Turkey (or chicken) Alphabet Soup

Can you believe I'm still using the turkey leftovers from Christmas Eve? I froze a bunch of bags of diced turkey after Christmas Eve and I'm so glad I did because it makes me try new turkey recipes like this one. I found this alphabet soup on Pinterest and it was so yummy and definitely a kid pleaser. All 4 of my kids loved this one. It's a wonderful, warm, and comforting soup - perfect for the flu season.:)

* As a note: I use Ultra-Gel a lot to thicken soups, but you can use cornstarch mixed with a little cold water.

Turkey (or chicken) Alphabet Soup

3 tablespoons butter
1 onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
2 stalks celery, chopped
12 oz package petite carrots
2, 32 oz containers chicken stock
2 cups water
4 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
8 oz alphabet pasta
2-3 cups cooked and cubed turkey or chicken
1 teaspoon onion salt
salt and pepper to taste
4 tablespoons Ultra Gel (or 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water)

Melt butter in a large pot. Add onions, celery, and carrots and saute for about 5 minutes or until vegetables are softened. Add chicken stock, water, and chicken bouillon. Bring to a boil. Add alphabet pasta, cubed turkey or chicken, onion salt, salt and pepper to taste, and Ultra Gel. Stir well and bring to a boil again. Turn down heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

Mini Sloppy Joe Pizzas

This recipe is great for making any kind of mini pizza, but this time I made sloppy joe mini pizzas because I had left over sloppy joe meat. I made these for my kids on a Friday night before my husband and I went out on a date and they were so happy to have these instead of the usual frozen pizza or macaroni and cheese. 

Mini Sloppy Joe Pizzas

Rhodes Rolls, thawed

sloppy joe meat (ground beef or turkey)

shredded cheese

Thaw Rhodes Rolls (as many as you think you'll need for the toppings you have - I used 11) for about 3-4 hours at room temperature, by placing on a non-stick sprayed plate and covering with non-stick sprayed plastic wrap. When rolls are thawed, but still cold, roll out with a rolling pin until thin. Place on a greased cookie sheet, or a cookie sheet with a silpat, and top with sloppy joe meat and then shredded cheese. Cook at 375 for 12-14 minutes or until the bottoms are golden. 

Creamy Wagon Wheel Pasta and Ham

This is a great, family pleasing, 30 minute meal that's easy to throw together on a week night. I hardly ever use wagon wheel pasta, but my kids thought it was fun and this has got to be one of my baby's favorite meals ever (something about that wagon wheel pasta being easy to grab and shove in her mouth). I pick up recipes all over the place and think this one was from flipping through a magazine at my son's orthodontist's office (if I remember right it was a Taste of the South magazine). I served it with some French bread and it was quick and easy.

Creamy Wagon Wheel Pasta and Ham

1 lb wagon wheel pasta
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped carrots
2, 15 oz jars Alfredo sauce (I used Classico)
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 teaspoon parsley
2 cups cubed ham
Parmesan for serving

Cook pasta in boiling water according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water and drain the pasta.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet melt the butter. Saute onions, celery, and carrots until most of the liquid has evaporated and the vegetables are lightly browned, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in the Alfredo sauces. Cover and reduce heat to medium low, simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in cooked pasta, peas, parsley, and ham. Cook until heated through. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen sauce to desired consistency. Heat through and serve with shredded Parmesan if desired.

Sausage, Rice & Noodle Casserole

It has been quite a while since I made this casserole, which used to be a staple of our newly-wed days. I don't know why it's taken me so long, because after making it again I remembered how yummy it is. It's easy and the sausage makes it a little different from your average casserole. My kids loved it, even my 1 year old, so I'm sure I'll start making it more regularly. It's such a homey tasting dinner.

Sausage, Rice, and Noodle Casserole

1 lb bulk pork sausage (I used 12 oz Jimmy Dean reduced fat sausage)
1 onion, chopped
1 cup rice
1/2 cup slivered almonds
4 cups water
2 envelopes dry Lipton Chicken Noodle Soup mix

Brown sausage with onion in a large skillet. Add rice and slivered almonds and cook until almonds just start to brown; spread into a 9x13 baking dish.

Meanwhile, boil 4 cups of water and add Lipton Chicken Noodle Soup Mixes to it. Stir well. Pour this over the sausage/rice mixture in the baking dish, stir around to distribute ingredients evenly. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 1 hour. Take foil off and bake another 10 minutes or until rice is cooked through.

Green Beans Almondine

This is such a great, classic side dish. I love green beans, especially with the nutty flavor of browned butter and almonds. It is also a great side dish for holiday dinners like Thanksgiving and Christmas. You could make these green beans extra special by adding cooked and crumbled bacon and Craisins. I used frozen green beans,  because that's what I had on hand, but you could also use fresh green beans.

Green Beans Almondine

2 lbs frozen green beans (I used frozen whole green beans)
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup slivered almonds
garlic salt, to taste
salt, to taste
ground pepper, to taste

Place green beans in a colander and rinse with water (I find this gets rid of any freezer burn taste). Place rinsed green beans in a microwave safe bowl, cover, and microwave on high for about 8 minutes or until green beans are heated through. Drain green beans and set aside.

In a large skillet melt butter. Add slivered almonds and cook on medium high heat until butter and almonds just start to brown. Add in green beans, a few shakes of garlic salt, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss green beans with butter and almonds and heat through. Serve immediately

Crock Pot Stuffing Chicken

This is a great crockpot chicken recipe. It's easy and the chicken turns much moister than a lot of crockpot chicken recipes. I bet you could make this with frozen chicken breasts, just increase the cooking time a little. I served it with green beans almondine (recipe coming soon) and crescent rolls. It was a lovely dinner.

Crock Pot Stuffing Chicken

5 chicken breasts, thawed
1 box chicken Stove Top stuffing mix
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
1 can cream of chicken soup

Place chicken breasts in the bottom of slowcooker. Dump box of stuffing mix (the dry mix) on top of chicken. In a bowl combine sour cream, milk, and cream of chicken soup. Spread the soup mixture on top of the stuffing. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours. Fluff stuffing and soup mixture with a fork and serve stuffing over the chicken.

Creamy Creamed Corn

I think creamed corn is a rather polarizing vegetable - either you love it or hate it. Well I think this recipe can change your mind if you're in the "hate it" camp. It is not like the canned stuff at all and it is oh so decadently creamy and yummy. How can you go wrong with corn, cream, and butter?? It's really good. I made it for Thanksgiving and I think I changed a lot of negative opinions on creamed corn with this recipe.

Creamy Creamed Corn

2, 20 oz packages frozen corn (40 oz total)
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons melted butter
3 tablespoons flour
ground black pepper to taste (I use about 1/4 teaspoon)

In a large saucepan/pot, combine frozen corn, cream, milk, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk together melted butter and flour. Pour this flour mixture into the corn and stir well. Bring to a boil again and cook until thickened. Add pepper to taste and more salt if necessary.