Red Bean, Chicken, and Sweet Potato Soup [slow-cooker]

RED BEAN, CHICKEN,
AND SWEET POTATO SOUP
[slow-cooker recipe]

2 (15-oz) cans no-salt-added red beans, rinsed and drained
4 cups sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
8 oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 (14.5-oz) cans chicken broth
2-1/2 cups green sweet peppers, chopped (about 2 large)
1 (10-oz) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (10-oz) can tomatoes and chopped green chile peppers, undrained
1 Tblsp Cajun seasoning
2 garlic cloves, minced
fresh cilantro

• In a 5 to 6-quart slow cooker, combine beans, sweet potatoes, chicken, broth, sweet peppers, diced tomatoes, tomatoes and green chile peppers, Cajun seasoning, and garlic.
• Cover and cook on low-heat settings for 10 to 12 hours or on high-heat setting for 5 to 6 hours.
• Served topped with cilantro.
• Makes 6 servings.

recipe directly from Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications "Good & Fresh" Winter 2013

Chicken Corn Chowder

CHICKEN CORN CHOWDER

1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
1 green pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 Tblsp vegetable oil
3 cups frozen corn kernels
1 14.5oz can chicken broth
1 cup potato, peeled and cubed (about 2 medium red potatoes)
1 cup half-and-half (or milk)
2 Tblsp all-purpose flour
2 tsp fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1-1/2 cups chicken, cooked and chopped
1/4 cup bacon bits (or 2 slices real bacon, cooked and chopped)

• In a dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and sweet pepper; cook until tender, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in corn, broth and potatoes. Bring to boil; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, about 15 minutes or until potato is tender, stirring occasionally.
• In a small bowl, combine half-and-half, flour, thyme, salt and pepper; stir into corn mixture. Cook and stir until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 1 more minute. Add chicken and bacon; cook and stir until heated through.
• Garnish with thyme. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

Broccoli Cheddar Soup (crock-pot)

BROCCOLI CHEDDAR SOUP

1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup onion, chopped
2 tablespoons butter or 
2 tablespoons margarine 
1 (10 ounce) can cream of chicken soup 
1 1/2 cups milk 
1 lb Velveeta cheese, cubed [half of the big box they usually come in]
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped broccoli

• Saute onion and green pepper in onion.
• Add all ingredients in crock-pot.
• Cook on low for 3 to 4 hours.
• Stir well and serve with crackers

recipe from Food.com

Like Soup? Check these out!

  

Polynesian Sausage Kabobs

I'll put up "Penny-Meal Mondays" linky again next week. Hopefully more will link up! 

Also, I'm doing a hop on Friday called "Flash-back Fridays" in which you link up a very old post from the past! That should be very fun! 

DON'T FORGET: I'm still looking for a blog or 2 that would like to co-host a hop! Leave me a message if interested!
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This was an absolutely FANTASTIC dish for camping or just grilling out at a campground. We went to our favorite "fishin' hole" and while husband and kids fished, I whipped these bad boys up. Ok, so I didn't just whip them up, there was some planning. But totally worth it. TRUST ME.

POLYNESIAN SAUSAGE KABOB

1/2 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup soy sauce (I ran out and only had 1/4 cup--and it worked just fine)
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup honey
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 pounds kielbasa sausage, cut into 1 to 1-1/2 inch pieces

1 small pineapple, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 small cantaloupe, cut into 1-inch cubes (or with "melon-baller" tool)
1 medium green pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces

In a large bowl, combine the first 5 ingredients. Set aside 1/4 to 1/3 of marinade for basting (cover and refrigerate).  Pour remaining marinade into a large ziploc and add sausage. Seal bag and refrigerate for up to 3 hours.

Drain and discard the marinade from the sausage. On metal skewer, add pieces of sausage, fruit and green pepper. Grill, uncovered, over med-heat for 10 minutes or until sausage is browned, turning and basting (with reserve marinade) frequently.

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I had each "item" in different Tupperware bowls, and when we got to our spot, assembled the skewers.

This is so good--the sausage just melts in your mouth. The "blackened" edges were even delicious!

And after 3 minutes, my tray looked like this: