Pasta Fagioli

In the crockpot:

one pound cooked ground beef
20 oz. water
1 cube of beef boullion
three diced carrots
one can of Italian-style diced tomatoes
half a can of spaghetti sauce
one can of white beans
one can of red beans

When cooked, add a little pasta to each bowl.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Holy cow. These are amazing.

INGREDIENTS

* 2 cups all-purpose flour (I used one cup of whole wheat)
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
* 1 cup packed brown sugar
* 1/2 cup white sugar
* 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
* 1 egg
* 1 egg yolk
* 2 cups dark chocolate chips


DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon. Drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about 1 inch apart.
4. Bake for 13 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

Chicken and Rice Bowl

Layer for each serving:

brown rice made with a little oil and Adobo seasoning
black beans
pecan-smoked chicken
tomatoes
avocado slices
shredded cheese
cilantro

Yum.

Thai Pasta

This is so good.

Cook one pound of whole wheat linguine. Meanwhile, in a separate saucepan, mix 1c water with 1 c peanut butter and then add garlic, fish sauce, teriyaki sauce, and some heat (tabasco, crushed red pepper, whatever) and stir over medium heat. Drain the pasta, add a pound of diced veggies and a cup of meat.

Shepherd's Pie

This is a childhood favorite.

(1) I make mashed potatoes by cooking five pounds of potatoes (skin on) in the crock pot in a half-inch of water on low for six hours, then cutting them in half and scooping out the middle. I add a lump of butter, some milk, Ranch dressing, and salt. I leave some unmashed chunks of potato.

(2) Brown a pound of ground beef and mix in a packet of onion soup mix.

(3) In a lasanga pan, layer ground beef, 1/2 c water, a bag of thawed frozen mixed vegetables, and the mashed potatoes. Spray the top with cooking spray.

(4) Bake in a 300 degree oven for about an hour.

Creamy Turkey (or Chicken) Soup

Into crockpot:

leftover dark turkey
celery
green onion including white part
one can pureed white beans
carrots
corn
28 oz. chicken broth
milk
lemon juice
salt and season salt
2 T butter
2 c cooked brown rice