• Fresh fish fillets(2)
• Cherry tomatoes
• 1T Greek seasoning
• 2 cups Spinach
• 2 teaspoons Olive oil
• One sweet onion cut in rings
• Aluminum foil

Ingredients

• 2 cups of shredded chicken(I used white meat from a rotisserie chicken I picked up at the store or you can quickly do this at home using this tutorial)
• 2 cans of Rotel
• 1 can of black beans; rinsed 
• 1 Small can of Tomato sauce(8 oz.)
• 1 cup of corn(I used frozen)
• 1 large onion diced
• 2 cloves of garlic;minced
• 4 cups of chicken broth
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro; chopped
• 3 Tablespoons lime juice
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder(omit if you do not like spicy foods)
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• Black pepper to taste(I use fresh ground)
• 1Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• Sour Cream, cheese and tortilla chips(optional)

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 Tablespoon ranch dressing powder(store bought or use this recipe for a healthier, homemade version)
• 2-3 lb pork roast
• 2 medium sweet potatoes cut and quartered
• 1 large sweet onion sliced
• 3/4 cup of water
• Garlic powder to taste
• Onion powder to taste

• 2/3 cups warm water (105 to 110 degrees F)
• 1/4 teaspoon of active dry yeast
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 2 Tablespoons bacon drippings
• 1 cup cooked white rice
• 2 cups cooked and drained black eyed peas
• 3/4 cup diced sweet onion
• 2 tablespoons chicken stock(reduced sodium)
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Sorry for my absence these past few days! It seems that if you travel for 9 days straight in cars and on planes and are around thousands of people you have a really good chance of getting sick! I am feeling better and am back with a recipe I prepared on New Years Day! 

During the holiday season I love to try to make recipes that I have had at holiday parties(and loved, of course)! A couple of years ago at a work party at my director's home he served some mulled wine that he had made in the crock-pot. What I noticed first was the intoxicating smell coming from the kitchen which filled the home with a cinnamon and cardamom aroma that was amazing. After trying it, I was hooked! 

Delicious final product

This time of year is when I crave stews and soups for lunch and dinner to fill me up and keep me warm. I have loved potato soup since I was a kid and I'd get my fix at Bennigan's in my hometown! My mom and I both loved it. I had never attempted to make potato soup from scratch before and it turned out so hearty and delicious that I wanted to share the recipe as it was super easy as well! I hope you enjoy!

Sunday night I was craving mexican and I remembered seeing a recipe for chicken enchiladas on the side of a can of Campbell's Cream of Chicken soup! However I looked at the recipe and I did not have all of the necessary ingredients so I just used it as a reference and did my own thing! It turned out delicious with Mike saying that I could make it anytime I wanted to! Here you go...

This week I whipped up a quick chicken pot pie that I derived from this Campbell's Recipe. I changed a couple of things but I mainly just did that to make this an easier and lazier dish. Chicken pot pie is ALWAYS a hit in my house as it is one of my ultimate comfort foods. I made it idiot proof by using pre-made pie crusts and a rotisserie chicken making this one of the easiest meals in my arsenal!

Sorry about my absence yesterday...it was one of those days that shall not be mentioned again!

Eggs added to cooked potatoes, sausage and onions

I am a huge fan of the crock-pot aka slow cooker. There is nothing better than coming home from a long day of work to a hot meal that is already ready!! Here is an easy recipe that I derived from my pot roast recipe. This recipe makes such an easy weeknight meal for the whole family! As you can see in the pic below, the chicken just falls apart and there is enough liquid to serve as the gravy! Mike really enjoyed this one and we had leftovers for lunch the next day! Enjoy!

Yesterday was game day here in Starkville! With it being a Thursday a.k.a. a business day, the university let us have the afternoon off! How nice huh? It was actually because they needed our very coveted parking spaces. But hey, a free half day off, who would complain? Since Mike did not get a free half day we decided that being able to make it to the game on time would be pretty impossible so we decided to stay home and have our own little tailgate! I personally like this option because it allowed me to wear pj's!

Anyway, there are a TON of Frito Pie recipes on the web but all I did was make my regular chili recipe(below) and then added to it some Frito's in the bottom of a bowl and topped it with fun toppings. I used a rotisserie chicken(from the grocery store) and chopped up the meat to use in the recipe. This will save you a ton of time as you do not have to precook anything before you assemble it in the crock-pot! We love chicken chili even though I know some people will think this is blasphemy but it's much healthier than using red meat and it's still delish. I hope you enjoy this simple recipe with the bonus being that you come home from a long day to a home smelling of warm chili on a cool fall day! Enjoy!

• 1 lb meat of choice(beef, chicken, turkey; I have made this recipe with all three) or I used 2 cups of chopped chicken from a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken
• 1 large onion; chopped
• 2 cans of petite diced tomatoes: drain one can and leave the other with the juice
• 1 can light red kidney beans; drained and rinsed
• 1 teaspoon olive oil(if you need to brown your meat first)
• 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
• 2 Tablespoons chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

1. If you are using raw meat you need to add the oil to a pan and brown it with half of the onion until done and drain.
2. Add ALL ingredients to a 4-6qt. slow cooker and mix thoroughly. 
3. Set the slow cooker to the LOW setting and forget about it for 8-10 hours.

The then "future Arnold's" at the MsState v. Carolina game 2011

Today is the official start of the 2013 college football season!! As a southern girl I grew up going to games and listening to sports talk(ad-nauseam) from everyone I knew. My parents were not huge sports fans but I had plenty of family that was and I quickly became a lover of all things SEC football. It truly is a way of life and it is a great time of the year to go to games, tailgate or just sit at home and watch on tv! We live smack dab in the middle of a college town and we take part in all things Mississippi State football! But if you know me AT ALL then you know I am hands down a Carolina Gamecocks girl! Today Carolina plays Yankee Carolina...we need to send those guys back up north where they belong ;)

In honor of today and the beginning of football season I wanted to share a recipe that would be an amazing addition to a tailgate party! We're actually going to enjoy it tonight as we watch the game! If you have never heard of the Captain Rodney's products then you're in for a treat! We discovered this great recipe at a Christmas party a few years ago and it has been a go to appetizer for us since! The recipe is a fantastic addition to any party you host or attend!

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• One 8 oz. package of cream cheese
• Two cups of grated cheddar cheese
• Two green onions(chopped)
• Six Ritz crackers(crushed)
• Eight slices bacon(cooked and crumbled) or 1/2 real bacon pieces
• 1/2 cup of any Captain Rodney's glaze

Mix mayo, cream cheese, cheddar and onions in greased quiche pan(or 8x8 pan). Top with crackers and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Top with bacon and Captain Rodney's glaze. Serve with crackers.


I hope you enjoy this football season as much as I plan to! If you don't like football there will always be delicious food and cocktails!