Homemade Taco Seasoning (Salt-Free)

I don't use a lot of salt when I cook so when I do use products that have high sodium content, I can tell. I'm usually chugging water like no other for the rest of the night. I stopped using taco seasoning packets and started making my own without any salt at all. I make a batch of this now when making tacos, salsa chicken, taco dip, etc. Plus, it's always nice when you know exactly what you're putting into your dinners! Enjoy!

Homemade Taco Seasoning 

What You'll Need:

• 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Ground Cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon Paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon Onion Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Dried Oregano
• 1/8 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper

Directions: 

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. You may add more Cayenne to make it a little hotter or less if you prefer it very mild.

Yield: Approximately 1 ounce

Use Seasoning anywhere you would use a packet of Taco Seasoning. 

Easy Cheesy Beef & Bean Burritos

My 16 year old sister in law came to visit us last month. Day-to-day life with two toddlers isn't exactly entertaining, so I told her that while she was here I could teach her how to cook some basic, easy dishes. We were brainstorming some ideas of easy dinners and I asked if she liked tacos, to which she replied that she preferred burritos. I looked at a few recipes online and decided on what ingredients we should get. That night we created some pretty delicious burritos! They were basic enough that she could make them all by herself and they were tasty enough that they received rave reviews from the man of the house. Added bonus is that not only are they just as good leftover, they're a perfect hand-held dinner for my husband to take to work. Enjoy!

Easy Cheesy Beef & Bean Burritos

What You'll Need:

• 1 - 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
• 1 small onion, chopped
  (approx 1 cup)
• 2 Tablespoons Chili Powder
• 1 - 1 1/2 teaspoons Garlic Powder
• Salt & Pepper, to taste
• 1 can Enchilada Sauce
  (7-10 oz)
  (Choose your preferred "heat".)
• 1 can Refried Beans
  (12-16 oz)
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese
  (I used a 4 cheese Mexican Blend)
• 10 Small Flour Tortillas 
• 1/2-3/4 cup shredded cheese

Crunchy Asian Broccoli Slaw

I have never really been a fan of the traditional, creamy coleslaw recipes. Years ago, my neighbors and I had a huge potluck-style cookout and someone brought a broccoli slaw. I loved it so much that I begged for her recipe until she finally gave it to me. I've made several changes to her original recipe and it's now one of my favorite cookout side dishes! It's fresh and light with lots of flavor and crunch! Enjoy!

Crunchy Asian Broccoli Slaw

What You'll Need:

• 2 packages of Broccoli Slaw
• 1 small Red Onion, chopped (approx. 1 cup)
• Equal Parts: Sugar, Oil and Vinegar (1/4-1/2 cup each)
• 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
• Dash of Cayenne Pepper
• Dash of Soy Sauce
• 2 packages of Ramen Noodles
  (I choose the flavor that will compliment whatever meat we're having. I prefer to use either Chicken or Beef flavor because they seem to taste best. I've even used one of each before and it still tasted delish!)
• 1/2 cup Slivered Almonds

Slow Cooked Baby Back Ribs

This is by far one of my favorite summertime recipes. Everyone that tries them loves these ribs! The meat is so tender that it falls off the bone and melts in your mouth! I've been making them this way for years and the recipe has been requested by many, so I am finally getting it on the blog. Enjoy!

Slow Cooked Baby Back Ribs

What You'll Need:

• 2 racks of Baby Back Ribs
• Dry Rub 
• 1 medium sweet Vidalia onion, thinly sliced
• Aluminum Foil
• Your Favorite BBQ Sauce

Loaded Potato Salad

I've never been a huge fan of traditional potato salad, so I decided to make a potato salad that tasted more like a loaded baked potato! I thought of all my favorite toppings and then in place of the sour cream and butter, I opted to use nonfat plain Greek yogurt. The result was quite tasty and I think you'll agree! It also earned the seal of approval from both my husband and my father-in-law. Enjoy!

