Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie Casserole

The family loooooved this one! I think my Instant Pot might be my favorite thing in my kitchen. I am not sure if I have mentioned that before. It probably won't be the last time! It's also a very cost-effective recipe that makes a large amount. The pictures of it make it look creamier than mine turned out. It had a light coating of the sauce which was fine with me. I think adding a little more broth and heavy cream would make it thicker if you wanted.

Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
Original Source: Pinterest
Approximate Cost: $12

Ingredients:
- 1 lb cubed chicken
- 16 oz frozen mixed vegetables
- 16 oz egg noodles
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- Olive oil

1. Place the IP on saute' and add olive oil, chicken, and all spices.

2. Saute' chicken for 2-3 minutes until the outside is white.

3. Add noodles, broth, and veggies.

4. Cook on manual high pressure for 5 minutes.

5. Do a quick release then stir in heavy cream.

6. Place IP back on saute'.

7. Cook 2-3 minutes until sauce is thickened.

Grandma's Soft Sugar Cookies

This is one another one from my Mom. I am pretty sure this is the one my grandma used, too, but I am not 100% sure on that. I guess I could ask my mom....

Recipe: Grandma's Soft Sugar Cookies
Original Source: My Mamma
Approximate Cost: Unknown

Ingredients:
- 4 1/4 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup shortening
- 1 2/3 cups sugar
- 2 eggs unbeaten
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 tsp vanilla

1. Combine all ingredients and mix well.

2. Lightly flour counter or cutting board.

3. Roll out to 1/4 inch thick and cut into desired shapes.

4. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.

5. Top with your favorite icing and sprinkles.

Sweet Potato Casserole

This is a Thanksgiving Day favorite in our families. This is the recipe my mom has always made and I could probably eat the whole pan myself! I never write it down and have to ask EVERY YEAR for the recipe from her. Not anymore!

Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole
Original Source: My Mamma
Approximate Cost: Unknown

Ingredients:
- 3 lbs sweet potatoes (3 large cans)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 stick softened butter
- 1/3 cup of milk
- Cinnamon
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/3 cup melted butter
- 1 cup chopped pecans

1. Beat together potatoes, sugar, butter, milk, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

2. Place in a 9x13 baking dish.

3. Mix brown sugar, pecans, flour, and melted butter in a small bowl. Spread over the sweet potato mixture.

4. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake

Oh. Em. Gee. This was AMAZING! This was my first cheesecake and I was very pleased with how it turned out. I was reading about water baths and that cheesecakes crack a lot of times without it. So I did it. It was pretty easy. I found a tutorial that said to use crockpot liners and others said tin foil. I did both. I wrapped the pan in foil and then tied the crockpot liner around it to keep the butter in and water out. It worked perfectly. I'd make it that way again. The original recipe I found gave instructions for both with and without the water bath. I am only going to include what to do with a water bath. I also removed it from the pan before I chilled it. I think probably that needs to be done just before serving. I'll try it that way next time and update.

Recipe: Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake
Original Source: Facebook
Approximate Cost: Unknown

Ingredients:
- 3 8 oz blocks of cream cheese
- 1 15oz can pumpkin puree
- 4 large eggs
- 3/4 cups of sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp all purpose flour
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 24 whole Oreos
- 6 tbsp melted butter
- 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup caramel topping
- cool whip

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. In stand mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add pumpkin, eggs, sugars, sour cream, vanilla, flour, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Beat until no clumps remain.

3. Crust: crush Oreos into fine crumbs and add melted butter.

4. Prepare 9" springform pan. Press Oreos into pan on bottom and 1/3 up the side. Add filling.

5. Wrap pain in foil and then slow cooker liner. Place in a baking dish. Fill baking dish with boiling water.

6. Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes or until slightly jiggly in the middle (Idk WTF that even means but it took me more like 1 hour and 30 minutes until the jiggle was slight and not excessive.)

7. Turn off oven and prop door open for 1 hour. Remove from dish and unwrap. Chill for 4 hours or overnight. Drizzle with chocolate and caramel before serving.

Crockpot Pulled Pork

This is a pretty simple and common recipe. I mean, pulled pork isn't hard.

Recipe: Pulled Pork
Original Source: Pinterest
Approximate Cost: $17

Ingredients:
- 4-5 lb pork butt/shoulder roast
- Salt, pepper, garlic powder
- 1 onion sliced
- 1 can Dr. Pepper
- 3/4 cups BBQ sauce
- Rolls

1. Place onion in bottom of slow cooker. Rub roast with salt, pepper, and garlic powder then place in crockpot.

2. Pour Dr. Pepper over roast. Cook on high 4-5 hours or low 7-8 hours.

3. Shred pork and add back to juices.

4. Add BBQ sauce and cook another 30-60 minutes.

Taco Spaghetti

This recipe is life, yo. So freaking good!! If you make nothing else I post, make this. And you're welcome.

Recipe: Taco Spaghetti
Original Source: Pinterest 
Approximate Cost: $15

Ingredients:
- 8 oz spaghetti noodles
- 1 1/4 lb ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 2/3 cups water
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 1 10oz can of Rotel
- 8oz velveeta
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar

1. Cook pasta and drain.

2. Brown beef and drain grease. Add taco season and water. Cook for 5 minutes.

3. Add soup, velveeta, and Rotel. Cook until cheese melts.

4. Stir in noodles and place in 9x9 baking dish. Top with cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Baked Ziti

I couldn't eat this one. I took a bite and the Alfredo wasn't liking me. I have a dairy allergy and some thins I can eat and some things I can't. I can't figure it all out. Anyway. Cody and McKenna really liked it. I am thinking next time, so I can eat it, that instead of using Alfredo sauce I'll just use more marinara. It'll cook the same but it won't be as creamy I guess. But I want to eat it.

Recipe: Baked Ziti
Original Source: Pinterest
Approximate Cost: $11

Ingredients:
- 1lb ground beef
- 1 32 oz jar of spaghetti sauce
- 1 16oz jar of Alfredo
- 1 16oz box penne pasta
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 2 cups shredded mozarella

1. Set oven to 350

2. Spray 9x13 with non-stick spray

3. Prepare pasta according to package

4. Brown beef and onion until cooked through. Drain grease.

5. Add spaghetti sauce to beef.

6. Add Alfredo sauce to drained, dried pasta

7. Put pasta/Alfredo mixture into 9x13 pan and cover with meat/sauce mixture

8. Top with mozzarella cheese

9. Cover with foil and bake 15 minutes. Remove foil and cook another 15 minutes.