Easy Chicken & Broccoli Casserole

I made this last night for my family and they loved it.

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed and cooked
3 cups cooked brown rice (you can use any kind of rice, I prefer brown rice)

1 1/2 cups raw, chopped broccoli

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 cup heavy cream

1 tsp each salt & pepper

In a large bowl combine rice, chicken, broccoli, salt and pepper and soup, mix well, pour into casserole dish and spread evenly. Pour cream evenly over top and cover with aluminum foil or casserole lid. Bake for about 45 minutes. Remove and check that broccoli is soft, if the broccoli is still a little hard, bake for an additional 10 minutes. Sprinkle cheddar cheese over top and broil for 5-10 minutes uncovered until cheese begins to brown or bubble.

Groundbeef and pasta shells

1 lb ground beef
1/2 red pepper, diced
1/2 green pepper, diced
1 small onion, diced
1 can tomato soup
3 tbsp ketchup (optional)

Cook the ground beef in a frying pan, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks, until there is no more pink left in the meat. Add green pepper, red pepper, and onion and cook until onion is turning transparent, about 5 minutes, add the can of tomato soup and stir well, if your adding ketchup do it now, (my mother made it this way, not sure why but the ketchup adds a nice flavor but it really dose not matter because it is really good without it also) In a large pot cook pasta shells following the cooking instructions on the package. When the pasta is cooked, drain all water and pour shells into a large bowl, pour meat mixture over shells and stir well.

Quick & Easy Recipes

Here are some quick and easy recipes that my family likes.

Calzone's

Dough:2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup milk

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 tbsp baking powder

1/3 cup vegetable shortening

Filling:

Depending on what kind you want, you can add

pizza sauce and pizza toppings

or

Swiss Cheese and Ham

or

Ricotta and Ham

or

Mushroom Marinaraor

Meat and 5 Cheese

Combine flour, salt, garlic powder, and baking powder. Blend in the shortening then slowly add milk to form a soft dough. Flatten dough and place onto a greased baking pan. Add sauce and toppings of your choice onto half of the dough, leaving about 1/2 inch between filling and crust edge. Fold dough in half and pinch or fold seam. Bake at 375F for 20 minutes or until bottom is lightly brown.

Smoked Salmon Crepes

3 ounces cream cheese

1/8 tsp each salt and pepper

2 tbsp sour cream

1 tbsp minced chives

6 cooked crepes (I also use wraps sometimes)

6 slices smoked salmon (very thin)

Mix the cream cheese, sour cream, salt & pepper, and chives. Spread evenly on crepes. Place 1 slice of salmon on each crepe. Roll each crepe and refrigerate until time to serve. When ready to serve, slice each crepe 3 or 4 times.

Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo

3 boneless, skinless chicken breast

1/2 can baby clams, drain but keep about 3 tbsp of liquid from can

2 cups heavy cream

1/3 tsp italian seasoning

1/3 tsp garlic powder

1/3 tsp onion powder

2 tbsp parmesan cheese (powdered or grated fresh) + 2 tbsp for garnish

Salt & Pepper

1/2 package fettuccini pasta

1 - 2 tbsp cornstarch

Cut chicken into strips, add to frying pan with salt and pepper (use a little oil if needed) cook until no longer pink inside. Remove chicken and set aside, keeping warm until needed. Cook pasta in a pot while making sauce. Clean out frying pan or use another one to heat cream, all seasonings and powders, cheese, baby clams and reserved clam juice on low to medium heat. Slowly whisk or stir sauce until bubbles start to form. In a small bowl add cornstarch with about 2 tbsp water, mix with a fork until creamy with no lumps, add a little more water if needed. Pour cornstarch mixture into pan and stir well for another 3 minutes. Drain pasta when cooked. Add pasta to plates, pour sauce over top, sprinkle warm chicken over top, and garnish with parmesan cheese.