minced
1 T onion powder
Fish sauce to taste

Pour rice into the rice cooker and add the can of coconut milk. Add water to the 2 cup fill line. Then add the all other ingredients except for the fish sauce and stir to combine and break up the peanut butter. Turn on your rice cooker and cook until done. Add fish sauce to taste.

Serves 2-4 people

Pumpkin Alfredo pasta

I was looking around my kitchen tonight. I wanted to do something a bit different for frozen pasta meals and this was what I came up with. I'm extremely pleased. You can substitute a pound of regular shaped pasta for the gnocchi, if desired.

1 15oz jar Alfredo sauce
2 chicken stock
1 15oz can pumpkin
2 1.1# pkg potato gnocchi
1/2 cup sundried tomatoes, chopped
1 tsp crushed red pepper
1 T minced garlic

Cook gnocchi according to directions and drain.  In a sauce pan over medium heat, empty the can of pumpkin. Slowly whisk in the stock until it is smooth. Gently add the Alfredo sauce, tomatoes, garlic, and pepper. Heat to boiling and fold in the pasta until it is warmed through. Serve!

Makes enough for 4-6 people as a side or 2-3 as a main course