Chicken Pillows

Here is a relatively quick and fun to make with the kids recipe. I'm pretty sure everyone has their own version of this, here is ours. And, if all else fails, just have fun playing with olives.

• 
• 1 rib of celery, diced
• 1/4 c. olives, diced
  
• 1/4 mushrooms, diced
  
• 1/2 onion, diced
  
• 1 chicken breast, diced
• 1/2 brick low-fat cream cheese
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Mix all ingredients and spoon onto crescent rolls and fold remaining dough over. To make this even unhealthier, we like to melt a little butter and mix in some garlic salt to brush over the tops before baking at 350 degrees about 10-15 minutes. (It all depends on how big you made these- you want them to be golden brown and not doughy.)

**This week I noticed that they had crescent sheets at Walmart which were very convenient for this. I just used my ravioli cutter to cut around and make nicely shaped pillows. With the "new" Walmart, who knows if they will still have them next week.**

And, the kids favorite part ***drumroll please*** THE SAUCE.

This is fancy, hold onto your pants.

1 can of reduced fat cream of chicken soup
1 can of water
2-3 tbsp light sour cream
Heat until warm!

Meatball Soup

This is totally not my recipe, but one I want to be able to access wherever I am, so onto the internet it goes. While it may look like a bunch of ingredients it really isn't. I was surprised at how quick it was to prepare, and while one part is cooking you are working on the other. It is also a great way to sneak in some veggies. Oh, and did I mention that we love soup around here?

Broth:

• 5 cans chicken broth (watch for msg if you are into that!)
• 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 2 carrots shredded
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
• 2 c spinach, thinly sliced
• 1/2 c orzo pasta
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Heat oil in large pot. Saute onion and garlic until tender. Add broth, tomatoes and Italian seasoning. Heat to boiling. Add meatballs.

Meatballs:

• 1/2 lb. ground turkey
• 1/2 lb. ground beef
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 c. bread crumbs (I used seasoned)
• 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp. basil
• 1/2 tsp parsley
• 1/2 c. grated onion
• 1 clove minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp salt

Combine all ingredients. Form into tiny meatballs and drop into broth to cook. When cooked, add carrots, spinach, and pasta. Cover and simmer 10-20 minutes.

**I had enough leftovers from the 1 lb of turkey I bought, so I made a mixture of extra meatball ingredients that I'm going to put in the freezer so that all I have to do is unthaw the next time I'm ready to make this as the rest of the ingredients are things I would have on hand anyway. A quick weeknight meal!**

And, We're Back - with BBQ Beef Cups

Long time, no blog. Sorry. It's life. It happens to the best of us.

Here is what we're having tonight (assuming I ever manage to wrestle the munchkins to the dinner table - right now they are playing somewhat nicely together, David is stuck in an airport somewhere, and I'm enjoying the closest to quiet it gets around here. Dinner can wait.)



Not the prettiest dish ever, but tasty, quick and most importantly, made from leftovers. This used to be a roast and a hamburger, but not anymore! Nope, now it is all fancy-like and goes by "BBQ Beef Cup."

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

So, for the biscuit cups, grab:

• 2 cups of Bisquick Mix
• 1/2 c. cold water (I usually have to add a tad more)

Mix together just until a soft dough forms. As with all biscuit dough, mix as little as possible or it will get tough. Press into 12 greased muffin cups so that a little cup shape forms.

For the filling:

• 1/4 cup diced onion
• 1 clove of garlic
• leftover beef (I used roast and hamburger) or just 1 lb of ground beef
• 1/2 c. BBQ sauce
• 1/2 c. cheddar cheese (for sprinkling)

Cook onion and garlic until soft, heat beef until warm (or cook it all the way if you are starting with fresh beef.) Stir in the BBQ sauce and cook until warm. Spoon into cups and sprinkle with cheese. Cook 7-9 minutes or until biscuits are done. Dinner is ready! Yee-haw!