Pumpkin-Streusel Slab Pie

Ingredients

1 box  refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box

1 can (30 oz) pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

1 1/4 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 roll (16.5-oz size)  refrigerated sugar cookie dough 

1 cup quick-cooking oats

Steps

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Unroll pie crusts from 1 box  refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box, and layer them on top of each other. Roll out into a rectangle large enough to cover 17x12-inch rimmed cookie sheet; press into cookie sheet, pressing into corners.
• In large bowl, mix 1 can (30 oz) pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix), 1 1/4 cups sugar, 4 eggs, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Spread evenly in crust. Bake 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix 1/2 roll (16.5-oz size)  refrigerated sugar cookie dough, 1 cup quick-cooking oats, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt to make streusel topping.
• Sprinkle streusel topping over pie, and bake about 30 minutes longer or until filling is set and streusel is lightly browned. Cool; cut into rectangles.

Crock Pot -Chicken Tortilla Soup

Ingredients

• 1 lb shredded cooked chicken
• 1 (15 ounce) cans whole canned tomatoes, mashed
• 1 (10 ounce) cans enchilada sauce
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 (4 ounce) cans chopped green chili peppers
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup water
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 (10 ounce) packages frozen corn
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

1. Place chicken, tomatoes, enchilada sauce, onion, green chilies, and garlic into a slow cooker.
2. Pour in water and chicken broth.
3. Season with cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, and bay leaf.
4. Stir in corn and cilantro.
5. Cover, and cook on Low setting for 6 to 8 hours or on High setting for 3 to 4 hours.
6. Garnish with fresh tortilla strips or tortilla chips.

Apple Slab Pie

Ingredients

Pie

1 box  refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box

1/2 cup sugar

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons apple pie spice or ground cinnamon

9 cups thinly sliced peeled apples (9 medium)

Streusel

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup cold butter, cut into small pieces

Steps

• Heat oven to 425°F. Remove pie crusts from pouches. On lightly floured surface, unroll and stack crusts one on top of the other. Roll to 17x12-inch rectangle.
• Fit crust into ungreased 15x10x1-inch pan, pressing into corners. Fold extra crust even with edges of pan.
• In large bowl, mix 1/2 cup sugar, 3 tablespoons flour and apple pie spice. Stir in apples to coat. Spoon apple mixture into crust-lined pan.
• In medium bowl, mix Streusel ingredients, cutting in butter with fork or pastry blender until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over apples.
• Bake 33 to 38 minutes or until crust is golden brown, filling is bubbling and streusel is browned. Cool on cooling rack 45 minutes before serving.

Slow-Cooker Chicken Adobo

Ingredients

8 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs (3 1/2 to 4 lb total)

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar

3 tablespoons soy sauce

10 to 12 garlic cloves, peeled (about 1 whole head)

1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns

2 bay leaves

Cooked white rice, if desired

Steps

• Spray 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Heat nonstick 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat; season chicken thighs with salt. Add half of the chicken thighs in single layer to skillet, and cook 8 to 10 minutes or until brown on both sides; transfer to slow cooker. Repeat with remaining chicken thighs.
• Add vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, peppercorns and bay leaves to slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low heat setting 3 1/2 to 4 hours or until juice of chicken is clear when thickest part is cut to bone (at least 165°F).
• Before serving, remove chicken to serving platter; pour liquid from slow cooker through strainer, discarding peppercorns and bay leaves. Serve chicken and garlic with cooked white rice and some of the strained sauce.

5-Ingredient Crescent Cheesy Bread

Ingredients

2 cups shredded pizza cheese blend (8 oz)

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 can (8 oz)  refrigerated crescent dough sheet or 1 can (8 oz)  refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

Marinara sauce, if desired

Steps

• Heat oven to 375°F. Line large cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper. In medium bowl, mix 1 cup of the pizza cheese, the Parmesan cheese, garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Set aside.
• If using dough sheet: Unroll dough. Place on cookie sheet. Press to form 14x9-inch rectangle. If using crescent rolls: Unroll dough into 2 long rectangles. Place on cookie sheet. Overlap long sides to form 14x9-inch rectangle. Firmly press edges and perforations to seal.
• Sprinkle bottom half of dough with remaining 1 cup pizza cheese.
• Fold dough in half lengthwise to enclose cheese, pressing to seal on bottom and sides.
• Using serrated knife, cut almost completely through dough into 8 pieces. Sprinkle with seasoned cheese mixture.
• Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until deep golden brown on edges. Cool 5 minutes. Serve with marinara sauce.

2-Ingredient Apple Pie Cups

Ingredients

1 can (13 oz)  refrigerated flaky cinnamon rolls with buttercream icing

1 1/3 cups more fruit apple pie filling (from 21-oz can), coarsely chopped

Steps

• Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 8 regular-size muffin cups with cooking spray. Set icing aside. Separate dough into 8 rolls. Press into and up sides of muffin cups.
• Spoon 2 generous tablespoons pie filling into each dough-lined cup.
• Bake 14 to 18 minutes or until golden brown; cool in pan 5 minutes.
• Transfer icing to small microwavable bowl. Microwave uncovered on Low (10%) 8 to 10 seconds or until thin enough to drizzle. Place rolls on serving plate; spoon icing over rolls. Serve warm.

One Pan Mongolian Beef Zoodles

Ingredients

• 8 ounces flank steaks, sliced against the grain into 1/4-inch thick slices
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• salt and black pepper, to taste

Sauce

• 2/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
• 1/3 cup hoisin sauce
• 1/3 cup Thai sweet chili sauce
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 cup pineapple chunk
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced carrot
• 4 medium zucchini, cut into noodles

Optional Garnish

• green onion, sliced thinly
• sesame seeds

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine steak with salt, pepper, sesame oil and cornstarch. Allow to marinate for 30 minutes.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the sauce and set aside.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in a large skillet / saute pan on medium high heat until pan starts to get smoky. Add beef and allow to sear and cook until brown on all sides, about 1-2 minutes. Transfer onto a plate.

