Crescent Breakfast Ring

I'm back! For now, at least. It's been 4 months since I've posted a recipe. I've been busy doing things like graduating college, moving to a different town, getting married, and honeymooning. But now I have more free time, so maybe that means more recipe posts.

Here's a super delicious breakfast ring that I found on Bacon Time with the Hungry  Hungry Hypo via Pinterest. Ladies, you've gotta love Pinterest. I've made three of these, all different ways. It's really easy to put together, has minimum ingredients, and always comes out well. Feel free to change up the filling to suit your taste. I recently made two of these for my husband's work: one just like this, and another that was crumbled breakfast sausage, scrambled eggs, and cheese.

Makes 8 stuffed crescent rolls.

Total prep and cook time: 30 minutes or less

Chicken Pot Pie

Y'ALL. This stuff is crazy good. It was my first time making chicken pot pie and it turned out perfectly. It was ridiculously easy to make. I made two individual pot pies and they turned out super cute :) The recipe could easily be doubled if you want extras or need to feed more people. I'll definitely be making it several more times during these cold months! I found the recipe via Pinterest (love) and the original post was from culinary.net. 


Makes 2 large servings (or 4 small servings if you use a pie plate).
Total prep and cook time: 30 minutes


Items you'll need:

• 1 c of cooked chicken breast, cubed
• 1 can of cream of chicken soup
• 9 oz of frozen mixed veggies, thawed
• 1/2 c milk
• 1 egg
• 1 c all purpose baking mix (I used Bisquick)
• medium size mixing bowl
• 2 small oven proof bowls (2 cup capacity) OR 1 pie plate
• cooking spray or vegetable oil
• small mixing bowl
• baking pan

Spicy Pasta Salad with Smoked Gouda, Tomatoes, and Fresh Basil

This pasta salad is great. Found it on PW's website.  I will definitely be making it again and again. It can be served as either a main dish or as a side with some type of meat. This pasta salad was very easy to throw together. It's a nice 30 minute meal!

Quotes from the taste testers:

"This is the best pasta salad I've ever had!"

"Freaking delicious."

Make it.

Makes 8 servings.
Total cook and prep time: 25 minutes.

Pasta with Alfredo, Chicken Sausage, and Asparagus

This is an extremely yummy meal. It's super flavorful and filling. I made it tonight for my sweet boyfriend and fave gal pal, Katie. This recipe comes from Pink Parsley. I altered the portions of the original recipe and chose a different sauce to toss the pasta in. I used the alfredo sauce from the Pioneer Woman's Fettuccine Alfredo recipe. It turned out super well! 

Makes 8 servings.

Cook time: 30 minutes or less

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs fresh asparagus (2 bunches), tough ends snapped off and discarded
• olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 5 links of chicken sausage, sliced to 1/4 or 1/2 inch thickness
• 12 oz small shaped pasta (I used a combo of rotini, bowtie, and shells)
• 1/2 c salted butter (1 stick)
• 1 c heavy whipping cream
• 2 c shredded parmesan cheese

Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes!! Do you love sloppy joes? I hadn't had one in years and made these last night. These were super good. Probably because these are fresh and homemade and a can of Manwich was not in the picture. This is the Pioneer Woman's recipe which automatically tells you it's delicious. Thanks PW, your recipes rule the Earth.

Makes 4 sandwiches.
Prep and cook time: 30 minutes or less

Healthy Shrimp Stir-Fry

Sometimes I get on healthy kicks and now is one of those times. I've been searching the internet the past few days for healthy, low calorie meals. Here's one! I found it on PW's website, believe it or not. This is a very veggie filled meal. It's light, fresh, and delicious. It's a perfect, colorful meal to fix during the Spring or Summer. And it alllll takes less than 30 minutes to throw together.


Makes 2 large servings.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 8 minutes

Clam Chowder

My boyfriend's mother made this recipe some time last year, which is the first time I had ever tried it. I loved it. I've made it a few times since that occasion. That was the first time I had ever tried clams, too. Don't worry, this soup doesn't have an overpowering clam or seafood flavor. It's plain delish. The recipe comes from the Woman's Day magazine. You should man up and try it.

Makes 4 servings.

Calories per serving: 273

Total prep and cook time: 32 minutes

Bowtie Lasagna

This jazz is delicious. It takes less than thirty minutes from start to finish to make, too. It calls for only a few ingredients and was so easy to make! The recipe is from the Tasty Kitchen website.

Makes 6 servings.
Cook and prep time: less than 30 minutes


Ingredients:

• 5 c bowtie pasta
• 1 T olive oil
• 1 lb ground meat (I used turkey)
• 3 c spaghetti or pizza sauce (I used Mama Mia’s cause it’s local!)
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 c mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/2 c sour cream
• shredded parmesan cheese for garnish (optional)

Pancakes

I made these pancakes yesterday morning and they turned out perfectly. They actually turned out prettier than they typically do when I use the pre-made Bisquick stuff. Boom! They were fluffy, golden, and delicious. I found the recipe on PW's website and they were very easy to make.

Makes 9 pancakes.

Cook time: 10 minutes

Here's what you'll need:

• 1 1/2 c cake flour plus 1 T 
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 T plus 1  1/2 t baking powder
• 1 T sugar
• 1 c milk
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2 T butter
• extra butter (optional)
• maple or pancake syrup
• large mixing bowl
• 1 large skillet

Mexican Rice

I made this Valentine's Day night to go along with some enchiladas. The recipe is from the Pioneer Woman's website. It was very quick and easy to whip up! You should make it.


Makes 8 servings.
Total prep and cook time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 T of canola oil (I used olive oil because I had no canola)
• 1/2 whole large onion, chopped (I used white)
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 c dry long grain rice (I used basmati)
• 1 10 oz can Rotel
• 1  14.5 oz can OR 1  3/4 c freshly diced tomatoes
• 2 c or more of low sodium chicken broth
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• fresh cilantro, chopped

Creamy Spinach Soup

Listen up. This is a totally delicious soup. It’s one of my most favorite soups I’ve ever made. I’d probably rank it #2 behind Taco Soup. The liquid green pictures do not not illustrate how amazing this soup really is. You’ll just have to trust me.

I found the recipe on The Pioneer Woman Cooks. Imagine that. I’ve made it twice and I love love love it. I think next time I’ll puree half the spinach and leave the other half wilted so that the soup will be a little more chunkier/thicker. The cayenne pepper in it really spices the flavor up, so if you’re not into that kind of thing, I would definitely leave it out. It’s not too overpowering, but I have the feeling that some people might not like it.

Reasons you should make this:

1. It is less than 300 calories per serving. 
2. It’s one of my favorite soups in the whole world.
3. It’s warm and delicious.
4. It’s freezing cold outside.
5. It’s a 30 minute meal and super easy to make.

Makes 8 servings.

Calories per serving: 230

Total prep and cook time: 30 minutes

Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti

This tasty dish comes from my lovely mother, who made it quite frequently as I was growing up. It’s a super easy meal to whip up. 

Reasons you should make this:

1. You can make the entire meal by using only one pot.
2. It's less than 300 calories per serving.
3. It only takes 30 minutes from the time you prepare it to the time you serve it.
4. It smells like Rotel dip while you're cooking it.
5. It’s a delicious and comforting meal.

Makes 8 servings.

Calories per serving: 237

Total Prep and cook time: 30 min