Potato and Ham Slow Cooker Chowder

This super easy, healthy chowder is very comforting on cold days like we've been having. It tastes great and the barley and potatoes make it very filling.

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2 cups potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 large carrot, diced
1 cup leeks (white part only) or onions, chopped
1 medium garlic clove, minced
4 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup uncooked barley
1 piece bay leaf
1/4 tsp dried thyme, crushed
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 oz Canadian-style bacon, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1/2 cup evaporated milk
2 oz half-and-half
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In a slow cooker, combine potatoes, carrots, leek, garlic, broth, barley, bay leaf, thyme, pepper and bacon; cover and cook on low for 6 hours.

Stir in evaporated milk and half-and-half; heat through, uncovered, about 10 minutes. Yields about 1 2/3 cups per serving, for 6 servings.

Thai Chicken Pasta

This recipe was a bit exotic for our usual fare, but we actually liked it a lot, AND it was very easy, with common ingredients. I like to add sauteed red peppers and onions to the sauce. It's also even better served over Jasmine Rice instead of noodles.
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3 oz uncooked fettuccine (whole wheat if you want to be healthy)
1/2 C salsa
2 Tbsp reduced-fat creamy peanut butter
1 Tbsp orange juice
1 1/2 tsp honey
1 tsp soy sauce
Crushed red pepper to taste
1 cup cubed, cooked chicken breast
1 Tbsp chopped unsalted peanuts
1 Tbsp minced cilantro
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1. Cook fettuccine according to package directions.

2. Meanwhile, in a microwave-safe dish, combine the salsa, peanut butter, orange juice, honey and soy sauce. Cover and microwave on high for 1 minute; stir. Add the crushed red pepper till you get your preferred amount of spice. Add the chicken and heat through.

3. Drain fettuccine. Serve with chicken mixture. Garnish with peanuts and cilantro.

Nutritional Facts: 409 calories, 10g fat, 6g fiber, 33g protein

Cheeseburger Pasta

This was a good find! It takes 30 minutes to make, it's fairly good for you, and with the ketchup, mustard, tomatoes, etc, it really does taste like a cheeseburger. Dave liked it, and he's pretty young at heart, so I'm going to venture a guess that this will be a popular dish with the kids.
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2 cups whole wheat penne pasta
1 lb lean ground beef
2 Tbsp chopped onion
1 can diced tomatoes
2 Tbsp dill pickle relish (I just chopped up some pickles)
2 Tbsp mustard
2 Tbsp ketchup
1 Tsp steak seasoning (I used A-1 sauce, about 2 Tbsp of it)
3/4 C shredded cheddar cheese
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Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Drain pasta; add to meat mixture.

Stir in the tomatoes, relish, mustard, ketchup, and steak seasoning. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.

Sprinkle with cheese. Remove from heat and let stand until cheese is melted.

Nutrition Facts: 1 1/2 cups equals 391 calories, 12g fat, 4g fiber, and 30g protein.