Split Pea Sausage Soup

If you know me at all, you know this definitely is not something that I would pick out to eat. But since Oley went on his health eating kick we have extremely random ingredients lying around in our pantry and cupboards. Split peas and sausage being some of them. So here comes my big girl panties and the courage to try new things. . . . I'll let you know how it goes.

Ingredients

1 pound dried split peas
6 cups water
2 cans of chicken broth
1 pound smoked sausage of your choice, sliced
5 cubes chicken bouillon
1 1/2 cups chopped carrot
1 cup chopped celery
2 potatoes, peeled and chopped
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 bay leaves
1 onion, chopped

Directions

In Crock Pot combine the peas, water, chicken broth, sausage, bouillon, carrot, celery, potatoes, garlic powder, oregano, bay leaves, and onions.

Cook on High for 4 to 5 hours.

Remove bay leaves.

Serve with corn bread.

Chicken Taco Soup

I love the crock pot! I especially love the crock pot in the winter months when it produces the most delicious simple soups!

Ingredients

1 onion, chopped
1 (16 ounce) can chili beans
1 (15 ounce) can black beans
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (12 fluid ounce) can of chicken broth
2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning
3 whole skinless, boneless chicken breasts
shredded Cheddar cheese (optional)
sour cream (optional)
crushed tortilla chips (optional)

Directions

Put the onion, chili beans, black beans, corn, tomato sauce, chicken broth, and diced tomatoes in the crock pot.

Add taco seasoning, and stir to blend.

Lay chicken breasts on top of the mixture, and press it down until it is slightly covered.

Cook for 5 hours on low.

Remove chicken breasts from the soup, and shred.

Stir the shredded chicken back into the soup, and continue cooking for 2 hours.

Serve with shredded Cheddar cheese, sour cream, or crushed tortilla chips.

Chicken and Dumplings in the Crock Pot

With Oley and I's schedules we rarely if ever eat dinner anymore, but it's Thanksgiving Break!!! That means I will be able to pull something together for dinner, and take him some at work.

Ingredients

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 tablespoons butter
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup (you can also alternate 1 can of cream of mushroom here if you would like)
1 can chicken broth
1 onion, finely diced
2 (10 ounce) packages refrigerated biscuit dough, torn into small pieces (otherwise will take awhile to cook)
2 cans of mixed veggies, drained
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp parsley
1 tsp poultry seasoning
1 tsp seasoned salt and pepper

Instructions

Place all ingredients except biscuits in the crock pot.

Cover, and cook for 5 to 6 hours on High. About 1 hour before serving, place the torn biscuit dough in the slow cooker. Cook until the dough is no longer raw in the center. If there is still to much liquid in the pot, add some flour and it will thicken the sauce.

Basic Home Made Chicken Noodle Soup

Well Oley complained becuase I didn't make home made noodles to go along with this, but other than that extremely delicious! Especially becuase it's starting to get colder outside. Warning this recipe makes enough for 10. So we have LOTS of leftovers. But it was good so I'll take it!

Ingredients
3 pounds of chicken
4 carrots, halved
4 celery sticks, halved
1 large onion, halved
2 potatoes, halved
water to cover
salt and pepper
1 tsp chicken bouillon
Noodles

Directions
Place the potatoes, carrots, celery and chicken in a large pot and and cover with water. Heat and simmer, uncovered until chicken is cooked.
Take everything out of the pot, and strain the broth. Cut meat, celery, carrots, onion, and potatoes into bite size pieces. Season the broth with salt, pepper, and bouillon to taste. Return everything into the same pot. Stir together, and serve.

Taco Soup

I know I know you are gonna kill me for saying this but, I can't wait for the cooler weather so we can eat more soups. 

Ingredients
1 lb. of ground beef (I use ground turkey and turns out just as good if not better, cause it's healthier)
1- 15 oz can kidney beans
1 - 15 oz can whole kernel corn (drained)
1- 10 oz can Rotel Tomatoes
1 - Envelope dry Ranch dressing mix
1 - Envelope Taco seasoning
1 - 28 oz. can tomatoes
1 - 4 oz. can chile pepper, chopped (we like our food a little hotter so we added 2 of these)
1 - 15 oz can pinto beans

Directions
- Brown the ground beef and drain well
- Add remaining ingredients and stir
- Place in Slow cooker
- Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours
- Serve with Tortilla chips or cornbread

This recipe smells absolutely delicious after a long day at work.  We made the mistake of eating it right when we got home and didn't let is cool at all.  Once our tongues were sufficiently burned and we were full we realized wow this tastes even better when it's not burning hot!  Words of wisdom let cool before eating.