Easy Nacho Dip

Easy Nacho Dip

Author: Northern Girl

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 1 hour

Total time: 1 hour 15 mins

Serves: 4-6

 This recipe takes about 1 hour before it is ready. Once assembled, it cooks in your crock-pot/slow cooker until the cheese melts. You can use the mixture to create nachos or even as a burrito or enchilada filling.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. lean ground beef or ground turkey


• 1 can refried beans


• 1 green pepper, diced


• 1 medium onion, diced


• 1 pack taco seasoning


• 1 jar/can taco sauce


• 1 lb. (16oz) pasteurized cheddar cheese (I used Velveeta), cubed


• 1 bag of tortilla chips


• *EXTRAS if you want - shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, sour cream, guacamole

Instructions

1. In a skillet, brown beef with peppers and onions.


2. Coat your slow-cooker with non-stick spray.


3. Once meat is browned, drain and put the mixture into your slow cooker.


4. Add all the other ingredients and mix well.


5. Allow to heat until cheese is melted through.


6. Layer on top of tortilla chips to make nachos. Add any extra ingredients you will like.


7. Enjoy!

3.2.1753

Pasta Fagioli in the Slow Cooker

It has been a rainy winter. And when it rains and is cold out, all I want is comfort food. One of my favorite comfort foods is Pasta Fagioli. It reminds me of dinner with my grandparents from when I was little.

Slow Cooker Pasta Fagioli

Recipe Type: Dinner

Cuisine: Italian

Author: Northern Girl

Prep time: 30 mins

Cook time: 8 hours

Total time: 8 hours 30 mins

Serves: 6-8

This is a twist on the pasta fagioli my grandma makes.You make it in the slow cooker. You need to spend about 20-30 min prepping before you can stick it in the slow cooker. Dinner will be ready 8 hours later.

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb ground sausage (if you can find Italian sausage, use it)


• 1 cup of onion, chopped and diced


• 3 ribs of celery, chopped


• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning


• 2 - 15 oz cans diced tomatoes, undrained


• 2 - 15 oz cans cannelloni beans, drained and rinsed


• 1- small can of tomato paste


• 48 oz. beef broth


• 1-1/2 lbs of frozen meatballs (I used mini meatballs to make it easier for the kids but you can omit this ingredient completely)


• 1 cup marina sauce (I used Prego)


• 1/2 cup dry red wine (I used Merlot)


• 2-3 cups ditalini, cooked

Instructions

1. Heat 1 TB of olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat.


2. Add sausage and brown it.


3. Once sausage is browned, remove it from the skillet to drain the grease.


4. Return the sausage to the skillet, add onion and celery to skillet. Cook until soft. This will take approximately 10 minutes.


5. Add garlic to skillet and saute for 2 minutes. Do not allow garlic to brown.


6. Put the sausage mixture into your slow cooker.


7. Drain and rinse the cannelloni beans.


8. Add the cannelloni beans to your slow cooker.


9. Drain the diced tomatoes and add them to your slow cooker.


10. Add the tomato paste and sauce to the slow cooker.


11. Add the beef broth and wine to the slow cooker. I used a Merlot because that is what I had open but any red wine will work.


12. Add the meatballs and Italian seasoning. Stir up all the ingredients. Close the lid and wait 7 hours.


13. Cook up some ditalini al dente, according to the package instructions.


14. Add cooked pasta and cook for 30 minutes with the lid on the slow cooker.


15. Remove the lid and continue to cook for an additional 30 minutes. This will cause the food to thicken.


16. I always sprinkle some parmesan over the food in the bowls when serving.


17. (And of course I forgot to take an after picture)

Notes

The first night that I made this, it was more of a pasta fagioli soup. I had skipped the final step because I was hungry. The next time with the lid removed (the final step), it was a thicker, heartier dish. You can try it either way depending on your mood.

3.2.1682

What is some of your favorite foods to eat when it is cold and rainy out?

Slow Cooker Boneless Pork Loin

I was at the grocery store and boneless pork loins were on sale. I bought a 6-lb one to split in half. Since I was home with a sick little boy last week, I made both on the same day in my slow cookers. With one half on the pork, I made BBQ pulled pork to eat at a later time during the week or weekend. With the other half, I made this recipe. It was really easy to make and the best part was all THREE of my kids liked it!

Slow Cooker Boneless Pork Loin

Recipe Type: Dinner

Author: Northern Girl

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 4 hours

Total time: 4 hours 10 mins

Serves: 4-6

A flavorful, moist boneless pork loin that cooks in the slow cooker in about 4 hours.

Ingredients

• 1 boneless pork loin, about 2-3 lbs.


• 1 packet dry onion soup mix


• 1 cup water


• 1 cup red wine (I have used merlot and pinot noir)


• 3 tablespoons Tastefully Simple’s Garlic Garlic or 3 cloves of garlic, minced


• 3 tablespoons soy sauce

Instructions

1. Put the pork loin in your slow cooker. Cover with the onion soup mix.


2. Add the wine and soy sauce to the slow cooker. I made sure to coat the top of the pork well so the dry soup mixed well. Then add the water. I needed about 1 cup to fill up the sides but I did not want to completely cover the pork.


3. Then I added the Garlic Garlic. I placed the garlic on top of the pork with the juices on the bottom and sides of it. I was careful when I added the water to make sure the top of the pork was not covered. If you choose to use fresh garlic, pressed or minced, do the same. I wanted to make sure the flavor would stay on the pork rather than mixing in to the juices.


4. Cover and cook for 4 hours on low.


5. I removed the pork and sliced it.


6. I then added the juices back in to the dish to serve together. Next time, I would not add as much to the main dish, but would just add some to a gravy boat.


7. We ate the pork over brown rice with a side of steamed broccoli.

3.2.1682

Recipe adapted from AllRecipes.

Meal Plan -- Week 3

I wish I could say last week went off without a hitch. But I would be lying. So last week's meal plan was a bit of a mess.

I did make the sloppy Joe's. They were a hit. But about halfway through the meal my DEAR husband told me I could just buy this thing called Manwich instead of working so hard...as if I would ever. Ugh. And how rude was that. Somebody better be getting someone something nice for Valentine's Day this week. Hint, Hint!

We didn't make it to school spirit night either. I had a doctors appointment which took up a lot of the day. I had a little boy who was feeling sick to his stomach. So I ended up making onion soup, grilled cheese sandwiches (some with roast beef).

We had a random leftover night while we were rushing around to activities. I made the chicken marsala but not in the slow cooker.

So onto this week, let's hope I am slightly more successful this week than I was last.

Monday - Chicken Pot Pie

Tuesday - Blue/Gold Dinner for Cub Scouts - must make a awesome dessert but not sure what yet

Wednesday - Slow Cooker Beef Roast

Thursday - Not sure yet...it is Valentine's Day so I know we won't go out but I am thinking some sort of seafood, either steamed or maybe a low country boil

Friday - Leftovers

Saturday - Date Night

Sunday - Chili

 

Food Art

The kiddos ate some shapes into their food the other week. They were very proud of themselves.