Simple Suppers (Easy Recipes for a New Cooks

Cheesy Chicken Crescents

Angela Duell

This recipe is from a church cookbook given to me by a sorority sister from college. Both my husband and son LOVE this dish. It has been made MANY times at my home!

Prep/Cook Time: 20 minutes to prep and 20 to 25 mintues to bake.

Ingredients:

1 pound cooked boneless chicken breasts or tenders, cut into pieces 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1 can Pillsbury crescent rolls 1 can Campbell’s Cream of Chicken Soup 1 cup of milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly coat a 9 X 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Mix cooked chicken and 2 to 3 tablespoons of cheese. Separate crescent rolls. Place 2 tablespoons of chicken and cheese mixture on the wide end of the crescent and roll up. Prepare the remaining crescent rolls in the same way. Place them in the prepared baking dish. If there is any remaining chicken, it can be scattered between the crescent rolls in the baking dish. In a saucepan, mix the cream of chicken soup, milk, and 1/4 cup of the cheddar cheese. Heat until the cheese melts. Pour the soup over the crescent rolls in the baking dish. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the crescent rolls are browned on top. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and bake for about 5 more minutes. Serves 3 to 4.

Chicken Parmesan Pizza

Angela Duell

Prep/Cook Time: Prep: 10 minutes. Bake: 16 to 20 minutes.

Ingredients:

1 loaf (10 oz.) Pepperidge Farm frozen garlic bread 1 1/2 cup pizza sauce (DelGrosso Old Style or your choice) 12 count Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets 1 1/2 cup (6 ounces) shredded Italian cheese blend Chopped fresh basil or dried basil seasoning

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place the garlic bread, buttered sides up, on a baking sheet. Bake the bread for 8 to 10 minutes or until the bread is lightly browned. Spread the pizza sauce on the garlic bread. The pizza sauce can also be warmed before spreading on the garlic bread, if you prefer. Cut each Chick-Fil-A chicken nugget into 4 or 5 pieces. After all 12 chicken nuggets are cut, place all of the chicken pieces on top of the pizza sauce. Sprinkle with the shredded Italian cheese blend. Sprinkle the chopped fresh basil or dried basil seasoning on the cheese. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese melts. Serves 3-4.

Chicken Spaghetti Soup

Carol Sullivan Campbellsville, Kentucky

This is a family and friends favorite that is always requested specially for UK game watching gatherings!

Prep/Cook Time: 2 hours

Ingredients:

2 (2.5 pounds) chicken breasts 1 box spaghetti, cooked according to package directions 2 cans cream of chicken 2 cans cream of mushroom 2 cans Ro-tel tomatoes 2 pounds Velveeta cheese Chicken broth, amount depends on consistency you want soup

Directions:

In a large pot add all ingredients and cook on low until cheese is melted. Add cooked chicken and shred chicken. Stir often and add more chicken broth as needed to gain desired consistency.

Chuck Wagon Dinner

Mirissa Dunne

We made this on one of our first camping trips and discovered it’s perfect for when you want something easy to prepare, delicious, and warming. A tradition was born and we make it on every camping trip. Everyone we have camped with has loved it too.

Prep/Cook Time: 15 minutes prep, 30 minutes cook time

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds ground beef or turkey 1 onion, diced 1 can kidney beans, drained 1 can black beans, drained 1 can pinto beans, drained 1 1/2 cups frozen corn 3 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce 3 cups beef broth or water 2 cups uncooked small shells or macaroni 1 teaspoon each chili powder, oregano, and basil 1-2 cups shredded cheddar jack cheese salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Brown the ground beef and onion in a dutch oven or large pot. Stir in thezrest of the ingredients, except the cheese. Cover and cook for 25-30 minutes or until the pasta is tender, stirring occasionally and adding more water as needed. When done, sprinkle with cheese and cover until cheese is melted. Serves 8-12

Can also be made in a dutch oven while camping. Prepare coals (17-22 total), Cooking time is the same.

Simple Suppers

Easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Debbie Adkins Pikeville, Kentucky

This recipe was the first recipe I made from “scratch” when I was a teen. It is easy to make and delicious. I have made it many times over the years and it is a family favorite.