Loaded Potato Salad

What You'll Need:

• 2 1/2 pounds Red Potatoes
• 1 Packet dry Ranch Dressing Mix
• 2 Cups Nonfat Greek Yogurt
• 8 slices bacon
• 1 cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• 1/4 - 1/2 Cup Diced Green Onions
• 1 -2 cloves Garlic, minced
• Salt and Pepper, to taste

The Best Homemade Dry Rub

I just made a batch of this today and remembered that I have had several friends request the recipe, so here it is! This is a super easy rub to make and can be used to season just about anything like chicken, burgers, steaks, a pork butt to make pulled pork or baby back ribs, which is what we're having tonight! Try it and let me know what you think! Enjoy!

The Best Homemade Dry Rub

What You'll Need:

• 2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons Salt
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons Black Pepper
• 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
• 2 teaspoons Garlic Powder
• 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin
• 1 teaspoon Mustard Powder
• 1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper (optional)

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.

Generously rub mixture all over whatever meat you're going to cook. You could even let it sit overnight in an airtight container in the refrigerator to really allow the flavors to soak into the meat. 

If you want, you may store any unused rub in an airtight container.

Creamy Bacon Ranch Chicken and Pasta

Over the last year or so, I discovered the joy of cooking with my slow cooker. I went on a kick where I was trying out new recipes on my family several nights a week. I had found this recipe on the Crockin' Girls website, and figured just by the recipe name (Bacon Ranch Chicken) that it would have to be delicious. Of course, I have made some modifications to the recipe and it has made it's way into our regular dinner rotation. I use more bacon, more garlic and have substituted Greek yogurt in place of the sour cream. The great thing about this recipe is you can make this dish as sinful or as skinny as you like. I've listed both the skinny and sinful options in the recipe. Enjoy!

Creamy Bacon Ranch Chicken and Pasta

What You'll Need:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  (I use frozen.)
• 1 cup of Plain Nonfat Greek Yogurt (skinny) or Sour Cream (sinful)
• 1 can (98% Fat Free - skinny) Cream of Chicken Soup
• 1 packet dry Ranch Dressing mix
• 2 large cloves of Garlic, minced (approx 1 1/2 Tbsp)
• 6-8 Slices of Bacon (sinful) or Turkey Bacon (skinny), cooked and crumbled
• 1 package whole grain ribbon noodles or egg noodles

Pulled Pork Crescents

When I make pulled pork, there is always plenty of leftovers. While eating leftover sandwiches is delicious, we almost always get tired of it before the BBQ is anywhere near gone. I really hate to see perfectly good food get thrown out. My sister had seen a commercial for Pillsbury BBQ Chicken Crescents and suggested I try using the leftovers in that recipe. I've made this nearly every time I've made my Slow Cooker Pulled Pork. It's easy, only requires a handful of ingredients and it's yummy! Enjoy!

Pulled Pork Crescents

What You'll Need:

• 1 - 1 1/2 cups Pulled Pork BBQ
• 1 can (8 count) Crescent Rolls
• 1/3 - 1/2 cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• 1 egg, beaten

Chicken Rigatoni in a Creamy Tomato Sauce

The other day I was trapped under a sleeping baby while my older son was watching Curious George. After Curious George ended, a cooking show came on. I'm always looking for inspiration so I decided to watch it. The woman went on to make a delicious rigatoni dish with chicken, herbs, tomatoes, cheeses and heavy cream. I thought it sounded amazing but I wanted to try to make it just a little bit healthier. So I decided to substitute Greek yogurt for the heavy cream and I was thrilled with the "skinny" results. Enjoy!

