7up Chicken and Rice (Slow Cooker)

Two very wonderful things about this recipe: 5 ingredients (that I normally have around my house anyway) and it is ridiculously easy. Bam. That is awesome. The only thing I have to say about this is it was just a tad bland for me. But this is highly likely due to the fact that I had to use gluten free cream of chicken soup and that tends to be a bit more bland than the regular stuff. So maybe yours will taste just fine! There is nothing super special about this recipe, it is extremely basic, but sometimes that's just what you are looking for. Especially if you are running low on time and need something to just quickly throw together.

Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Recipe:
(Recipe from Celebrating Home Magazine)

3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I used 4)
10.5 oz. can of cream of chicken soup
12 oz. can of 7UP or lemon lime soda
1 c. rice (Minute Rice is best)
1/4 c. chicken broth


Place chicken breasts in the bottom of your slow cooker. Cover with soup and 7UP. Cover and cook for 2-3 hours on low. Add rice and chicken broth and cook for 2-3 more hours until chicken is cooked through.


Gluten free: use GF cream of chicken soup.

*Recipe and photo found on sixsistersstuff.com* I highly recommend this site! Love their stuff! :)

Corn and Zucchini Melody

Only tried one new recipe this past week, and this was it. But it was a hit! I took it to a family birthday party and I got non-stop compliments on how pretty and tasty it was! I definitely recommend it. (And did I mention how easy? Took like 25 min. total.) I doubled it for the get-together, and by the time I went home, it was gone! It was fresh with just a hint of richness from the delicious bacon and cheese. It can only get better during the summer when everyone has their veggie gardens going! We ate this side dish with marinated flank steak and rice pilaf. Perfecto!

Ingredients
4 slices bacon
2 cups chopped zucchini
1 1/2 cups fresh corn kernels
1 small onion, chopped
1 pinch pepper
1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions
Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Reserve 1 tablespoon of drippings. Drain bacon, chop, and set aside.
Heat the bacon drippings in the skillet over medium heat. Saute the zucchini, corn, and onion until tender but still crisp, about 10 minutes. Season with pepper. Spoon vegetables into a bowl, and sprinkle with chopped bacon and shredded cheese.

This recipe is gluten free friendly! Wahoo!

*This recipe was found on allrecipes.com*

Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

Soups are so great during cold weather, aren't they? Me and my husband enjoyed this wonderful split pea (and ham) soup this past weekend and it was great....and beyond easy too. I couldn't get my hands on a meaty ham bone, so I ended up using 2 ham hocks AND 2 cups of diced ham. I like to actually have ham in my split pea soup, not just the delicious flavor- so I did both. I omitted the celery, of course, because I don't care for it and added just a tad more garlic. Threw it all in the crock pot and I was done! Love it. I definitely recommend this one and will be making it again in the future.

Ingredients
1 (16-oz) package dried green split peas, rinsed
1 meaty ham bone, 2 ham hocks or 2 cups diced ham
1 cup sliced baby carrots
1 cup chopped yellow onion
2 ribs celery plus leaves, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
6 cups chicken broth

Directions
Layer ingredients in slow cooker in the order given, adding the broth last. Do not stir ingredients. Cover and cook on high 4—5 hours or on low 8—10 hours until peas are very soft and ham falls off the bone.



This recipe is gluten free! Wahoo!

*Recipe and photo found on wholefoodsmarket.com*