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The Easiest Way EVER To Make A Prize-Worthy Dinner!

Five ingredients! That’s all it takes to make a superb meal you won’t soon forget! Every time I serve these pork chops and gravy to my friends or family members, they all say the same thing. “It must have taken you the whole day to make something as delicious as this!” I always feel tempted to say, yeah, it took a lot of effort… But the truth is, it takes me 3 minutes to prepare these.

I am a huge fan of crock pot meals and if this recipe doesn’t explain why, I’m not sure you’ll ever understand. Seriously – if I can make such an amazing meal just by throwing a handful of ingredients in the slow cooker, I may never use the stove again!

My husband loves pork chops and when I first tried this recipe, he asked me to never go back to my old one again, haha! Don’t worry, hubby dear – I’m quite happy to stick with this one forever and ever. Why would I want to slave away in the kitchen when I can let my trusty crock pot do all the work for me?

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Quick Tip: Use low-sodium cream of chicken soup and chicken broth, for a healthier option.

If I Was A Rich Man… I Would Still Make This Delish Casserole!

Ever since I was little, I was taught to appreciate what I have and make the most of even the little things. We were a big family and my mother was a genius when it came to making meals on the budget. It seemed as if the casseroles appeared out of nowhere; there was nothing too special in the pantry but all of a sudden she had made an amazing dinner for the whole family.

I think being able to create a grocery budget and stick to it, is a very important skill. My mother made sure we would all know by college, what it took to make your money last for a whole month. I’m very grateful for everything I learned and I think it has made my life richer in so many ways.

This stupendous casserole from Glenda, over at Busy-At-Home, made me think of my mother and everything she taught me. Food doesn’t have to be expensive to taste delicious! And this chicken, broccoli and rice casserole is here to prove it.

Recipe and image courtesy of Busy-At-Home.

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Quick Tip: No broccoli in the freezer? Use any veggies you happen to have at hand.

I tolerate nightmares as long as they don’t involve me abandoning the juiciest sausage or the most aromatic pasta. I am a food lover, and having to leave that scrumptious piece of dish just because a mad man is chasing after me is unforgivable. So far though, even with all my weird dreams, there was never a time that I dreamed of such a horrifying event. Dad isn’t so lucky. When I went to visit them a week ago, Mom told me this hilarious story about Dad not wanting to eat potatoes and broccoli for a month because of his dream. Since Dad wasn’t at home when I arrived, I was able to hear the full story without his protest.

Mom said Dad woke up one night and immediately went to the kitchen to drink a glass of water. Worried, Mom went after him only to find him blushing when asked what was wrong. The dream was about him eating potato wedges and steamed broccoli. Soon, the potato wedges were chasing him with knives in their hands. He saw an opening to escape, but he was blocked by giant broccoli florets. Dad woke up before he was turned into a dinner dish. I was laughing so hard that I couldn’t keep a straight face in front of him when he arrived. Mom cooked potatoes with broccoli for dinner that night just to tease him further. While I enjoyed the simple but delicious meal, I enjoyed even more watching Dad’s attempt to give us a silent treatment.

Photo and recipe courtesy of Southern Bite.

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Quick Tip: Sprinkle with extra cheese on top if you want it cheesier.

What is a great dump meal? One that is full of creamy goodness and you have both your main meal and sides all in one dish. I used to think that would require so much cooking and prep time and was not really looking forward to that aspect of married life. I was afraid of spending way too much time cooking and cleaning up that tiny kitchen of mine. That is, until I received a wonderful gift at my bridal shower.

I remember being at my bridal shower, awaiting the time to open all the gifts. One after the other, they were gorgeous, but someone gave me the most practical of them all: a crock pot! I was kind of unsure as to how I was supposed to use it because I had never in my life seen one or tasted anything that was made in one. However, I decided to be adventurous and give it a go (at least adventurous for me!). I looked up recipes on Pinterest and found many good ones, one of my favorites being a creamy recipe of chicken and dumplings. I mean, how can you go wrong with such a simple and delicious recipe like that?!

Photo and recipe courtesy of The Best Blog Recipes.

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Quick Tip: Add a can of corn or any other veggies you’d like

Mac and cheese is one of my favorite meals to enjoy on a lazy afternoon after work or school. It is usually quite easy to make and provides lots so you can share (but believe me, you do not have to!) My only problem with boxed Mac and Cheese is that it does not provide enough creaminess for me. It is tasty, sure. But the milk just blends with the powdered cheese and stays liquid-y. That is why I thought of making something that has more substance.

This mac and cheese recipe has lots of creaminess because it is made with real cheese. When blended with milk, that cheese melts and becomes gooey and spreads quite easily over the pasta. It also stays creamy and keeps the shells moist and from drying up. It is the perfect Sunday afternoon pick me up when you are feeling down about having to go back to work on Monday morning. Or, it is an easy weeknight meal that is kid proof and totally yummy. It is also a great side dish for dinner with guests (or consider making it the main dish by chopping up some chicken and throwing it in as well). However you choose to make it and for whatever occasion, you are going to love chowing this baby up!

Photo and recipe courtesy of Spend with Pennies.

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Quick Tip: If this is drying up, add bits of cream cheese.

I look forward to Thanksgiving year round because of the food. Yes, I am also grateful for many things, but I do not think I am the only one who looks forward to this awesome day because of the amazing food. There are so many dishes that I only get to enjoy once a year on this day so I always love to be extra hungry to make sure I get a chance to enjoy them all. It is hard, though, because there is just too much food and I cannot keep up.

That is when I realized, why do I have to wait until Thanksgiving to enjoy this all? I can make little dishes here and there throughout the year to enjoy the deliciousness of Thanksgiving. Some would say that spoils Thanksgiving, but not for me. I would still be just as excited to eat this on Thanksgiving. Now I know Thanksgiving dishes take a while to whip up, which is why the one I am sharing today is a crock pot meal! It is easy to throw together and becomes a delicious meal all in one bowl. It is the perfect reminder of the holidays, while still being a wonderful weeknight meal for the whole family.

Photo and recipe courtesy of The Cozy Cook.

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Quick Tip: Stir occasionally and add a bit of water if you feel it is getting dry.

Well-kept family recipe secrets are the ones that can be cooked without the need of modern equipment. These are the ones that were made in the kitchen a long time ago and are still being made today; probably with simple tweaking, but still the same recipe. My grandmother was able to pass a few of her recipes down to my mother and her sisters. They own have their “grandma’s recipe” specialties that they bring to get togethers just to honor our grandmother. One of my favorites is the cream cheese chicken that the youngest of my aunts specialized in.

It was a comfort dish that everyone loved in their family. My mom and her sisters all had their favorites from grandma’s recipes, but this one was something that they all agreed upon. There’s chicken cooked with creamy white sauce—it was the perfect way to cross the bridges between people’s taste buds. This dish that I found while I was scouring the internet with chicken recipes reminds me of that dish of my grandma. There are a few differences in the ingredients, but when I tried it, it tasted the same. It has that modern twist to it, but that homey taste didn’t vanish. It’s still there, always reminding you of home.

Photo and recipe courtesy of Food.com.

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Quick Tip: Top with crumbled bacon and more cheese if you prefer.