Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings

My family loves Chicken and Dumplings, and so I was excited to figure out how to make it in the crock pot.  It seems we have crock pot Sunday's at our house, since church goes a little later than normal.  My first attempt was yummy, Shane and I loved it, although it wasn't my Nana's original recipe, I will be making it again soon!

2 frozen chicken breasts
1 can cream of chicken soup
4 cans water
1 handful of frozen chopped onion
1 handful of frozen chopped celery
1 cube chicken bouillon
10 tortillas
Pepper to taste

I dumped all of this into the crock pot (EXCEPT TORTILLAS) and turn it on high for 3-4 hours.  Shane sliced the tortillas into 1 inch thick strips with a pizza cutter, so they were ready to go when we got home from church.  Right when we walked in the door I dumped the tortilla strips into the crock pot, and added water to make it soupy.  I also took the chicken breast out and cut them into bit size pieces, but shredding them would work also.  Let cook about 30 more minutes, or until tortillas are puffy.  Enjoy!

Banana Bread

I have made this banana bread (or muffins) twice now, and we've loved it both times.  Over the years I have tried several different banana bread recipes, and they never come out consistent, but this one does!
Thanks to Money Saving Mom I now have an easy go-to banana bread recipe. 

• 2 cups flour (I used 1 1/2 cups wheat flour & 1/2 cup white)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup oil (I used 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup vegetable oil)
• 1 cup raw sugar (I used 1/2 cup sugar, and some honey)
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3-4 ripe bananas, mashed (I used 3 bananas)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 Tablespoons milk
• 1/2 cup to 1 cup chocolate chips (The first time I made this I used blueberries instead, the second time I used chocolate chips, although it would be delicious without either, or with nuts.)

Stir together dry ingredients. Beat together remaining ingredients.
Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and blend until just combined. Sprinkle chocolate chips in and stir.
Pour into greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for one hour and 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the bread comes out clean.
Cool in pan for 10 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack.
To Freeze:
Fully cool, slice (if you like) and wrap the cut loaf in plastic wrap and then in foil (or stick in a ziptop bag) and freeze for up to six weeks.
To serve: Pull out desired amount of bread and thaw at room temperature.

Whitney's notes:  I made 1 small loaf pan, and then the rest into muffins because they are easier to freeze, in my opinion.  Muffins also do not need to bake as long.  I also just freeze in a freezer zip-lock.  When we want to eat them, I microwave them straight out of the freezer, and they are great!

Pizza Crust

Pizza has become a favorite in our household lately.  Since it doesn't last long around here I have been doubling, or even tripling the recipe and freezing the dough.  Here is the recipe I modified off of the back of the pizza crust yeast package.

2 1/4 cups flour (I use at least half wheat, probably more)
1 envelope pizza yeast (although now that I bought regular yeast, I will try it next time)
2 teaspoons honey
3/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup very warm water
3 tablespoons olive oil (vegetable would work as well, olive oil is just healthier)
1 1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

I use my kitchen aid and combine 1 cup of flour, yeast, and salt.  Then add water, oil, and honey, mix until well blended.  Gradually add the remaining flour until soft dough forms.  I change to my dough hook and let the mixer knead the dough about 2 minutes (add more/less flour here if needed so it is not extremely sticky).  Now either freeze the dough in a ball, or bake pressed flat onto pan.  400 degrees, about 10-15 minutes.  You want the pizza crust to be mostly done, and crust-like before you add the toppings.  If you freeze the dough get it out of the freezer by lunch time and let it sit on the counter and rise until you bake it that evening.