One Dish Pasta and Vegetables

Happy Patriots' Day

For those who do not live local, the third Monday of April is when we celebrate the battles of Lexington and Concord, which happened to be the first battle of the Revolutionary War.

In Boston, it is always Marathon Monday.
We have had some odd weather years for the runners, but starting this AM with ice and snow (just a dusting) isn't very runner (or spectator) friendly!!

The rain should settle in for the day. This is the first time (since sometime in the 80's) that the Red Sox annual Patriots' Day game has been postponed,

Enjoy your day!




Ingredients:

1 ½ Cup Rotini (uncooked)

2 Medium Carrots (sliced)

1 Cup Broccoli florets

1 Can (10 ¾ oz) Condensed cheddar cheese soup

½ Cup Milk

1 Tbsp prepared mustard

Directions:

1. Prepare pasta per package directions

2. Add broccoli and carrots during the last 4 minutes of cooking

3. Drain well, return to saucepan

4. Stir the soup, milk, and mustard into the saucepan and cook until hot

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Come party with me HERE!

Chicken Divan (Crock Pot)

We went to a 25th anniversary party this past weekend.
In a world where marriages seem so "disposable" sometimes
(not saying there are not genuine reasons for divorce...haters back away!)
it's refreshing to see a couple who have weathered the storms.

It has not always been easy, but marriage is a series of tests..good and bad. Strength and willingness to work create a successful union.

We had a bunch of family and friends in my aunt's backyard.
Auntie started saying how BAD we have been about taking pictures at functions (and she's right!)
Out comes the cameras...and the multiple MULTIPLE cries of "ok, now A and B stand with C and D"

I'm not sure who exactly came up the idea, but we have a much loved family picture that keeps popping up on Facebook. It's of my uncle and all his siblings (3 of whom are no longer with us) standing in a line by age.
They decided it would be a good idea to replicate it with the cousins who were there (some had escaped before picture time, and some were unable to attend the party) at the time.
Of course, we had to do it by age...and then realized we were backwards from them (whoops) but that's OK, it's the thought, right?

We had a ton of food...per usual.
Auntie had planned very well and there were not tons of leftovers (for once!)
All I had to bring was :
Chips
Deviled Eggs
Baked Beans

Love when there isn't tons of prep!




Ingredients:

3-4 Heads broccoli (chopped)

1 ½ Lb Chicken breast (cubed)

1 Onion (chopped)

2 Tbsp butter (cubed)

1 Cup Milk

1 Cup Water

1 Chicken bouillon cube

¼ Cup Dry sherry

1 Tsp Garlic powder

Salt and Pepper

¼ Cup Italian bread crumbs

½ Cup Mozzarella cheese (shredded)

Directions:

1. Place broccoli on bottom of crock pot

2. Add chicken

3. Add butter, garlic, salt and pepper, and bouillon

4. Add onions

5. Sprinkle ¼ cup mozzarella

6. Sprinkle bread crumbs

7. Add water, milk, and sherry

8. Cook on low 7 hours, or high 5

9. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella

10. Cook an additional 30 minutes with the lid off

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Adapted from: Slow Cooker Adventures

Chili Verde

Yesterday was the Sunday that all couch coaching men wait all year for.

The men in my life are no different.
We ate too much, yelled at the TV too much, socialized with one another and just had a good time.

And then we had a panic inducing time. That score got way out of hand there for awhile. Whew!

Then the night ended like this.

And champagne
And screaming
And hugging
And the greatest SB Comeback of all time!!!

I am sure hubby will spend today watching replays.



Ingredients:

4 Pork Steaks

1 Onion (chopped)

5 Tbsp Flour

4 Cups water

½ Tsp Garlic

½ Tsp Oregano

⅔ Tsp Ground Cumin

14 oz Whole green chilies

Directions:

1. Trim fat off pork and cut meat into bite sized pieces.

2. Cook meat until well done

3. Remove meat and cook onion until tender. Remove onion.

4. Make gravy with pan dripping, flour, and water

5. Chop green chilies

6. Return meat and onion to gravy

7. Add all other ingredients. Simmer.

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Adapted from: Moms Who Think

Come party with me HERE!