Chicken Rigatoni in a Creamy Tomato Sauce 


What You'll Need:

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs,
  cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 small red onion, diced
• 2 large cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon of Rosemary
• 1/2 teaspoon of Savory
• 2 Bay Leaves
• Salt & Pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 1 - 15 oz can diced tomatoes (I used the Fire-Roasted Garlic because I love the flavor.)
• 1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek Yogurt 
• 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
• Rigatoni pasta, cooked to package directions

Bacon Wrapped Baked Potatoes

I've been getting asked when I was going to start blogging again and tonight is the night! For those of you that don't know why I've been absent for over a month, my family and I just moved from Alaska to North Carolina. Yes, it was a long and crazy trip (especially with two toddlers and a dog) but we had so much fun! We're still getting settled into our new house but the kitchen was the first room I unpacked, of course. :)

Recently, I've been seeing a photo floating around Facebook of a bacon wrapped baked potato and wondered why I had never thought of that before! We were grilling out tonight and so I decided to give them a try. Yes, they turned out just as amazing as they sound and it was incredibly easy. Enjoy!

Bacon Wrapped Baked Potatoes 

Easy Cheesy Tuna Casserole

I figured this was a good recipe to share for all my friends that are observing Lent. This is such an easy recipe and it's so good! This is one of those dishes that I usually have all the ingredients on hand, so it's always an option. My whole family loves it. Enjoy!

Easy Cheesy Tuna Casserole

What You'll Need: 

•   2 cups uncooked macaroni or similar pasta
• 2 cans of tuna, drained
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 1/2 - 2 cups shredded cheddar or colby-jack cheese
  OR 8 slices American cheese
• 1 cup French's fried onions

Salsa Chicken Chili

The last time we had Salsa Chicken, my husband ate some of the leftovers with some corn chips. He said the only thing it was missing was some beans. So we decided to use the slow cooker Salsa Chicken recipe as a base to make a white chili. Honestly, all I did different was add a couple cans of beans. The result was just as good as we imagined. Enjoy!

Salsa Chicken Chili

What You'll Need:

• 1 package boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 can Cream of Chicken soup
• 1 packet of Taco Seasoning
• 12 oz of your favorite Salsa
• 2 - 15.5 oz cans Cannellini Beans, drained
  (White Kidney Beans)
  

Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki

I had bought some chicken thighs at the store and didn't have a plan for them. I was trying to come up with an idea of what to make when I realized that I had everything I needed to make some chicken teriyaki. Why not make it even easier on myself and throw it in the Crock Pot? We were very pleased with how well it turned out! The whole family loved it. Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki

What You'll Need:

• 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 2 - 6 oz cans pineapple juice
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 Tablespoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  (not pictured...oops!)
• 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 cup diced green onions
  (for optional garnish)

Oven Baked Chicken Chimichangas

My husband's friend asked if I had a recipe for chimichangas, which I didn't. I'm always open to creating or trying new recipes, so I took it as a challenge to create a homemade chimichanga. His friend requested to make it with chicken, which I would've chosen myself if he hadn't specified. Then he asked if I could bake it instead of frying it. At first I told him that would make it a burrito, because technically, a chimi is a deep-fried burrito. After thinking about it, I realized that if I simply brushed the tortillas with butter or olive oil before putting them in the oven, they would crisp up beautifully. I also chose to cook the chicken in my Crock Pot because the results of slow-cooking are by far the best when you need tender, moist, shredded meat. So here you have my version of oven baked chicken chimis! Enjoy!

Oven Baked Chicken Chimichangas

Chicken and Andouille Sausage Jambalaya

In the spirit of Mardi Gras, I made some homemade jambalaya to celebrate. Usually, I just make the boxed dinner but I decided to try a homemade version. We were very pleased with how well it turned out and we're looking forward to eating the leftovers! Enjoy!

