Freezer Crockpot Pineapple Chicken Burritos

This is by far the best crock-pot recipe I have made.  And I have made quite a few.  Plus there was enough food to feed my entire family until they were full.  That doesn't happen with the crock-pot meals very often.

Pineapple Chicken Burritos

Ingredients:

3 boneless skinless chicken breast
1/2 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup medium salsa
5-6 large tortilla shells
1 (10 ounce) can green enchilada sauce
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup cooked rice








Directions:

•  Placed the chicken, pineapple, beans, and salsa in a gallon size freezer bag.  Zip closed and place in freezer.  When ready to use thaw in the fridge for 24 hours.
• Empty contents into crock-pot and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.  Remove the chicken and shred.  Mix the chicken back into the crock-pot with the rest of the ingredients.
• Mix in the cooked rice.  I used instant white rice but you can use any type you prefer.
• Fill the tortilla shells.  Place in a 9x13 pan.  Pour 1 can of green enchilada sauce over the burritos.
• Top with 1 cup of shredded cheese and place under the broiler on the middle rack until the cheese is melted.  About 5 minutes...

These can be served with or without the lettuce, tomato, onion, and sour cream.  I added all that and a little taco sauce to mine.

I also doubled my recipe.  That's how I was able to feed so many until they were full.  I figured that if I had too much to feed everyone at dinner, then my husband could take it in his lunch.  All together I made about 12 to 14 burritos.  The other pan I used holds a few more than the one pictured here.

Pigs in a Blanket

This recipe I have had around for 10 years or longer.  My family loves it so much that, when I make them, they never last.  Even when I think I have made enough that they should last, they don't.  This recipe is time consuming so I don't make them very often.

I should also mention that I make the dough in the bread machine.  I am a little too lazy to do it any other way.

Pigs in a Blanket (with Hot Dogs)

Ingredients

For dough:
1 cup water
2 tablespoons margarine
1 egg
3 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons active dry yeast

To finish:
2 packages of hot dogs
American sliced cheese
Margarine for topping



Directions:

• Place all dough ingredients in bread machine pan in the order listed.  Press select until you have it on the dough setting.  Press start.
• Grease cookie sheet (I use a Pampered Chef stone so I don't grease mine).  Divide dough into 10 to 12 balls.
• Slice each hot dog long way down the entire length of the hot dog.  Do not cut all the way through.  Slice cheese into strips and place inside the slit of the hot dog.
• Roll the dough balls out flat on a floured surface.  Place one cheese filled hot dog on each rolled out dough.  Wet the edge of the dough with water so that it will stick.  Roll the hot dog up and fold the edges under.  Place on cookie sheet.
• Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove from oven and top with margarine.  They taste best if served warm.  If by some chance you do have left overs, they do reheat well.

Freezer Crockpot Honey Bourbon Chicken

Another one of the awesome freezer crock-pot meals...    I get so excited about the food that sometimes I forget to take pictures.  That's why I only have one to share with you today.

Crock-pot Bourbon Chicken

Ingredients:
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken strips
Salt & pepper
1/2 cup diced onion
1 cup honey
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoons red pepper flakes
1-2 tablespoons cornstarch
Sesame Seeds (optional)
1/4 cup Bourbon (optional)



Instructions:

• Salt and pepper the chicken.  Place in a gallon-size freezer bag.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the honey, soy sauce, ketchup, oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, onion, bourbon (if you are using it).  Add to freezer bag and seal.
• When you are ready to use thaw in fridge overnight.  Empty contents into crock-pot and cook on low 3-4 hours.  Remove chicken and slice into strips.
• Combine 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water.  Pour into crock pot and mix.  If the sauce does not thicken, add one more tablespoon cornstarch and water.
• Place chicken back in crock pot and stir around to coat.
• Serve over rice, sprinkle with sesame seeds.

I left out the bourbon when I made this.  Not because I am against alcohol.  I am without a doubt not. lol.  It was because I didn't have it handy.  I didn't want to go buy it for just one recipe.  Though I should have because I plan to make this again and again.  Another thing I did not add was the sesame seeds.  I have those, I just forgot...

Fabric Softener

I saw this on Facebook and thought, "What a great idea!".  I get so sick of buying dryer sheets all winter long (During the summer I use the line to dry my clothes so I use the liquid during that time.)  I would rather spend the little bit of money I save from not buying the sheets all the time on something fun for the kids or something nice for my home.

