Crockpot Applesauce {Simple & Sugar Free!}

This recipe is one I found on Pinterest, and here is the link to the original recipe.  Since I was doubling it, I used a tablespoon of cinnamon.

8 apples
1/4 c. water
1 T lemon juice
1 T pure vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon
(If desired, add sweetener of your choice.)

Core and slice apples into 1" slices.  Just leave the peel on.
Place in a slow cooker.  Add the rest of the ingredients, stir a bit, and cook on low for 4 hours.

Use a potato masher to make chunky applesauce.  Puree in the blender if you prefer a smoother texture.

(On another site, I read that homemade crockpot applesauce would keep in the fridge for 5 days but could also be frozen for up to 3 months.)

Pasta e Fagioli

1 lb turkey sausage, diced (or ground beef)
1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
1 C onion, chopped
3 tsp garlic, minced
 3 oz pancetta [Unavailable?  Try bacon!]
 4 C fat-free, low sodium chicken both
3 celery stalks, sliced 3 carrots, chopped
2 (14.5 oz) cans red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2 (14.5 oz) cans white kidney beans (or great northern), drained and rinsed
2 (14.5 oz cans) low sodium diced tomatoes
2 (14.5 oz cans) low sodium tomato sauce
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp basil
½ tsp dried rosemary
1 TBSP parsley
1 bay leaf
1 pinch of red pepper flakes
½ C ditalini pasta
grated Parmesan or Romano cheese, etc,. for serving

 Directions: Brown the sausage. Saute the onion, garlic, and pancetta in EVOO until tender. Toss everything into a large 6 qt crockpot. Stir well and cover. Cook on low for 8 hours. During last hour, add the pasta. Serve with crusty French bread.
~Compliments of Barb G.

Too Easy Cobbler

2 (20 oz) cans cherry pie filling 
1 (15 oz) can pitted dark sweet cherries in heavy syrup, drained
4 Tbsp all-purpose flour, divided
½ tsp almond extract
5 white bread slices, crusts removed
1 1/4 c sugar ½ c butter, melted
1 large egg

 Stir together pie filling, cherries, and 2 Tbsp flour. Stir in almond extract. Place in a lightly greased 8" square pan. Cut each bread slice into 5 strips. Arrange bread strips over fruit mixture. Stir together remaining 2 Tbsp flour, sugar and next 2 ingredients; drizzle over bread strips. Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes, or until golden and bubbly.

 Too Easy Peach Cobbler: Substitute 3 (16 oz) packages frozen peaches, thawed and drained. Omit almond extract. Proceed as directed, BUT use 9x13 pan 9-10 slices of bread 2 ½ c sugar (I would use less), 6 Tbsp flour (divided), 1 c butter, and 2 eggs

Jane Stone brought the peach cobbler to the RV rally, and it was a big hit, served with vanilla ice cream!

Cilantro Lime Rice

Apparently this recipe is a Chipotle copycat; all I know is that it's delicious!  Thanks, Nikki!

Here's the recipe copied directly from her blog (and thank you, Pinterest!):
Serves 4

2 Cups Low Sodium Chicken Stock
1 Cup Jasmine Rice, Uncooked
1 Large Lime, Zested and Juiced (or 2 small)
2 Cloves Garlic - Crushed
2 TBS Butter, cut into small cubes
1 Pinch of Crushed Red Pepper
1 large handful of FRESH Cilantro (Must be fresh or frozen, no dried) chopped
Salt and Pepper to taste

Cook the rice with the chicken stock according to the directions on the bag. Here's a tip for cooking rice - Don't touch it while cooking! The best thing that you can do when making rice is bring your liquids to a boil, add your rice and stir for 1 minute, then put the lid on and lower your heat to low and leave it alone until its done.  When your timer goes off, keep that lid on and remove from heat and let sit for about 5 minutes and you'll have beautiful fluffy rice every time.  If you take the lid off and stir it, or fuss with it, the rice tends to get all clumpy which is not what you want.

While the rice is cooking, combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl and set aside. After you've let your rice sit for the 5 minutes, pour the bowl over the rice and mix well, serve along side some grilled chicken or in your favorite burritos!

Alternate uses for dressing: If you substitute the butter for 2 TBS of olive oil in the dressing you can use this to marinate Chicken, Pork, or Steak! It's a fantastic all purpose dressing that I've changed up in numerous ways and it always impresses.  Enjoy!

Kale, Cannellini Beans, and Potato Soup

6-8 servings
15 minutes prep
1 hour cooking time

 2 Tbsp EVOO
1 large onion, diced
3/4 C chopped carrots
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 C low-sodium chicken broth
2 C water
1 C white wine
3-4 potatoes, cut in chunks
1 tsp rosemary
1 tsp sage
1 tsp thyme
1 16 oz can cannellini beans, drained, rinsed
2 C finely chopped kale leaves
1 small red chile pepper, seeded, chopped fine (optional)
ground black pepper to taste

Directions
Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat; cook and stir the onion until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the carrot and garlic, and cook for 5 minutes more.Pour in the chicken broth, water, and white wine; stir in the potatoes, rosemary, sage, and thyme. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes. Add the cannelini beans, kale, chile pepper, and black pepper, and simmer, covered, for 30 more minutes.

Cream Cheesy Pesto Chicken

1 tsp oil
4-6 small boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/4 C cream cheese
1/3 C chicken broth
2 Tbsp pesto

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add chicken; cook 6-8 minutes on each side or until done. Transfer to plate; cover to keep warm. Add cream cheese to skillet; cook on medium heat until melted, stirring constantly. Whisk in broth and pesto; cook and stir 2-3 minutes, or until sauce is thickened and well blended. Pour over chicken. Serve with rice.

Smoked Cheese Ravioli

one 16- to 25-oz bag frozen ravioli (cheese or beef)
one small bunch kale, torn into bite-size pieces
1 c. milk [I used 1%.]
8 oz. smoked Gouda, grated
1tsp dried parsley
1 tsp pepper
dash nutmeg

While the water is boiling, grate the Gouda.  Begin stirring the milk over medium heat.  Add cheese and stir often.

When water is boiling, add the pasta and cook according to the package.  During the last four minutes, add the kale.  Add the parsley and spices to the melted cheese.  Continue stirring.

When the pasta is done, drain.  Return to pot and add cheese sauce.