Chicken and Andouille Sausage Jambalaya

What You'll Need:

• 14 oz Andouille Sausage, cut into 1/4 inch slices
• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces 
• 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 Tablespoon butter
• 1 large yellow onion
• 1/2 large red bell pepper
• 1/2 large green bell pepper
• 3 cloves garlic
• Salt and Pepper, to taste
• 1 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon paprika 
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 3/4 teaspoon celery seeds
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 14 1/2 oz can diced tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cups brown rice

Creamy Italian Chicken

This is an easy, hearty meal that is perfect on a chilly fall or winter night. I'm sure I'm not the first person to come up with this recipe but it's an easy combination that I thought up the other night and decided to give it a try. I chose to serve it with whole grain wide noodles, but you could use any pasta that you have on hand or even rice would be good. Again, this is another recipe with only a few ingredients that's quick, easy and delicious! Enjoy!

Creamy Italian Chicken

What You'll Need:

• 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 cans Cream of Chicken soup
• 1 packet dry Italian dressing mix
• 12 oz package wide noodles

Chicken Cordon Bleu

This has been one of my favorite dinners for as long as I can remember. It only requires a handful of ingredients and minimal effort, which is always nice! There are literally thousands of recipes for this out there but none quite this easy. If you wanted to "dress it up", you could make a white wine sauce to serve over it. Enjoy!

Chicken Cordon Bleu

What You'll Need:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 8 thin slices of ham
• 4 slices of Aged Swiss cheese
• 1 egg
• 2 Tablespoons of milk
• 1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
  (regular or Panko, your choice)

Homemade Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza

This is another one of our favorite homemade pizzas...the Chicken Bacon Ranch! We love making pizzas at home because not only do they taste better, but we also know exactly what's going in them! Like most of my recipes, this is easy to make and tastes wonderful! Enjoy!

Homemade Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza

What You'll Need:

• 1 can Pillsbury refrigerated pizza dough
  (We prefer the whole grain artisan dough.)
• Non-stick cooking spray
• 1/2 cup Ranch Dressing 
• Garlic Powder (to taste)
• 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 6-8 oz package grilled chicken breast strips
  (You can find this by the lunch meat.)
• 1 - 1 1/2 cup shredded Colby-Jack cheese
• 2 Roma tomatoes, diced

Homemade Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tenders

When we moved to Alaska, we knew we wouldn't have all the same stores and restaurants that we were accustomed to having in the Lower 48. Chick-Fil-A is one of the places that we'd have to learn to live without and happens to be one of both mine and my husband's favorite restaurants. After several attempts at coming up with a copycat recipe, we finally struck gold!
Disclaimer: It is a copycat but it's pretty close if you ask me! Enjoy!

Homemade Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tenders

What You'll Need:

• 1 1/2 lbs chicken breasts, cut into tenders
• 1/2-1 cup dill pickle juice 
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
• 1/2 teaspoon basil
• 1 cup peanut oil

Homemade Baked Macaroni and Cheese

I started making this for Thanksgiving and Christmas nearly ten years ago. Honestly, that's really the only time of year that I make it. In my mind, it's just one of those rich, special occasion foods. It's so creamy and cheesy and delicious, I just don't see how anyone can resist! Enjoy!

Homemade Baked Macaroni and Cheese

What You'll Need:

• 2 cups macaroni (dry), cooked and drained
  (You can substitute a similar pasta. I used Cellentani.)
• 2 Tablespoons butter, softened
• 2 Tablespoons flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1 cup milk, warmed
• 1/2 pint heavy cream
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups shredded Sharp Cheddar cheese
• 3/4 - 1 cup Italian bread crumbs
  (regular or Panko)

Country Fried Steak and Gravy

Country Fried Steak and Gravy is one of those Southern dinners that easily falls into that wonderful "comfort food" category. Added bonus is that it's budget-friendly and easy to make. The homemade gravy made from the drippings is what really adds that extra something. We serve this with garlic mashed potatoes, corn and crescent rolls. Enjoy!

