I have to cook dinner now???

I don't know about you, but I am usually done by the time school is over. All I want to do is go lay down on the couch and relax. However life has other plans for me (as do three little kiddos and a husband, plus a house and well, you know...life!) so laying on the couch eating bon bons is just not really an option for me. Things must get done, one of which is dinner.

Making dinner. Ugh. The bane of my existence. Can't we just eat cereal every night??

I suppose not.

So I have discovered something that has changed everything in my household. Wait for it......

My CROCK POT!!!

Why has no one ever mentioned how incredibly amazing and fabulous (not to mention easy!) this machine is in all of my 38 years???? It really is a teachers' dream. Set it and forget it as they used to say :)

Because I am now officially obsessed with my Crock Pot, I thought I would share a few recipes with you that my kids and I enjoy. They are easy to make and taste so yummy! Plus, they make dinner a breeze at home. I just put everything in before work, set the timer, and leave. I come home to a nicely cooked meal.

Salsa Chicken

This is the easiest thing on the face of the planet. You need:

1lb chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
1 jar salsa (any kind...I like medium)
1 packet of taco seasoning (generic is fine. I like low sodium)

Place all ingredients in the slow cooker. I tend to only use half of the taco seasoning packet. Cook on low for 5 hours. Shred chicken and serve with "taco stuff" (tortillas, cheese, sour cream, guac, tomatoes...whatever floats your boat on taco night)




Parmesan Chicken

This is a nice one because it is a self contained meal. You can eat just this and have all of your bases covered (although, we do usually serve with a salad or veggie in my house....something green....it looks pretty on the plate.)

This tastes better than it looks, I promise :)
1lb of chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
1 packet of onion soup
1 cup of uncooked rice
1 cup of Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 cup milk
2 cans of cream of chicken (actually cream of anything will do....I used cream of potato once and it was fine)
6 tbsp of butter

Mix everything except chicken and butter in a bowl. Lay chicken breasts in the slow cooker and place the butter on top of them. Then pour the mixture from the bowl on top of that. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or high 4 to 6 hours. You can add salt and pepper if you want, but I find it to be plenty salty with the onion soup and parm in there already.

Brisket

OK...so this isn't a Crock Pot recipe, but it is so so so so so easy that I had to share it. You can actually cook this the night before, put it in the fridge, then pop it back in the oven for an hour right after you get home from school.

1 3lb brisket
3 cans condensed french onion soup

Place brisket in a baking dish fat side up. Pour the cans of soup over it. Add water to the baking dish until the brisket is completely covered. Cover with tin foil. Bake in the oven at 350 for around 3 hours. When the brisket is tender, cut it into slices and you have a nice main dish!

What are some of your EASY go to recipes for school nights? Please share in the comments!!!