Salsa Chicken - Freezer to Crock Pot (Repost)

This is a repost of the most popular recipe from this blog, so far.  Please forgive the reposting, as I am still sick, not feeling well, and my blog posts are lagging.

This is another easy and yummy freezer to crock pot meal.  Salsa Chicken can be made many different ways by substituting or adjusting the ingredients.  Once finished, it has a taste that resembles chicken chili and is a great meal for cold, blustery nights. 
This recipe makes one 5 quart crock pot full.  Here's the recipe:

Salsa Chicken

3, 4, or 5 boneless skinless chicken breasts (however many work for your family)

1 15 oz. can of black beans, drained

1 15 oz can of kidney beans, drained

1 15 oz can of corn, drained 

1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes or any brand tomatoes with green chiles

1 small jar of salsa of your choice (around 15 oz.; size varies by brand)

1 packet taco seasoning 

When ready to serve add:  Cheese, tortillas, lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream. 

Place ingredients in a 1 gallon zippered bag and freeze.  When ready to cook, place frozen chunk in crock and cook on low for 8 hours or high 6 hours.  Serve in bowls with cheese and tortilla chips, or scoop into tortillas and add cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream.

(Note:  The photo above is midway through the cooking process.  It thickens up as it cooks further.)  

Okie Carne Adobo with Homemade Adobo Seasoning

We love spicy food, and carne adobo is an easy, filling dish that satisfies that need for spice.  Make the adobo seasoning ahead of time.  It is great added to soups and casseroles for a spicy touch.  It can also be used as a dry rub for grilled meats, especially chicken, or add it to vinegar and oil for a marinade.  

This is an original recipe from me.  It's made stovetop in a large skillet.  It is easy to make, comes together quickly, and is very appealing.  The cook time is approximately 2 hours from preparation to serving but is well worth the wait.  This is slightly different from traditional carne adobo, so we call this Okie Carne Adobo to reflect the adaptations.  

P.S.  Don't you just love my container?  I recycled an empty spice container and used that for my adobo seasoning.  I could have printed a fancy schmancy label, but I was in a hurry! 

Okie Carne Adobo 

2 lbs. stew meat, browned in batches and set aside 

2 cans RoTel tomatoes 

2 cubes beef bouillon (or 2 tablespoons) 

1 Tablespoon homemade adobo seasoning (see recipe below*)

1/4 cup soy sauce 

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

2 cups water 

When ready to serve:  Shredded cheese, chopped onions, lettuce, chopped tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, black olives.

Directions:  Brown stew meat in batches.  Return all meat to pan.  Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover, and simmer on very low heat for approximately 1-1/2 hours.  Check liquid level frequently and add water as needed. Meat should come out very tender, and the sauce should thicken.  

When ready, serve over Spanish rice and top with shredded cheese, sour cream, and other goodies.  

*Homemade Adobo Seasoning: 

2 Tbsp. salt
1 Tbsp. onion power
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
1 Tbsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. cumin

Mix all and store in air-tight container.  I usually make 2-3 batches at once.  May omit salt but take that into consideration when measuring for a recipe.  If you omit the salt and normally use 1 Tablespoon, instead decrease to 1 teaspoon. 

Broke Food - Lentil Chili

Lentil chili may be listed as a "broke food," but realistically it is very tasty, an excellent source of protein, and it's very filling and satisfying, especially on a cold and blustery day. 

I make this at least once a month, if not more, and each time I'm reminded how great it tastes.  Since lentils cook quickly, this is an easy chili to make when you're needing a large, hearty meal.  It's excellent with crusty bread, cornbread, toast, and is equally satisfying served over rice or with noodles.  I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!

Lentil Chili

1-1/4 Cups dry lentils (approximately 1/2 pound)

4 cups water

2 tablespoons oil or bacon grease

1-2 Tablespoons dried minced onions

3 beef bouillon cubes (use vegetable bouillon for a truly vegetarian meal)

15 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chiles like Ro-Tel

1 small can tomato paste

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

2 teaspoons chili powder

Dash of hot pepper flakes or Tabasco sauce

1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Another 2 cups of water (possibly)

In a large pot, heat lentils and water.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low, cover with lid slightly tipped to vent steam, and simmer.  Cook for 30 minutes.  Do not drain. If the lentils look dry as they cook, add water in 1/4 cup increments.  Lentils should still have some liquid after cooking time.  After lentils have cooked, add remaining ingredients. Assess thickness of chili and add water as needed.  Simmer for 15-20 minutes or more.  Serve with rice, cornbread, toast, or noodles. 

