Slow Cooker Whole Chicken

We often hear friends and family members complain that they don’t cook whole chickens because it’s too much work. This recipe proves it’s simple to make a whole chicken.

Ingredients

• Whole chicken, giblets and neck removed (you can buy them like this)
• Olive oil
• Garlic powder
• Salt and pepper

Preparation

1. Wash chicken and pat dry, then rub it down with olive oil.
2. Sprinkle chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
3. Roast in a slow cooker for 2 to 4 hours on high or 4 to 6 hours on low.

Rosemary Rump Steak

A few simple ingredients are all you need to enhance the rich flavor of a meaty rump steak. If you don’t have rosemary on hand, try thyme or a fresh herb blend instead.

Ingredients

• 4 rump steaks
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary
• Sea salt

Preparation

1. Rub steaks with olive oil, then sprinkle on rosemary and sea salt.
2. Grill steaks, turning once, until cooked to desired level of doneness.

Tenderloin Roast

Use fresh cracked or ground pepper for this easy tenderloin roast recipe, not the finely ground pepper in traditional shakers.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp cracked black pepper
• 3 tbsp minced garlic
• 2 tbsp salt
• 3 lbs of tenderloin roast, trimmed

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Rub roast with salt, garlic, and pepper.
3. Heat an oven-proof frying pan and quickly sear roast until lightly browned.
4. Place roast in the oven and bake until a meat thermometer reads 130 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on how well-done you like your meat.

Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Creamy goat cheese lends a velvety smooth texture to baked chicken breasts.

Ingredients

• 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 4 ounces of goat cheese
• 1 cup of spinach, chopped
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Slice chicken breasts almost in half, like a book, and fill with goat cheese and spinach.
3. Roll into logs and secure with a toothpick or twine.
4. Heat olive oil in an ovenproof skillet and brown breasts for about 10 minutes, then cover with foil and transfer to the oven.
5. Bake for about 15 minutes.
6. Serve with gravy or creamy sauce, if desired, and a side of mixed veggies.

Maple Salmon

Use real maple syrup, not the pancake syrup loaded with high fructose corn syrup and preservatives, for this maple-glazed salmon.

Ingredients

• 1 pound of salmon
• ¼ teaspoon of garlic salt
• 1 clove of minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
• ¼ cup of real maple syrup

Preparation

1. Combine garlic salt, garlic, soy sauce, and maple syrup in a bowl, then coat salmon with mixture.
2. Marinate for 30 to 60 minutes, turning once.
3. Place salmon in an oven preheated to 375 degrees for around 20 minutes.
4. Salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork.

Chickpea Salad

Chickpea salad is simple and satisfying. You only need 5 ingredients for this tasty recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 container or can of chickpeas
• 6 strips of bacon, cooked
• 6 cherry tomatoes, diced
• 1 avocado, sliced
• ½ a lime, juiced

Preparation

1. Drain chickpeas and pour into a large bowl.
2. Add remaining ingredients and mix gently to combine.

Makes 2 servings.

Asian Pork Chops

Why order Asian takeout when you can whip up these tasty, MSG-free pork chops in your own home?

Ingredients

• 8 small, thin pork chops
• 4 garlic cloves, halved
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Preparation

1. Combine garlic, soy sauce, sugar and oil in a mini food processor until pureed.
2. Place pork chops on a rimmed baking sheet and pour the marinade over them, making sure to coat both sides.
3. Let marinate for at least 15 minutes before cooking.
4. Grill over high heat until charred and just cooked through, about 2 minutes per side.

Sausage Mac and Cheese

Sausage mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food, and you can whip it up faster than your kids can say “Is it ready yet?” (Okay, maybe we exaggerated a little)

Ingredients

• 1 pound Johnsonville Italian Mild Ground Sausage
• ½ cup half and half or cream
• 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
• 1 package macaroni
• 2 cups shredded cheese

Preparation

1. Heat sausage until no longer pink over medium-high heat.
2. Add diced tomatoes, half-and-half, and macaroni. If the macaroni is from a box rather than a refrigerated container, add 2 cups of water.
3. Cook, stirring frequently for 12 to 14 minutes.
4. Sprinkle cheese on top and stir until melted.

Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed peppers are easy to prepare, and you can customize this recipe if you don’t like any of the ingredients. Try rice instead of couscous or chicken instead of sausage.

Ingredients

• 3 sweet bell peppers, sliced lengthwise
• 3/4 cup pearl couscous
• 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
• 1 14-ounce can fire-roasted tomatoes
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Brown sausage in a skillet, then add tomatoes and couscous. Do not drain the tomatoes - the juice helps the couscous cook.
3. Stuff peppers with all ingredients except cheese.
4. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove, add cheese, and bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes.

Simple Salad

We love that this simple salad recipe uses Mini Babybel cheese rather than shredded or cubed cheese from a package. If you follow a vegetarian diet, swap the meat for tofu or chickpeas.

Ingredients

• 2 Mini Babybel® Original semisoft cheeses, halved or quartered
• 1 cup lettuce
• 3 ounces ham, chicken, or turkey
• 5 whole grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 mini cucumber

Preparation

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
2. Top with olive oil or your favorite salad dressing, if desired.