Easy Chicken and Biscuits

So this is a recipe I made from scratch. It was the Sunday before midterms so I knew that I would need some vegetables and protein in me to get through the week. So I came up with this recipe which is a mixture chicken pot pie and chicken and biscuits. Yum, yum, yum. It's recipes like these that define my goal with this blog: easy, cheap, and nutritious.

Ingredients:
- 2 cans Campbell's Cream of Chicken soup
- 1 or 2 chicken breasts
- Milk
- Bag of frozen vegetables
- Pillsbury biscuits
- Chicken broth

Directions:
1. Actually make the Cream of Chicken soup by the directions on the can. I used milk instead of water to make it creamier.

2. Once the soup has warmed throw in your bag of frozen vegetables. You can use as little or as much as you want.

3. Cook chicken on another pan with some basic seasonings. Shred apart and add into mixture.

4. I added about a 1/2 cup of chicken broth just to give it some more flavor and to increase the mixture.

5. Meanwhile, cook your biscuits in the oven. I don't buy store brand when it comes to biscuits because Pillsbury really has them all beat. It will be worth the few extra pennies.

6. Once the vegetable and soup mixture is all warm crack open a biscuit and pour your yummy mixture on top.

Easy right?
The best part of this meal is that I fed four people and still had leftovers! Oh and I forgot to mention truly how cheap this meal was. I got my bag of frozen vegetables 50% making them $1.20 and my Pillsbury biscuits were $1.00 for each can of 5. I always have Cream of Chicken soup in my pantry and plenty of chicken broth. I also buy all my chicken when it's on sale. So this meal was dirt cheap!

Chicken Cheese Crescent Rolls

This recipe comes from some Pinterest inspiration! It's so so easy and really unique. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
Cooked Chicken - (I baked 2 chicken breast and cut them up into about 1 inch cubes)
1 cup of cheddar cheese 
1 can of crescent rolls (note to self- find a way to "make" crescent roll type dough)
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup.
1 cup of milk

Directions: 
1. First make the Campbell's soup, like actually really make it. Make it with the milk. Also, heat the oven  to 350.
2. Next, cook the chicken. You can boil or bake it on the stove. However you prefer. You're going to shred it up either way. 
3. After the chicken and soup are done get a glass baking pan and begin rolling your creation. Take each crescent roll and spread them out individually. Fill in with shredded chicken and cheddar cheese. If you aren't able to use all the chicken and cheese just throw it in the pan. 

4. After you roll, add the soup on top. Put on some extra cheese. 

5. Throw it in the oven for about 20-25 minutes. Just until you can see the crescent rolls are cooked. 

6. Pair with your favorite vegetable side and enjoy!

Yummy Potato Soup

Today's post is homemade potato soup. One of my all time favorite winter dishes!

Ingredients:
- 1 bag of potatoes
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese (I recommend shredding a block)
- 1 onion
- Milk
- Salt, pepper
- Bacon bits
- Chives
- Butter

Directions:
1. Boil water with some salt and pepper.
2. Meanwhile, cut up half of an onion. Put in water.

3. Next cut up potatoes into little square chunks

4. Add potatoes to water. Cook only for 10 minutes. This is important because if you cook them too long they will turn out mushy in your soup. 

5. Drain water. Try to keep onions with the potatoes

6. Next, add milk until you can see just the tip tops of the potatoes. The measurements will differ for each soup because it depends on how many potatoes you decide to chop up.

7. Then add butter. As much or little as you like. 

8. Cook until liquid is hot. Add cheese when liquid is warm for a cheesy texture or wait to put cheese in individual bowls. 

9. Chop up some chives, add some bacon bits, and cheese on top, and you've got homemade potato soup!

Homemade Chicken Orzo Soup

First, I would like to apologize for not updating in a while. I have been cooking but school got a little crazy and held me back from being able to post. So over the next few days I hope to update the blog with a ton of new stuff.

Today's post is Homemade Chicken Orzo Soup. This recipe comes courtesy from my Mom. I had a nice weekend trip home so us girls got busy in the kitchen.

Ingredients:
- Pack of chicken breasts
- Bag of frozen mixed vegetables
- Tomato
- Avocado
- Cilantro
- 1/2 Onion
- Garlic
- Orzo (3/4 cup)
- Box of Chicken Broth (32 oz.)
- Celery
- Montreal Chicken Seasoning

Directions:
1. Chop up onion, celery, garlic into small pieces. Saute them in olive oil for 5 minutes in 5qt pot.
2. Chop up chicken breasts (raw) into small pieces. Add chicken to pot and cook through.
3. Add chicken broth and add water to fill up the rest of the pot to 3/4 full.
4. Bring it to a boil.
5. Add frozen mixed vegetables and 1 diced tomato
6. Let it simmer for 15 minutes.
7. Add orzo and let it simmer until orzo is cooked.
8. Season with salt, pepper, lemon juice, whatever you like.
9. Add 1/4 chopped cilantro. Use the rest as garnish
10. Pair with a side of Garlic Bread.

ENJOY!

Quick lunch: Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

Today I had a delicious quick lunch at home in between classes. Just wanted to post a quick photo of my meal. Remember that when cooking you don't always have to re-invent the wheel. A simple grilled cheese and tomato soup makes for a cheap, yummy lunch on any given day.

Creamy Ranch Pork Chops over Garlic Roasted Mashed Potatoes w/ Broccoli

Last night I made a crock pot meal. I had pork chops in the freezer that I had purchased when they were on sale a few weeks ago. I love this meal because it is a great example how you can take the basics in your pantry and freezer to make a great meal.

Ingredients:
- Thin cut boneless pork chops
- 2 cans Campbell's Cream of Chicken
- 1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing
- Frozen broccoli (brand does not matter)
- 1 packet Idahoan Garlic Roasted Mashed Potatoes
- Salt and pepper

Directions:
In crock pot put in two cans of Cream of Chicken soup. Empty half of the dressing packet and mix in. Season your pork chops with the rest of the ranch packet, salt, and pepper. Put pork chops in crock pot, turn on high for 4 hours.

When the chops are cooked through and you're ready to eat make mashed potatoes (follow directions on back; takes literally 5 minutes) and cook your frozen broccoli packet.

BAM! You have yourself a delicious, super easy, cheap meal.

I love to use the crock pot because I can throw in all my ingredients and go to class, do homework, work out, and come back to a finished meal. Also, I am still getting used to having a cooking blog so I have made a few meals in between my posts that I have just completely forgotten to take pictures of. I will remake those recipes soon and remember to post pictures and directions. Trust me that most of the meals I make do not involve pork and mashed potatoes. Purely coincidental.

Mesquite Barbecue Pork-Loin

Last night I made a Mesquite Barbecue pork-loin with Four Cheese mashed potatoes with a side of green beans. I love pork-loins because they are already seasoned perfectly and all you have to do is simply stick it in the oven. Pork-loins at Publix are usually $7.99 but they are a great purchase because they can feed a lot of people or make for a lot of leftovers. Plus it is such a lean piece of meat and it's a nice switch up from the regular chicken dishes I make.

Mashed potatoes are CHEAP and all you do is boil your water, throw in the potatoes, and boom their done. I buy the smaller cans of green beans because I am usually the only one who eats them.

This meal is so easy, feeds about 4 comfortably, and takes very little effort on your part. Enjoy!