Chicken Taco Soup

1 small onion, chopped

2 (16 oz) cans chilli beans

1 (16 oz) can kidney or black beans, rinsed

1 (16 oz) can whole kernel corn, drained

1 (16 oz) can tomato sauce

1 (16 oz) can diced tomatos with green chillis *

4 tomatos, diced

Juice of 1 lime

1 tbs cumin powder

1 tsp oregano

3 tsp taco seasoning or 1 packet

1 tsp Mexican chilli powder **

1 tbs soy sauce

3 pinches of salt

1 dash of black pepper

A few sprinkles of Tabasco if you like

3 chicken breasts

*- if you can't find diced tomatos with chillis use plain tomatos and dice the chillis yourself. Remember the heat is in the seeds so take those guys out if you want this sans heat.

**- Mexican chilli powder is the stuff from the US not Asian chilli powder. Going for flavor here not heat.

Toppings:

Cheese

Sour cream

Tortilla chips

Directions:

Place all ingredients except the chicken in a crock pot and stir to mix. Place whole chicken breasts on top and push down just so they are below the surface. Cook on low for 5 hours. Remove cooked chicken breasts and shred. Add shredded chicken and mix well. Cook on low for 1-2 more hours. Serve with chips, cheese and sour cream. Lettuce is another optional topping. Enjoy with friends.

Easy Pork Chops With Rice - Slow Cooker - Easy!

2 - 10 oz. cans cream of mushroom soup
1 - 12-14 oz. can evaporated milk
8 pork chops
1 small onion
1 clove garlic
2 T soy sauce
salt and pepper to taste

1. Brown onions and garlic in olive oil.
2. Sear pork chops in onions and garlic. When pork chops are seared add soy sauce to de-glaze.
3. In slow cooker whisk soup and evaporated milk. Add pork chops mixture.
4. Cook on low 6-8 hours or on high 3-4 hours.
5. Serve over rice and enjoy.

Preparation time: 10-15 minutes
Cooking time: 3-8 hours

Dinette Cake

A simple but delicious white cake.

Flour 1 1/4 c.
Sugar 1 c.
Baking powder 1 1/2 tsp.
Salt 1/2 tsp.
Milk 3/4 c.
Shortening 1/3 c.
Egg 1
Vanilla 1 tsp.

Blend, beat for 3 min.
Bake in 9x9 pan at 350 degrees 35-40 min.

Wacky Cake

3 c. flour
2 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
6 Tb. cocoa
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla
3 Tb. vinegar
3/4 c. oil
2 c. water

Mix well. Bake in 9"x13" pan (greased and floured) at 350 degrees for 35-40 min.

Flour Tortillas

Sift together:
4 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
Work in:
6 Tbsp. shortening
Stir in:
1 c. water
Form a ball. More water can be used if necessary, until bowl is clear of all dough.
Knead well on floured board and make balls the size of a small egg. Let stand 15 min.
Roll out with rolling pin to about size of salad plate.
Place on hot ungreased skillet and cook about 2 min. on one side. Turn and cook 1 min. longer.

You can also make tasty home-made tortilla chips from this recipe.
After cooking the tortillas as above, cut them into wedges. Fry in some oil and dip in guacamole or salsa.

Homemade Pizza

Pizza Dough/Crust

1 T. yeast
1 1/2 Cup warm water
1 tsp sugar
Dissolve sugar and put yeast into warm water.
Let it sit a few minutes--I butter pizza pans during this time.

Mix that yeast sugar water with 1 T. sugar, 1 tsp oil, 1 tsp salt. Add approx. 4 Cups flour and knead until a semi stiff dough. Depending on the humidity that day... add a little or subtract a little flour.

I roll it out and put it in the pan and let it rise in the pan. Here in Penang with high humidity, it takes about half an hour max. I bake the crust until it is slightly brown... maybe 10 to 15 minutes (keep an eye on it), that way it isn't soggy when you cook it with toppings on (with our high humidity, it is easy for crust to get soggy, so I highly suggest that you bake it a little before putting the toppings on). Put toppings on, and bake for 5 to 8 minutes longer until cheese is melted and a little bit baked.

Happy Pizza Partying!!
Missy Davis