Country Fried Steak and Gravy

What You'll Need:

• 1 1/2 - 2 lbs Cubed Steak, cut into 8 portions
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Bad Byron's Butt Rub, plus additional to taste
  
  *You can get Bad Byron's Butt Rub from my friend's shop, Cajun Corner Spices.
  Otherwise, you can substitute seasoning salt.
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• Salt and Pepper, to taste
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
  
  For the Gravy:
• Reserve 2 Tablespoons oil after cooking the steaks
• 4 Tablespoons all purpose flour
• 3 cups whole milk
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

One of the first things I ever made for my husband was my mashed potatoes. You know how they say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach? Well, if that statement is true, then this dish is probably one of the main reasons I won his heart. ;) In all seriousness though, this is one of his favorites and it's one of my most requested recipes. Enjoy!

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

What You'll Need:

• 2-3 lbs red potatoes
• 6 Tablespoons Butter, softened
• 1/4 cup Sour Cream
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1-2 Tablespoons Milk, as needed
• Salt and Pepper, to taste

Salsa Chicken

As you may have noticed, I'm a huge fan of easy slow cooker recipes. This recipe for Salsa Chicken is probably one of my favorites. It's super easy and only four ingredients! We serve it over a bed of brown rice with a little cheese and sour cream but you could easily put it on a salad or wrap it up in a tortilla. Enjoy!

Salsa Chicken

What You'll Need:

•  1 package boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  *Note: You can substitute frozen chicken and just add an hour to the cook time.
• 1 can Cream of Chicken soup
• 1 packet Taco Seasoning
• 1 24 oz jar of salsa

Mushroom Ranch Shoulder Steaks

I ended up making this recipe due to circumstances completely beyond my control. I had gone grocery shopping armed with my planned menu for the week. I was going to make a slow cooker pork chop recipe that I had found online. Unfortunately, when I got to the commissary, there was no pork to be found because the barge carrying the pork and chicken failed to arrive for delivery. Oh, the joys of living in Alaska! After I thought about it for a minute and after looking over the beef selection, I decided to try substituting shoulder steaks into the recipe. The result was fantastic! My two year old exclaimed it was "Good meats!" and my husband said it melted in his mouth "like butter". Pretty good reviews if you ask me! Plus, you only need three ingredients! Enjoy!

Mushroom Ranch Shoulder Steaks

What You'll Need:

• 6 beef shoulder steaks
• 2 cans Cream of Mushroom soup
• 2 packets dry Ranch dressing mix
  

Simply Delicious Lasagna

This is a new recipe to our family. My friend Monica asked if I was looking for any new recipes and told me that she had a good lasagna recipe. I took her up on her offer and made it for the first time tonight. It really didn't take long to prepare or cook and it tastes so good! I am definitely adding this to my bag of tricks as my go-to lasagna. Thank you so much for sharing, Monica! Enjoy!

Simply Delicious Lasagna

Prosciutto-Wrapped Chicken

This is a fairly simple recipe that requires only a handful of ingredients. It could easily be ready in 30 minutes or less. You have to love an easy weeknight recipe that looks like it took forever to prepare and tastes this delicious! Enjoy!

Prosciutto-Wrapped Chicken

What You'll Need:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 4 thin slices prosciutto 
• 4 oz fresh mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes
  (packed in olive oil, drained)
• 2-3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• Salt and Pepper, to taste

Pepperoni Pizza Dip

This recipe has been requested specifically by several of my friends, so I had to share! One of my roommates in college used to make delicious pizza dip for us occasionally. I only made it with her a few times and we've since lost touch, so I had to do my best to recreate it. While it may not be the exact same, it's still hot, cheesy, gooey deliciousness that gets devoured at any party I bring it to! Enjoy!

Pepperoni Pizza Dip

What You'll Need:

• 2 8-oz packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup Pizza Sauce
• 1 package diced pepperonis
• 1 package pepperoni minis
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 (14-oz) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• Garlic Powder
• 2 cups Cheddar cheese
• 2 cups Mozzarella cheese
• 1/4-1/2 cup Parmesan cheese