Freezer to Crockpot - Mexican Casserole

This is a fun, simple, and easy Mexican casserole that tastes great.  It's easy to throw together, and it works great for a freezer to crockpot recipe.  It's spicy comfort food that's a hot, filling meal.  

We usually make this in the oven, but our schedules have been so busy lately that the crock pot has been our go-to cooking venue.  I decided to try this for the crock, and it was easy as making it in the oven*.  

MEXICAN CASSEROLE 

1 to 1.5 pounds ground beef, browned, drained, and rinsed 

1 15-17 oz. can Ranch Style beans

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 14 oz. can RoTel tomatoes ( or diced tomatoes with green chiles)

When ready to cook, about 1-2 cups crushed tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sour cream, and salsa. Do not put the tortilla chips in until right before you're ready to serve.  Otherwise, you'll end up with a soggy mess! 

Brown ground beef, drain, and rinse.  In 1 gallon zippered freezer bag, place ground beef, ranch style beans, chicken soup, and tomatoes.  Squeeze out air and seal, then "massage" bag to mix ingredients well.  

When ready to cook, place mixture in crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours.  Approximately 10 minutes before serving, top with crushed tortilla chips.  Serve topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, and salsa.  

*The oven version of this is the same, except when you're ready to cook it, divide the crushed tortilla chips and place a layer on the bottom of the pan, top with casserole mixture, then top with more crushed tortilla chips.  Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes, top with cheese, then return to the oven for about 5 minutes or until cheese melts. 

More Grocery Savings Strategies - 2 trips

This is one of those weeks I go out of my way to make a couple of trips to the grocery store.  My favorite store, Homeland, was having some sweet deals that I knew would allow me to get quite a few groceries for a really good price.  Homeland doubles coupons up to $1.00, BUT they will only double one like coupon per trip.  Combining those double coupons is what allows these deals to be so great, but sometimes you have to be creative in getting double coupons.  This means I sometimes make a trip to a different store on the same day so the coupons will double.  We're lucky in that we have 3 Homeland stores in Muskogee, two within 1 mile of each other, and the other is across town.  That makes getting these deals much easier. 

In order to get the deals I wanted, I visited two separate stores.  I also bought meat at the first store using the strategies noted in a prior post, and then made a second run.  I'll show photos and prices/scenarios from both runs to hopefully help and compare.  When I can, I'll provide links to sign up for newsletters and coupons that were e-mailed. 

Total for trip #1 was $52.78.

Total for trip #2 was 41.33

Filled up with gas (see way below) for $2.749 per gallon with rewards points for $21.18.

There are photos and prices for both trips, so don't forget to scroll down to check them out!

This is trip #1: 

There was a special going on where if you bought 10 Red-Gold Tomato products, you would receive a $5.00 automatic rebate on your grocery total.  Red-Gold offers coupons from their website and e-mailed newsletters.  Plus, there are coupons for Red-Gold diced tomatoes and Sloppy Joe Sauce in the Homeland Cares Coupon books.  These could be used in combination with the $5.00 to get these products basically for free.  This technique is called "stacking."  It means using manufacturer coupons along with either store coupons or rebates in order to get maximum savings.

Here are prices, coupons, and totals for the first trip:

Fresh limes  4 @ $0.09 = $0.36 

Yellow onions x2 = $0.93

Bell Pepper x2 @ $0.79/lbs. = $0.94

On the Border Tortilla chips = $2.99 

Coupon for $0.55 available HERE which doubled to $1.10

Final $1.89

Red Gold Petite Diced Tomatoes with Chiles x3 $0.75 = $2.25*

Less Homeland Cares Coupon for $1.00 off 3 cans 

Doubled to $2.00= $0.25*

Red Gold Tomato Sauce x2  @ $0.75 = $1.50*

Less printable coupon from Red Gold $0.50 off 2 cans 

Doubled to $1.00  = $0.50*

Red Gold Diced tomatoes with chipotle peppers x3 @ $0.75 = $2.25*

Less Homeland  coupon for $1 off 3 cans 

Did not double because already used one = $1.25*

Red Gold Diced Tomatoes with Basil, Garlic and Onion x2 @ $0.75 = $1.50*

Beef top Round Roast  = $16.00 

Beef Chuck Roast  = $8.59

Beef Top Round Steak = $4.15

Boneless Butterfly Pork Tenderloins = $4.15

Bonless Butterfly Pork Tenderloins = $4.82

Thin Cut Boneless Pork Tenderloin = $5.30

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts = $4.06

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts = $3.80

*Purchased 10 items so received $5.00 off total order

**Used $5.00 off $50.00 purchase from Enjoy the City coupon books.

Trip #1 FINAL TOTAL (tax incl.) = $52.78

Trip #2 (Photo above)

5 lbs. Russet potatoes x2 @ $1.39 per bag =$2.78 (stacked one on top of the other in photo)

Kraft 17.5/18 oz. BBQ Sauce x2 = Free**

Minute Rice 14 oz.  = $1.50

Coupon for $ 0.60, doubled to $1.20               

Final price =  $0.30

Minute Rice 14 oz. = $1.50

Coupon for $0.60  (did not double because of prior coupon)

Final price = $0.90 (still a good price!)

 

Red Gold Tomatoes with Chiles x3 $0.75= $2.25

$1.00 coupon doubled to $2.00

Final price = $0.25*

Red Gold Sloppy Joe Sauce x2 @ $0.75 = $2.25

$1.00 coupon doubled to $2.00

Final price = free*

Red Gold Tomato Sauce x2 @ $0.75 = $1.50

Printable coupon for $0.50 doubled to $1.00

Final price $0.50*

Red Gold Sloppy Joe Sauce x2                              

Coupon for $1 (did not double because had one prior but still good price)

Final = $1.25*

Libby’s veggies x4 @ $0.79

Coupon $1/4 doubled to $2.00

Final price = $1.16 for 4 or $0.29 each

Williams Chili seasoning x4 @ $0.89

Final $3.60

Nabisco crackers x3 $1.99 **

Coupon for $1.00 off 2 doubled to $2.00

** Store special for $3.00 off purchase of 3 Nabisco cookies/crackers

Final = $0.97 for 3!!

Keebler Club crackers x2 @ 2/ $5.00

Coupon for $1 doubled to $2

Final = $3.00

Freschetta Pizza $3.99

Coupon for $1 doubled to $2

Final price= $1.99

International Delight Creamer

Coupon for $0.55 doubled to $1.10

Final = $0.89

Coffee-mate creamer x2 @ $2.45

Coupon for $1/2 doubled to $2.00

Final:  $2.90 or $1.45 each

Oscar Mayer Deli Shaved Meat 16 oz. $4.99

 Coupon for $1 doubled to $2

Final:  $2.99

Oscar Mayer Weiners 16 oz.$1.99**

Borden Shredded Cheesex3 @ $2 = $6.00

Coupon for $1 off 3 doubled to $2

Final = $4.00

Lay’s Kettle Cooked chips x2 @ $3.00

Coupon $1 doubled to $2

Final = $4.00

On the Border chips  $2.50 (in-store sale)

Coupon for $ 0.55 doubled to $1.10

Final = $1.40

Best Choice Cream Cheese $1.45

Hiland Sour cream $1.93

*Buy 10 save $5.00

**Buy Oscar Mayer Wieners 16 oz. get 2 Kraft BBQ sauces free. 

FINAL TOTAL with tax included = $41.33

Homeland has a gas station outside the store at Chandler and York.  You can accumulate cents off per gallon with use of your store card.  I had accumulated $0.55 in savings.  So I filled up my tiny little car's gas tank and got 7.786 gallons of gas@ $2.749 per gallon for a total of $21.18.  

So my grand total for the day was $115.29!!!

Freezer to Crockpot - Salsa Chicken

This is another easy and yummy freezer to crock pot meal.  Salsa Chicken can be made many different ways by substituting or adjusting the ingredients.  Once finished, it has a taste that resembles chicken chili and is a great meal for cold, blustery nights. 

This recipe makes one 5 quart crock pot full.  Here's the recipe:

Salsa Chicken

3, 4, or 5 boneless skinless chicken breasts (however many work for your family)

1 15 oz. can of black beans, drained

1 15 oz can of kidney beans, drained

1 15 oz can of corn, drained 

1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes or any brand tomatoes with green chiles

1 small jar of salsa of your choice (around 15 oz.; size varies by brand)

1 packet taco seasoning 

When ready to serve add:  Cheese, tortillas, lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream. 

Place ingredients in a 1 gallon zippered bag and freeze.  When ready to cook, place frozen chunk in crock and cook on low for 8 hours or high 6 hours.  Serve in bowls with cheese and tortilla chips, or scoop into tortillas and add cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream.

(Note:  The photo above is midway through the cooking process.  It thickens up as it cooks further.)