4. Return pan to heat. Add pineapples and cook until slightly browned and softened, around 5 minutes, Toss in carrots and beef then give the sauce a good stir then pour into pan, coating the ingredients on all sides.
5. *If cooking the zucchini noodles, add into pan and use tongs to toss and coat with sauce. Cook for 1-2 minutes until zucchini is just tender but still firm. Be careful not to overcook.
6. Serve immediately and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds if desired.
7. Notes.
8. *do not overcook for longer than 2 minutes or else noodles will get too soft and mushy. You can also serve the beef over raw zucchini noodles if desired.

Lemon Chicken Milanese

Ingredients

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded thin
• salt and pepper
• 2/3 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/3 cup parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 8 lemon wedges
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

Directions

1. Season chicken with salt and pepper and set aside. Combine breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste.
2. Pour flour onto a plate and set aside. Do the same with eggs and then with breadcrumb mixture.
3. Dredge chicken in flour and tap away excess. Dip chicken into egg. Cover chicken with breadcrumbs and press them inches
4. Heat oil in frying pan. Fry chicken on the first side for about 2 minutes, flip and fry for another 2 minutes. Repeat until chicken is browned and cooked through. If you've pounded the chicken thin enough, cooking time is greatly reduced.
5. Once chicken is cooked, place on a paper towel-lined plate in order to absorb excess oil.
6. Serve with a squeeze of lemon and additional lemon wedges.

DID YOU KNOW

1. Your shoes are the first thing people subconsciously notice about you. Wear nice shoes.
2. If you sit for more than 11 hours a day, there's a 50% chance you'll die within the next 3 years
3. There are at least 6 people in the world who look exactly like you. There's a 9% chance that you'll meet one of them in your lifetime.
4. Sleeping without a pillow reduces back pain and keeps your spine stronger.
5. A person's height is determined by their father, and their weight is determined by their mother.
6. If a part of your body "falls asleep",you can almost always "wake it up" by shaking your head.
7. There are three things the human brain cannot resist noticing -food, attractive people and danger
8. Right-handed people tend to chew food on their right side
9. Putting dry tea bags in gym bags or smelly shoes will absorb the unpleasant odor.
10. According to albert einstein, if honey bees were to disappear from earth, humans would be dead within 4 years.
11. There are so many kinds of apples, that if you ate a new one everyday, it would take over 20 years to try them all.
12. You can survive without eating for weeks, but you will only live 11 days without sleeping.
13. People who laugh a lot are healthier than those who don't.
14. Laziness and inactivity kills just as many people as smoking.
15. A human brain has a capacity to store 5 times as much information as wikipedia
16. Our brain uses the same amount of power as a 10-watt light bulb!!
17. Our body gives enough heat in 30 mins to boil 1.5 liters of water!!
18. The ovum egg is the largest cell and the sperm is the smallest cell!!
19. Stomach acid (conc. Hcl) is strong enough to dissolve razor blades!!
20. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day & while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate antidepressant.
21. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
22. When you wake up in the morning, pray to ask god's guidance for your purpose today.
23. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
24. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, broccoli, and almonds.
25. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
26. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
27. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
28. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
29. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Forgive them for everything!
30. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
31. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
32. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
33. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
34. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
35. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'in five years, will this matter?'
36. Help the needy! Be generous! Be a 'giver' not a 'taker'
37. What other people think of you is none of your business.
38. Time heals everything.
39. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
40. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. Each night before you go to bed, pray to god and be thankful for what you'll accomplish, today !
43. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

Cheesy Chicken and Sweet Potato Casserole

Ingredients

3 lb sweet potatoes

1/3 cup butter

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

3 cups half-and-half

8 oz Gruyère or Swiss cheese, shredded (2 cups)

3 cups fresh kale, coarsely chopped

2 cups shredded cooked chicken

Steps

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
• Pierce sweet potatoes with fork; place on cookie sheet. Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until potatoes can be easily pierced with a knife. Cool 20 minutes. Peel potatoes; cut each into 1/4-inch slices.
• Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour, salt and pepper using whisk. Cook until smooth and bubbly, stirring frequently. Gradually stir in half-and-half, stirring frequently, 5 to 7 minutes or until slightly thickened. Stir in 1 cup of the cheese.
• In large bowl, toss potatoes, half-and-half mixture, kale and chicken until well coated. Spoon into baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated and cheese is melted. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Bacon Jam

Ingredients

• 1 lb smoked bacon, sliced into small pieces ( or use regular bacon and liquid smoke)
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 medium brown onion, sliced
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• Tabasco sauce ( according to taste and optional)
• 1 cup brewed coffee
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• black pepper
• extra water

Directions

1. In a non stick pan, fry the bacon in batches until lightly browned and beginning to crisp.
2. Fry the onion and garlic in the rendered bacon fat on medium heat until translucent.
3. Transfer the bacon, onion and garlic into a heavy based cast iron pot and add the rest of the ingredients except for the water.
4. Simmer for 2 hours adding 1/4 of a cup of water every 25-30 minutes or so and stirring.
5. When ready, cool for about 15-20 minutes and then place in a food processor. Pulse for 2-3 seconds so that you leave some texture to the “jam” or of course you could keep whizzing and make it a smoother and more paste like.
6. Serve on your favorite burger, grilled cheese, as an appetizer on crusty bread.
7. The possibilities are endless.
8. Enjoy.