All you need is:
1 package of sponges
A tight sealing container
Liquid fabric softener (your preference)
Tap water

Cut the sponges in half and place in container.  Pour in 1 cup of fabric softener and 2 cups of water.  Seal tight and give it a little shake to mix it up a little.

When you are ready to dry your clothes take a sponge out and give it a little squeeze to release some of the extra softener and toss in the dryer.  This can be a little messy to use but goes a long way.  I recommend having a towel handy or paper towel to wipe your hands on.

Super simple... 

Freezer Crockpot Savory Pepper Steak

When this says pepper it means red/green pepper not as in salt and pepper.  I thought I would clarify that because I was expecting it to be a little spicy which it is not.
This is a versatile meal.  You can serve it over rice or noodles.  I chose rice this time but next time I am going with noodles, just for something a little different.

Savory Pepper Steak

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds round steak, cut into 1/2 inch strips
1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 small onion
4-5 garlic cloves
1 green pepper, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1 (16 ounce) can Italian style tomatoes
1 tablespoon beef bouilon
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon steak seasoning
1 tablespoon steak sauce




Directions:

Toss steak in salt, pepper, and flour and add to gallon size freezer bag.  In a medium bowl mix together the rest of the ingredients, add to bag.  Close, label bag, and place in freezer.  When ready to use, thaw in fridge overnight.  Empty contents into crock-pot and cook on low for 8 hours.

Freezer Crockpot Sweet and Sour Chicken

This is a super yummy meal.  Not quite like you would get if you went to a Chinese restaurant but still very good.  I only took one picture of this one and it turned out a little blurry but it gives you an idea of what it looks like...

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Ingredients:

3 large chicken breasts, cubed
1/3 cup ketchup
1/3 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 can tomato sauce
6 Truvia packets
1 can diced pineapple








Directions:
Combine all ingredients (except pineapple) in a gallon size freezer bag.  Label the bag with date, name, and how long to cook.  I know I say that in every post but I do it just in case there is someone that didn't see the other meals that I made.  When you are ready to cook it, take it out of the freezer the night before and thaw.
Place the contents of the bag in the crock-pot and cook on low for six hours.  About an hour before it it done add the pineapple.
It is best served over rice but you could use brown rice or white rice.

Now here's my helpful hint for clean up...
Use slow cooker liners.  They make clean up so easy.  When you get to the bottom of the crock-pot just lift the bag out and dump remaining contents in a container or toss in the trash.  There is a little sauce in the bottom of the crock-pot but no scrubbing involved.  A little soap and water and you are done.  I am so glad someone came up with them.  They are awesome!!!

I am Looking For Helpful Hints...

I really could use a few suggestions if anyone has any.  I would like to change up the blog a little but since this is still fairly new to me (I think I started this in October or November last year), I don't know how to.  I am just bored of the way it looks and I want something different...
In the mean time, when I get a few moments, I will just start to play with it.  I figure, what's the worst that can happen?

Crockpot Freezer Salsa Chicken

This is another one of the freezer crock-pot meals that I made a while back.  I am just having a hard time finding time to post this stuff.  I was going to take the time yesterday but since the weather was so nice I decided to clean the oven and steam clean the downstairs carpets.  It was the first time the temperature rose above 60 this season.  I opened a lot of windows and really took advantage of it...

Crock-pot Salsa Chicken

Ingredients:
3 or 4 large chicken breast
1 container of salsa
1 can tomato sauce
2-3 tablespoons taco seasoning

Directions:
Place all ingredients in a gallon size freezer bag.  Label the bag with date, name, and how long to cook.  If you really want, you can also add what you would serve it with.  I haven't done that but since these recipes were new to me, it would have been helpful.
When you are ready to cook it, take it out of the freezer the night before so that it has time to thaw.  Empty the entire bag in the crock-pot and cook on low for 8 hours.  When it is cooked, take the chicken out of the crock-pot and shred.  You don't even have to remove it from the crock-pot but it makes the process easier.  Then put the shredded chicken back in the crock-pot and serve.
Most of my children weren't home at the time I made this so it went a long way.  We were able to get several different meals out of it.  The first meal we served it on tortilla shells with cheese, tomato, lettuce, etc.  The second meal I created a salad and put that on top.  Another option is to serve it on dinner rolls or mini sub buns.  It would make awesome sandwiches.