Hot Artichoke Parmesan Dip

Hot Artichoke Parmesan Dip

5 minutes to prep, 15 minutes to bake, and you have a fantastic New Year's Eve treat to serve to your friends! Yummy!

Ingredients

- 1 cup Miracle Whip dressing
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 can (398 mL) artichoke hearts, drained & coarsely chopped
- 2 green onions, chopped

Directions

- preheat oven to 350F
- mix all ingredients together in large bowl
- spoon mixture into 9-inch pie plate
- bake 15 minutes or until hot and bubbly

*Serve with nacho chips, bread or pita squares

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Holiday Smile :)

Holiday Smile

Saw this on my Facebook News Feed this morning and laughed right out loud!

Enjoy!

Chunky Pizza Soup

Chunky Pizza Soup

This one is from the archives!  My mom used to make this when we were kids.  Sounds like a perfect comfort food dinner for a cold night in!

Ingredients

- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 large can plum tomatoes, undrained
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/2 tbsp basil
- 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
- 1/4 cup slivered green peppers
- 1 cup thinly sliced pepperoni
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella

Directions

- in large skillet, stir fry onions, mushrooms & peppers in oil until soft
- add remaining ingredients (except cheese) and cook til heated through
- divide mixture into 4 oven-proof bowls
- sprinkle with mozzarella cheese
- broil until cheese is melted and bubbly *Quick Tip - you can also microwave on HIGH until cheese melts

*Serves 4.

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Two-Step Mozzarella Chicken

Two-Step Mozzarella Chicken

I used to make this "back in the day" and just came across the recipe again this morning in my box of tricks.  It is super easy and done in less than 20 minutes.  Pair it with a salad or vegetable side and voila.......dinner!

Ingredients

- 1 tbsp cooking oil (I use extra virgin olive oil)
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
- 1 can condensed tomato soup
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

- brown chicken breasts in hot oil in skillet
- in small bowl, combine condensed tomato soup and oregano
- add soup/oregano mixture to skillet
- simmer, covered, until chicken is cooked through
- sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and serve

*Serves 4.

Enjoy!

~ The LazyGourmet

Hot Mulled Cider

Hot Mulled Cider

I have this going in my Crock Pot every year on Christmas morning so everyone can stay warm and toasty while we open gifts.  The alcohol is optional, of course, if you are serving children.  Although if you need it to handle the in-laws then you can always add it to your own mug later! <wink>

Ingredients

- 2 litres apple cider
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp balsamic or cider vinegar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 3 cinnamon sticks (or more if you really like cinnamon)
- 6 whole cloves (personally I skip these)
- 1/2 cup bourbon *Alcohol is optional

Instructions

- combine all ingredients in Crock Pot
- cover and cook on LOW 5 to 6 hours *Quick Tip - I put this mixture on LOW at about 6AM on Christmas morning and by the time guests are arriving around 8AM it is heated thru and ready to serve. I leave the Crock Pot on LOW all morning to keep it warm
- discard cloves before serving

*Serving tip - I put a container of cinnamon sticks on my counter next to the Crock Pot so guests can put one in their cider as a stir stick for added festive flavour.

*Makes 16 servings

Enjoy!

` The Lazy Gourmet

Turkey Vegetable Chili Mac

Crock Pot Turkey Vegetable Chili Mac

Have to admit that I am not generally a fan of chili, but this sounds sooooooo good I will have to give it a try!

Ingredients

- 3/4 pound ground turkey breast
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can (15 oz) Mexican-style stewed tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can (15 oz) no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (or garlic powder equivalent)
- 1 tsp Mexican seasoning
- 1/2 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1/3 cup sour cream

Directions

- brown turkey in skillet on stovetop *Have to admit I never pre-cook CrockPot meat, but that's just lazy me!
- combine turkey, beans, tomatoes, corn, onion, garlic and seasoning in Crock Pot
- cover and cook on LOW 4 to 5 hours
- stir in macaroni
- cover and cook on LOW 10 minutes & then stir mixture thoroughly
- cover and cook 20 to 30 minutes or until pasta is tender
- serve with a dollop of sour cream on top

*Makes 6 hearty servings.

