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Copycat Cracker Barrel Blueberry Pancakes

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These crowd pleasing Cracker Barrel Blueberry Pancakes are ready in minutes and crazy good. The buttermilk pancakes are perfect in texture and flavor while wild blueberries add sweet bursts of tangy flavor. Top with my simple Wild Blueberry Syrup or your favorite topping.

These crowd pleasing Cracker Barrel Blueberry Pancakes are ready in minutes and crazy good. The buttermilk pancakes are perfect in texture and flavor while wild blueberries add sweet bursts of tangy flavor. Top with my simple Wild Blueberry Syrup or your favorite topping.

What is it about pancakes???  They captivate our breakfast longings SO much that we have entire chains of restaurants devoted to them!  One of the best parts of my Saturday morning is coming downstairs to find my husband in the kitchen with flour, buttermilk and the pancake griddle.  It just makes me happy nose to toes.

I first started making Copycat Cracker Barrel Pancakes three years ago to feed my inner pancake beast and since then it has become one my favorite recipes and one of the most beloved by all of you here at MK.  This spring it just seemed like it was time to do a blueberry version and of course a blueberry syrup recipe too!  Like the original, this blueberry version is amazingly good and wonderful simple.

May your breakfasts be joyful always!

Have a great week.  Thanks for stopping by to cook with me!

Tools In This Post:  This is the type of ice cream scoop I use to make the pancakes. Any 4oz scoop of this style will do.

You Might Also Need

Copycat Cracker Barrel Blueberry Syrup

Mmmm pancakes with blueberry syrup! This syrup is easy to make at home and much better than the beloved syrups served at Cracker Barrel or IHOP! It has more flavor, less sugar and no high-fructose corn syrup! This is the stuff heavenly Saturday mornings are made of.

Copycat Cracker Barrel Pancakes

These Copycat Cracker Barrel Pancakes are a bit better than the ones served at the restaurant. Only 5 ingredients, and instructions to make a homemade mix.

Sticky Bun Breakfast Syrup

These crowd pleasing Cracker Barrel Blueberry Pancakes are ready in minutes and crazy good. The buttermilk pancakes are perfect in texture and flavor while wild blueberries add sweet bursts of tangy flavor. Top with my simple Wild Blueberry Syrup or your favorite topping.
5 from 1 vote
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Copycat Cracker Barrel Blueberry Pancakes

These crowd pleasing Cracker Barrel Blueberry Pancakes are ready in minutes and crazy good. The buttermilk pancakes are perfect in texture and flavor while wild blueberries add sweet bursts of tangy flavor. Top with my simple Wild Blueberry Syrup or your favorite topping.
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 312 kcal
Author Mirlandra

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour see note on measuring
  • 2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 3 Tbsp. granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 1/3 cups buttermilk 1% is what you are looking for here
  • 2 cups frozen wild blueberries see note
  • Butter for the pan
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  1. Preheat a pancake griddle to 350. Peel the paper off of one end of a stick of butter and set on a plate next to the griddle for greasing. Measure blueberries and set next to the griddle.
  2. Whisk eggs and buttermilk together in a medium bowl. Add flour, baking soda, salt, and sugar. Whisk just until combined.
  3. Rub butter in a circle on the griddle and drop 1/2 cup of batter into the butter spot. I like to use a large ice cream scoop for this. As soon as the batter hits the griddle, level it out and smooth it quickly into a circle with the back of the ice cream scoop. Sprinkle as many blueberries as you like into the pancake.
  4. The pancakes should be flipped when the 4th bubble pops. This will take about 2 - 3 minutes on most griddles. Flip the pancake and cook on the second side until no longer doughy.
  5. Between pancakes it helps to take a paper towel or cotton cloth and wipe away any blueberry residue.
  6. Every time you put new batter on the griddle you need to butter it again.
  7. Pancakes should be served piping hot off the griddle. Stacking them up or holding them in an oven can cause them to lose the crunchy outside and / or become tough.

Recipe Notes

How to Measure Flour: The best way to measure flour is to spoon it into the measuring cup and then level it off. This will help ensure you don’t pack too much flour into these tender pancakes.

Choosing Blueberries: You can use any kind of blueberries here but the standard ones are big and make giant craters in pancakes. I love using the wild variety because they are a small berry with great flavor. They are perfectly suited to pancakes. Many stores will carry some variety of wild or Main wild blueberry in the freezer section. Usually they will be more expensive than standard cultivated berries. I paid $4 / pound in my area.

Serving Size: This recipe will make 12 pancakes. Adults will generally eat 2-3 and young children will eat about 1.

Nutrition Facts
Copycat Cracker Barrel Blueberry Pancakes
Amount Per Serving
Calories 312 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 6%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 64mg 21%
Sodium 887mg 37%
Potassium 190mg 5%
Total Carbohydrates 43g 14%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Sugars 12g
Protein 9g 18%
Vitamin A 4.7%
Calcium 12.2%
Iron 12.2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

These crowd pleasing Cracker Barrel Blueberry Pancakes are ready in minutes and crazy good. The buttermilk pancakes are perfect in texture and flavor while wild blueberries add sweet bursts of tangy flavor. Top with my simple Wild Blueberry Syrup or your favorite topping.

✕

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Cookie Butter Glazed Ham

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Tired of the same old ham glaze? Try an easy sweet glaze made from cookie butter! This recently popular spread has all the right flavors and spices to compliment a ham. Check out the recipe for tips and tricks to picking out the perfect ham to glaze.

Tired of the same old ham glaze? Try an easy sweet glaze made from cookie butter! This recently popular spread has all the right flavors and spices to compliment a ham. Check out the recipe for tips and tricks to picking out the perfect ham to glaze.

Prepare to laugh at me.  Cookie Butter Glazed Ham came about because Jonathan’s team at HP challenged me.   A challenge is just a grown up dare.  Apparently the 13  year old girl that once swallowed a live minnow is still alive and well somewhere inside of me!

A  few weeks ago Jonathan came home from work with a new recipe idea.  J and I have been cooking together for the better part of a decade and I’m pretty used to this  – and to the concept that many of his food ideas come under the heading of outlandish.  But I also can’t deny that many of them are also quite good – and often better than they initially sound.

Of course we just happened to have a big ham in the fridge (also Jonathan’s fault – the man acquires hams as if they might stop growing pigs!) and we just happened to have a potluck coming up at church.  If I ever wonder about a recipe I just run it thorough the potluck test!

So – will it potluck?  YES!  Most people had never heard of cookie butter but they really enjoyed the ham with a cookie butter glaze.

It is different and unique but it is also delicious!  And I love the idea of making something new that none of the guests have had before!  Also it happens that Easter Sunday 2018 falls on April Fool’s Day…  This really might be the year for a yummy but totally different ham!  Nobody will know if you are having a joke or serving a wonderful dinner until they try it!

Have a great week.  Thanks for stopping by to cook with me!

Tools In This Post:  When you cook a ham with the face smack down on a glass or metal pan the meat cooks unevenly.  You need some sort of rack to place the meat on for air flow.  I like a pan like this because I can use it for ham, turkey, prime rib and all my other roasting needs.

 

This Healthy Mug Soup is another of Jonathan’s other crazy ideas that turned out to be really great.  

Tired of the same old ham glaze? Try an easy sweet glaze made from cookie butter! This recently popular spread has all the right flavors and spices to compliment a ham. Check out the recipe for tips and tricks to picking out the perfect ham to glaze.
5 from 2 votes
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Cookie Butter Glazed Ham

Tired of the same old ham glaze? Try an easy sweet glaze made from cookie butter! This recently popular spread has all the right flavors and spices to compliment a ham. Check out the recipe for tips and tricks to picking out the perfect ham to glaze.  (Cook time depends on size of ham.)
Course dinner
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Resting Time 15 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 15
Calories 202 kcal
Author Mirlandra

Ingredients

  • 1 bone in ham spiral cut or not, about 7-11 pounds
  • ½ cup cookie butter I’m using the one from Trader Joes
  • ¼ cup brown sugar packed
  • 4 Tbsp. butter
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 275 F. Line roasting pan with foil and place a rack on it.
  2. Remove all packaging from ham including any clear plastic over the bone. Score the ham if desired.
  3. Place ham flat / open side down on the rack of a roasting pan. Cover tightly with foil.
  4. Roast at 275 F for 12-15 minutes per pound until the coolest part of the ham is 140 F with a thermometer.
  5. Remove the ham from oven and increase temp to 425 F. Discard the foil covering the ham.
  6. Microwave the cookie butter 30-60 seconds until softened. Stir in brown sugar and butter.
  7. Brush glaze over ham making sure to push it into cracks if you scored the ham.
  8. Bake at 425 F. for 10-15 minutes.
  9. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes before transferring to a serving platter.

Recipe Notes

Choosing a Ham:

Water Content - Always read the label before buying a ham. Many have a large amount of water added which means you are buying a lot of water and less meat. For this reason I often choose the Kirkland spiral cut ham at Costco. It is labeled as a “natural juices” ham which means it has less than 8% additional water from the brining process. It is still tender and juicy after roasting. A Cooks ham can contain 23% added water which means that ¼ of your ham is actually water. Also the more water in the ham, the less like lovely ham flavor you get.

Type of Ham - Hams come as giant full hams with shank and butt end attached – usually about 15 pounds! Or they come as either shank or butt. The Shank portion has more fat and is easier to carve. Many people prefer the flavor of this because of the additional fat. The butt end is usually leaner but more difficult to carve because of the bone structure. You will have to get in there a bit with your fingers.

Nutrition Facts
Cookie Butter Glazed Ham
Amount Per Serving
Calories 202 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g 9%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 8mg 3%
Sodium 29mg 1%
Potassium 4mg 0%
Total Carbohydrates 7g 2%
Sugars 6g
Vitamin A 2%
Calcium 0.4%
Iron 0.1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tired of the same old ham glaze? Try an easy sweet glaze made from cookie butter! This recently popular spread has all the right flavors and spices to compliment a ham. Check out the recipe for tips and tricks to picking out the perfect ham to glaze.

✕

Free Simple Weeknight Meal Plan

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Uncommonly Amazing Tuna Noodle Casserole

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Tuna Noodle Casserole should always be an amazing dish.  A simple white sauce, flavorful veggies, and good quality tuna make this classic a go to dinner again.  No cans of soup needed – just basic groceries and about 30 minutes of cooking. When it comes to creamy and comforting casseroles, this one is a home run!  If you have had a bad experience with tuna noodle this is the one to change your mind!

Tuna Noodle Casserole should always be an amazing dish. A simple white sauce, flavorful veggies, and good quality tuna make this classic a go to dinner again. No cans of soup needed - just basic groceries and about 30 minutes of cooking. When it comes to creamy and comforting casseroles, this one is a home run! If you have had a bad experience with tuna noodle this is the one to change your mind!

Growing up, my mom had a microwave cookbook that had a really good tuna noodle casserole recipe in it.  The ingredients were simple and the process was easy.  It was a dinner I always looked forward to.  These days it seems if I mention tuna noodle casserole to people I get a real range of reactions but many are negative.

Let’s clear some things up:

  1.  If you have been eating tuna noodle made with cans of soup the flavor is cans of soup.  The idea is fine but it leaves a lot to be desired for a good tuna noodle casserole.
  2. If you have been eating basic cheep tuna it probably tastes really fishy!  This is a bad flavor for casserole.  You need a good quality Albacore stat!
  3. The crumb topping / cheese business is a personal taste issue.  I’m a texture girl so I’m not as big of a fan.  My husband loves crumb toppings so he thinks it is imperative.  Figure out your style and make it the way you like it!

If you solve these three problems tuna noodle casserole is likely to find a place in your heart and a frequent spot on your table.  At about 30 minutes of cooking work, this is a meal you don’t want to miss out on!  I also love it as a way to get some good Omega 3 into our diet more often.

I would love to hear your tuna noodle casserole stories!  Drop me a note in the comments 🙂

Have a great week.  Thanks for stopping by to cook with me!

Tools In This Post:  We eat a LOT of mushrooms at our house!  Having a mushroom slicer saves us lots of time and this thing is tough!  It is the bomb-diggity of mushroom slicers!  If you cook with mushrooms several times a month consider investing in one of these.  We use ours several times a week.  (Also great for strawberries, kiwi, and eggs of course.)

If casserole is your thing, check out this wonderful Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole! 

This Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole is a family favorite full of flavorful rice and creamy sauce with celery, mushrooms and chicken. It only takes 10 minutes to get it into the oven which makes it perfect for busy nights! If you have leftovers they heat up well.

Tuna Noodle Casserole should always be an amazing dish. A simple white sauce, flavorful veggies, and good quality tuna make this classic a go to dinner again. No cans of soup needed - just basic groceries and about 30 minutes of cooking. When it comes to creamy and comforting casseroles, this one is a home run! If you have had a bad experience with tuna noodle this is the one to change your mind!
5 from 1 vote
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Uncommonly Amazing Tuna Noodle Casserole

Tuna Noodle Casserole should always be an amazing dish. A simple white sauce, flavorful veggies, and good quality tuna make this classic a go to dinner again. No cans of soup needed - just basic groceries and about 30 minutes of cooking. When it comes to creamy and comforting casseroles, this one is a home run! If you have had a bad experience with tuna noodle this is the one to change your mind!
Course dinner
Cuisine American
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 403 kcal

Ingredients

  • 8 oz pasta I use spirals
  • 4 Tbsp. butter
  • ½ sweet onion diced
  • 4 stalks celery diced
  • 6 oz Cremini mushrooms sliced
  • ¾ tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. black pepper coarsely g round
  • 4 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups milk whole preferred
  • 5 oz Albacore tuna or use 10oz if you want extra tuna!
  • ½ cup Panko bread crumbs optional see note
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese optional see note
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  1. Cook noodles according to package directions. Add salt to the cooking water if not directed by package.
  2. Meanwhile add butter, onion, celery, mushrooms, salt and pepper to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring often, for about 10 minutes or until the veggies are soft and have taken on a golden color.
  3. Add the flour and cook another minute – the pan will be dry. Slowly stir in milk until the mixture thickens to the texture of thin gravy.
  4. If your tuna is canned in water or oil drain the can. Gently stir in tuna trying to leave some nice chunks. Use 1 or 2 cans depending on your preference. Stir the noodles in and taste for salt and pepper. If your tuna is not overly salty you may need another ¼ tsp. of salt.
  5. Pour the mixture into a 2 ½ quart casserole dish. Top with bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Broil for 1-3 minutes until the top is nicely browned.
  6. Serve hot. If you choose to microwave leftovers consider adding a spoon of milk to each portion you are reheating.

Recipe Notes

Cheese and Breadcrumbs: Some people like a crunchy top to their tuna casserole and some don’t. I like mine just right out of the pan – no cheese or breadcrumbs. Also if you are going to broil the top use an oven proof skillet if you have one. Then you can just add the topping to your skillet and broil – no need for that extra dish!

Choosing Good Tuna: Tuna should not taste “fishy”. If it does you have got a bad brand of tuna! I never buy Bumblebee or Chicken of the Sea. My favorite brand is Wild Planet. Look for tuna where the ingredients are only tuna and salt. Generally I buy Albacore. If you are using the Wild Planet Albacore don’t drain it! Add all the good juice.

Nutrition Facts
Uncommonly Amazing Tuna Noodle Casserole
Amount Per Serving
Calories 403 Calories from Fat 117
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 20%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Cholesterol 34mg 11%
Sodium 542mg 23%
Potassium 459mg 13%
Total Carbohydrates 48g 16%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Sugars 7g
Protein 13g 26%
Vitamin A 11.3%
Vitamin C 2.6%
Calcium 23.5%
Iron 8.8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tuna Noodle Casserole should always be an amazing dish. A simple white sauce, flavorful veggies, and good quality tuna make this classic a go to dinner again. No cans of soup needed - just basic groceries and about 30 minutes of cooking. When it comes to creamy and comforting casseroles, this one is a home run! If you have had a bad experience with tuna noodle this is the one to change your mind!

✕

Free Simple Weeknight Meal Plan

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Sign up here for your free plan and start rocking dinner!

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15 Minute Easy Alfredo Sauce

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This easy alfredo sauce is the perfect alfredo for pasta or for dipping your favorite breadsticks and veggies. It is perfectly creamy and full of Parmesan cheese. Best of all, you can make it in 15 minutes and everybody will be arguing over the last spoonful.  If you want to get extra fancy serve it with sautéed mushrooms or shrimp!

This easy alfredo sauce is the perfect alfredo for pasta, bread stick dipping or even over vegetables. It is perfectly creamy and full of Parmesan cheese. Best of all, you can make it in 15 minutes and everybody will be arguing over the last spoonful.

There is just something about a perfect easy alfredo sauce!  I have a hard time not just dipping my fingers in and licking them off.  Before we started dating my husband would go to the store and buy jars of “alfredo” sauce on occasion and I was always horrified!  Who DOES that?  Well, actually lots of people do.  Alfredo sauce has a bad rep for being hard to cook and it is not deserved.  You just need 15 minutes for a stunning homemade version.

I often serve this just the way it is on some pasta for a simple, soul satisfying meal.  However, it is also great with some sautéed mushroom slices or sautéed sweet onions.  You can dice up some chicken or get some seafood going with shrimp or scallops!  My favorite is mushroom – Jonathan’s is a combo of shrimp, scallops and mushroom!

This is one of those meals I suggest you bring out for a special occasion if you want to impress family or maybe make something lovely for Valentine’s Day.  It is one of those perfect things that is easy to prepare but SO impressive when you eat it.  Simple food prepared well is often the most memorable!

Have a great week.  Thanks for stopping by to cook with me!

Tools In This Post:  This measuring cup is my go to for recipes like this.  I measure directly into it and then microwave my liquid in the same dish.  If you cook frequently I suggest owning 1-2 of these and 1-2 if the 2 cup size.  I own two of each and one of the 1 cup size.

Since you’ve got dinner in the bag, what is for dessert?  These Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies are pretty much always on my list!

These Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies are my perfect cookie! They have just the right soft chew, tons of chocolate chips and excellent flavor! This is the recipe for all of us die hard chocolate chip cookie lovers! These are the best soft chocolate chip cookies I have ever made by far!

This easy alfredo sauce is the perfect alfredo for pasta, bread stick dipping or even over vegetables. It is perfectly creamy and full of Parmesan cheese. Best of all, you can make it in 15 minutes and everybody will be arguing over the last spoonful.
5 from 2 votes
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15 Minute Easy Alfredo Sauce

This easy alfredo sauce is the perfect alfredo for pasta or for dipping your favorite breadsticks and veggies. It is perfectly creamy and full of Parmesan cheese. Best of all, you can make it in 15 minutes and everybody will be arguing over the last spoonful. If you want to get extra fancy serve it with sautéed mushrooms or shrimp!
Course Dinner or Appetizer
Cuisine Italian
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 611 kcal
Author Mirlandra

Ingredients

  • 2 cups 2% milk can also use whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 6 Tbsp. salted butter
  • 1/2 tsp. minced garlic
  • 6 Tbsp. flour
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. coarsely ground black pepper
  • 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  1. Combine the milk and cream in a microwave safe container and microwave on high for 2 ½ minutes or until warm through.
  2. Meanwhile put the butter and garlic in a large sauce pan over medium-high heat. Whisk occasionally until melted.
  3. Turn the heat down to medium. Whisk in the flour, salt and pepper. Cook, whisking constantly, for 30 seconds.
  4. Pour in a few tablespoons of the warm milk mixture and whisk until smooth. Continue to add a few tablespoons of liquid at a time whisking until smooth after each addition. After the sauce is thin add the rest of the milk mixture and whisk again to combine.
  5. Add the cheese and whisk frequently until the cheese is melted and the sauce is slightly thickened. The sauce can be served at whatever thickness you like. The longer you cook it, the thicker it will be. Generally I serve it when it is the consistency of slightly thin gravy.
  6. Serve over your favorite pasta with additional cheese or with sautéed mushroom slices. Alternately this sauce makes a great dip for bread sticks or vegetables.
Nutrition Facts
15 Minute Easy Alfredo Sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 611 Calories from Fat 441
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 49g 75%
Saturated Fat 30g 150%
Cholesterol 160mg 53%
Sodium 857mg 36%
Potassium 264mg 8%
Total Carbohydrates 25g 8%
Sugars 6g
Protein 17g 34%
Vitamin A 35.3%
Vitamin C 0.7%
Calcium 46.6%
Iron 7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This easy alfredo sauce is the perfect alfredo for pasta, bread stick dipping or even over vegetables. It is perfectly creamy and full of Parmesan cheese. Best of all, you can make it in 15 minutes and everybody will be arguing over the last spoonful.

✕

Free Simple Weeknight Meal Plan

Creamy chicken and rice casserole 113 by 170 for email forms

Sign up here for your free plan and start rocking dinner!

We won't send you spammy emails. Just amazing cooking ideas! Powered by ConvertKit

My Favorite 16 Recipes of 2017

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Last week I gave you a list of the 10 most popular posts from 2017.  This week I’m giving you a list of my favorite 16 posts from 2017.  There is absolutely no overlap!  Every recipe I share is one I love but these are my special favorites.  Happy cooking!

Last week I gave you a list of the 10 most popular posts from 2017. This week I'm giving you a list of my favorite 16 posts from 2017. There is absolutely no overlap! Every recipe I share is one I love but these are my special favorites.

 

Broccoli is a beloved snack, appetizer, and side dish at our house because we serve it up right with an easy Korean BBQ Sauce for dipping.  Traditional flavors of ginger, garlic, green onions and soy sauce make for some darn good sauce!  Kids and adults love the sweet and salty flavor and the broccoli disappears fast.   Broccoli is a beloved snack, appetizer, and side dish at our house because we serve it up right with an easy Korean BBQ Sauce for dipping. Traditional flavors of ginger, garlic, green onions and soy sauce make for some darn good sauce! Kids and adults love the sweet and salty flavor and the broccoli disappears fast.These flavorful meatballs in a sweet teriyaki pineapple sauce always go quickly!  We serve them as appetizers or with rice and veggies for a simple dinner. 

These flavorful meatballs in a sweet teriyaki pineapple sauce always go quickly! We serve them as appetizers or with rice and veggies for a simple dinner.Tender blueberry scones with a crunchy top and creamy vanilla glaze. You won’t be able to resist this warm, buttery treat full of berries.  They are a perfect mid-winter pick-me-up or a glorious summer treat.

This chocolate cake is everything you want a classic chocolate cake to be:  chocolaty, moist and decadent. Whipped vanilla buttercream is the cherry on top!

This chocolate cake is everything you want a classic chocolate cake to be: chocolaty, moist and decadent. Whipped vanilla buttercream is the cherry on top!

This Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole is a family favorite full of flavorful rice and creamy sauce with celery, mushrooms and chicken. It only takes 10 minutes to get it into the oven which makes it perfect for busy nights!  If you have leftovers they heat up well.

This Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole is a family favorite full of flavorful rice and creamy sauce with celery, mushrooms and chicken. It only takes 10 minutes to get it into the oven which makes it perfect for busy nights! If you have leftovers they heat up well.

This lemon drop martini is my version of heaven. Simple to prepare, and lemony perfection to drink. Try my lemon sugar recipe on the rim – it is excellent!  You can make these a few at a time or mix up as a big batch cocktail for a party.  Perfect for bridal showers, Easter brunch, or summer BBQs.

This lemon drop martini is my version of heaven. Simple to prepare, and lemony perfection to drink. Try my lemon sugar recipe on the rim - it is excellent! You can make these a few at a time or mix up as a big batch cocktail for a party. Perfect for bridal showers, Easter brunch, or summer BBQs.

Easy no chill sugar cookie dough, fluffy cream cheese sauce, and piles of fresh fruit toppings make this Fruit Pizza a smash hit for any occasion.

Easy no chill sugar cookie dough, fluffy cream cheese sauce, and piles of fresh fruit toppings make this Fruit Pizza a smash hit for any occasion.

5 minutes. 5 ingredients. 1 perfect salsa!  This recipe is fast and easy but makes some of the best salsa I have ever had! We eat it on everything from breakfast burritos to chips.  It is a healthy way to add some veggies to our life and great flavor to our food.  It is great mild or spicy.

5 minutes. 5 ingredients. 1 perfect salsa! This recipe is fast and easy but makes some of the best salsa I have ever had! We eat it on everything from breakfast burritos to chips. It is a healthy way to add some veggies to our life and great flavor to our food. It is great mild or spicy.Refreshing and delicious, this Frozen Watermelon Margarita is my favorite summer drink. It is the perfect blend of tequila, sweet watermelon and tangy lime.

Refreshing and delicious, this Frozen Watermelon Margarita is my favorite summer drink. It is the perfect blend of tequila, sweet watermelon and tangy lime.

These Refried Beans get their amazing flavor from a smoked ham hock, several aromatic veggies and a bit of bacon drippings. I lick the spoon every time!

These Refried Beans get their amazing flavor from a smoked ham hock, several aromatic veggies and a bit of bacon drippings. I lick the spoon every time!

Grilled chicken the way it should be!  Tender, sweet and savory – grilled up with juicy brown sugar pineapple for an easy dinner in 20 minutes.

Grilled chicken the way it should be! Tender, sweet and savory - grilled up with juicy brown sugar pineapple for an easy dinner in 20 minutes.

Creamed corn is the perfect side dish for dinner or the holidays. This rich and creamy slow cooker version only takes five minutes to throw together.

Creamed corn is the perfect side dish for dinner or the holidays. This rich and creamy slow cooker version only takes five minutes to throw together.

7 Up cake is a true Southern classic – sweet, moist and flavorful! Nobody can resist this lovely citrus pound cake with 7Up glaze.

7Up cake is a true Southern classic – sweet, moist and flavorful! Nobody can resist this lovely citrus pound cake with 7Up glaze.

These Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies are my perfect cookie! They have just the right soft chew, tons of chocolate chips and excellent flavor!  This is the recipe for all of us die hard chocolate chip cookie lovers!  These are the best soft chocolate chip cookies I have ever made by far!

These Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies are my perfect cookie! They have just the right soft chew, tons of chocolate chips and excellent flavor! This is the recipe for all of us die hard chocolate chip cookie lovers! These are the best soft chocolate chip cookies I have ever made by far!

Fall in love with these delicious no chill cinnamon roll sugar cookies! The cookies are soft and sweet and packed full of the delicious cinnamon roll filling we all love.  These are the most addictive cookies I have made to date and actually easier than they look (you don’t even have to chill the cookie dough.)

Fall in love with these delicious no chill cinnamon roll sugar cookies! The cookies are soft and sweet and packed full of the delicious cinnamon roll filling we all love. These are the most addictive cookies I have made to date and actually easier than they look (you don't even have to chill the cookie dough.)

Sticky honey garlic shrimp is a fast and healthy dinner full of flavor with just the right amount of stickiness. This Asian take on shrimp is always a hit! Serve it over rice or individually as a party food if you like.  Either way, be prepared for it to disappear quickly!

Sticky honey garlic shrimp is a fast and healthy dinner full of flavor with just the right amount of stickiness. This Asian take on shrimp is always a hit! Serve it over rice or individually as a party food if you like. Either way, be prepared for it to disappear quickly!

 

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15 Minute Sticky Honey Garlic Shrimp: A Fast & Healthy Dinner

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Sticky honey garlic shrimp is a fast and healthy dinner full of flavor with just the right amount of stickiness. This Asian take on shrimp is always a hit! Serve it over rice or individually as a party food if you like.  Either way, be prepared for it to disappear quickly!

Sticky honey garlic shrimp is a fast and healthy dinner full of flavor with just the right amount of stickiness. This Asian take on shrimp is always a hit! Serve it over rice or individually as a party food if you like. Either way, be prepared for it to disappear quickly!

Love shrimp?  So do we!  This 15 minute sticky honey garlic shrimp was popular at our house from the first day I made it.  The dish is fast and simple.  The flavor is excellent.  In the end you get a meal that is better than restaurant quality for a fraction of the price and very little effort.

I put some rice in my rice cooker to steam while I make this and if I’m feeling really energetic I cook up some broccoli or make a salad too.  The only problem with this recipe?  It is intended to serve four but Jonathan can eat the entire pound of shrimp by himself…

Have a great week.  Thanks for stopping by to cook with me!

Tools In This Post:  Having a good quality rice maker is a worthwhile investment if you like to make rice on the fly for simple dinners like this. I recommend investing in one with fuzzy logic technology for more precise cooking.  We have had this one more than five years and still love it.

Love simple seafood recipes?  Check out this quick Baked Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze.  Tasty, fast and healthy!

This Baked Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze is fancy enough for a party but simple enough for a weeknight dinner. Start to finish it takes less than 30 minutes and the seasonings are amazing! Check out my salmon buying tips to pick the perfect fish!

Sticky honey garlic shrimp is a fast and healthy dinner full of flavor with just the right amount of stickiness. This Asian take on shrimp is always a hit! Serve it over rice or individually as a party food if you like. Either way, be prepared for it to disappear quickly!
4 from 12 votes
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15 Minute Sticky Honey Garlic Shrimp: A Fast & Healthy Dinner

Sticky honey garlic shrimp is a fast and healthy dinner full of flavor with just the right amount of stickiness. This Asian take on shrimp is always a hit! Serve it over rice or individually as a party food if you like. Either way, be prepared for it to disappear quickly!
Course Dinner or Appetizer
Cuisine Asian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 248 kcal
Author Mirlandra

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp. minced garlic
  • 1 tsp. fresh ginger minced
  • 1/4 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper
  • 1/8 tsp. white pepper optional
  • ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes optional
  • 1 pound raw shrimp size medium (see note)
  • 1 Tbsp. canola oil
  • 1 tsp. corn starch
  • 2 green onions sliced thinly on the diagonal

Instructions

  1. Serving Suggestion: For a fast dinner toss some rice in the rice maker before you start the shrimp and steam up some broccoli or heat up some frozen broccoli. Alternately these shrimp go great over stir fried veggies or even just by themselves! Party food anybody?
  2. In a small bowl, whisk everything together except the shrimp, corn starch and onions.
  3. Place the shrimp in a bowl and pour about half the sauce over it, stirring to coat.
  4. Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp to the hot oil. Cook about 1 minute, stirring at least once.
  5. Whisk corn starch into the rest of the marinade and add to the pan. Cook about one more minute until shrimp are cooked through. Tip: Shrimp turn a nice light pink right through to the middle when they are cooked. Cut open the thickest part of a shrimp if you want to double check.
  6. Sprinkle green onions over the shrimp and serve hot over rice or on a plate. (Rice is a great delivery system for the delicious sauce on the shrimp.)

Recipe Notes

Choosing Shrimp: You can buy shrimp fresh or frozen but do make sure it is raw shrimp – not something already cooked. You can buy any size you like but medium works well for this and if you buy smaller or bigger shrimp you will need to adjust the cooking time accordingly. Select peeled or unpeeled, tail on or off as you prefer. Just remember if you have to peel the shrimp that will take more time!

Nutrition Facts
15 Minute Sticky Honey Garlic Shrimp: A Fast & Healthy Dinner
Amount Per Serving
Calories 248 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 8%
Cholesterol 285mg 95%
Sodium 1693mg 71%
Potassium 152mg 4%
Total Carbohydrates 25g 8%
Sugars 23g
Protein 24g 48%
Vitamin A 1.2%
Vitamin C 7%
Calcium 17.2%
Iron 16.5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Sticky honey garlic shrimp is a fast and healthy dinner full of flavor with just the right amount of stickiness. This Asian take on shrimp is always a hit! Serve it over rice or individually as a party food if you like. Either way, be prepared for it to disappear quickly!

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15 Minute Throw Together Slow Cooker Curried Lentil Soup

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This healthy slow cooker curried lentil soup is the perfect winter warmer. Just 15 minutes of prep gets you a protein packed dinner full of veggies.  Yellow curry is a flavorful and unique twist on traditional lentil soup without getting too exotic.  You can choose to use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock to make it fully vegetarian. 

This healthy slow cooker curried lentil soup is the perfect winter warmer. Just 15 minutes of prep gets you a protein packed dinner full of veggies. Yellow curry is a flavorful and unique twist on traditional lentil soup without getting too exotic. You can choose to use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock to make it fully vegetarian.

As our family life gets busier I have been turning to recipes that are simpler, quicker, take fewer dishes and are reasonably healthy.  I love comfort food and will still be sharing lots of that but I also make plenty of healthy weeknight recipes that we can enjoy when things are busy.  This slow cooker lentil soup is exactly that dinner!

If this is your thing make sure you sign up at the bottom of this post to get on the email list.  You get a free cookbook and some other goodies and also will get the list of what is new each week!  I’m going to be sharing a lot of this kind of simple, fast dinner for the rest of this month and in 2018!

This lentil soup hit my radar because I really enjoy the flavor of yellow curry in food.  It is usually fairly mild (unless you use a variety such as Madras) and has great flavor.  In general it is family friendly though super picky eaters might not be excited about trying something different.

It is full of veggies and protein without the cost of meat.  Seriously, this one is cheep to make!  And of course it is so flipping fast to get into the crock pot even though you are using lots of fresh veggies and healthy ingredients.

So, grab some lentils and whip up a pot!  Drop me a comment and let me know what you think.  I always love to hear what everybody else is enjoying!

Have a great week.  Thanks for stopping by to cook with me!

Tools In This Post:  I always recommend getting a crock pot that has a timer option and a lid lock option included.  It is really nice to be able to set the pot to cook for a certain time and know it will switch to the keep warm function on its own when the time is right.  This is similar to my version and is less than $40.

Looking for more great recipes that Crock?  This Slow Cooker Pot Roast is one of my most popular recipes and justifiably so! 

This healthy slow cooker curried lentil soup is the perfect winter warmer. Just 15 minutes of prep gets you a protein packed dinner full of veggies. Yellow curry is a flavorful and unique twist on traditional lentil soup without getting too exotic. You can choose to use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock to make it fully vegetarian.
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15 Minute Throw Together Slow Cooker Curried Lentil Soup

This healthy slow cooker curried lentil soup is the perfect winter warmer. Just 15 minutes of prep gets you a protein packed dinner full of veggies. Yellow curry is a flavorful and unique twist on traditional lentil soup without getting too exotic. You can choose to use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock to make it fully vegetarian.
Course Dinner or Appetizer
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 15 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 182 kcal
Author Mirlandra

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp. Better than Bouillon reduced sodium roasted chicken base or vegetarian base
  • 6 cups warm water
  • 1 ½ cups uncooked brown lentils picked over
  • 4 stalks celery diced
  • 2 carrots diced
  • 1 large sweet onion diced
  • 3 tsp. minced garlic
  • 2 ½ -3 Tbsp. yellow curry powder Or Madras curry powder for spice
  • 1 tsp. black pepper
  • Fresh cilantro for garnish optional

Instructions

  1. Add the water and bouillon to the slow cooker. Whisk until most lumps are gone.
  2. Add everything else to the slow cooker and cook on high 4-5 hours until lentils and veggies are tender. (Or cook 6-8 hours on low.)
  3. If the soup is a bit thick for you at the end add ½ to 1 cup of water.
  4. Taste and add additional salt, black pepper or curry powder if you like.

Recipe Notes

Most stores sell “yellow curry powder” in the spice section or Asian section. If you like more spice, use Madras curry powder but you might want to cut the amount down to 1 Tbsp. You can always add more at the end if you need to.

Nutrition Facts
15 Minute Throw Together Slow Cooker Curried Lentil Soup
Amount Per Serving
Calories 182
% Daily Value*
Sodium 804mg 34%
Potassium 280mg 8%
Total Carbohydrates 41g 14%
Dietary Fiber 19g 76%
Sugars 8g
Protein 17g 34%
Vitamin A 105.5%
Vitamin C 3.7%
Calcium 6.2%
Iron 31.6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This healthy slow cooker curried lentil soup is the perfect winter warmer. Just 15 minutes of prep gets you a protein packed dinner full of veggies. Yellow curry is a flavorful and unique twist on traditional lentil soup without getting too exotic. You can choose to use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock to make it fully vegetarian.

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15 Minute Easy Korean Beef Bowls

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15 minute easy Korean Beef bowls taste just like Korean BBQ and are on the dinner table fast. One pan and a few great flavorful ingredients make this a win.  This recipe is easy to adjust for adults that love spice or kids that would rather skip it.

15 minute easy Korean Beef bowls taste just like Korean BBQ and are on the dinner table fast. One pan and a few great flavorful ingredients make this a win. This recipe is easy to adjust for adults that love spice or kids that would rather skip it.

Is there any amount of time that is too fast to get dinner on the table?  I don’t think so!  We love the flavor of Korean beef BBQ but don’t always have the time to thinly slice steak and marinate it.

Using hamburger with Korean beef seasonings is cheating for sure but it is also amazingly delicious!  It takes me less than 15 minutes to get dinner on the table and I only get one pot dinner.  If I feel really fancy I steam some broccoli to go with this dinner but plenty of nights I just steam rice and toss the beef over.  The sauce that drips down into the rice is so savory I end up getting a spoon to scoop up every drop I can.

I love a bit of red and white pepper in this dish for that authentic flavor but it is still great without if you are a zero spice family.  We still have a few more weeks of crazy holiday season left and this is a good recipe to keep handy for busy nights this winter.  Heck, it is good in the spring, summer and fall too!

Have a great week.  Thanks for stopping by to cook with me!

Tools In This Post:  I’ve lived with a rice cooker for seven years now and it is a game changer.  This is the one we use and we love it.  Durable (we have taken it on trips), and cooks both white and brown rice well enough to impress my Korean MIL.  If you are going to invest in a rice maker it is worth getting one that has fuzzy logic technology for precision cooking.

