Semi-Homemade Sweet Cornbread

Everyone loves chili in the Fall and everyone loves cornbread with their chili.  This is a delicious way to make cornbread that tastes homemade but takes only seconds to throw together!

2 boxes Jiffy cornbread mix

2 eggs

2/3 cup milk

1/2 cup sour cream

3 Tbs. honey

Mix well and pour into a 9x13 greased pan.  Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes.

BBQ Pork Sandwiches

There's nothing better than a delicious dinner that you can make in the crockpot.  Life is busy and the crockpot saves so much time!  We love these BBQ pork sandwiches.  Super easy and super filling.

2-3 lb. pork loin roast

3/4 cup water

1 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. garlic salt

1 tsp. fresh ground pepper

Hamburger buns or rolls

Butter, softened

BBQ sauce

*Cook pork roast in crockpot all day on low with the water and seasonings.  Don't put any BBQ sauce in crockpot.  Shred up when done cooking.  When ready to eat, generously butter the bread of your choice.  Toast, butter side down, on the stove in a frying pan. This is crucial...don't skip it.  Top toasted rolls with pork and your favorite BBQ sauce.  We love Sweet Baby Rays sauce.  Enjoy!

Green Chicken Enchilada Casserole

It's always good to have a few solid casserole recipes for those times when you need a good potluck item or when you take dinner to a big family.  Even better is having casserole recipes that are easy but still taste great!  I got this recipe from my friend/cousin (frousin), Kylie, at a big family picnic we had at the park in the Spring.  It tastes just like chicken enchiladas but without the hassle of rolling up enchiladas.  Yay!

1 1/2-2 cups cooked chicken (you can use canned, rotisserie or cook it and shred it yourself)

Cooked rice (I used 1 1/2 cups before cooked)

1 can green enchilada sauce (I used half of a big can)

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/2 cup sour cream

2 cups shredded cheese

salt/pepper to taste

1 tsp. garlic powder

pinch of oregano and cumin

onion, if desired

Mix all ingredients together in a big bowl using only half the cheese.  Pour into a 9x13 and cover with remaining cheese.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

The Easiest Homemade Lasagna

If you are still buying frozen lasagna, this is the recipe for you.

It really could not be easier and is so delicious.  I mean, who doesn't love homemade lasagna?!  Whip up a green salad and some garlic bread and you are golden.  A super easy meal that people will be super impressed by.

1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef

1 jar marinara (I use Trader Joe's tomato basil)

16 oz. cottage cheese

8 oz. sour cream

1 cup parmesan

18 slices of mozzarella (or shredded works, too)

8 oven ready lasagna noodles (I use Barilla)

*Brown the ground beef on stove.  Add marinara sauce and simmer.  In a 9x13 pan, put a little bit of the meat sauce.  Just enough to cover the bottom of the pan.  Lay down 4 of the noodles.  Mix the cottage cheese and sour cream together in a bowl.  Spoon half of that mixture over the noodles and spread.  Put 6 slices of the mozzarella over that.  Pour half of the remaining meat sauce over the mozzarella.  Sprinkle half of the parmesan.  Start again with noodles and repeat steps.  Top with remaining slices of mozzarella.  Cover with foil (without it touching the cheese) and bake at 350 for 1 hour.  Remove foil and bake for 10 more minutes.

Sidenote:  You can make the lasagna bigger by doing more meat sauce and more white sauce.  I will often do that when we are feeding more than just our family of six.  All the other ingredients stay the same.

No Bake Chocolate Crispies

I got this healthy treat recipe from my healthy friend, Jill.

She is always looking for delicious recipes that are also clean and nutritious.  She brought me some of these and I was instantly hooked. These will definitely satisfy your chocolate cravings.  Almost like a candy bar but way better for you.

1 cup almond butter (or organic peanut butter)

2/3 cup raw honey

1/4 cup chia seeds

1/4 cup raw cacao powder (or unsweetened cocoa powder)

1/3 cup coconut oil

1 Tbs vanilla

1/4 tsp sea salt

6 cups crisped brown rice (found in a bag at Sprouts)

Mix together all the wet ingredients in a bowl by hand.  Add the chia seeds, cacao, and salt and then mix well.  Add the crisped rice and stir until evenly coated.  Chill for 1-2 hours and then form into balls and refrigerate until serving. (Jill brought it to me in a little loaf pan).

*Recipe from a friend to a friend to a friend.  Originally thought to be from Green Smoothie Girl.

Favorite Chicken Marinade

We have been using this simple chicken marinade for years.  It makes for some awesome grilled chicken.  I like to use chicken thighs when we grill because they are so tender and juicy.

1 cup Sprite

1 cup soy sauce (I use low sodium)

1/2 cup oil (I use light tasting olive oil)

2 garlic cloves, minced (or garlic powder)

Put chicken in a big zip-loc bag.  Pour in the marinade ingredients and seal up the bag really good.  Move the bag around so the ingredients mix together and the chicken is all covered.  Keep in fridge until ready to grill.  Marinade at least a few hours or even overnight.  If you don't have access to a grill, you can also broil them on a cookie sheet in the oven for about 12 minutes on each side.

The Perfect Omelette

Years ago on Oprah, I saw a segment about how to make the perfect omelette.  I have been using this method ever since and it really does work.  I have egg issues and cannot eat eggs unless they are very well-cooked.  No egg juice!  I never order eggs at restaurants because I'm too afraid of egg juice.  So I love this method because I can make sure my omelette is well-done!

Step 1:  Crack two eggs into a bowl.  Add 1 Tbs of water.  Whisk really well with a fork.

Step 2:  Pour eggs into an already butter/sprayed pan that has been heating over low-medium heat.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  With a spatula, push in the sides to the center and let the eggs fill in the gaps.  Do this like 3 times until there is no more runny eggs.  Then flip.

Step 3:  Add toppings to one side of the omelette.  Then fold over the other side.  Cook for about a minute on each side.

Step 4:  Serve and enjoy!!