Works for Me Wednesday- Easy Cooking
June 27, 2007 by Mommy Zabs
Filed under Cooking, Works for Me Wednesday
I have noticed a blog trend in the past week or so. Many of the Mommy blogs I routinely visit are talking cooking. A couple have posted recipes and 4 others have complained of being bored by their kitchen routines and are looking for new recipes.
I like to cook. The last few years of my life hardly reflect that. Severe pregnancy sickness, down-right lack of energy while breast-feeding, and severe dread of taking the kids to the grocery have deterred me. My dreams of being an amazing wife by cooking killer meals nightly has been just that, a dream.
As much as I would love to cook like one of my cousins, (several of them are magnificent bakers), I just haven’t been able to devote the time I need to cook the way they do. For the most part I settle for simple recipes. They need to taste good, but there is no room for getting complicated right now. I need easy to find ingredients, short prep time, and few ingredients.
I thought for this Works for Me Wednesday, (a new project I am participating in,) I would share a couple of my easy sure to please recipes.
Crockpots are a Godsend for mom’s! One of my favorite Crockpot recipes is this one.
Swiss Chicken Casserole
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I prefer smaller non hormone pumped ones myself. They taste better!)
6 slices of swiss cheese (I often throw more in because I heart cheese.)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/4 c. of Milk
2c. chicken stuffing mix
1/2c. melted butterCoat the slow-cooker with cooking spray.
Arrange the chicken in the Crockpot.
Top with cheese, layering if necessary.
Combine soup with the milk and stir well.
Spoon the mixture over the cheese.
Melt butter and stir with stuffing mix.
Pour stuffing over chicken and smooth over.Cover and cook either on
Low for 8-10 hours
OR
High for 4-6 hours.
*Varies depending on the slow-cooker and of course your time constraints!
I often serve this over rice or with potatoes.
This one is not crock-pot but just as simple. It involves little prep time (maybe 5 minutes depending on how often your child interrupts.)
Indian Style Chicken Breast- (which I prefer to call chutney chicken)
In a blender or food processor (I use blender) mix together…
8 oz jar of mango chutney (should be near the sauces, ketchup etc. in grocery)
half cup of raisins
2 T olive oil
3/4 tsp. curry powder
1 clove of garlic
1/3 c. waterBlend.
Lay chicken in a 9×13 greased baking pan.
Pour mixture over top.Cook on 400 for 25 minutes
OR
350 for 35 minutes.I put this with steamed Jasmine Rice (that I make in my steamer), I add to it a tsp of cinnamon and 1/2 c. raisins and mix together.
*This recipe was given to me by my sister-in-law Janis.
This week I also tried 2 new VERY easy recipes courtesy of Carmen of Little Cooks in the Kitchen (Chicken Stroganoff) and she also tipped me onto this one by Laura from I’m an Organizing Junkie (Sweet and Sour Pork). I served them to my parents-in-law and we all agreed they were delicious!
Feel free to Share your favorites in the comments or your own blog (if you do this please post a link in the comments so we all can see!). I know it will help me and the other mommies that have begged for recipes in the last week. 
Heidi Jo on Wed, 27th Jun 2007 9:20 am
the slow cooker is great on these miserably hot days too! heating up the kitchen with the oven is just not a joy. we grill a bunch in the summer, but i think i’ll try the crock pot chicken.
so where do you find these petitie birds?
We Grill a lot in summer too. Not much better than well seasoned steak and great veggies to go with it! As far as birds… look for packaging that lets you know they don’t add hormones to the chicken. In the store we shop at the brand is Amick farms. We also go to whole foods, but I doubt you have one of those.
wytammic on Wed, 27th Jun 2007 9:38 am
I heart cooking! I think the family will vouch that I specialize in this area. I love the idea of utilizing the crock pot a bit more too. We also enjoy grilling in the summer months.
Last night, some dear friends of ours from Dodge City, KS (where we are originally from) stopped by. They left Dodge on Tuesday via their Harley. We knew they’d be in town just in time for supper and I fixed them ribeye steaks, grilled vegetables, baked beans and a little batter fried shrimp just for fun
. It was a good time 
(I forgot to mention that I went all out with dessert too — ice cream bars!)
Tammi, I admire you being a specialist
momlovesbeingathome on Wed, 27th Jun 2007 11:51 am
I can’t wait to try some of these yummy looking recipes!
YAY! Let me know if you like them!
Kristy C on Wed, 27th Jun 2007 12:04 pm
Thanks for sharing the recipes! I’m in the middle of re-organizing all my recipes. One of my problems is answering the question, “What’s for dinner?” So I’m hoping organization will make it easier.
DO IT NOW BEFORE BABY COMES!
misi on Wed, 27th Jun 2007 12:42 pm
Thanks for the tip, I checked out Carmen’s web-site and I love her recipes!
Let me know what you think of them when you use them!
Elaine on Wed, 27th Jun 2007 1:12 pm
I’ve had the Swiss chicken as an oven casserole before, so I know it’s good. The crockpot recipe makes it even more appealing. Thanks for sharing! -e.
My Sister-in-law said the same thing!
John Kaiser on Wed, 27th Jun 2007 1:23 pm
I will be making healthy ice cream tonight. Blueberries, dark chocolate chips, all-natural sugar substitute (actually made out of fiber), and the only bad ingredient cream.
You sure are becoming a health nut! I remember you saying you were OCD
MoTu on Wed, 27th Jun 2007 1:38 pm
Hey MZ, thanks for the recipes! I’ll be letting my mommy friends know about them! They sound great!
Let me know if they work out for you! I’m curious if others’ will like them as much as I do!
MamaLady on Wed, 27th Jun 2007 1:46 pm
Thanks for visiting this morning!
Love the swiss chicken idea. Will definitely try it.
RE: your question about freezing containers. I am no expert, but I prefer GladWare to any other containers out there. Tupperware is too expensive so I don’t even buy it anymore. Ziploc brand containers are crummy. They simply crumble to pieces in the freezer and I’ve only bought Rubbermaid brand once and they too crumbled. I guess the plastic can’t take the extreemes in temperature? Anyway, I make certain to buy two of the multi packs when Costco has them on coupon each year. That is more than enough for our needs and if I give someone dinner or a treat I don’t have to worry about getting the container back.
Take care!
Thank you so much for the advise! I will be buying a bunch of those and starting this plan. It is something I have always wanted to do but been too intimidated to try!
MoTu on Wed, 27th Jun 2007 6:54 pm
Amen to MamaLady’s comment. I too have recycled all of my plasticware and now only use GladWare for pretty much the same reasons. Although I get mine at Target 8-).
Is Gladware made in China? I will have to check.
nicole fortunato on Wed, 27th Jun 2007 7:53 pm
i have a GREAT (and easy) chicken pot pie recipe i’ll send to you. i absolutely LOVE IT!!! xoxo me
Thanks for the recipe I will try it!
Carmen@littlecooksinthekitchen.com on Wed, 27th Jun 2007 11:35 pm
Yum! Love the Swiss Chicken recipe. HAVE to try it!
Let me know how it goes!
WFMW- Traveling with SMALL Children » Mommy Zabs` on Thu, 12th Jul 2007 3:59 pm
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Paula from Only Cookware on Mon, 7th Apr 2008 7:38 pm
I have been seeing so many good crockpot recipes lately so it must be a sign for me to finally get one. Plus I love swiss cheese so I am going to save this recipe in my favorites until I get the opportunity to try it out.