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We all have those favorite dishes that we couldn’t wait for our moms to make us.  One of mine was her potato chip chicken.  It was always a special treat when she would prepare this, and now I bring it to you with just three simple ingredients in under 10 minutes.  Since it is the most wonderful time of the year, I couldn’t pass up trying this recipe with Trader Joe’s seasonal stuffing flavored potato chips.  You can make this with any chip you like, and dip them in any sauce that you would like

	Ingredients serves 5	Cost
1	1 .5 lb package of  organic chicken tenders	$8.49
2	Bag of potato chips. (You Will use 36 chips for this)	$1.99*
3	2 large eggs	$0.20*
	Total	$10.68( $2.14 per serving)

Thanksgiving, happens to be many peoples favorite holiday.  We wait all year for that delicious meal,that takes hours to cook, minutes to eat, and lasts a lifetime on our hips.  Now you can have your favorite comfort foods, all in one skillet, in under 10 minutes, anytime of the year, for a fraction of the cost and calories.  We think you will be thankful for this one.

	Ingredients serves 5	Cost
1	1 .5 lb package of turkey cutlets	$5.93
2	1 container Maripossa ( save carrots)	$2.99*
3	1.5 c cornbread stuffing mix	$1.33*
4	12 oz fresh cranberries	$2.00*
5	1 small carton turkey gravy	$ 1.49
	Total	$13.74($2.75per serving)

Who loves street meat raise their hand???? I bet all of you raised your hands! There is something so magical about the fresh taste of gyros you can get from a street vendor, now you can get the same wonderful taste in the comfort of your own home.  Our version is pretty healthy too, since you know exactly what is going into it.  The carb count on this one is a bit higher because of the naan bread, but the garlic naan is sooooo good it is worth every carb! If you want to omit the carbs try a whole leaf of romaine lettuce with onion, the turkey and the ranch dressing, and make a lettuce wrap.  Can’t wait for you to try this one.  I promise it will be a hit.

	Ingredients serves 4	Cost
1	1 pkg frozen garlic naan bread	$1.99
2	1 bag chopped romaine lettuce	$0.67*
3	1 container diced yellow onions	$0.90*
4	4T organic ranch dressing	$0.08*
5	2 C pulled turkey	$ 7.86
	Total	$11.50($2.87per serving)

This soup could be one of my best recipes yet!  I know I say that every week, but this one really is special.  When I create a recipe, I think of things that would go well together.  When  I tested this one,  it was better than I could have possibly imagined. It was so good that I made it three days straight. It uses two cups of the pulled turkey from the crockpot recipe, leaving you with still enough turkey left for our final recipe pulled turkey recipe that the will bring you next Monday!!

	Ingredients Serves 6	Cost
1	1 box free range chicken broth	$1.99
2	1 jar Trader Joe’s chunky salsa	$1.99
3	1 jar Trader Joe’s cowboy caviar	$2.79
4	2 T fresh cilantro	$0.10*
5	2 C pulled turkey	$ 7.86
	Total	$14.73($2.45per serving)

 

You know that addicting buffalo chicken recipe that is ever so popular at pot lucks? Well that is the recipe that inspired me to create this amazing recipe.  I wanted to end Crocktober with a Turkey dish, that would give you enough turkey meat to make a few days worth of meals.  By using two packages of Turkey Tenderloins you will get enough pulled turkey for our next two part series on pulled turkey!  I added some frozen cauliflower gnocchi when I prepared this.  You can mix it up by adding sweet potatoes , squash, green beams. really anything that you like will taste delicious in this sauce.  The zhoug gives it just enough spice, that will carry over nicely into our other upcoming recipes.   Turkey meat will last about 5 days in the fridge, so you may want to wait on this one till we post the next two recipes.

	Ingredients make 3 different dinners	Cost
1	2 Packages Fresh Turkey Tenderloins	$  9.60 per package
2	1 Container Zhoug	$2.99
3	1/2 bottle of organic Ranch Dressing	$ 1.40*
	* cost for amount of product used
	Total	$23.59($7.86 for your turkey portion of your evening meal if you use for 3 meals)

 

Nutrition Facts (4 ounce serving)
Calories	220
Carbs	3g
Fats	11g
Protein	28.5g
Sugar	1g
Fiber	0.2g
	Source: MyFitnessPal

*Ingredients sourced from Trader Joe’s and Giant Eagle

Directions

Step 1: Spray your crock pot with olive oil spray and set to H or L

Step 2: Place all 4 tenderloins in crock pot.

Step 3: Put entire cartoon of zhoug on top of the tenderloins.

Step 4:  Pour half the jar of ranch dressing on top and mix the two sauces.

Step 5:  Cook on high 6 hours, low 12 hours.  If you would like to add a side dish add the last hour on low , half hour on high.  I used a frozen bag of cauliflower gnocchi.  Note this recipe will make enough turkey for three different meals.

Step 6: Enjoy!

One of my all time favorite recipes, and now I am happy to share it with you! You will love how simple this recipe is and versitile too. You can make this with any type of meatballs and it will turn out great.  It is a wonderful dish to bring along for a potluck as well.  Even though we use a whole jar of the jelly, the sugar content is not that high because you are coating your meatballs. I don’t use the sauce I keep that in the crock pot and scoop out my meatballs on to a plate, and serve with the squash.  You will love how easy the squash is to make! No more messing with cutting up a whole squash and cooking it for over an hour.  The chunks of squash from Trader Joe’s is one of their greatest new additions.  This comfort food is sure to be a winner.  Be sure to keep sending me your pictures.

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	Ingredients Serve 6	Cost
1	2 Packages Frozen Turkey Meatballs	$7.98 ( for the two)
2	1 Jar Concord Grape Jelly	$2.98
3	1 Bottle of  BBQ Sauce	$2.69
4	1 Bag of spaghetti Squash Chunks	$3.29
	Total	$16.94($2.82per serving)

 

Nutrition Facts (Per 4 meatballs)
Calories	274
Carbs	28.5g
Fats	10.3g
Protein	24.7g
Sugar	14.5g
Fiber	5.4g
	Source: MyFitnessPal

*Ingredients sourced from Trader Joe’s and Giant Eagle

Directions

Step 1: Spray your crock pot with olive oil spray and set to H or L

Step 2: Pour in the entire jar of BBQ sauce and add entire jar of jelly,stir well.

Step 3: Add both bags of frozen meatballs, and coat with the sauce. Cook on high for 3hours low for 6 hours.

Step 4:  Pierce bag of squash and place in microwave for about 4 minutes. When done break apart in a bowl and store in fridge till your meatballs are done.

Step 5:  When meatballs are cooked through, warm up your squash and serve together.

Step 6:  Enjoy!

Crock Pot Chicken is one of the easiest and most versatile meals you can prepare.   I love it because you can mix up your sauces, and vegetables to get so many different variations of the same meal.  It is a great way to get creative with your cooking!!  Min Dins is an outlet for just that!  You may have a go to chicken recipe, but maybe you didn’t think about mixing Italian Dressing with Worcestershire sauce, or salsa with tarter sauce, or using straight balsamic dressing over pot roast….. I am not teaching brain surgery, I am just here to share some great recipes that I have prepared for years.  I hope that you enjoy them, and they inspire you to keep on cookin’. xoxo

	Ingredients Serves 6	Cost
1	5 LB ( or so they very) Whole Chicken	$8.36
2	1/2 Bottle Fat Free Italian Dressing.	$0.99*
3	1/4 C Worcestershire Sauce	$0.70*
4	2 Packages sliced Brussels Sprouts	$3.29 each
5	1 Orange	$ 0.89
	Total	$19.21($3.20 per serving)

When I think of fall, I always think of the leaves turning, sweater weather,  football, and CHILI!!!!! Who doesn’t love a good home made bowl of chili?  What would Crocktober be without a wonderful chili recipe?  I have taken my traditional recipe, that uses a zillion ingredients, and pared it down to just 5 simple ingredients. This not only saves you time, it saves you money.  By using the chunky salsa, and the corn salsa, you are getting a lot of the ingredients that I typically put in my chili, with out actually having to buy them and chop them up. Onions, bell peppers, celery, corn, and of course wonderful seasonings.  I always use mushrooms in my recipe, since this video is shot without edits, I popped them in at the end, yep I forgot to put them out with my ingredients, lol  as they say ” the show must go on” , so I improvised and I bring you the finished product photo complete with mushrooms,  on our Instagram site.

	Ingredients make 8 Cups of Chili	Cost
1	1 lb 4% lean ground beef	$5.49
2	1 Jar Cowboy Caviar	$2.79
3	3 Jars Chunky Salsa	$1.99(each
4	1 Can Organic Kidney Beans	$0.99
5	1 Carton of Mushrooms (optional)	$ 2.29
	Total	$17.53($2.19 per cup)

Nutrition Facts (Per Cup)
Calories	172
Carbs	25.5
Fats	2g
Protein	15.9g
Sugar	11g
Fiber	4.4g
	Source: MyFitnessPal

*Ingredients sourced from Trader Joe’s

Directions

Step 1: Spray pan with olive oil spray add meat and set pan to m/h heat.

Step 2: Using your handy dandy chopping tool, start chopping up meat.

Step 3: Place browned meat into crock pot

Step 4: Add remaining ingredients and stir with your handy dandy chopping tool

Step 5: Cook on low for 6 hours, or on high for 3 hours.

Step 6: Enjoy!

I love this time of year, when the leaves start turning, the weather gets crisp, and the CROCK POT comes out!!!! If you don’t own a crock pot, now is the time to invest in one.  You can find them everywhere, but if you don’t want to go out shopping, Amazon has plenty to choose from for under $30.  Make sure you buy a nice size one so that it will fit a whole meal.  I have a whole series of Crock Pot Recipes to bring you this fall, that you will “fall” in love with. Super quick to prepare, and to clean, just throw in your ingredients turn on your setting, and walk away.  When you come home dinner is ready to be served, and with these fool proof recipes, your dinner will be a winner.

	Ingredients Serve 6	Cost
1	1 Pkg Cabernet Pot Roast	$12.98*
2	1 Container Diced Yellow Onions	$1.79
3	1 Bag of Little Potatoes	$2.49
4	1 Bag of Little Carrots	$3.99
5	1  Jar Fat Free Balsamic Vinegar Dressing	$1.99
	Total	$23.24($3.90 per serving)

*Please note: the cost of this item is for a 2lb roast.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories	228
Carbs	24.7g
Fats	3.5g
Protein	24.3g
Sugar	11.5g
Fiber	3.2g
	Source: MyFitnessPal

*Ingredients sourced from Trader Joe’s and Giant Eagle

Directions

Step 1: Spray a cast iron skillet with Olive Oil spray then set on M/H.

Step 2: Brown the pot roast on both sides.

Step 3: Spray your crock pot with a little olive oil spray. Place entire container of diced yellow onions on bottom of crock pot. ( set crock pot to high or low depending on the time you want to cook it.

Step 4:  Place the pot roast directly on top of the onions.

Step 5:  Put your potatoes, and carrots over your pot roast.

Step 6:  Pour the entire jar of Dressing over the top of everything.

Step 7: Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Step 8:  Enjoy!

Since my boys were little they loved going for Chinese Food.  One of their favorite things to get was always Minced Chicken in Lettuce. Now as grown men, they still always order and love this dish, so when a friend of mine asked if I do anything in lettuce wraps , my creative wheels started turning.  I came up with this super quick, super easy, and super low cal version you can make at home.  This is also an easy dish to substitute the chicken with your favorite vegetarian option if you choose.  Since this dish makes 8 wraps, servings very depending on appetite.  You can serve this up with a side of our Chicken Fried Rice Recipe that you can find in our recipe section or with our quick and easy Won Ton Soup recipe that you can find in our Fun Tip section.

	Ingredients make 8 Lettuce Wraps	Cost
1	lb ground chicken	$3.49
2	4 scallions chopped	$0.32*
3	8 romaine lettuce leaves	$0.93*
4	1/2 jar or Mango Ginger Chutney	$1.25*
5	1/4 C of low sodium soy sauce	$0.35*
	Total	$6.34($0.79 per wrap)

Nutrition Facts (Per wrap)
Calories	117
Carbs	7.6g
Fats	4.5g
Protein	11.2g
Sugar	6g
Fiber	0.2g
	Source: MyFitnessPal

*Ingredients sourced from Trader Joe’s

Directions

Step 1: Spray pan with olive oil spray add meat and set pan to m/h heat.

Step 2: Using your handy dandy chopping tool, start chopping up meat.

Step 3: While meat is browning ,chop up scallions.

Step 4: Drain meat when it is cooked and add your scallions to the pan.

Step 5: Add your chutney and soy sauce to the pan and heat through.

Step 6: Place 8 lettuce leaves on a serving platter, and spoon mixture into each piece of lettuce.

Step 7: Enjoy!