Sunday, March 22, 2009

Ham and Potato Chowder

This is one of my favorite cold weather meals.

Ham chowder
4 large carrots,diced
4 stalks celery,diced
4 large potatoes, peeled and diced
1 small onion, diced
5 c. water
2 to 3 cups diced cooked ham
2 TB. butter
Salt and pepper
6 TB. flour
2 1/2 c. milk
Cook celery, carrots, potatoes and onions for 18 to 20 minutes in the 5 cups of water. Add the ham, butter and salt and pepper to taste. Combine the flour and milk, shake till no lumps remain. Stir this into the vegetable mixture, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Cheap Easy Chicken Recipes

Chicken is such a versaltile food. You can have chicken made so many different ways you can have it on your weekly meal plan several times in the week and it's not like repeating the meal. We've been eating chicken adobo and chicken chow mein since we moved to the Philippines. Eventually I will learn to cook those well enough to share recipes. In the mean time I used some of the recipes I have enjoyed over the years with our family to put together a cheap chicken meal plan. You can see the full meal plan here

The meal plan gives four recipes that can use leftover chicken, or use chicken you cook when you find a great sale. If you are not sure what to do with what you find on sale, cook it, shread it and freeze it for future meals.

The recipes on this meal plan include:
Cheesy Chicken Shortcakes
Chicken in a Shell
Night Before Chicken Casserole
Chicken A la King Toast Cups

If you have a favorite cheap chicken recipe feel free to link your blog in the comments section.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Meal Planning in a new location

Debating on meal planning a lot lately. It is tough because I dont know what I can find when, and sometimes it depends on which store we go to. We're using up a lot of the stock we bought with us so I need to be replenishing things in the pantry but have not gotten used to being a cash only shopper yet. I sure miss my checkbook!

This week I think we have everything on hand to make each of these items:
1. Chicken Noodles and Vegetables
2. Goulash
3. Ham and Egg Pie
4. Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo
5. Tuna Noodles
6. Southwestern Stroganoff
7. Honey Orange Crockpot Chicken

I don't need 7 meals for the week though so we'll decide which ones to make as the week goes on. There are more pasta meals in this than I like in one week so a couple of those wont be done. It will just depend on whether I am in a chicken mood or a tuna mood when I am ready to cook.

I dont have a crock pot any more, it broke the first time I used it, so I plan to try the honey orange chicken in the oven.

Recipes are found here