Even though it’s still summer temps outside, school starting makes it feel like fall is right around the corner. That makes me feel like it’s acceptable to start throwing some fall meals into the mix. Plus, our lives are so crazy right now that having a crock pot meal ready when we get home is DEFINITELY a good thing.
THIS IS HOW WE DO IT:
Beef Stew w/Crescent Rolls
Going old school crock pot on this one. Stew meat, carrots, potatoes, onions, celery, and a package of crock pot beef stew mix. Bake up some crescent rolls and you have comfort food at it’s finest.
Grilled Brie and Apple w/Side Salad
One of these days I may get sick of this, but it’s unlikely. We use the George Foreman grill and a yummy brioche, but any bread will do. Slice the brie fairly thick and the apple fairly thin. Drizzle with a bit of honey, then grill.
Chicken Pad Thai
Again, not truly authentic but when it’s quick and delicious the kids don’t really care how authentic it is. Use any peanut sauce or dressing from the grocery store and pour the entire jar into a high sided skillet. Cut up strips of chicken and cook them in the sauce along with shredded carrots (my addition), garlic, bean sprouts, and scallion. Meanwhile cook up a pot of fettuccine. When both are done, drain the fettuccine and stir it into the chicken/sauce mixture. Serve topped with crushed peanuts and chopped scallions.
Caprese Turkey Burgers
Simply top your turkey burger with a slice of fresh mozzarella, thick slice fresh tomato, a sprinkle of freshly chopped basil, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
Cobb Salad
One of my favorite salads, full of flavor and quite hearty. I use chopped romaine, diced tomatoes, hard boiled egg, avocado, blue cheese crumbles, chopped bacon, diced chicken, homemade croutons, and with all of that why try to go light on the dressing… so I use either blue cheese or ranch.
Crab Roll w/Chips and Apples
This reminds me of being back on the east coast. I loooove fresh crabmeat, and this is a good way to stretch it out. No need to get too fussy with it, toss the crabmeat with mayo, finely diced celery, finely diced onion, salt and pepper. Take a hoagie roll, put a leaf of lettuce in the bottom to create a kind of “boat”, then scoop the crab salad mixture in it. That’s it! Serve with a side of kettle chips and sliced apple (you know, so we don’t get scurvy).
Pulled Pork Nachos
Start with these essential nacho steps. Use a salsa verde, or green salsa, as the base. Then put the pulled pork evenly over the chips (my sister-in-law gave us some amazing smoked pulled pork we’ll use, but any UNSAUCED pulled pork will do… pre-done stuff from the grocery store is perfect), spread an even layer of shredded monterey jack cheese, then microwave for a couple minutes. Top with sour cream and finely diced dill pickle.
Pulled Pork Nachos
