Crock Pot Chicken Tacos *Lauren Perry*

Easy and Yummy- my 2 favorite things when making food!

Ingredients
3-4 Chicken Breasts
1 packet of mild taco seasoning
1 cup of water
1 can of petite diced tomatoes (I used the one with mild green chili's)
1/2 jar of green verde salsa (I like mild)
2 TBS of ranch dressing
dash of salt and pepper

-throw all of the above in a crock pot and cook all day! I threw the ranch in the last 30 minutes

stuff in and top with
taco shells or small tortillas for soft tacos
shredded cheese
avocado
sour cream

*I bought a bag Mexican rice that you microwave, a can of pinto beans that I cooked on the stove and mashed up with some lime juice and garlic salt, and had homemade salsa and chips as well :) The chicken meat is so yummy, it also goes great on nachos!

Yummy cookie and MIA *Lauren Perry*

Sorry I have been missing in action! I had a baby on December 11th and I have been too busy for words!

My mom just came up to visit and spend time with my boys. She brought this cookie recipe that she has been dying to try out. It is probably the easiest cookie recipe on earth (next to good old slice and bake cookies) and it is truly divine!

Ingredients
1 box of Devils Food Cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1 bag of Andes Mints

Directions-
oven set at 350'
Combine cake mix, eggs and oil in a mixer
roll into cookie dough balls, about a TBS/ball
bake for 10 minutes
remove from oven and drop baking sheet on counter to 'flatten' the cookie
remove 1 Andes Mint and place 1 mint/cookie and smooth out as it melts with a spoon
let the melted mint cool off for about 10 minutes and then eat the whole batch! This makes about 28-36 cookies.

ps- here is a cute pic of my boys!

Caramel Popcorn

Take 16-18 cups of popcorn, divide in half. Put half in brown paper bag.

In a medium bowl, put 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 1/3 cup corn syrup--do not stir! Microwave for 2 minutes, then stir.

Microwave for 3 minutes, then stir and add 1/2 tsp baking soda.

Pour half the caramel over popcorn in the paper bag. Add the other half of the popcorn, and remaining caramel.

Microwave for one minute, then shake vigorously for 30 seconds.

Microwave for 45 seconds, then shake for 30 seconds.

Microwave for 20 seconds.

Pour onto waxed paper, separate to cool.

Florentine Tortellini Soup *Lauren Perry*

Go make this today! My friend Natalie made this soup for me when I was sick and it is soooo yummy! I begged her for the recipe (and 2nd's of course!). It is easy and super tasty.

Ingredients

1 pckg of 3- cheese tortellini (refridgerated- usually by the shredded cheese at the store)

3 14-oz cans of chicken broth

1 container of Alfredo pasta sauce (about 10 oz.)

2 cups of shredded chicken (you can use 2-3 chicken breasts that you cook ahead of time and shred, you could use canned from Costco, or you could buy a roast chicken from the store or costco and add that meat)

1/2 cup of oil-packed sun dried tomato strips (drain the oil and slice)

1 cup of packaged fresh baby spinach

top with parmesan

Directions

-boil tortellini according to directions, drain and set aside in a bowl
-add broth and alfredo sauce to pot
-add chicken and tomato strops- heat to a slow boil and then reduce to simmer for about 5 minutes
-add spinach and cooked tortellini, cook for another few minutes
-serve in bowls and sprinkle with parmesan

Easy Yummy Sticky Buns *Lauren Perry*

These are super super easy! I learned this recipe in 7th grade cooking class, and it stuck with me :)

Ingredients
Marshmallows
Raw crescent roll dough (like the kind you use for pigs in a blanket)
2 TSP Cinnamon
1/2 cup Sugar
1/3 cup Brown Sugar
2-3 TBS Butter (melted)

Directions
Open the crecent rolls container and pull out the individual little dough triangles
Add a marshmallow to the wide end of the triangle-fold in the corners and roll up the marshmallow
Take the dough ball and dip/cover the dough ball in melted butter
Roll the ball in a bowl with cinnamon, sugar and brown sugar- completely cover ball in the sugary mixture
Place each individual dough ball in a cupcake/muffin pan that was greased with butter or cooking spray
Bake at 350 for about 10-12 minutes

Onion Cheese Dip *Lauren Perry*

I got this recipe from my friend Amanda and I had to slightly modify it the first time I made it (because I could not find onion glaze). Brian has FLIPPED over this. Its his new favorite thing to eat (next to sushi)

Ingredients
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
8 oz of cream cheese
1/2 to 3/4 cup of mayo
1/2 of an onion chopped really small
5-8 pieces of cooked bacon chopped
*savory sweet onion glaze

-mix above and put in a baking dish or casserole dish
-cook in oven at 350 until bubbly and browning on top
-serve hot with Ritz crackers

How to make savory sweet onion glaze-
2 tbs of butter
1 cup of really thinly chopped onions (i used a food processor)
about 3 TBS of white sugar
2 tbs of balsamic vinegar
** add optional 2 tbs of red cooking wine if you want

put in a sauce pan and cook on high for about 5-10 minutes. Let cool slightly and add to food processor and really grind up until its like a chutney.

Honey Chai Bundt Cake *Lauren Perry*

Ingredients-

2 & 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
1 & 1/2 cups of brown sugar
2 tsp of baking soda
1/2 tsp of salt
1 & 3/4 cup of brewed chai tea (I just bought a box of pre-made chai tea)
1/2 cup of buttermilk
1/2 cup of honey
1/2 cup (1 stick) of unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
2 eggs
1 egg yolk


1 can of cream cheese frosting, warmed in the microwave
** chopped pecans as a garnish if desired **

Directions
heat oven to 350 and spray a bundt can with cooking spray
In a mixer, combine all of the above ingredients (mix low speed for 1 minute- scraping the sides)
Cake batter is a bit runny
Pour batter into bundt cake pan and bake for 45-50 minutes- remove. Go around edges to loosen cake and let cool about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate and let cake cool completely
Warm frosting in microwave about 20 seconds and spread over top of cake (or drizzle)
** add chopped pecans if desired **