Crockpot Italian Chicken

I know, I know...everyone has this recipe but on the off chance that you don't you must add it to your repertoire. I had my beautiful baby boy Weston and have been very busy. Although I'm not back to cooking, I made a few things before I had the baby that I hadn't posted yet. This is Austin's favorite meal and I wanted to make it for him before I had the baby. We call it "Batman Pasta" because of the bowtie pasta and it makes my kids excited to eat it. I prefer it with rice but pasta is good too. It's super easy...a perfect throw-in-the -crockpot-while-you-are-at-church-on-Sunday meal. You can do it with whole chicken breasts, cube it, or even shred it. I always cut the breasts into tenderloin size strips.

Crockpot Italian Chicken

4 chicken breasts

1 packet dry Zesty Italian dressing (Regular is fine but I like zesty better. Sometimes I use a packet and a half.)

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1-2 cans cream of chicken soup (depending how cream cheesy you want it)

Place the chicken in a crockpot and sprinkle Italian dressing over it. Combine cream cheese and cream of chicken soup in a small pot over low heat and pour over chicken. Cook on low in the crockpot for at least 4 hours. You can leave it in there all day.  Once chicken is done you can leave the chicken breasts whole, cube it, or even shred it. I always cut the breasts into tenderloin size strips. Once you have cut up the chicken, throw it back in the crockpot and stir into the sauce.
If you feel the sauce is too thick you can thin it to your preferred consistency with a little milk. Serve over pasta or rice.

Brownie Peanut Butter Cups

My new foodie friend, Mrs. Blimes, told me I have to make these as part of my Fat Fest. They did not disappoint. All I have to say is W-O-W! If you are chocolate-peanut butter purest like me you will love these. I couldn't even wait until they were cooled to eat them. These are DANGEROUS! You could even cheat and use a brownie mix and I am sure they would be great!

Brownie Peanut Butter Cups

by BakeorBreak

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 tablespoon water

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup peanut butter chips plus about 1/3 cup more for garnishing

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips plus about 1/3 cup more for garnishing

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

Preheat oven to 350°. Spray or grease 12 muffin cups. *Or you can opt to do mini-muffin bites and cook around 8 minutes or until center comes out clean with a toothpick test.

In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine sugar, butter, and water. Microwave on high for 1 minute or until butter is melted. Stir in 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips until melted. Stir in egg and vanilla extract. Add flour and baking soda, stirring until blended. Allow to cool to room temperature. Then, stir in 1/2 cup each peanut butter chips and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Spoon batter by heaping tablespoonfuls into muffin cups.

Bake for 13-15 minutes or until top is set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out slightly wet. Place pan on wire rack. Centers of brownies will fall upon cooling. If not, tap centers with the back of a teaspoon to make a hole.

Place peanut butter in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 45 seconds, then stir. While brownies are still hot, spoon about a tablespoon of peanut butter into the center of each brownie. Top with semi-sweet chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. Cool completely in pan.

Fat Fest...

My days are numbered. 6 days until I have this baby, but who's counting. I have declared this last week FAT FEST because I know after the baby comes I have to buckle down and eat healthy. I have eaten pretty healthy this pregnancy considering so this last week anything I want I am not depriving myself. What's even more fun is John has decided to be supportive and join me! So...if you have any indulgent recipes that I have to try this week please let me know!!!!

Jelly Roll Pancakes

Regular pancakes...I can take 'em or leave 'em. These on the other hand I have to physically restrain myself from eating ten. They have a texture totally different from regular pancakes similar to German pancakes. This is a Denney family recipe and John's mom always makes them when we go home to Denver. Austin likes them with honey and butter. John likes them rolled up with jelly. I like them straight up with butter and sugar. I cut the recipe in half for my little family.

Jelly Roll Pancakes
by Sheri Denney

4 eggs
3 cups milk
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt

Beat eggs with a fork until well blended. Add milk and vanilla. Beat with a fork until well blended.

Keep beating as you add the flour, sugar, and salt. Try and get it as smooth as you can. Melt a little butter in a pan and cook the batter as you would regular pancakes. Serve with butter, powdered sugar, syrup, jam, or Nutella.

Sopapilla Cheesecake

I saw this on RealMomKitchen and had to make it. I don't know if I would necessarily dub it a cheesecake but it's good nonetheless. How could it not be good. Butter, sugar, cinnamon, cream cheese...come on. This would be the perfect ending to a Mexican meal. You can eat it warm with ice cream or it's good chilled...your choice. You could even drizzle honey over it or strawberries and whipcream.

Sopapilla Cheesecake by Realmomkitchen

2 cans Pillsbury crescent rolls

2-8oz cream cheese (room temperature)

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp cinnamon

1 stick butter (1/2 cup real butter not margarine)

Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray. Unroll and press 1 can crescent rolls into the bottom of your baking dish press the seams together. In a separate bowl blend the cream cheese, 1 cup sugar and 1 tsp vanilla spread over top of dough. Unroll the second can of crescent rolls and place on top of the cream cheese mixture pressing seams together again. Melt butter and pour over top layer of crescents. Mix the reaming 1/2 cup of sugar & cinnamon together. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture generously over the top. Use more if you wish. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until bubbly and bottom crust is slightly brown.

Asparagus with Dijon Vinaigrette

Asparagus is one of the few vegetables that my kids love so we cook it all the time for dinner around here. Here is a recipe I got from Gina's Weight Watcher recipes that John and I love to add a little kick to our asparagus. It's only .25 WW points...if you're counting.

Asparagus with Dijon Vinaigrette

by Gina's Weight Watcher's recipes

2 tsp Dijon Mustard

2 tbsp red wine vinegar

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley (I never have this on hand and it tastes fine without it)

kosher salt and pepper to taste

1 pound asparagus, tough ends trimmed off

In a medium bowl, whisk mustard, vinegar and 1 tbsp oil. Add parsley and season with salt and pepper. Saute asparagus in a tiny bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper for 5-6 minutes or until tender.Transfer asparagus to a serving dish and drizzle with the vinaigrette. Can be served warm or chilled.

Jello Pretzel Salad

Confession #1: John usually makes this. I have only made it myself a handful of times. For some reason simple things like making Jello are a challenge for me.
Confession #2: John and I finished half of this by ourselves last night.

Thanks to my old roomie Lisa for another winner. It sounds weird but the combination of the salty pretzels with the sweet Jello and cream cheese is so good!

Jello Pretzel Salad

by Lisa Poulsen

2 1/2 c. pretzels (crushed fine)

3 Tbsp. brown sugar

3/4 c. butter

1 (6 oz) pkg instant strawberry jello

1 10 oz. pkg. frozen strawberries or small container (16 oz) sliced fresh strawberries (I prefer fresh)

1 ( 8 oz ) pkg cream cheese

1 c. sugar

8 oz. cool whip

Combine pretzels, brown sugar, and melted butter and press into a greased 9 X 13 pan. You can use more butter if the crust isn't sticking together and make the pretzels more crushed than I did. Bake @ 350 for 10 minutes.

Make jello according to directions and add the strawberries. Refrigerate until partially set. *If it is not set enough it will leak through your cream cheese layer and make your pretzels soggy.

Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Blend in cool whip. Spread over cooled crust make sure you pread completely to the edges to create a seal so your jello doesn't leak through. Pour jello over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate.