Cheesy Sausage and Potatoes

Before we talk about this recipe, I must warn you: it was not exactly what I had planned to make, but it turned out delicious and satisfying! I was intending to make a casserole-type dish in the crockpot, but time constraints and a spoiled bag of tater tots changed my plans. Instead, I winged it, so to speak - threw together some ingredients in an electric skillet and hoped for the best. And it turned out great!

If you prefer more of a sauce, add half a cup of milk and extra butter. If not, leave them out and the texture is more like a casserole.

Ingredients:

1 package smoked sausage
1 box of au gratin potatoes
2 cups water
1/2 cup cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons butter
Garlic powder and dry ranch seasoning for flavor, or seasonings to taste
Optional: 1/2 cup milk

Slice smoked sausage into bite size pieces and toss in a buttered skillet. Add the dehydrated potatoes and about half of the au gratin flavor packet. Pour in water and stir. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and let simmer for about 15 min or until potatoes are firm but tender. Add butter, cheese, and seasonings to taste, as well as milk if desired; stir and let simmer another 4-5 minutes. Serve topped with extra cheese!

Three Package Roast

Have you heard of the 3 package roast? It's a recipe that has been going around a lot lately and I decided to give it a try for our Christmas dinner. It came out great! The meat was tender and flavorful, and the juices were scrumptious. I'm a firm believer in plain buttered mashed potatoes, never ever any gravy, but I even poured some of the roast juices over my potatoes! The juices come out thin, but a little flour and cornstarch whisked in could easily make a delicious brown gravy.

A few quick notes before we begin. You can sear the sides of the roast before putting it in the crockpot if you like, but it isn't necessary. I didn't sear ours and it came out adequately tender. Also, it does not need salt - the mixture of seasonings in the packages are plenty. In fact, I recommend using low sodium versions, if available.

Christmas dinner

Ingredients:
1 3lb roast (any beef roast will work)
1 package dry Italian dressing mix
1 package dry ranch mix
1 package dry brown gravy mix
2 cups water

Whisk together the 3 packages of seasonings and the water in the crockpot. Take the roast from its wrapping and rinse off any excess blood. Place the roast in the crockpot and use a spoon, ladle, or baster to thoroughly coat it in the seasoning mixture. Let cook on high for about 5-6 hours, basting it in the juices every hour and periodically flipping it over to ensure it cooks evenly. When it is tender enough to easily pierce with a fork, pull it out of the crockpot. Slice it, baste it in the juices, and serve. Enjoy!

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Crockpot Casserole

With colder weather setting in lately, we have been in the mood for comfort food. And I'm not sure what says "comfort food" better than chicken and rice, in a warm casserole-type dish. It's too thick to be called soup but too soft to be much else. If you find a better name for it, let me know!

On a side note, I used minute rice because it's easy to keep on the truck. You can use any brand of minute rice, or simply use cooked regular rice. Either way I'm sure it will be delicious! 

Ingredients:

3 large chicken breasts 

Can cream of chicken soup 

Can cream of cheddar soup

Dry ranch dressing mix 

Box of minute rice 

1 cup sour cream

Parmesan cheese to taste

Dab a little soup on the bottom of the crockpot. Lay chicken breasts on top and spoon the rest of both cans of soup on top, sprinkling in the dry ranch mix. Let cook in crockpot 3 hours on high, or whatever your crockpot needs to thoroughly cook chicken, while stirring occasionally. About half an hour before serving, use a fork or spatula to shred the chicken. Add the rice and sour cream and mix everything together. Let cook for another half hour to warm the rice. Serve and top with parmesan cheese. Enjoy!