Thanks to new blogger and cool girl Ashley Post for giving me the inspiration to post my favorite easy crock pot recipe.

Moms are queens of ease. They need meals that can be prepared quickly with one-hand in under 20 minutes. That’s why this recipe is among my top ten all-time favorites.

Beef Stew

Ingredients:
1 lb. small red potatoes, quartered
1 16 oz. bag frozen baby carrots (no need to thaw)
1 medium onion, cut into chunks
1-2 lb. boneless beef stew meat, cut into 1″ cubes
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 cup water
1 packet dry onion soup mix
1 10 oz. can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup Coca-Cola

Directions:
1. Mix the last 4 ingredients in a bowl (water, onion soup mix, cream of mushroom soup, coke).
2. Place all other ingredients in your crock pot in the order listed above.
3. Pour soup mixture over the stew meat.
4. Cook 9 hours on LOW or 6 hours on HIGH.
5. Serve with buttermilk biscuits or fresh french bread. Yum!

I like cooking and I like “eating in.” I actually prefer it to going out to restaurants. It’s just generally healthier, less expensive, and more delicious.

That said, I have a one-year-old who either wants to be held or entertained – and doesn’t appreciate her mama cooking for more than 20 minutes at a time. If she does decide to entertain herself, she almost always wants to set up camp right around the oven or under the stove, which is not at all safe.

For these reasons, I find myself returning to my five favorite recipes every single week: (1) chicken enchiladas, (2) angel hair pasta with tomatoes, basil, and avocado, (3) beef stew, (4) bean and cheese burritos, and (5) soup and biscuits.

These recipes are great, but I need a wider selection to choose from. The catch? I need recipes that can be prepared and cooked in 20 minutes or less (emphasizing the word, less).

Please share cookbook titles or full recipes that meet that criteria. I’m planning to expand my cookbook library within the next month.

(Photo by: *reesie)

Beef & Bean Tostadas are quick, easy to make, and delicious.

Ingredients:
* 1 pound ground beef
* 1 can refried beans
* taco seasoning mix
* 8-10 tostada shells
* 1 medium tomato, chopped
* 1 head of lettuce, shredded
* grated cheddar cheese
* sour cream
* salsa

Directions:
1. Preheat oven according to directions on tostada shell box and bake shells (usually only 3-5 minutes).
2. Brown beef over medium-high heat. Drain. Follow directions on taco seasoning mix.
2. Heat refried beans in medium-size pot.
3. Chop tomato. Shred lettuce. Grate cheese.
4. Serve buffet style.

Serves: 4

This is the perfect recipe for a meal with girlfriends or a weekend lunch for four. Try it – you’ll love this delicious variation of a classic dish.

Ingredients:

• 1 pre-cooked barbecue rotisserie chicken (about 2 cups small chicken chunks)
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 cup finely chopped carrots
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 cup Craisins
• Pita bread
• Optional: chopped walnuts

Directions:

1. Shred chicken into bite-size pieces – until you have approximately 2 cups.
2. Place the chicken pieces in a medium-sized bowl. Add celery, carrots, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and Craisins. Mix thoroughly.
3. Stuff the mixture into pita breads.

Serves: 4