I have been figuring out easy meals this month, but trying to stay as healthy as possible, with 1 week to go until delivery this one tops the charts! It took me literally 5 minutes to make!!

I normally use my own spices for chili, instead of a packet, it cuts back on the unneeded sodium content. You can view my normal chili recipe. But, this one is all about quick, easy, and delicious.

I would not do this recipe with ground beef. It will be too greasy. Or you can cook the meat prior and drain it before adding it to the pot. But, it sort of defeats the...cutting back on time purpose.

Some like to serve chili over rice or noodles. I simply like mine on crackers. I also like a little kick to mine so I add hot sauce. I did not add it in the recipe though so make it as hot as you like. Also, some people don't like chunks of tomatoes, so just use crushed tomatoes instead, but not tomato sauce it makes chili too acidic tasting.

If you are on a budget, chili is inexpensive and goes a long way. If you are feeding a lot of people or want leftovers just double the recipe. This version feeds 4-6 servings.

I would love to hear from you. Enjoy!

Total Servings 4-6 Total Cost: $5.75

1lb of Ground Turkey or Chicken Breast
3 16oz Cans of Chili Beans-low sodium if available
1 32oz can of petite diced tomatoes-low sodium
1 packet of Chili mix (I used Publix brand)
1 Beer any kind-you can use water instead
1 diced onion-optional

**I put my ground turkey in frozen but was home to stir it as it thawed the first hour. If you are not going to be home you might want it to be thawed out
first.

• Put all ingredients into crock pot
• Stir up well
• Cook on high for 4 hrs
• Cook on low 6-8 hrs

Matzo Ball soup is a comfort food for me. I make it a little different then the traditional method, which does not have vegetables and chicken. I make mine more like a chicken soup with matzo balls as my dumplings. Oh so easy....Oh so yummy!

You can buy just the dumpling mix and use chicken or vegetable broth. That version is a little better for you and less in sodium. Also, you can use fresh chopped vegetables or whatever you really want or have on hand. It can also be made as a vegetarian soup!

This version is my quick and easy version, which I am really into at the moment!! And I know some of you like these type of recipes that make it quick and easy to make a homemade soup without all the fuss.

This is the brand I use from Publix it is in the Jewish food section at your groceryit is called Manischewitz.

I had a friend over last week for lunch and made this soup, she had never had it and loved it.
I take for granted some of my old recipes, thinking everyone must have it, and realize they don't. This one is one not to miss out on this time of year! So, I thought I would share it with you.

I would love to hear from you. Enjoy!

Total Servings 6-8 Total Cost: $6.00

1 Box of Matzo Ball with Soup Mix-low sodium if they have it (In the Jewish food section)
2 Chicken Breasts (frozen or fresh)
1 Bag of Frozen Mixed Vegetables
1 Small Onion
4 Red Potatoes (Optional)
1/2 tsp of Basil
1/4 tsp Ground Pepper
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder or Fresh Chopped Garlic
10 Cups of water

• Mix up Matzo ball Dumpling mix
• Place into refrigerator to thicken according to directions
• Chop up any vegetables you are using fresh, such as your potatoes and onion
• In a large stock pot bring ALL ingredients (Including soup spice packet and chicken to a boil)....But NOT dumplings yet
• Reduce heat to medium, simmer covered, until chicken is almost done
• Remove chicken from pan, place on cutting board
• When chicken is cool enough shred into small pieces
• Place chicken back into pot and bring to boil
• Take dumpling mix from refrigerator
• Roll dumplings into small size balls not to tight, drop into boiling liquid
• Then cook according to mix directions
• Serve warm

I had a friend this week that set up an incredible gift for myself and my family through a website that I had to share with everyone! It is called TakeThemaMeal.com. It is such a great idea...and best of all it is a free service just to help you organize meals to be brought to someones home during a time of need.

For myself I am having a baby, and have a 2yr old at home, so any help is very much appreciated! When you come home there is always friends and family that are gracious enough to help out with bringing you meals for you and your family. This is strictly a service that organizes the food being brought over, so that you not only don't have everyone come on the same day. But, also people can see what other people are bringing you so that you don't have the same thing for a week.

I am SO impressed with this simple website. It is great for anyone who has had surgery, elderly, a death in the family, or like myself a baby. It is such a nice and simple gesture to set up for someone that is going to be in need of help. It is also a great service for an out of town friend. You can even send them take out delivered to their door such as pizza :)

If you have a site that you want to share I would love to hear from you! Thank you Heather for doing this for my family! It is a gesture that I am looking forward to using for others in their time of need!

Right now the extent of my cooking is in the crockpot. As many of you are finding in life, time is an issue when it comes to cooking, and once you use your crockpot you never go back!

My friend Janna the other night raved about the pulled pork recipe that I have using a can of beer in the crockpot. So she wanted to give it a try using a whole chicken. I was interested in seeing her results and she loved it. So I had to give it a try and delicious, inexpensive, and easy. Doesn't get much better then that!

She used a whole chicken. My husband doesn't like chicken on the bone so I used breasts and then shredded the chicken into pieces and served with rice and black beans. You can use any kind you like. Cut up pieces, thighs, legs. Whatever you have. It will just fall off the bone!

You can play around with your seasonings. These are just a suggestion of what I tried and had on hand. Also, she used a fresh chicken and I used frozen breasts. She cooked on low all day and said it was moist and fell apart. I cooked mine 5 hrs on high and it did the same. So adjust heat according to your time on hand.

Thanks Janna for the great idea. I would love to hear from you. Enjoy!

Total Servings: 6 Total Cost: $3.00

4-6 Chicken Breasts or 1 Whole or cut up Chicken
1 Can of any kind of Beer
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Basil
1/2 tsp Paprika
1/2 tsp Black Pepper
1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
*You can use whatever spices you like

• Put all ingredients into crockpot
• If frozen cook on high 4-5 hours or low 8-10
• If fresh cook on high 3-4 hrs or low 7-8 hours if fresh

For another alternative to serving your bread with butter Olive Spread is delicious and very simple to make. It is always a hit for a dinner party or as an appetizer you can't go wrong. It is served best with fresh, warm, bread.

This is also a great low carb spread served on veggies such as celery.

You can also add feta cheese to it if you like. Follow the same directions and add 6oz of Feta Cheese to the mixture. If you have kalamata olives you can add them also. They are very tasty but tend to run a little more expensive, so they are not needed to make a good spread.

I would love to hear from you. Enjoy!

Total Servings: 8-10 Total Cost: $2.50

1 1/2 Cup pitted Black Olives
1 1/2 Cup pitted Green Olives
2 Cloves of Garlic
3 Tbsp of Capers-Optional
3 Tbsp of Olive Oil
3 Tbsp of Balsamic vinegar
Fresh Ground Pepper to taste

• Put all ingredients into food processor
• Pulse for 30-45 sec
• Scrap edges if any is stuck to sides
• Pulse 20 more seconds until everything is coarsely chopped not to thin
• Serve with warm bread
• Refrigerate any extra will keep for at least 4 weeks