Chicken Stuffing Casserole

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 pkg stuffing
1 can cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup
1 can green beans

Prepare stuffing according to package directions; set aside. Place chicken in baking dish. Add a small amount of milk or sour cream if desired to cream soup, then mix with green beans. Pour soup and beans over chicken. Cover with stuffing. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until chicken is done. Serves 4-6.

Note: Years ago, Stove Top used to put a recipe like this on the back of the stuffing box. It was the first recipe that I remember making on my own, and is still one of my favorites. It is also tasty with broccoli instead of green beans, or just cream soup. One time I made it with cornbread-flavored stuffing and used chili in place of cream soup.  For a variation, use turkey instead of chicken. (Great with Thanksgiving leftovers.)

Cooker Chops

4 pork chops
10 3/4-oz can cream of mushroom soup
1/4 c. ketchup
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1. Put chops in slow cooker.
2. Combine remaining ingredients. Pour over chops.
3. Cover. Cook on High 3-4 hours, or Low 8-10 hours.
Variation: Add one sliced onion to mixture.

Notes: Up until this entry, B and I had personally made all the recipes on this blog. This is my first exception. Jill and Brett had us over for dinner last Saturday and made this for us. Thanks, Jill and Brett! Jill mentioned that she liked this better when served over potatoes.

Chicken Roll Ups

Crescent roll dough (we used 2 of the large crescent roll packages)
chopped/shredded cooked chicken (we used 1 large can)
cream cheese
shredded cheese
sour cream
crushed rosemary
pepper
season salt
chopped fresh spinach (optional)

Start by mixing the cream cheese, sour cream, rosemary, pepper, and salt together. Add the chicken, shredded cheese, and chopped spinach. It should stick together in mounds and not run all over. Scoop the filling onto the fat end of the crescent rolls. Roll up and seal the edges. Sprinkle with rosemary if desired. Bake at the temperature indicated on the crescent roll package until golden on top.

Variation: use tuna fish instead of chicken.

Notes: Quick, easy, and very tasty. B got this recipe from her sister, and it didn't come with exact amounts. If I remember, I will ask B how much of everything she used. The ingredients we used made 12 roll ups.

Chicken Gumbo Sloppy Joes

Ingredients
1 lb. hamburger
1 can Campbell's Chicken Gumbo soup
ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar to taste

Directions
Cook hamburger; drain. Mix in soup and boil for a while until it is no longer runny. Add ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar to taste. Serve on hoagie or hamburger buns. Makes enough for 4-6 sandwiches.

Notes:  This is the way B's mom makes sloppy joes. I liked it enough to have seconds, even though we ran out of buns. Updated 10/16/11 with a new photo.

Fettuccine alla Carbonara

6 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
6 ounces dried fettuccine or linguine (we only had spaghetti, so that's what we used)
1 beaten egg
1 cup half-and-half, light cream, or milk
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
1/4 cup snipped fresh parsley
Coarsely ground black pepper

1. Cook bacon until crisp. Drain.
2. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain; keep warm.
3. Meanwhile, for sauce, in a saucepan combine egg, half-and-half, and butter. Cook and stir over medium heat until egg mixture just coats a metal spoon (about 6 minutes); do not boil. Immediately pour sauce over pasta; stir gently to coat.
4. Add cooked bacon, Parmesan cheese, and parsley; stir gently to combine. Season with pepper. Serve immediately.

Note: Brittany and I thought this could have used a bit more flavor, but we didn't have as much Parmesan cheese as the recipe called for. Recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book, 12th edition. Makes 4 servings.