Chicken and dumplings

Okay, let me say YES and YES.  Yes it is worth making your own stock and yes it is good.  I start with a basic homemade chicken stock.  Homemade stock is easy and sets the tone for your recipes,  I should have already explained making stock since it is the base to build from, anytime I need to boil chicken I make stock and freeze it (3 months).  I used a frozen pre-made dumpling (Anne's Dumplings) that is great if you like that type, if not make your own gross, wet bread biscuit type dumplings; whatever but don't blame me when it is all doughy and such.  When cold weather rears its ugly head, I like big bubbling pots filled with warm goodness.  Try this recipe on a cold day and think warm thoughts.

Chicken and Dumplings
1 pkg. Anne's Dumplings
4 chicken leg and thigh quarters
1 lg onion
3-4 ribs celery
3 carrots

Stock
Put chicken in pot and cover with water.
Add onion skin and cut off ends, add celery tops and cut off ends.
1 tbsp. poultry seasoning
1tsp. salt
1tsp. pepper
1 tsp. garlic powder
2 bay leaves
Boil till chicken is cooked, remove chicken and let cool. Let stock simmer.  When chicken is cool pick bones, place meat in separate bowl.  Cut or break bones and add bones and skin back to pot.  Boil stock for at least another hour.  Strain stock into bowl and refrigerate, when cool remove fat.
That is your basic chicken stock.  Make it, use it, love it.

Chicken and Dumplings
Put  stock and chicken into pot, dice onion, celery and carrots and add to pot.  Bring to boil when veggies are done start adding dumplings.  Add dumplings (cut in half) and cook according to directions.
I like it to be thick you can change your viscosity by adding milk to thin or cold milk and cornstarch to thicken (1 cup milk + 1 tbsp. corn starch).  Let simmer and invite close friends to enjoy.  I served with fresh green salad but you're cooking you pick the sides.
Marcus

Breakfast

If you need to feed a group breakfast this is an easy way to do it.  This will feed 8-10 people as a main dish, I make it the night before so all I have to do is pop it in the oven while making the rest of breakfast.

Bacon and egg bake
12 eggs
12 strips bacon
4 cups potatoes O'Brien
12 oz. Velveeta
1/2 cup sour cream

Cook bacon set aside to drain.  Cook potatoes O'Brien in bacon fat and place in greased 9x12 baking dish.  Place even layer of thinly sliced Velveeta over potatoes  Whip eggs and sour cream together and pour over potatoes and cheese.  Dice bacon and sprinkle on top of mixture.   Bake at 350 for 40 min. or until middle of mixture is firm.  Enjoy.
Marcus

Wraps

I feel that I have been lazy with my cooking and recipes.  I just really don't do fancy and I am not a chef.  I cook and I like to eat; sometimes we eat "high on the hog", but mainly it is easy, good food.  I eat tons of sandwiches. I think the humble sandwich is so under rated.  Think about your possibilities: different meats, cheeses, breads you can have it, hot, cold, or even grilled.  Oh, don't even let me get started talking about stuffed or pockets.  Tonight I want to remind you about tortilla wraps.

Grilled chicken wraps
1 pkg. jalapeno cheddar wraps
2 chicken breast (marinated)
4 pieces bacon
1/2 red onion
lettuce
tomato
cheese (Your pick. I used Swiss and Provolone.)
Marinate your chicken overnight in Tuscan Italian dressing.  Grill chicken and slice on bias.  Heat wraps in skillet with a little of your bacon fat.  Assemble wraps like a burrito using the rest of the ingredients.  Enjoy.
Marcus

Taco Soup

I said I wanted to share inexpensive and easy recipes, well this is both and tasty to boot.  I love my crock pot.
ingredients
1 # hamburger
1 onion (diced)
1 can Rotel
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can pinto beans
1 can black beans
1 can hominy
1 envelope dry ranch dressing
1 envelope taco seasoning

I make this the night before put it in refrigerator.  In  the morning turn crock pot on low and when you get home from work it is ready to go.
Brown hamburger and onion, drain, and put in crock pot.  Put everything else in crock pot and stir a bit.  Cook on low all day, the longer the better.  Serve with chips and cheese or whatever you like maybe green chilies or hot salsa or grilled peppers it is all good.  Go for it.
Marcus