Crockpot Stacked Enchiladas ****

We love this more and more each time I make it.  I know that a lot of people don't like the doughy texture that tortillas get in the crockpot, but honestly, it's one of our favorite parts.  The 10-year-old even picked his tortillas out and ate them first before finishing the rest, lol.  I'm sure the corn tortillas would hold up much better than the flour, though.  We just happen to like the flour.  They all told me over and over how much they loved it.  I personally had to fight the urge to go back for seconds. ;-)

CROCKPOT STACKED ENCHILADAS
(luckymommyto2boys ~ Amy)

1 (14 ounce) package taco-size corn or flour tortillas
1 (20 ounce) can red enchilada sauce
3 cups shredded cooked chicken or cooked pot roast
1 (10 ounce) can corn
1 teaspoon cumin
1-1/2 cups light cream cheese
1 (4 oz) can green chilies
1 onion, chopped fine
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 can refried beans
1 can sliced black olives (optional)

Mix cooked meat, cumin, cream cheese, green chilies, corn, and onion together.
Spray inside of crock pot with nonstick spray, then pour a little enchilada sauce on the bottom.
Place one tortilla in the bottom of the pot.
Spread 1/4 of the beans on the tortilla.
Cover with 1/4 of the meat mixture.
Pour 1/5 enchilada sauce on top of meat.
Sprinkle some cheese on top of sauce.
Add another tortilla and continue layering until you run out of meat mixture.
You should still have some cheese and sauce left.
Top with a tortilla, then pour remaining enchilada sauce over all.
Cook on HIGH for 4 hours.
When it's done, sprinkle remaining cheese (and black olives, if desired) on top, and replace lid until cheese melts.
Cut into wedges with plastic spatula to serve.

Previous Posts:
4/16/12 ~ We've had this several times, but it's been a few years.  I'm still going through and trying to work some old favorites into our menus, to see how our tastes have changed.  The last time we had this, Monkey 1 was 4, and Monkey 2 was 2.  They're now 8 and 6.  How time flies!  They loved it this time around.  The recipe has changed so much over the years that I'm no longer even sure where I got it.  I do love it, though.  We prefer the flour tortillas, because they soften up so well.  Others may not be as fond of that and would prefer the texture of the corn.  Either way, you can't go wrong.  :)  This time, I used b/s chicken thighs, since I had some on hand.  In the past, I've used frozen shredded chicken and cooked it 6 1/2 hours on low.  It was still delicious!  It's a very forgiving recipe, which is always nice.  As usual, I served it with my Quick Spanish Rice.

Easy Crockpot Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup **

This was just okay for us.  The 12-year-old loved it, but the rest of us thought it was just so-so.  I really love the Chicken and Wild Rice soup at Panera, and the fact that this tasted nothing like it probably did a lot to stand in the way for me.  I did use wild rice, but that wouldn't have changed the taste.  I can't describe it, but the flavors just didn't blend very well.  Oh well.  Back to the drawing board!

EASY CROCKPOT CREAMY CHICKEN AND RICE SOUP
(luckymommyto2boys ~ Amy ~ BackforSeconds)

6 cups chicken stock
2 chicken breasts (boneless skinless)
2 bay leaves
2 stalks celery (chopped)
1 medium onion (chopped)
2 carrots (chopped)
salt (to taste)
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
3/4 cups long grain rice (NOT quick cooking rice)
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup milk
10oz corn

1. Add everything to the crock pot except the rice, corn, flour and milk. Cover and cook for 8 hours. The chicken will cook in the broth and add more flavor to the soup.
2. Halfway through cooking add the rice (or you can stir in already cooked rice at the end).
3. About 30 minutes prior to serving, shred the chicken. In a small container with a lid shake together flour and milk really well and stir into soup. Add Corn. Let cook for 30 minutes more to allow the soup to thicken.
*NOTE: It seems like newer crock pots cook much faster than the older ones, so please keep that in mind. My crock pot is newer and cooks very hot. I cook this soup on low on the 8 hour setting and it is done in 4 1/2 hours. I add the rice about an hour before it's done.

Mexican Beef-Stuffed Peppers (Crockpot) ***

First off, I apologize for the picture.  It is quite possibly the very worst one I've ever taken.  While I was snapping it, the 12-year-old dropped his entire plate on the floor.  Plate was fine.  Food was not. :-(  We were already in a rush to eat and head out for the 10-year-old's soccer tournament, so this picture is the only one I got.  I'll shoot for a better one next time.

That said, the recipe below is doubled from the one posted on Taste of Home, just because I needed extras for lunches (and to drop on the floor, apparently).  The original recipe is in the link under the title.  I didn't change anything but the amounts, though.  I have a 7-quart crockpot, and it will comfortably hold 7 peppers.  I made 4 green and 3 red.  The red was my favorite.  The 12-year-old liked the green, and the 10-year-old said he didn't like the pepper part at all.  Oh well.  He did love the stuffing, so it's still no big deal.  I used ground turkey, just because that's our preference.  It worked beautifully.  I've always wanted to make stuffed peppers, but I've never had time.  We love the Undone Stuffed Pepper Casserole, but it's just not the same.  Now that I'm temporarily working at home, it was the perfect opportunity!  Hubby and I loved it.  I am already planning on making it again!

MEXICAN BEEF-STUFF PEPPERS (CROCKPOT)
(luckymommyto2boys ~ Amy ~ TasteofHome)

6-7 medium green or sweet red peppers
1.5 pounds ground beef
2 packages (8.8 ounces) ready-to-serve Spanish rice
4 cups (16 ounces) shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese, divided
3 cups salsa
2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce
1 cup water
4 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro

Cut tops off peppers and remove seeds; set aside. In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain.
Stir in the rice, 2 cups cheese, salsa and pepper sauce. Spoon into peppers. Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker. Pour water around peppers.
Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until peppers are tender and filling is heated through. Top with remaining cheese; sprinkle with cilantro. Yield: 6-7 servings.

Slow Cooker Ham and White Beans ****

Last weekend, we went to a nearby harvest festival.  Every year, they have a little stand selling white beans with ham.  It always smells delicious, but there are so many other (more exciting) foods to sample that I rarely get around to having the beans. So this year, I came home craving them something fierce.  I went straight to the store, and the very next morning, these beans were in my crockpot.

Now, first off, I'll say that this is not a fancy recipe.  Not by any stretch of the imagination.  Truthfully, it should probably be one of those "make it up as you go" things, but I kind of suck at planning those.  Recipes like that can only happen spur of the moment for me.  For everything else, I need a recipe.  Now, I can easily change around any recipe and even turn it into something completely different than was originally written.  I just need something to get me started.  This is perfect for that.  It really needs no changes to what's written, though.  I didn't measure anything, but I just kind of eyeballed all of the ingredients.  I went with ham steaks cut into cubes, and I probably had a bit too much in there.  But other than that, it was great.  I will absolutely make this again and again.

SLOW COOKER HAM AND WHITE BEANS
(luckymommyto2boys ~ Amy ~ PlainChicken)

1 lb package dried northern beans
ham bone, hocks, shanks or diced ham (about 1 pound)
2 tsp onion powder
6 cups water
salt & pepper to taste

Rinse and sort the beans for any pebbles. Add the rinsed beans, onion powder, salt, pepper, and ham to the crock pot. Add water. Cover and cook on low about 8 hours, until beans are tender. Remove ham bone, shanks or hocks and pull off the meat. Add meat to the crock pot and mix. Serve with cornbread.