Crock Pot Hawaiian Haystacks

It's so easy, and you can make this meal as simple or as elegant as you want! Yum!

Crock Pot Hawaiian Haystacks
1 1/2 cups uncooked rice
2 cans condensed cream of chicken
1/2 package frozen broccoli
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Salt to taste

Optional topping ideas:
Chow mein noodles
Diced tomatoes
Coconut
Shredded chicken

Canned pineapple

Cook the rice with 3 cups water, and salt to taste, in the crock pot on High for about 1.5 hours. When the rice is cooked, add cream of chicken, broccoli, and cheese. Stir it together and set crock pot to "warm" until you're ready to eat it. Top it how you want, or eat it as is. Enjoy! :)

Cafe Rio Style Chicken Salad

I have a new favorite meal!!!!!! This one takes the cake, it was sooooo good!!! Let me teach you how to make this knock-off Cafe Rio Chicken Salad, so you can enjoy it too!!

Cilantro Lime Rice
2 cups uncooked white rice
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
4 cups water
1/4 cup lime juice
1 Tbsp dried cilantro
Salt to taste

In a large pot on the stove top, heat the oil and slightly fry the rice in it. Then pour in the water and other ingredients. Cover and let it boil until the water is all absorbed and the rice is tender (add more water if necessary). Stir well and remove from heat.

This is the bottom layer of your salad.

The next layer is a can of Seasoned Black Beans. Drain it and heat it in a small pot on the stove.

Now for the chicken. I got the recipe from Mandy's Recipe Box, and I wouldn't change a thing. It was perfect!

Cafe Rio Chicken
2 lbs chicken breasts
1 cup zesty Italian dressing
1 packet ranch dressing mix (mixed with 1/2 cup water)
1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
1/2 Tbsp ground cumin
1/2 Tbsp chili powder

Place all ingredients in crock pot and cook on High 5-6 hours. Shred with fork.

Top the salad with romaine lettuce, shredded cheddar cheese, and ranch dressing. Voila!! A delicious homemade meal, healthier and less expensive than eating out at Cafe Rio/Costa Vida (which might I add are my very FAVORITE restaurants). Try it. Love it. Yum!!!

Cafe Rio Style Chicken Salad
Cilantro Lime rice
Seasoned Black beans
Cafe Rio style chicken
Romaine lettuce
Shredded cheddar cheese
Ranch dressing

Layer it, in that order. Try adding a tortilla, tortilla chips, salsa, avocado, whatever you want! Enjoy!!! :) :)

Crash Hot Potatoes

Tonight I tried the recipe from The Pioneer Woman for Crash Hot Potatoes. It was a hit! We ate it with some delicious grilled steak, watched some football... it was a great Saturday. God bless America :)

Crash Hot Potatoes
Boil potatoes till fork tender (about 20 minutes)
Drizzle olive oil generously on a baking sheet
Smash potatoes individually on the baking sheet (I used the bottom of a big cup to smash them, it worked great)
Drizzle more olive oil on each potato
Season generously (I used salt, pepper, chives, parsley, and seasoning salt)
Bake at 450 for about 25 minutes

They were crispy and delicious!! We loved them!! I definitely have a new go-to potato dish. While it took a little time, it wasn't hard at all, and it would be easy to make a whole bunch. I can't wait to make it again!!

Spicy Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

Here's tonight's dinner! Delicioso!!

Spicy Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
1 lb elbow macaroni
2 cups cheddar cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese
2 tbsp butter, melted
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
Salt and pepper to taste

Cook the macaroni according to package instructions, then drain. Dump in the crock pot with all other ingredients. Season generously with salt and pepper, and stir. Cook on low for about an hour, then set to "warm" until you're ready to eat it (if you don't wanna use the crock pot, cook it all in a pan in the oven for about half hour at 350). Super easy, fun twist on the regular American dish! Sure to please the whole fam.

**Optional: If you're in the mood for something meatier, throw in some ground beef! Yum! :)

Chicken Bacon Florentine Pasta

I used the recipe from 5 dollar dinners. Here is my slightly adapted version. It was OH so delicious :)

Chicken Bacon Florentine Pasta
1 box penne pasta
2 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
5 strips of bacon, cut and cooked
10 oz package frozen spinach, thawed and drained
3 medium tomatoes, diced
1/4 C Olive oil
Dried Oregano, to taste
Dried Thyme, to taste
Dried basil, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste

Cook and drain the pasta, then toss in all other ingredients. Serve warm. It was so delicious!