Prep/Cook Time: 10 minutes to prep, 15 mintues to cook.

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef 1 tablespoon dry minced onion 3 drops hot sauce 1/2 teaspoon chili powder 1 tablespoon oregano 1 bay leaf 1/2 teaspoon celery seed 1 small can mushrooms (optional) 1/8 teaspoon garlic salt 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons ketchup 2 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce Salt and pepper

Directions:

Read the recipe all the way through before you start. Brown ground beef, add onion, and sauté; add salt and pepper to taste. Drain grease. Add remaining ingredients to the meat and onions and mix well. Simmer about 10 minutes. Serve with spaghetti noodles or pasta of your choice.

Simple Suppers

Italian Sausage Bread

Prep/Cook Time: 4-5 hours Cheri Hughes

Ingredients:

1 pound Italian sausage 2 eggs 1 loaf frozen bread dough 2 teaspoons garlic powder 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese (more if you’d like)

Directions:

Spray the sides and bottom of a loaf pan with a nonstick cooking spray; add the frozen bread dough. Cover with plastic wrap that has also been sprayed with the cooking spray. Thaw bread dough and let it rise. According to directions on the frozen bread dough bag.

Brown Italian sausage and drain grease. Add as much mozzarella cheese as you like to the sausage. ( I use a least 8 ounces). Add Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and 1 egg. Stir the mixture well. After the bread dough is thawed and has risen, spread the dough out flat onto a baking sheet. Put Italian sausage mixture in the middle of the dough. Wrap dough around the sausage mixture and pinch together. Put the seam on the bottom to hold it together. Beat 1 egg and brush the top of the bread with the egg. Cut slits in the top to vent. Bake at 375 degrees until bread is golden brown (usually about 15 minutes.)

Simple Suppers

Debbie Adkins Pikeville, Kentucky Mamaw’s Pineapple Cream Cheese Jell-O

This dish was prepared every Thanksgiving and Christmas by Amy’s Mamaw Adkins and was affectionally called the “green stuff.” It is also an easy summer dessert.

Prep/Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

1 large box lime Jell-O 2 (8-ounce) cream cheese, softened 1 (16-ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained Chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:

Make Jell-O from package directions. Set in refrigerator until slightly jelled. Add cream cheese and blend with mixer. Add crushed pineapple and nuts. Chill until set up completely.

Simple Suppers

Potato Salad

Karen Million

My mother made this recipe for all our family gatherings in Southeastern KY for many years.

Prep/Cook Time: 1 - 2 hours

Ingredients:

5-6 large potatoes 2-3 eggs 3/4 cup mayonnaise (approximately) Salt for taste 1-2 tablespoons mustard

Directions:

Boil whole potatoes without peeling until soft approximately 30 minutes. Boil eggs (12 minutes). Run cold water over the potatoes to cool, then remove the loosened peel. Cut into bitesized chunks and place in mixing bowl. Remove egg shells and chop the eggs into small pieces. Add to the mixing bowl and stir. Salt the potato and egg mixture heavily. Stir in the mayonnaise. (You may need to add more mayonnaise depending on dryness of potatoes.) Stir in the mustard. Refrigerate the mixture before serving, but it can be eaten warm as well. The texture should be creamy but not sticky. More mayonnaise may need to be added after refrigeration. Salt more to taste if needed.

Simple Suppers

Quick & Easy Chicken Enchiladas

Prep/Cook Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

12.5-ounce can of chunk chicken breast 1/2 cup cooked rice 1 package fajita seasoning mix 1/3 cup chopped bell pepper 15-ounce can black beans - drained 1/3 cup chopped onion 19-ounce can red enchilada sauce 8-10 flour tortillas 3-4 cups shredded fiesta/Mexican blend cheese

Melanie Turner

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 13 x 9 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Combine chicken (with broth included), cooked rice, seasoning mix, bell pepper, onion, and black beans in a skillet and cook on medium heat for 6-8 minutes until well incorporated. Spread 1/2 cup enchilada sauce evenly in baking dish. Spread enchilada sauce evenly onto each tortilla and add 3-4 tablespoons of cooked chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla. Sprinkle with 1-2 tablespoons of cheese. Wrap each tortilla firmly and place seam side down in baking dish. Top with remaining enchilada sauce and sprinkle tops with cheese. Bake 20-25 minutes until hot and bubbly.

