Easy One-Pot Chicken & Rice and Gooseberry Patch Giveaway

During my last few days of summer break, I worked through the "Quick and Easy" section of the new Gooseberry Patch cookbook 101 Stovetop Suppers.  I wanted to have some options when I just didn't have enough time to prepare the slow cooker  or have a ready casserole to throw in the oven. I need to have a few go-to recipes to keep me from the drive-thru while giving my kids a hot, quick meal.  This cookbook did not disappoint.  My family enjoyed the Sloppy Cowboys, Inside-Out Stuffed Pepper, Vegetable Quesadillas, and this Easy One-Pot Chicken & Rice. And, those recipes were only some in the "Quick and Easy" section; I didn't even work through the "Slowly Simmered" or "Serves a Crowd" sections yet!

I loved being able to open the spiral ring book and stand it up to follow the recipe without having to reopen the book a million times.  The recipes were easy to follow and kept me from turning on the oven. Jo Ann and Vickie now have a YouTube channel too!  I used it with my girls so they could help me in the kitchen.

ENTER TO WIN GOOSEBERRY PATCH'S 101 Stovetop Suppers

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 T. butter
• 2 10 oz. cans chicken, drained
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 15 oz. can mixed vegetables, partially drained
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 t. garlic salt
• 2 cups instant rice, uncooked
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup boiling water, divided
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup honey mustard

DIRECTIONS:

1. Melt butter in skillet over medium-high heat.  Add chicken and cook until heated through.  
2. Stir in broth and vegetables with remaining juice.  Heat until boiling; add seasonings.
3. Stir in rice and 1/2 cup boiling water.  Cover and remove from heat; let stand 5 minutes, until almost all liquid has been absorbed.
4. If rice is not tender, stir in another 1/4 cup boiling water; cover and cook on medium heat until remaining liquid is absorbed.
5. Stir in mustard.
   
   
   
   

Difficulty: Easy

Time: 20 minutes

Source: Gooseberry Patch's 101 Stovetop Suppers, copyright 2013

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English Muffin Pizza

My kids are picky eaters.  My husband and I tried to force them to eat the meals I prepared; we tried to make them sit until the plate was clean; we tried wrapping the plate and producing it for the next meal.   Dinnertime became a daily battle that we decided to stop fighting, but  I refused to live only to eat meatballs, ham, and pasta (okay, they DO eat a few more things). I will not make a new meal for the kids, but I do have foods on hand that they can organize easily into a meal.  

These pizza muffins are not only a safe alternative, but they are quick for those days we need to be at practice at 5:00.   Or, they are great when I am tired of preparing 3 meals a day and cleaning up tons of dirty dishes.

INGREDIENTS:

• English muffins
• Pizza sauce
• Shredded mozzarella cheese
• Italian spices
• Pepperoni or other toppings

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 
2. Split English muffins and place halves on baking sheet.
3. Top each muffin half with sauce (about 1 T each), pepperoni, and cheese or other toppings.
4. Sprinkle with dash of Italian seasoning.
5. Bake 4-6 minutes until cheese is bubbly.

In this picture, you miss seeing the one with no sauce and the one with no cheese...but they ate and asked for more.

Difficulty: Easy

Time: 10 minutes

Source: My friend Jennifer ate this all the time growing up