Down Home Macaroni and Cheese

We love macaroni and cheese in this house.
There is always some of the boxed stuff in my cabinet, but whenever possible I make my homemade kind.

On that note, I have (over the years) collected quite the volume of mac and cheese recipes, so I have stared trying them out one at a time.

I figured this basic Velveeta recipe would be a good place to start.

Ingredients:

1/4 Cup butter, divided

1/4 Cup flour

1 Cup milk

8 Oz Velveeta, cubed

2 Cups elbow macaroni, cooked

1/2 Cup shredded cheddar cheese

6 Crackers, crushed

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350

2. Melt 3 tbsp butter in medium saucepan

3. Whisk in flour and cook 2 minutes

4. Gradually stir in milk

5. Bring to a boil, cook and stir 3-5 minutes or until thickened

6. Add Velveeta, and stir until melted

7. Stir in macaroni

8. Spoon into 2 qt casserole dish

9. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese

10. Melt remaining butter, toss with cracker crumbs, and sprinkle over casserole

11. Bake 20 minutes or until heated thru

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I used Rotini to really "grab" the cheese

This recipe was shared at: Flour me with Love, The Chicken Chick, Uncommon Designs, This Gal Cooks, Six Sisters Stuff, Inside Bru Crew Life, Jam Hands, Chef in Training, Mandy's Recipe Box, The Craftiest Allie, Our Table for Seven, Pint Sized Baker, Future ExPat, and Tumbleweed Contessa

Pesto Pasta Salad

I had some chicken that had to be used up. You know the kind...it sits in the fridge, and you wonder why you got it. Did you have a plan you maybe forgot about...maybe it was just on sale. Who knows.

I was just going to cook it up with assorted seasonings, nothing special.
BUT...we needed some carb to go with it.
This recipe came from an old Tastefully Simple cookbook I had, and I adapted it as I didn't have all the required seasonings. (some you can't even get anymore)

Maybe I will try it again, and fudge around with the seasonings some.
We were not in love with this. We all ate it, but nobody wanted to save the leftovers.

Once again, I am just suggesting that everyone has different tastes. Try it, it might be a new fave in your house!

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup pesto mix

1/3 Cup garlic infused olive oil

(or olive oil with 1/2 tsp garlic powder mixed in)

14.5 Oz can diced tomato with juice

8 Oz prepared, chilled, penne pasta

14 Oz can drained, chopped artichoke hearts

8 Oz cubed havarti or monterey jack cheese

4 Oz diced pepperoni

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Combine first 2 ingredients, stir to blend

2. Combine remaining ingredients in large bowl, stir in pesto mixture

3. Chill until served

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Ingredients...You can't read the label, but on the left is the Dried Tomato and Garlic Pesto mix from Tastefully Simple

This recipe was shared on: The Lady Behind the Curtain, Buns in my Oven, Sugar and Dots, White Lights on Wednesday, Lamberts Lately, Saving for Six, What's Cooking Love, Embracing Change, and The Tasty Fork

Cheesy Potato Soup

This blog started as a list of all recipes I have tried and liked.
Um, hence the name "tried and true"....

But this is also my online diary of recipes. I think it would be important to remember which ones weren't quite my favorite...if nothing else, so I don't gather the same recipe again!

Hubby and the girl child ate this..they said it wasn't bad. Me, I ate two bites. Just wasn't feeling it.

I know, makes you want to run out and get the ingredients, huh?
But seriously, everyone has different tastes...you might find it fantastic!

Ingredients:
1 Bag (32oz) frozen southern style diced hash browns
½ Cup frozen chopped onion
1 Medium stalk celery (diced)
1 Carton (32oz) chicken broth
1 Cup water
2 Tbsp all purpose flour
1 Cup milk
1 Bag (8oz) shredded cheddar cheese
4 Medium green onions (sliced)

Optional: ¼ Cup real bacon pieces

Directions:
1. In slow cooker,mix potato, onion, celery, broth and water
2. Cover, cook on low heat for 6-8 hours
3. In small bowl, mix flour into milk; stir into potato mixture
4. Increase heat setting to high for 30 minutes or until mixture thickens
5. Garnish with green onions and optional bacon bits

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