Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches

approx 3 1/2 lbs beef chuck roast
16-oz. beef broth (1 1/2 cans)
1 10.5-oz. can condensed French onion soup
1 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper, to taste
4-6 French rolls
sliced provolone cheese, optional


Trim excess fat off of beef roast and season meat all over with salt and pepper.
Pour beef broth, condensed French onion soup, red wine and garlic powder into slow cooker and place beef roast into liquid.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
Take beef out and rest it, covered with aluminum foil, for about 15 minutes. Slice beef and return to slow cooker on low or very low for 30 minutes.
Lightly toast the bread and evenly distribute cheese between rolls, if using. Divide beef onto rolls and spoon the beef juice small bowls and eat everything while it is hot. Serve each sandwich with its own dip.

I found this recipe here.

Cilantro Lime Chicken

In a slow cooker, mix together:
One 24-ounce jar medium or mild salsa
Juice from one lime
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
One 1.25-oz. package taco seasoning
2 jalapeno peppers, finely chopped (optional)
Add 2 - 4 chicken breasts.

Heat on low for 6 hours.  Shred Chicken and use on tortillas for tacos, or add to salad for taco salads.

I found this recipe here.

Baked Tortellini

• 20 oz. of tortellini, cheese-filled, cooked
• 15 oz. of Alfredo sauce, prepared
• 4 oz. of prosciutto, minced  (I used ham, but I think bacon would also be good.)
• 8 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded

Boil Tortellini according to package directions.  Spread 1/4 cup of Alfredo sauce in greased 9x13 pan.  Mix remaining sauce, ham, tortellini together, then place in the pan.  Top with mozzarella cheese.  Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Apple Tea Ring or Pineapple Tea Ring

This was taken before I frosted it.  Ignore my ugly pan and I know it doesn't look that good, but it really was. 

Dough

1 lb butter
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
5 cups scalded milk
3/4 tlbs of sea salt
1 tbs yeast/ dissolved in 1/2 cup warm water

Filling
1 15 oz crushed pineapple or canned apples
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 Tbs cornstarch
1/2 tsp cinnamon
You can also use granola, craisins, or raisins.

Enough flour to have a sticky dough.  Let rise until doubled.
Scald milk and butter.  Add to mixture.  Add sugar, beaten eggs, and salt.  When all mixed together and yeast mixture.  Roll out dough as for cinnamon rolls.  Cover with filling.  Form into a circle and then pinch ends together.  Cut with scissors 3/4 thru and then turn cuts up on side to form a wreath.  Cook at 350 until golden brown, about 20 mins.  Frost with butter cream frosting.  You may also decorate with almond or maraschino cherries.

You can also just used butter, and cinnamon and sugar.  Then shape your dough into three ropes.  Braid them and then shape them into a candy cane.

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

Recipe by OurBestBites.com


1/3 C (3 oz) cream cheese
1/4 C green salsa
1T fresh lime juice
1/2 t cumin
1 t chili powder
1/2 t onion powder
1/4 t granulated garlic
3 T chopped cilantro
2 T sliced green onions

2 C shredded cooked chicken
1 C grated pepperjack cheese

small corn tortillas  (I used flour)
kosher salt
cooking spray


Heat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.

Heat cream cheese in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds so it's soft and easy to stir. Add green salsa, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder and granulated garlic. Stir to combine and then add cilantro and green onions. Add chicken and cheese and combine well.
You can prepare up to this step ahead of time. Just keep the mixture in the fridge.

Work with a few tortillas at a time and heat in the microwave until they are soft enough to roll without cracking. It helps to place them between damp paper towels. Usually 20-30 seconds will do it. If you find yours are cracking when you roll them or come unrolled right away, just try heating them longer and try the paper towel thing.

Place 2-3 T of chicken mixture on the lower third of a tortilla, keeping it about 1/2 inch from the edges.

Then roll it up as tight as you can.

Place seam side down on the baking sheet. Lay all of the taquitos on the baking sheet and make sure they are not touching each other. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray or an oil mister and sprinkle some kosher salt on top.

Place pan in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to get golden brown.

Dip 'em in salsa, sour cream, or guacamole.

Sausage Tortellini Soup

I found this recipe here.

3 links Italian sausage  (I just used crumbled sausage)
4 cloves pressed garlic
1 onion, diced
½ c. water
2 15-oz. cans chicken broth
½ c. apple cider (I used apple juice because that is what I had)
1 16-oz. can diced tomatoes
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 c. sliced carrots
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
2 medium zucchini, grated
2 tablespoons dried parsley
8-10 oz. package cheese tortellini (check the freezer section of your grocery store; if you can find it there, it will almost always be way cheaper than fresh tortellini. Also, Barilla makes a great dry cheese tortellini)
2 Tbsp. dried parsley


Cook the sausage in large pot.
Chop onion and add to pot. Continue cooking until onions are translucent and your sausage is cooked.
Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, juice, water, chicken broth, carrots, oregano, and basil. Cover and simmer for 1/2 hour. Add parsley and zucchini and simmer for another 15 minutes or so. Add the tortellini and cook until tender, and then serve with bread and freshly-grated Parmesan.

Candy Corn Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:
1 batch sugar cookie dough (like this one or this one)
yellow and orange food coloring

Optional:
Sanding sugar, coarse raw sugar, or sprinkles
almond bark or white chocolate, melted

Instructions:
Divide prepared sugar cookie dough into three equal portions.  Leave one as is and color one other portion yellow and another portion orange.
Line a standard loaf pan with plastic wrap.  Gently press layer of uncolored dough into bottom of pan and smooth flat, keeping it at least 1/2-3/4 inches high (you don’t have to use the whole pan if you have a small batch of dough) or larger if desired.  Layer orange dough on top of previous layer and smooth.  Finally layer yellow dough and smooth on top.  Wrap plastic over dough and chill until firm, 30-60 minutes in freezer or 1-2 hours in fridge.  Or you can store the dough in fridge for 2-3 days before baking.
Remove plastic and slice loaf into 1/4 inch slices. Trim top of slice to make straight line.  Cut each slice into triangle shape and dip top side in sugar if desired.  Bake according to sugar cookie directions.  Cool completely and then if desired, dip ends in almond bark or white chocolate and decorate with sprinkles.

I found this recipe here.