Chicken Azteca

2 (15 oz.) cans black beans, drained
2 c. frozen corn
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 t. ground cumin
2 c. chunky salsa, divided
10 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese, cubed
cooked rice
shredded cheddar chees
Tortillas (optional)

Combine beans, corn, garlic, cumin & half of salsa in crockpot. Arrange chicken pieces over top. Pour remaining salsa over top. Cover, cook on high 2-3 hours or low 4-6 hours. Remove chicken & shred. Return to slow cooker. Stir in cream cheese. Cook on high until cream cheese melts. Spoon chicken & sauce over cooked rice. Top with shredded cheese. Or put in a tortilla with cheese & spinach leaves if desired. You can also put rice in the burrito too. This makes a lot. I usually halve the recipe & it feeds our family of 6 with leftovers.

Minestrone Soup

I like this soup because it's kind of a dump & forget meal. You just dump it in the crockpot & forget it. It's also healthy!
6 c. chicken broth
1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce + 1 can of water
1 (15 oz) can white beans (cannellini or navy)beans, drained
2 carrots, peeled & chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
1 c. onion, chopped
1 T. Italian seasoning
2 bay leaves
1/2 t. each Salt & pepper
2 c. cooked ditalini pasta
1 medium zucchini, chopped
2 c. coarsely chopped fresh spinach or frozen spinach, defrosted
4 T. parmesan cheese

In a slow cooker, combine broth, tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, carrots, celery, onion, seasonings. Cover & cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.

Thirty minutes before the soup is done cooking, add pasta, zucchini & spinach. Cover & cook 30 more minutes. Remove bay leaves & season to taste with salt & pepper. Ladle into bowls & sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Great with Lion house rolls.

We have also added 2 c. cut green beans & 1 c. corn to make it go further if you're feeding a crowd. Or we have substituted kidney beans for the navy beans.

Wendy's Chili

1 lb. ground beef
1 (29oz) can tomato sauce
1 (29oz) can kidney beans, with liquid
1 (29 oz) can pinto beans,with liquid
1 c. diced onion
1 can diced green chiles
1/4 c. diced celery
1 qt. stewed tomatoes
2 t. cumin
3 T. chili powder
1 1/2 t. black pepper
2 t. salt

Brown ground beef in skillet. Drain off fat. In large pot,combine beef, plus all remaining ingredients & bring to a simmer over low heat. Cook, stirring every 15 minutes, for 2-3 hours. Or put in crockpot on low for 4-5 hours. Great with Golden sweet Cornbread & honey butter.

Calico Beans

1 lb. bacon, cooked & crumbled (set aside)
1 lb. hamburger
1 onion
1 can baby butter beans,drained
1 large can baked beans
1 can red kidney beans, drained
Sauce:
1 c. Ketchup
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 T worchestershire sauce
1 T. liquid smoke
1 T. vinegar

Cook hamburger & onion until done. Put in crock pot. Add beans. Mix sauce together & add to beans. Stir well. Heat in crock pot on low 3-4 hours. When done, sprinkle with bacon to keep it crispy.