Taste Tested and Delicious

If you are like me you probably sometimes get stuck into a boring repertoire of dinner foods. Mine usually involves a lot of pasta, pork, and ground beef/turkey. In hopes of getting out of this cyclone of boring meals I went to what I am known best for...google searching and found a bunch of easy, inexpensive, yummy meals. All which are kid and husband approved.

The first recipe comes from Weelicious and is absolutely fantastic:

Crockpot Pulled Pork Tacos

Photo courtesy of Weelicious

Pulled Pork Tacos (Serves 6-8)

1 Tbsp Cumin
1 Tsp Garlic Powder
1 Tsp Chili Powder
1 Tsp Onion Powder
1 Tsp Paprika
1 Tsp Oregano
1 Tbsp Salt
1 3 1/2-4 Lb Pork Shoulder, rinsed and cleaned
1 16 oz Jar Mild Salsa (I used Pace Chunky Salsa)
1 Pkg. Tortillas, corn or flour tortillas

Condiments: Salsa, Big Kid Guacamole, cilantro, diced onion, shredded cheese, sour cream

1. Place the first 7 ingredients in a bowl and mix.
2. Place the pork shoulder in the Crock Pot (slow cooker) and rub all over with the seasoning mixture.
3. Pour the jar of salsa around the pork shoulder.
4. Cook on low heat for 8-12 hours.
5. Remove the pork to a plate and using 2 forks, shred the into bite size pieces (I like to remove the visible pieces of fat).
6. Pour a scoop or two of the juices into the pork and stir to combine (If you want to remove the excess fat from the juice you will use, pour it into a cup and refrigerate it until the fat solidifies and can be easily scooped out. Only the juices will remain).
7. Place the pork into the tortillas.
8. Serve with desired accompaniments.

The second recipe comes from Mama Loves Food and is also a crockpot recipe.

Crock Pot Baked Potato Soup

Photo courtesy of Mamalovesfood.com

Slow Cooker Baked Potato Soup Ingredients:

• 5 pounds russet potatoes, washed but NOT peeled. Diced into 1/2 inch(ish) cubes
• 1 medium/large yellow onion, diced
• 10 cloves of garlic, minced (I used 5 tsp of jarred garlic)
• 64 ounces (8 cups) chicken stock or broth
• 16 oz cream cheese, softened (I use low fat)
• 1 tablespoon seasoned salt (I used Original Mrs. Dashes)
• optional garnishes: crumbled bacon, shredded cheese, green onions

Slow Cooker Baked Potato Soup Directions:

1. Add potatoes, onion, garlic, seasoning, and chicken stock to slow cooker.
2. Cook on high for 6 hours or low for 10 hours.
3. Add the softened cream cheese and puree soup with animmersion blender until the cheese is incorporated and about half the soup is blended. (I used my little food processor and removed  half the soup and added cream cheese to an upright blender, then re-incorporated).
4. Stir well, top with your choice of garnishes & enjoy!

NOTE: You can use cream instead of cream cheese to help in the calorie department but the cream cheese just gives it a nice baked potato tasting kick.

WARNING: Yields TONS of soup :)

Last Recipe Courtesy of Pinterest:

Taco Bites (Was the kid camp out spot at Super Bowl Party and gone within 10 mins). Also great for an appetizer dinner night paired with your other favorite appetizer recipes.

Taco Bite Ingredients:

• Wonton Wrappers
• 1 lb ground beef/turkey
• 1 pkt of taco seasong
• Shredded cheese of choice
• Shredded Lettuce
• Diced Tomatoes (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Brown ground beef/turkey
3. Add taco seasoning (follow directions of back of packet)
4. Press a wonton wrapper in each mini muffin tin cup
5. Fill each cup with ground beef mixture
6. Bake in oven for approx 10 mins
7. Add toppings
8. Chow down!

Yields approximately 24 Taco bites

Hope these recipes help inspire your dinner meals. I have a bunch more in my binder of recipes to try, as they get taste tested and approved I will post more for you all :)

Hope everyone has a wonderful Monday!

<3 Kristyn