Linda's Crockpot Creamy Chicken and Noodles

This recipe is something I made up, but did go along the guidelines for a similar recipe found in the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook.

Ingredients:

2 cups sliced carrots (4 medium)

1 1/2 cups chopped onion (3 medium)

1 cup sliced celery (2 stalks)

2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 bay leaf

3-4 large boneless chicken breasts, cut into large pieces (or you can leave them whole)

2 cans cream of chicken soup or substitute one of the cans for cream of mushroom or cream of celery

1/2 cup water

1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

2-3 cups Dried wide noodles (or you favorite)

Salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste

1 cup sour cream

Directions:

In the bottom of the crockpot place the carrots, onion, celery, parsley and bay leaf.  Place the chicken on top of veggies. 

 

In a bowl, mix together the soup, water, thyme and 1/4 tsp pepper.

 

Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or on high 4 - 4 1/2 hours.

 

Approximately a half hour to an hour befor serving, add in the uncooked noodles and a little extra water, as the noodles will soak up the water.  Once the noodles are cooked, add in the sour cream, garlic, salt and pepper.  Cook a little while longer.

 

Remove bay leaf and serve.

 

You can also add frozen peas at the end as well.  This is a very versatile recipe that can easily be adapted to your own tastes.

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Potato Bread - Bread Machine

This is taken from my Red Star bread machine recipe book.

Use Basic Cycle for 1 1/2 lb. loaf.

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup water, room temperature
3 Tbsp Oil
3 Tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp Lemon zest (I use Watkins dried Lemon Peel)
1/2 tsp white pepper (I use black)
2 tsp dried minced onions
1/2 cup Potato Flakes
3 cups bread flour
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast

Add ingredients according to your manufacturers instructions.

Onion Soup White Bread - Bread Machine

This is taken from my Red Star bread machine recipe book.

Use Basic Cycle for 1 1/2 lb. loaf.

Ingredients:
1 cup water, room temperature
3 Tbsp oil
2 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp Dried Onion Soup Mix
3 Cups Bread Flour
2 1/4 tsp Active Dry Yeast

Add ingredients according to your manufacturers instructions.

Egg Bread - Bread Machine

This is taken from my Red Star bread machine recipe book.

Use Basic Cycle for 1 1/2 lb. loaf.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon room temperature water
2 Eggs
3 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 cups bread flour
2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast

Add ingredients according to your manufacturers instructions.

 

French Bread - Bread Machine

This is taken from my Red Star bread machine recipe book.

Use Basic Cycle for 1 1/2 lb. loaf.

Ingredients:
1 1/3 cup + 1 Tablespoon water, room temperature
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp. salt
4 Cups Bread Flour
2 1/4 Active Dry Yeast

Add ingredients according to your manufacturers instructions.

Cheese Herb Bread - Bread Machine

This is taken from my Red Star bread machine recipe book.

Use Basic Cycle for 1 1/2 lb. loaf.

Ingredients:
1 cup water, room temperature
3 Tbsp. oil
3 Tbsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
1/3 cup Parmesan Cheese (grated)
3 cups Bread Flour
2 1/4 tsp Active Dry Yeast

Add ingredients according to your manufacturers instructions.

Enjoy :)

Linda's Crockpot Stew

I took a couple different recipes and made my own version.  It came out perfect.

Ingredients:

1-2lb stew meat

1 package Dried Onion Soup Mix

2 cups beef broth (I used Watkins Beef soup mix)

2 medium onions, chopped in big pieces

3-4 carrots chopped in big pieces

1-2 celery ribs chopped in big pieces

2-3 large potatoes chopped in big pieces

1 Large Bay Leaf (or 2-3 small)

1 tsp Paprika

1 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce

1 tsp basil

1 tsp oregano

1 Tbsp tapicoa

Garlic powder or fresh to taste

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

In a ziploc bag, toss onion soup mix and stew meat.  Put into crockpot (you could probably skip the bag - but just make sure it is all coated evenly)

Add the remainder of the ingredients and stir to coat evenly.

Cover and cook on high 4-5 hours or on low 8-10 hours.

Serve with homemade bread, optional :-)

If you have any leftover veggies like peas or green beans, you can add them in at the end. 

Macaroni Salad

This is my favorite macaroni salad.  


Cook 2 cups macaroni in boiling salted water until tender.  Rinse and drain.  Then place in a large bowl and mix together the following:
3/4 cup mayonaise
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp vinegar (I use apple cider vinegar)
2 Tbsp sugar
Then add:
1 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup grated carrot
Pour over macaroni and sprinkle with celery seed.  Garnish with sliced hard cooked eggs.  

Pepper Cabbage

This is my mom's recipe.  Delish :)


Ingredients:
1 pound cabbage
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup vinegar
1/2 green pepper
1/2 red pepper
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp celery seed


Directions:
Finely cut cabbage and peppers.  Add salt, sugar and celery seed. Pour vinegar over all.  Let stand 15 minutes and stir.  
Serves: 5