Star Vegetable Soup (SO GOOD!!)

Found this on the back of a package of Private Selection brand Stars Pasta (which I found at Kroger store I believe) and it is SO GOOD!!!!   I have made this for church dinners and to send to people who are recovering after being in the hospital and all just loved it!   Yummers!

8 oz (1/2 pkg) Private Selection Stars Pasta
1 lb Ground Beef
1-10 oz pkg Frozen Mixed Veggies
4 c Tomato Juice (I use low sodium V-8 Juice or the spicy V-8 juice)
4 c Water
2 T Beef Flavored Instant Bouillon
1 t Basil Leaves
1 t Marjoram Leaves, Crushed
1 t Salt
1/2 t Black Pepper
1/4 t Garlic Powder
Parmesan Cheese, grated (opt)

In a large soup pot, brown ground beef and drain.
Stir in next 9 ingredients.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat, simmer 30 minutes.
Add Private Selection Stars and simmer another 7 minutes.
Serve with Parmesan Cheese.
Serves 6-8 generously.

Copycat Arby's Chicken Salad with Grapes VERY GOOD

Arby's Grilled Chicken and Pecan Salad

MY NOTES:  I made this pretty much as written but added a bit of sugar to it.   
I also used Freeze dried apples and Freeze dried celery as well as part Freeze dried chicken (because I didn't have enough leftover chicken).  I rehydrated the FD foods in a ziploc bag to which I added the grapes and pepper.  Once hydrated, I made sure that all liquid was absorbed and then just added the lemon juice, mayo and bit of sugar to the bag and squished it around to mix.  Nice and neat!  VERY GOOD!!!!
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups of grilled chicken breast cut into small pieces
1 cup of diced red apple
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup of grapes sliced in half
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 to 3/4 cup of mayonnaise
1 tablespoon of lemon juice (juice of one small lemon)
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
In a medium sized bowl add diced apple, and one tablespoon of lemon juice. Stir lemon juice into apples coating them well. This will help keep the apples from turning brown. Add chicken, sliced grapes, diced celery, and pecans. Mix well until everything is mixed through. Add 1/2 cup mayonnaise, if the mixture is too dry you can add another 1/4 cup of mayonnaise. Add salt and pepper to taste. Allow flavors to marry in a covered bowl in the refrigerator for about 1 hour before serving.

To prepare sandwich like Arby's use thickly sliced wheat bread, add a couple of slices of green leaf lettuce, and add about 1 cup of chicken salad to the sandwich.

While they do not toast their pecans, I think you could easily bring this salad to the next level by toasting the pecans in a skillet on medium high heat just until they become fragrant. Allow the pecans to cool completely before preparing the chicken salad.

In a medium sized bowl add diced apple, and one tablespoon of lemon juice. Stir lemon juice into apples coating them well. This will help keep the apples from turning brown. Add chicken, sliced grapes, diced celery, and pecans. Mix well until everything is mixed through. Add 1/2 cup mayonnaise, if the mixture is too dry you can add another 1/4 cup of mayonnaise. Add salt and pepper to taste. Allow flavors to marry in a covered bowl in the refrigerator for about 1 hour before serving.

To prepare sandwich like Arby's use thickly sliced wheat bread, add a couple of slices of green leaf lettuce, and add about 1 cup of chicken salad to the sandwich.

While they do not toast their pecans, I think you could easily bring this salad to the next level by toasting the pecans in a skillet on medium high heat just until they become fragrant. Allow the pecans to cool completely before preparing the chicken salad.

Based on recipe found at:  http://www.copykat.com/2011/07/26/arbys-grilled-chicken-and-pecan-salad/

Deodorant

Homemade Solid Deodorant

Ingredients:

1/2 cup coconut oil
1 1/2 Tablespoons beeswax pellets
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup arrowroot powder
10 drops each of Lavender, Lemon and Tea Tree Essential Oils  or whatever suits your fancy for scent if you want a scented deodorant

Directions:

Add the coconut oil, and beeswax pellets to a double boiler. Once melted, remove from heat and add baking soda, and arrowroot powder. Mix with a spoon until smooth and creamy in consistency, then add the essential oils and pour into your containers. Let stand to cool and solidify.

This works well in either a repurposed deodorant container or 4 oz mason jars.  Lasts a long time too!

Beef & Bean Burritos

Beef & Bean Burritos (1 meal)

In the container:
1.5 cups browned ground beef
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 cup onion, chopped
1 cup salsa
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
2 cups dry pinto beans
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup water

Cooking directions for day you eat:
1. Saute for 5 minutes
2. Set on manual, high pressure, 55 minutes, NPR (Note: this time cooks the beans, but doesn’t make them very soft. If you want softer beans, add 5 minutes to this cook time.)
3. Add 1/3 cup filling to each burrito. Top with cheese and roll.
4. Serve with chips and guacamole.

Extra items needed for meal:
1 pack burrito-sized tortillas
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 bag chips
1 container guacamole

Side item: Chips & guacamole

Hawaiian Chicken

Hawaiian Chicken (2 meals)

In each container:
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/4c soy sauce
1/4 cup soy & ginger dressing
1/4 cup ketchup
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup chicken strips
1/2 can Pineapple
Half of the sliced red onion
1 tbsp minced garlic
1/2 bag stir fry

Cooking directions for day you eat:
1. Saute for 5 minutes (add liquid if needed…there’s not a lot in this recipe.)
2. Set on manual, high pressure, 10 minutes, QR
3. Add trivet and PIP container filled with 1.5 cups white rice and 1.5 cups water
4. Set on manual, high, 8 minutes, NPR

Extra items needed for meal (side item): White rice

Egg Roll Bowls

Egg Roll Bowls (2 meals)

In each container:
1 cup ground beef
2/3 cup chopped onion
1 tbsp minced garlic
Half of the coleslaw mix
1/4 bag matchstick carrots
Half of the mushrooms
2 tbsp green onions
1 tbsp Sriracha
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce

Cooking directions for day you eat:
1. Saute for 5 minutes
2. Set on manual, high pressure, 10 min, QR
3. Add about 7oz of rice noodles (half of the box) and 1 cup water
4. Set on manual, high pressure, 4 min, QR
5. Stir in basil

Extra items needed for meal: 
1/4 cup fresh basil
1 14oz pack rice noodles

Side Item: Basil Rice Noodles

Balsamic and Brown Sugar Pork Chops (Chicken)

Balsamic and Brown Sugar Pork Chops (1 meal)
MY NOTE:  I am making this with chicken instead of pork chops.

In the container:
1c Brown Sugar
1c Balsamic Vinegar
1c Water
1 tbsp. Garlic Powder
1 tbsp. Salt
1 tbsp fresh Thyme
1/2 tbsp. Dried Parsley
1 1/2 lbs. bone-in Pork Chops

Cooking directions for day you eat:

1. Saute for 5 minutes
2. Set on manual, high pressure, 25 minutes, NPR  (Since I am doing Chicken Breasts, I will be usng 8-10 min high pressure, NPR)
3. Remove a cup of sauce and stir in corn starch
4. Place slurry in the pot, set to saute, bring to a boil to thicken (stir well) and remove from heat

Extra items needed for meal:

1 bag of steam-in-bag green beans
1 container mashed potatoes
2 tbsp corn starch

Side item: Green beans, mashed potatoes