Super Easy Suppers

So my cousin just came down to visit me last week.  It was really great to see her since she is pretty much my sister and my best friend rolled into one.  One night we got to watching the tv show Chopped on the Food Network.  For those who don't know this show takes 4 chefs and takes the most random ingredients and puts them in one basket.  The chefs then have to take those ingredients and make them into an  edible gourmet dish.  Well, this got us talking about what makes you a good cook.  Most of us use recipes to help us cook but some of use have been cooking so long that we don't need recipes to make delicious dishes.  However, there are those who can like those chefs on Chopped, open their fridge look at the random ingredients in there and whip up an amazing and delicious meal.  Needless to say, I am not one of those chefs.  I still use recipes to help me cook but since I got married 9 years ago, I have definitely improved and there are certain things that I can make from memory.  Well this week, I got thinking about what makes a great cook and by accident had to come up with a meal from what was already in my fridge and pantry.  And then tonight I did the same thing.  I thought I would share what I made.

Thursday Night:
Johnsonville Apple Chicken Sausages with green peppers & onion served with a salad.
I actually was going to make pasta and sausages but when I went to the pantry realized I didn't have enough pasta or sauce to feed all four of us.  So I had to think on my feet and this is what I came up with.  I didn't take a picture of this so you will just have to believe me when I say that it came out pretty decent.  I cooked the sausages in a pan with some water and then put them under the broiler while I sauteed the green peppers and onion in butter.  The family had the sausages in buns while I decided to skip the bun since I am on a diet.  Pretty decent meal for just throwing stuff together.

Friday Night:  Shredded Chicken Tacos with Spanish Rice and Corn:
Again I just wanted to see if I could come up with an easy meal without a recipe.  Its also getting pretty hot here in Texas soI wanted to make something in the slow cooker.  Here is what I ended up making.

Shredded Chicken in Slow Cooker

Spanish Rice with Corn

All I did for the chicken was put three chicken breast into the slow cooker and pour salsa and a packet of taco seasoning on top.  I turned it on low and cooked for 8 hours.  I kind cheated on the spanish rice.  I had 2 Uncle Ben's Ready Rice in my pantry.  So all I did was heat them up in the microwave and added corn in a skillet to heat up.  I then dumped the rice into the skillet and mixed it all together.  I served the chicken and rice in tortillas with avocado, lettuce and tomato.  You can use whatever taco toppings that you like.  Super easy and super quick.  I realize that I used packaged food items but you can always make your own taco seasonings and your own spanish rice.  I was just feeling pretty lazy.

Well, I hope you try these recipes or are inspired to try and see what you can make just from the ingredients in your fridge and pantry and your imagination.