Simple Suppers

Quick and Easy Chili

Prep/Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ann Cohen

Ingredients:

1 pound hamburger 2 chopped green onions 1/2 cup chopped green onion 1 can Brooks Chili Hot Beans 1 can tomato sauce 2 cans water 1/4 cup ketchup A few squirts of mustard Chili powder to taste Spaghetti noodles

Directions:

Brown hamburger, green peppers, and onions, then drain. Add Brooks chili hot beans, tomato sauce, water, ketchup, mustard, chili powder, and spaghetti noodles. Simmer until spaghetti is tender. Enjoy!

Sloppy Joes

Christine Crimmins Elk Grove Village, Illinois

The sloppy joe recipe was passed down from my grandma and has been given to all our family’s new brides as an easy recipe for a new cook.

Prep/Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef 1 small chopped onion 1/2 medium sized bottle of ketchup 1 tablespoon lemon juice 3 teaspoons brown sugar 1 tablespoon white vinegar 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Directions:

Brown the ground beef in skillet with the onion until completely browned and crumbled. Add all the remaining ingredients, stir, and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve on hamburger rolls or just eat as is. Enjoy!

Simple Suppers

Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad

Lisa M Honcharuk

Prep/Cook Time: 15 minutes Mount Prospect, Illinois

Ingredients: Dressing:

1⁄4 cup grated parmesan cheese 1⁄2 cup chopped fresh parsley 1⁄2 cup mayonnaise 1⁄4 cup white wine vinegar 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 pinch cayenne pepper Salt & fresh ground pepper, to taste

Salad:

1/2 lb penne pasta 2 cups packed baby spinach leaves, washed and stemmed 2 roasted red peppers, diced 1/2 lb smoked mozzarella cheese, diced

Directions:

Process the dressing ingredients in food processor or blender until smooth. Cook pasta until al dente. Drain pasta in colander and run under cold water until well cooled. In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, spinach, roasted red peppers, dressing, and cheese. Good served hot or cold.

Vegetable Soup

Lavonne Damron Robinson Creek, Kentucky

Prep/Cook Time: 8 minutes (prep time), simmer in large pot 1 hour

Ingredients:

1 large can of mixed vegetables 1 can of tomato juice 1 pound of hamburger meat 1 medium onion, diced 3-4 medium potatoes, cubed Salt and pepper (optional)

Directions:

In a large skillet, brown hamburger meat (salt and pepper) and then drain. In a large stock pot, pour in tomato juice, onion, potatoes, mixed vegetables, add hamburger meat, and simmer for 1 hour.

Grab & Go

Meals and snacks to prepare ahead and grab on-the-go

Avocado Tortilla (Simple and Healthy)

Padmaja Gayathri Devarakonda

Prep/Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

1 big avocado 2 cups whole wheat flour Pinch of salt Oil to cook Water to make dough

Directions:

Peel the avocado and take out the pulp, mash with fork. Add 2 cups of whole wheat flour and mix well with avocado pulp. Make a soft dough adding little, little water. Drizzle some oil on top to coat the dough; cover and let it sit for 20 minutes. Heat up a skillet on medium heat. Make equal-size balls from the dough. Take one ball, dust it with flour, and flatten with palm. Make it flat using a rolling pin. Place the flat tortilla on the heated skillet and let it cook. Once you see little bubbles, flip to the other side and drizzle some oil on top (if you like). Flip again and drizzle oil on the other side as well, and press with a spatula for few seconds.

Cheese Ball

Sharon Bartley Elkhorn City, Kentucky

Prep/Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

2 (8-ounce) of cream cheese 1 medium onion, diced 1 pack pecans, crushed 1 green bell pepper

Directions:

Mix cheese, onion, bell pepper, and half of the pecans. Shape the cheese mixture into a ball and roll in the remaining pecans. Refrigerate and serve with crackers