Chicken 'n Dumplins Recipe

This is a simple recipe that can be made in the crock pot or on the stovetop.

 

What you need:

Fresh Chicken breast (amount depends on how many people you're feeding, use your own judgement)

1 Can Cream of chicken soup

Garlic powder

Onion powder

Celery salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 Pkg Pioneer southern style gravy mix

2 1/4 Cups Bisquick

1/2 Cup of Milk 

Directions:

Boil the chicken in a large stock pot with the onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper and celery salt 'til it's almost done. (you can use chicken stock if you have it on hand, I didn't and it still turned out great)

 Drain some of the water off, leaving a little more than half the volume in the pot. (you'll need room for the dumplin's)

 Add the can of cream of chicken soup to the pot and stir well. 

Add the pkg of gravy mix and stir well.

Bring to a boil.

 

In a separate bowl, Mix the Bisquick and milk 'til the dough comes together. 

Using your fingers, pinch off small pieces of dough and drop it into the pot of boiling chicken. (the dough will double as it cooks, so don't use too much for each dumplin') 

Turn the heat down to Med-Hi and let it simmer about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally so the dumplin's don't stick together.

That's it. 

With this easy recipe, you can make chicken n dumplin's just like grandma used to make.

Enjoy!

$5 Dinner Breakdown (Chicken & Stove Top Casserole)

Cooking a yummy, nutritious dinner for your family shouldn't cost you a small fortune. With some strategic shopping techniques & the use of Qpons, you too can eat good for cheap.
  Chicken casserole ingredients:
1 lb chicken = $1.88
1 box of stuffing = $1.00 (found it on sale 10/$10 at Kroger)
1 medium onion = .20¢
1 can cream of mushroom soup = .69¢
1 8 oz tub of sour cream = $1.00 (I subb'd with some homemade greek yogurt = free)
A handfull of mozzarella cheese (optional, but I think it's better with it) = .75¢
... Total = $5.52
I served this with some leftover carrots & good ol' flaky layer biscuits.
: )

Ghetto Fabulous Ramen Noodles

With a few little "cheats" you can turn a lowly pack of Ramen noodles into an unbelievably yummy, ghetto fabulous main dish.
What you need:
2 Packs chicken flavored ramen noodles
1 Pkg imitation crab or lobster
2 Pats butter
1/4 Cup grated parmesean cheese
Cook noodles according to directions, leaving them a bit al dente.  Drain. Add drained noodles, butter, flavor pkts, crab & grated parmesean cheese to pan & stir 'til well blended and crab is warm. Serve with a mixed green salad & some garlic toast... Yum!!!
*stock photo courtesy of google*

Salisbury Steaks

What you need:
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 pkg dry onion soup mix
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup fresh mushrooms or 1 small can of mushrooms
Splash of worchestershire sauce
Squirt of california french dressing
Mix ground beef with onion soup. Form into patties and brown in a large skillet. Remove patties from pan and drain well on a paper towel. Pour grease out of pan.
Add can of soup, mushrooms, worchestershire sauce and squirt of french dressing to skillet, stir well. Add patties back to skillet with mushroom gravy and simmer for 15 minutes.
*stock photo from Google*

Bbq Pizzas

These pizzas are another way to use the crockpot Bbq in your weekly rotation of meals.
What you need:
Pizza crusts.... I like the mini ones from the dollar tree 2/1$, everyone can make their own & it gets kids involved in cooking.
Ranch dressing
Shredded cheese, preferably mozzarella, but cheddar will work
Bacon bits
Green onions
Lightly brush crust with olive oil. Drizzle a spoonfull of ranch onto the crust and spread it out with the back of the spoon, add a layer of cheese, spread the bbq over the cheese, top with green onions & bacon bits, bake according to package directions & enjoy!

Intentional Leftovers...

Intentional leftovers is exactly what it sounds like,  when you make a dish with the specific intent to use it for more than one meal.
Pulled Bbq, made in the crockpot, is a great example of how to work "intentional leftovers" into your weekly menu plan.
What you need:
Pork roast or boneless chicken breasts
1 to 2 cups of NON DIET Root beer (depending on the amt of meat you use & the size of your crockpot)
3 or 4 cloves of garlic (chopped)
1 med onion (chopped)
Bottle of your favorite Bbq sauce (I prefer Sweet Baby Ray's) or your own homemade.
Add the first 4 ingredients to your crockpot and cook for 4-6 hrs on high or 6-7 hrs on low. When it done,  (you'll know it's done when you can shred it with a fork)  strain all the juice off the meat, add the meat back to the crockpot & add 1/2 (more or less to your taste) bottle of your favorite sauce, shred meat with two forks. Let meat cook about another hour and then serve.
This is great for Bbq potatoes, Bbq sandwiches, Bbq burrito wraps, Bbq chicken pizza, Bbq ranch bacon pizzas and lots more.
: )
*stock photo from Google*