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Ravioli Bake

Ravioli Bake

Was looking for something to keep us warm this week as winter rears it's ugly head! Brrrr......  This is a wonderful winter comfort food.

Ingredients

- 2 pkgs fresh ravioli *Frugal Tip - since frozen ravioli is easier on the budget, I buy frozen and just boil for a few minutes before putting the casserole together
- 1 jar pasta sauce
- 1 can stewed tomatoes
- 1 can beef broth
- 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
- 1 can tomato paste
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese (or more if you are cheese addicts like us!)

Directions

- preheat oven to 350F
- combine pasta sauce, stewed tomatoes, beef broth, tomato paste and Italian dressing in large bowl
- place ravioli in large (lightly greased) casserole dish and pour mixture over pasta
- sprinkle cheese over entire casserole
- bake at 350F for 45 minutes or until pasta is tender and cheese is melted

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Christmas Morning Casserole

Christmas Morning Casserole

I have prepared this casserole on Christmas Eve for the past 5 years and then let it bake in the morning while we open gifts.  It is very easy to prepare and can make a great mid-week dinner too.

Ingredients

*NOTE - this casserole must chill either overnight or for several hours before baking. 

- 10 to 12 slices of bread (brown is best)
- 3 to 4 tbsp Dijon or Honey Mustard (whichever you prefer)
- 1 1/2 cups chopped ham, bacon or turkey (I have even super-short-cut this & used bacon bits!)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 5 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- salt & pepper
- 1/4 cup butter or margerine
- 2 cups Rice Krispies

Directions:

- butter 4-6 pieces of bread (enough to cover bottom of your dish) and place BUTTERED SIDE DOWN in a large rectangular casserole dish
- spread "upper" side of bread with mustard
- create another "layer" using your ham/bacon/turkey
- create another "layer" using your shredded cheese
- create the top "layer" using the rest of your bread - BUTTERED SIDE UP
- in large bowl whisk together eggs, milk & dash of salt & pepper
- pour mixture evenly over casserole
*Cover and chill overnight or for several hours before baking*

When ready to bake:
- melt 1/4 cup butter or margerine & add 2 cups Rice Krispies
- spread mixture over casserole
- bake at 350F for approx 45 minutes

*Festive Note - if you are making this for Christmas morning and have kids in your midst, using the red & green Holiday Rice Krispies on top makes it look a little more festive without affecting the taste.

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Pork Roast in Red Pepper Jelly Sauce

Pork Roast in Red Pepper Jelly Sauce

Just received this submission today from my friend Shannon in Waterloo who is trying it tonight.  We look forward to her family's review! :)

Ingredients

- 5 potatoes, cubed *Quick Tip - sweet potatoes can be used instead if you prefer
- 3-pound pork loin roast, boneless
- 1/2 cup red pepper jelly
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 onion, cut into rings
- 1 red pepper, slivered

Directions

- place potatoes in Crock Pot and set pork roast on top
- in a bowl, combine red pepper jelly, soy sauce, ginger, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper
- pour mixture over pork roast
- sprinkle onion rings and red pepper slivers on top of pork roast
- cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours, or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours

*Serves 6.

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Parmesan Confetti Dip

Parmesan Confetti Dip

This recipe was just submitted and sounds like a fabulous addition to a holiday party or mellow night in with friends.  6 ingredients and NO BAKING!  Perfect!

Ingredients

- 1/2 cup Miracle Whip dressing
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (the kind from the Kraft jar is apparently just fine for this recipe)
- 1/2 cup finely chopped red pepper
- 1/2 cup finely chopped green pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Directions

- combine all ingredients above
- cover & refrigerate until ready to serve

*Can be served with nacho chips, pita squares or bread.

