cranberry bars

1 cup butter
2/3 cup sugar (I used half maple sugar, half white sugar)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 bag cranberries

Warm butter ~20 seconds in the microwave, cream with the sugar.  Add the salt, vanilla then flour.  Spread 2/3 batter into the pan, put cranberries on top, drop small blobs of remaining batter over the cranberries.  Cook ~40 min at 350 until top is golden.

creamed spinach crockpot

fresh spinach (this filled my entire salad spinner)
1/2 block cream cheese
1 small container greek yogurt, plain
cornstarch (~1 tsp)
1/3 cup mozzarella cheese

wash spinach and spin dry.  Chop in large pieces, add spinach, cream cheese and yogurt to the crockpot, cook on high ~1 hr until spinach wilts.  Add mozzarella cheese and cornstarch and cook ~30 mins on low.  Add more cornstarch to thicken to desired consistency and serve.

salmon linguini

2 cans salmon
1/2 cup frozen peas
heavy cream
linguini
1/2 cup grated pecorino

Saute frozen peas in a little butter until crisp/cooked.  Mix in heavy cream, 1/4 cup pecorino and flaked salmon to warm (do not simmer).  Add in cooked/strained linguini, toss with another 1/4 cup pecorino to coat.

salmon patties

crockpot chicken and dumplings

1.5 lbs chicken thighs

3-4 carrots (diced)

1-2 celery ribs (diced)

1/2 can corn

1-2 sweet potatoes (peeled, diced) or any other veggies desired

dumpling:

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp melted butter

1/2 cup milk

Combine the first 5 ingredients, add a little water to just barely cover the chicken/veg.  Cook ~2 hrs on high until chicken is cooked.  Remove chicken and shred/dice.  Mix together dumpling ingredients.  Add chicken back to the crockpot and roll dumpling dough into small balls and add into crockpot.  Cook ~30 mins.

crockpot quinoa and bean dip/chili

1/2 cup quinoa

1/2 cup water

1 can kidney beans

1 small can or ~10 oz of desired sauce (tomato sauce, enchilada sauce, green chili sauce)

1/2 can corn (or 1 small can mushrooms and some pepperoni for pizza theme)

1 small can olives (optional, depends on desired end flavor)

1 cup grated cheese (mozzarella or cheddar depending on the above choices)

Mix quinoa, water, beans, sauce, corn/mushrooms/ect.  Cook on high ~2 hrs until liquids are absorbed.  Mix in half of the cheese, sprinkle remaining cheese over top.  Serve as a dip with tortilla chips.  If pizza themed-saute pepperoni to crisp up as a topping.

crockpot honey chicken thighs

1.5 lbs chicken thighs
soy sauce (barely coat the bottom of the crockpot)
honey (2 scoops)
balsamic vinegar, maybe 1 tsp

Mix the soy sauce, honey and vinegar in the bottom of the crockpot.  Add chicken, cook ~1.5 hrs until chicken is done.  Remove sauce and thicken in a saucepan until reduced by half.  It was still thin, put back in the crockpot with the chicken and keep warm until serving.

Maybe next time add cornstarch for a thicker sauce