Love dinner in a hurry?  This Hawaiian Grilled Chicken is a simple 20 minute meal that always wins the day. 

Grilled chicken the way it should be! Tender, sweet and savory - grilled up with juicy brown sugar pineapple for an easy dinner in 20 minutes.

15 minute easy Korean Beef bowls taste just like Korean BBQ and are on the dinner table fast. One pan and a few great flavorful ingredients make this a win. This recipe is easy to adjust for adults that love spice or kids that would rather skip it.
5 from 1 vote
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15 Minute Easy Korean Beef Bowls

15 minute easy Korean Beef bowls taste just like Korean BBQ and are on the dinner table fast. One pan and a few great flavorful ingredients make this a win. This recipe is easy to adjust for adults that love spice or kids that would rather skip it.
Course Dinner or Appetizer
Cuisine Asian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 357 kcal
Author Mirlandra

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
  • 1 pound ground beef 12% fat
  • 2 tsp. garlic
  • ¼ cup packed brown sugar
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 2 tsp. minced ginger
  • 2 tsp. sesame oil
  • ¼ tsp. crushed red-pepper flakes optional
  • 1/8 tsp. white pepper optional
  • 3 green onions thinly sliced on the diagonal (reserve some for garnish if desired)
  • ½ tsp. sesame seeds for garnish optional

Instructions

  1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium high heat until warm. Crumble in ground beef and add the garlic. Cook until browned, stirring occasionally about 2-3 minutes.
  2. While the beef cooks, whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, sesame oil, white pepper and red pepper flakes in a small bowl.
  3. After the beef is browned leave the fat in (unless you used a beef with more than 12% fat) and add the sauce mixture and green onions. Stir until well combined and simmer until heated through, about 1 minute.
  4. Serve over steamed rice. Garnish with additional onion and sesame seeds if desired.

Recipe Notes

Spice Level: I find that the red pepper flakes and white pepper are about as spicy as a mild or medium hot sauce somewhere like Taco Bell. If you like food milder, leave out both and consider using ¼ tsp. of coarsely ground black pepper instead. If you like spicy, add more and have fun!

Serving Suggestion: Korean beef is great by itself over steamed rice. If you want to get some veggies in, prep some frozen broccoli or steam some while you cook. Alternately this goes well with a cucumber salad or a lettuce salad with Asian dressing.

Prep Tip: I buy ginger already grated in the fresh herb section of my grocery store. Gourmet Garden makes a good one and it is a fast solution to add lots of flavor to my cooking.

Nutrition Facts
15 Minute Easy Korean Beef Bowls
Amount Per Serving
Calories 357 Calories from Fat 252
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 28g 43%
Saturated Fat 12g 60%
Cholesterol 80mg 27%
Sodium 887mg 37%
Potassium 371mg 11%
Total Carbohydrates 2g 1%
Protein 21g 42%
Vitamin A 1.8%
Vitamin C 3%
Calcium 3.4%
Iron 14.9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

15 minute easy Korean Beef bowls taste just like Korean BBQ and are on the dinner table fast. One pan and a few great flavorful ingredients make this a win. This recipe is easy to adjust for adults that love spice or kids that would rather skip it.

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Creamy Crock-Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

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Creamy Crock-Pot Chicken Noodle Soup is savory and comforting on a cold, winter day. The soup is easy to toss together and the crock does all the work!

Creamy Crock-Pot Chicken Noodle Soup is savory and comforting on a cold, winter day. The soup is easy to toss together and the crock does all the work!

We live in the Treasure Valley surrounded by foothills and mountains.  After a long, hot summer I am enjoying watching our hills turn white with snow!  And as the hills turn white out comes the crock-pot and soup recipes!

Creamy crock-pot chicken noodle is a great recipe to keep handy when things get busy during the holiday season.  Everything goes in one pot, and the ingredients are all pantry staples.  I always keep onion, carrots and celery in the house because they go in just about everything.

Most chicken noodle soups are fairly bland and plain.  That’s fine but not my style.  This one has plenty of flavor without getting carried away.  You can use any herbs you like or have on hand – my favorite option is a poultry blend because it goes so nicely with the chicken!  Tip:  Buying a few freeze dried herb blends will save you a lot of money and give you great quality on hand to cook with. 

The holiday season is full of fun but also plenty of busyness.  Make sure your pantry is stocked with staples and keep a few recipes like this one ready to save you some time and fuss.  After all, this is a season to enjoy being with family – not just cooking for family!

Have a great week. Thanks for stopping by to cook with me!

Tools In This Post: When it comes to slow cookers you don’t need something too crazy fancy but I do like the timer option on mine.  It is always great for something like this where you don’t necessarily need to cook it all day long.

If you enjoy crock-pot cooking this Slow Cooker Pot Roast is one of my all time favorite recipes for the slow cooker! Enjoy…

Creamy Crock-Pot Chicken Noodle Soup is savory and comforting on a cold, winter day. The soup is easy to toss together and the crock does all the work!
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Creamy Crock-Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

Creamy Crock-Pot Chicken Noodle Soup is savory and comforting on a cold, winter day. The soup is easy to toss together and the crock does all the work!
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 20 minutes
Servings 12
Author Mirlandra

Ingredients

  • 8 cups hot water
  • ½ cup Better than Bouillon Reduced Sodium Chicken Bouillon
  • 1 ½ - 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 large sweet onion diced
  • 4 carrots peeled and diced
  • 6 stalks celery diced
  • 1 Tbsp. granulated garlic
  • 1 Tbsp. favorite freeze dried herbs such as Litehouse Poultry Herb Blend
  • 1 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 8 oz medium egg noodles
  • ½ cup frozen peas optional
  • 3 Tbsp. fresh parsley minced

Instructions

  1. Add hot water and bouillon to a 6qt slow cooker, whisk until only small lumps remain.
  2. Add chicken, onion, carrots, and celery, garlic powder, herbs and black pepper. Cover and cook on low heat for about 5 hours or until the chicken and veggies are cooked through.
  3. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred with two forks. Add the chicken back into the crock pot.
  4. Remove 1 cup of the stock from the soup and place in a medium bowl with the cream. Whisk in the flour. Pour this mixture back into the soup and add the noodles. Stir to submerge the noodles, cover and cook on high for 15-25 minutes until pasta is tender. Add the peas and parsley, stir and serve.
  5. Serve hot with crusty bread or crackers.

Creamy Crock-Pot Chicken Noodle Soup is savory and comforting on a cold, winter day. The soup is easy to toss together and the crock does all the work!

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Hamburger Soup to Stay Nourished & Healthy This Fall

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This hamburger soup is an easy and delicious meal full of veggies.  I love that it fills bellies and gives us the nutrition we need to stay healthy during the cold season.

This hamburger soup is an easy and delicious meal full of veggies. I love that it fills bellies and gives us the nutrition we need to stay healthy during the cold season.

Full Disclosure:  Albertsons compensated me for developing this recipe with their products.  That being said I have been an Albertsons shopper since I was a little girl and shop there on a regular basis.  My promise to you is that I will only promote products and companies I love and use in my home.

This hamburger soup is an easy and delicious meal full of veggies. I love that it fills bellies and gives us the nutrition we need to stay healthy during the cold season.

The cold and flu season is here and it is time to take sensible precautions about good health.  Every fall I go through this simple checklist: 

  1. Get on the family about good hand wishing.  This means using soap, warm water and thoroughly scrubbing our hands as needed.
  2. Go through the medicine cabinet and throw away all expired cold medicines.
  3. Head to Albertsons and make sure I’ve got my favorite Signature Care™ cold and flu products on hand. (I love the berry flavor Nighttime Severe Cold & Flu Relief – it actually tastes good!)  Having what I need on hand helps to prevent late night store runs with a sick kid!  Signature Care products provide the same quality and relief that national name brands do, but at a better value. Signature Care products contain the same active ingredients & are subject to the same manufacturing standards mandated by the FDA as national brands.
  4. Stock the pantry with crackers, cream of wheat, canned soups, broth, juices, ginger ale and good soup making supplies.
  5. Make and freeze pints of our favorite soups.
  6. Put a few meals in the freezer for crazy nights or when mom gets sick.  (We all know when mom goes down things get a little nutty.)

Along with my fall checklist I do a few other sensible things to keep us healthy.

  • I try to make sure we get plenty of sleep
  • I make sensible nutritious meals to keep our bodies in fighting condition.  The immune system needs basic building blocks to function including specific amino acids only found in meat.  I make sure we get protein and veggies to give our bodies the best chance of staying well.

As family we make it a priority to use high quality ingredients and make most of our dinners healthy.  But the family rule is that dinner still has to taste great!  Every time I’ve used O Organics® grass fed ground beef I have been impressed with the quality.  When you open the package it smells fresh and looks delicious.

I also like that the meat is raised without antibiotics or added hormones.  When I bring home O Organics® ground beef I feel confident that I’m feeding my family something wholesome.  I appreciate that the price fits within my budget! It is nice that Albertsons believes that good quality food should be available at a good price!

This hamburger soup is an easy and delicious meal full of veggies. I love that it fills bellies and gives us the nutrition we need to stay healthy during the cold season.

In recent weeks I have been working on the finishing touches for my new cook book, Simply Delicious.  I’m having a blast but the scope of the project has been taking up a lot of my mental resources so I’ve been unusually scattered.  I don’t even want to tell you how many times I forgot to thaw something or totally torpedoed my meal plan for the week!  Thankfully our closest Albertsons is less than a mile away and I’ve been popping in a lot to let their amazing staff help.

One of the things I love about Albertsons is the depth of knowledge each of their employees has.  If I have questions about the produce quality and ripeness, their people have answers. I’ve even had them come over and check on me when I can’t make up my mind about dinner. Somehow they notice I look conflicted and are ready with a kind suggestion or solution.

We go there so much we have some favorite checkers who take the time to visit with us and make us smile.  Extra help and genuine kindness is always nice but I have appreciated it just a bit more during the recent craziness.

O Organics and Signature Care™ products are available in my area exclusively at Albertsons but they can also be found in the entire Albertsons family of stores.  I shop at Albertsons here in Boise and at Safeway when I’m in Oregon visiting my family.  In your area the stores may be under one of these names:  ACME Markets, Jewel-Osco, Vons, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Shaw’s, Star Market, United Express, United and Carrs/Safeway.  You can visit Albertsons.com to find a store near you and to get more great recipes like this.

Stay healthy this winter!!!  Thanks for stopping by to cook with me!

Tools In This Post:  One of my almost daily dinner tricks is to use this handy tool for dicing.  Onions, tomatoes, bell pepper, jalapeno peppers – they all come out evenly and perfectly sized in a snap.  The tool rinses out easily and I save a ton of time cutting up food for meals like soup, salsa and stir fry.  If you cook much, this is a worthwhile investment.

Nothing goes with soup as well a fresh rolls!  These dinner rolls are delicious and ridiculously easy. 

These Copycat Texas Roadhouse Dinner Rolls are amazingly soft and the Cinnamon Honey Butter puts them over the top! Only 10 minutes of active work!

5 from 1 vote
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Hamburger Soup

This hamburger soup is an easy and delicious meal full of veggies. I love that it fills bellies and gives us the nutrition we need to stay healthy during the cold season. Sprinkle on some cheese and watch the soup disappear!
Course Dinner or Appetizer
Cuisine American
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 8

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds O organics ground beef 15% fat
  • 1 large sweet onion diced
  • 6 stalks celery diced
  • 2 bell peppers any color seeded and diced
  • 1 can O Organics diced tomatoes with basil garlic & oregano, 14.5 oz (or Italian stewed tomatoes)
  • 5 cups water
  • 20 O Organics baby carrots sliced
  • 1 pound red potatoes cubed with skin on
  • 2 Tbsp. beef bouillon
  • 1/2 tsp. Black Pepper
  • 1 tsp. freeze dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper

Instructions

  1. In a large pot over medium-high heat, brown the hamburger. Strain the fat and juices from the meat and put back in the pot for cooking. Set the browned hamburger aside in a bowl and cover to prevent drying.

  2. Add the onion, celery, and bell pepper to the meat juices and cook over medium-high heat for several minutes until they start to soften.
  3. Add everything else to the pot except the cooked hamburger. Stir to combine, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cover the pot. Maintain a simmer for 20 minutes.
  4. Add the hamburger and check the potatoes / carrots - these veggies are done when they are tender and almost firm but not mushy.
  5. Continue to simmer until the potatoes and carrots are done. Taste the soup and add any additional salt or pepper if desired.
  6. Serve with grated Parmesan or mozzarella cheese and crackers, crusty French bread or rolls.

This hamburger soup is an easy and delicious meal full of veggies. I love that it fills bellies and gives us the nutrition we need to stay healthy during the cold season.

 

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