The Caitlin Moss Blog

For the 12th (and final) meal of Christmas: Italian Sausage Subs 1 package Italian sausage links 1 green bell pepper (chopped or sliced) 1 red bell pepper (chopped or sliced) 1 cup red wine (I use pinot noir) Season with garlic powder & dried basil 8 hrs on low. Cut up sausage and stuff into Italian loaves or a hoagie and top with parmesan cheese. My family loves these - hopefully yours will too! So, that's it. My 12 meals of Christmas. How about that blogging follow through? I made at least 2 of each meal to make a total of 26 meals and I spent less than $200.

For the eleventh meal of Christmas: Mushroom Chicken & Rice I have a thing for mushrooms and I've been told that it's just gross and wrong because they are a fungus, but whatever, man (husband), I like them. And since I do the cooking I force the rest of my family to eat this fungus as well. And I'll be honest, the picture is not pretty but it tastes very good, even to the mushroom haters. 1 can cream of mushroom 1 packet onion dip mix 3-4 chicken breasts 8 oz. Sliced mushrooms 1 cup water 8 hrs on low. Serve over rice. You can add an extra cup of water and cook 1 cup of rice on the crock pot for the last hour of cooking but I prefer my rice cooker. It cooks the rice to perfection.

For the 10th meal of Christmas: Caribbean Jerk Chicken   This is one that is obnoxiously easy but one of our favorite marinades so it almost always makes the cut. 1 bottle Lawry's Caribbean Jerk marinade 4-5 chicken breasts Thaw and grill. Serve with rice or on a bunch with BBQ sauce. It is spicey and sweet and just yummy.

For the ninth meal of Christmas: Pulled Pork We have a slight obsession with this meal. One, because it's easy. Two, because it's delicious. Three, because of the leftovers. And it's easy. Did I mention that? 3 lb. Pork loin 1 packet Memphis BBQ Pit seasoning 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 cup water 8 hours on low. Shred and serve on rolls, buns, or stuff in a baked sweet potato. Add some Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce and you're set.

For the eighth meal of Christmas... Brown Sugar Salmon This is my kids' most favorite way to eat salmon. They gobble this up so fast. 1/4 cup soy sauce 2 Tbsp. Brown sugar 1/2 tsp garlic powder A little pepper Mix together and marinate a bag of salmon filets or a whole cut of salmon, whichever you prefer or is on sale. Bake at 400 for 12 minutes. Leftovers are great warm or cold...if there are any.

For the seventh meal of Christmas... Spanish Dirty Rice 1 box Spanish rice, cooked 1.5 lbs of ground beef, cooked with garlic, Chile powder, cumin, salt & pepper Mix together. Thaw, warm & serve topped with cheese, salsa, cilantro and chips. It is obnoxiously easy.

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: Simple Spaghetti & Meatballs   I do have a fancy spaghetti sauce I like to make but when I'm making 26 meals, certain ones get simplified. Like this one. 2 jars of your favorite prepared marinara sauce 1 bag meatballs 1 Bay leaf 6 hrs on low. Serve with spaghetti noodles. Because spaghetti always sounds good and because the kids will always eat it, Simple Spaghetti & Meatballs almost always makes the freezer meal list.