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Crock Pot Party Mix

Crock Pot Party Mix

This was just sent to me via Facebook.  What an amazing idea for a holiday party!  Prepare and serve right from your Crock Pot!

Ingredients - Cereal Mix

- enough of your favorite cereal, pretzels and nuts to fill Crock Pot 3/4 full

Ingredients - Seasoning Mix

- 1/4 cup butter or margarine
- 4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp sugar

Directions

- melt butter/margarine on stove top over low heat
- add all other ingredients from "Seasoning Mix" list above
- dissolve all over low heat and stir
- fill Crock Pot 3/4 full with cereal/pretzel/nut mixture
- pour Seasoning Mix over Cereal Mix
- cook on LOW for 2.5 hours
- open lid and stir every 30 minutes

*This great party snack can be served right from your Crock Pot once cook time has been completed.  Fun!

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Spinach & Sun Dried Tomato Rice

Spinach & Sun Dried Tomato Rice

This was just submitted by an old college friend.  It can be made on the stovetop or as a casserole.  Directions for both methods are included below.

Ingredients

- 2 tbsp butter or margarine
- 1 cup chopped onion (optional)
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups converted rice, dry (Uncle Ben's has been recommended)
- 6 cups milk
- 10 oz pkg (300g) frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
- 1/2 cup sliced sun dried tomatoes in oil, drained
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions - STOVETOP METHOD

- in large pot melt butter over medium heat
- add onion and garlic and cook 4 minutes or until softened, stirring regularly
- add rice and milk
- bring mixture to a boil
- stir in spinach, sun dried tomatoes and 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- cover and simmer for 20 minutes
- sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese before serving

Directions - OVEN BAKE METHOD (Apparently best this way)

- preheat oven to 350F
- lightly grease 9" x 13" glass pan
- in large pot melt butter over medium heat
- add onion and garlic and cook 4 minutes or until softened, stirring regularly
- add rice and milk
- bring mixture to a boil
- stir in spinach, sun dried tomatoes and 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- pour into prepared glass pan & sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese
- bake for 30 minutes until rice is tender and casserole is lightly browned
- let stand 5 minutes before serving

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 20 to 30 minutes (depending on method)
Servings: 12

Enjoy!
~ The Lazy Gourmet

Creamy Crock Pot Corn

Creamy Crock Pot Corn

I have to admit that I have not yet tried this recipe but it sounds super yummy and super EASY so it is on my list of things to try this week.  It appears to serve 6 so if you are making this for a large crowd I would recommend doubling the entire recipe. Enjoy!

**UPDATE - I tried this last night and it was really good! My son is not a fan of the texture of frozen corn so I may try the canned niblets next time, but overall it was very good and could not have been easier! :)

Ingredients

- 4 cups (approx 1 large bag) frozen corn
- 1 cup of brick cream cheese, cubed (I'm going to use regular creamy cream cheese when I try it)
- 1/3 cup butter or margarine
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper

Directions

- combine all ingredients in Crock Pot
- cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours or until heated through and cream cheese is melted
- stir well before serving

*Makes 6 servings.

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Sweet Orange Baby Carrots

Sweet Orange Baby Carrots

This is a great side dish for holiday meals and it's super sweet so the kids always love it! I also sometimes do it as a mid-week side to chicken nuggets. Classy, I know! :P

Ingredients

*NOTE - the recipe as stated below will serve approx 4 people. If you are serving a larger crowd you will need to double or triple the recipe accordingly.

- 1 small bag of baby carrots
- 1 cup orange juice
- 2 tbsp brown sugar

Directions

- bring pot of water to rolling boil on stove top
- add carrots to boiling water and continue to boil for 10 to 15 min or until carrots have softened to your liking
- drain water and return carrots to stove
- with burner on significantly lower heat (3 or 4 tops) add orange juice and brown sugar to carrots
- combine all and continue to simmer on LOW heat for a further 10 to 15 min

*NOTE - the juice and sugar will not thicken into a sauce, but the flavour will soak into the carrots as you boil the mixture. Best served with a slotted spoon to avoid a soupy plate. :)

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce! Mmmmm.......

Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce

With the exception of my Grandmother's "old school" recipe, this is the BEST spaghetti sauce recipe I have come across.  The brown sugar may be the secret ingredient!

Ingredients

- 1 lb ground beef or bulk Italian sausage (I've only ever used ground beef)
- 1 medium onion, chopped (I skip this)
- 1 large can of stewed tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce *Quick Tip - just buy the cheap 99 cent sauce since you can add your own spices to this recipe
- 1 small can of tomato paste
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp dried basil
- 2 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt

Directions

- add all ingredients (with meat at the bottom) to the Crock Pot
- cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours
*Quick Tip - I use a wooden spoon to break up the beef after it's been cooking a few hours, just to distribute the flavour of the meat through the sauce
- discard bay leaf
- serve over hot, cooked spaghetti

*Makes 6-8 hearty servings.

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Jambalaya

Jambalaya

Just found this one again in my recipe box. I used to make this all the time and we loved it! This is a great recipe for leftover ham.  Guess I better get some ham and bust this one out again this week. :)

Ingredients

- 2 cups diced, cooked ham
- 2 medium onions, coarsely chopped
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 1/2 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 large can of whole stewed tomatoes
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
- 1 tbsp parsley
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain converted rice
- 1 lb fresh or frozen shrimp, shelled and deveined (*Shrimp is optional and I do it without*)

Directions

- thoroughly combine all ingredients (except shrimp) in Crock Pot
- cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours
- 1 hour before serving, turn Crock Pot to HIGH & stir in uncooked shrimp*
- cover and continue to cook on HIGH until shrimp are pink & tender*

*Skip last 2 steps if you are omitting shrimp.

Makes 6 hearty servings and is fabulous for school lunches the following day.

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Crock Pot Veggie & Beef Pasta

Crock Pot Veggie & Beef Pasta

Just tried this for the first time last night and it was fabulous!!  And super easy!!

Ingredients

- 2 cups frozen veggies (I used California Mix of broccoli, cauliflower & carrots)
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 can stewed tomatoes, undrained
- 3/4 cup beef broth
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small can tomato paste
- 2 cups cooked rotini pasta (approx. 1/2 a bag)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (in my opinion, MORE is BETTER when it comes to cheese so I used 1 1/2 cups)

Directions

- combine veggies, onion, basil, oregano, thyme tomatoes & beef broth in slow cooker
- cover and cook on LOW for 2 1/2 hours
- add ground beef and garlic to slow cooker
- cook an additional 2 hours (or more) on LOW
- cook rotini on stovetop
- add pasta, tomato paste & cheese to slow cooker and cook 30 min or until heated through

*Recipe says makes 4 servings but we had it for dinner last night & lunch today and I probably still have 4 servings left over!

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Ranchero Macaroni

Ranchero Macaroni

Wow, it's been awhile! This recipe is an oldie but a goodie!  Haven't made it in awhile and decided to throw it in the oven tonight. Super easy and super yummy!

DISCLAIMER: NOT low fat. NOT low sodium. DEFINITELY yummy! :)

Ingredients:

- 1 can condensed Cream of Chicken soup
- 1 cup milk
- 6 cups hot cooked elbow macaroni (approx 3 cups dry)
- 3 cups shredded Cheddar OR Monteray Jack cheese (I use waaaay more!)
- 1 cup salsa (again, I use way more! Like 1/2 the big jar!)
- 1 cup crushed tortilla chips

Directions:

- in large bowl, combine soup & milk
- stir in cooked macaroni, cheese & salsa (to save dishes I sometimes do all this in the casserole dish)
- spoon mixture into 3 quart baking dish
- bake at 400F for 20 minutes
- remove from oven and stir
- sprinkle chips over macaroni mixture
- bake 5 more minutes or until hot & bubbling

*Makes approx 8 main dish servings. FAB for freezing or leftovers for lunches.

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet