Creamy Crock Pot Chicken AKA Bag of Puke

I missed last week's pantry meal, but it turns out that my crock pot go-to is also my pantry meal go-to. So, here we go.
My kids call this Bag of Puke when we have it because I once took it in a gallon sized freezer bag to a friend's house and said to her, "I know this looks like a bag of puke, but it's my kids' favorite meal."
I randomly found this a couple years ago when I was searching for meals I could make ahead and freeze, and it was an instant hit that I've shared with lots and lots of other families. So, it goes without saying now that you can make this ahead and freeze it, right?
Rather than type it out, I'm just going to give you the link. You'll notice it is a very popular recipe, and I promise it is better to eat than to look at. You can leave the chicken big, cut into chunks, shred it, eat it over rice, in tortillas, or make it your own!

http://www.food.com/recipe/crock-pot-chicken-w-black-beans-and-cream-cheese-yum-89204

p.s. I don't actually own a crockpot. I make this in a heavy pot on the stove top over med/low heat with the lid on. Works like a charm, and dinner is done in under an hour!

Pasta Bake

Here is my "pantry meal"

I always have pasta on hand, and this works out well to use the random amounts of random shapes you have hanging around. (My girls get to pick out the pasta at the store, so very rarely do we have just one shape around.) Also, this is a good way to use up small amounts of various cheeses.

• Pasta
• Spaghetti Sauce
• Garlic Salt
• Mozzarella, Parmesean, or other Italian style cheeses

Boil the pasta to al dente - you are going to cook it again. If you are in a rush, you can heat the sauce while the pasta is cooking. I add garlic salt to the sauce as well, just for a little extra flavor. Once the pasta is drained, stir together the pasta, sauce and cheeses (we like to use about two cups in a square baking dish) together in a baking dish. Top with cheese, bake at 375 until warm and cheese is melted.

I missed it. This week's challenge.

See, I told you it would happen, and I wouldn't remember until Tuesday to post. Well, it is Friday. Bravo! to me. We've been awfully busy (I've helped feed 30 starving dances three meals a day for the last three days...next week I get to do it again, but for 50!)  So, in honor of being busy...what is your favorite pantry meal. (As in, I haven't planned anything, but I always have ingredients for this on hand.) 

Be looking for my grill recipe...I promise you'll love it!

Ashley