sweet salsa chicken!

I don't know why this recipe hasn't been posted on the blog yet! it's a staple in our home, and one that everyone loves when we share.

Sweet Salsa Chicken

1 pkg Taco Seasoning
4 Chicken Breasts
2 T. oil
1 C. salsa1/4 C. apricot jam
1/4 C. water
1 T. Cilantro
1 T. lime juice
1 (15 oz) can of black beans
drain and rinse

Cut chicken breasts into bite size pieces.  In large skillet heat oil; add chicken and taco seasoning and cook until juices run clear. Add salsa, apricot jam, water, cilantro, and lime juice.  Bring to a boil. stir in beans, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.  Serve over rice.

here are our personal changes to the recipe, we don't add cilantro because we aren't big fans, so in my opinion that step is optional. and we decided to add a 15 oz can of corn (dranded and rinsed) to the mixture. also we eat our with tortilla chips and it is one delicious meal.

this meal makes enough for a few adults, most likely you will have left overs, but it's great the next day too!

Chili's enchilada soup!

here is a soup i found on Pinterest and am so thankful I was craving it and then remembered I had pinned it! it turned out to be one of the best soups and we already went back to the store to make it again this week!  plus, we have already shared the recipe! so this is defiantly a keeper!!

Enchilada Soup

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 medium onions, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 quart chicken stock
1 tablespoon chicken soup base (a bouillon cube will work)
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, to taste
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1 (19 oz) can enchilada sauce (or two 10 oz cans)
6 small corn tortillas, minced
16 oz velveeta, cubed
1 cup co-jack cheese, shredded
1 22 oz bag tyson roasted and diced chicken thawed
1 can whole kernel for, drained (optional)

in a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat, and sauté' the onions until they are tender.  Add the minced garlic and cook another minute or two, then scrape the onions and garlic into your crock pot. Add all the other ingredients, except the chicken and corn. Cook over high heat for two hours or low for four.  Whisk until smooth. Add the chicken pieces and corn and heat through, maybe another 30 minutes to one hour. Check seasonings, and garnish as you like before serving.

Garnishes* pico de gallo, sour cream, shredded cheese, crunchy tortilla strips.

no picture, but I will take one when i make this again tomorrow! delish! i loved every bite and so did everyone else!!!! we fed 7 adults and there was roam for small seconds. we also served it up with breadsticks and salad.

Paying Our Respects...

Dane and I paid our respects from 300 miles away to the death of the family restaurant, Rafael's.  For those who don't know Rafael's has been a part of my family since before I was born.  Grandma Bonnie & Grandpa Bob loved it and any time we had a family gathering it usually was at Rafael's.  We would also go for lunch when Grandma & Grandpa would babysit me.  My dad would take us there when my mom was hosting Bunco at the house and we were kicked out.  We would go for birthday's to partake in delicious sopapillas.  We also went there the first time Dane's parents were introduced to my parents for all the fun wedding planning.  Within the last few years my aunts and uncles would gather there every Monday with Grandma Bonnie and it became a tradition that still stuck after she passed away last fall.  Sadly though, our delightful family restaurant shut it's doors on Saturday 7/31/11 and since Dane and I weren't able to go one last time with the family, we 'attempted' to make their famous 'Bean Dip Chips'!  They turned out delicious!

Recipe Items:
Tortilla Chips
Re-fried Beans
Tomatoes (1-2)
Onion (we used half)
Green Pepper (1)
Cheese

Prep:
Lay the tortilla chips on a baking sheet
chop the onion & green pepper and throw in a frying pan, you don't want to cook them but let them sweat to make them soft.  Warm up re-fried beans in a pan, once warm spread evenly on the chips.  Next sprinkle the peppers and onions on top.  Then chop the tomato and sprinkle on next.  Last you'll want to sprinkle shredding cheese across the top.  Set your oven to broil and watch closely, as soon as the cheese is melted they are done (ours took about 10 mins)

Our Cinco De Mayo Feast

Thanks to Pioneer Woman, Dane and I made this for dinner and it was delicious!

Creamy Baked Chicken Taquitos
adapted from Pennies on a Platter, originally from Our Best Bites

• 3 oz cream cheese, softened (reduced fat is fine)
• 1/3 cup salsa verde (recipe below)
• juice of 1/2 a lime
• 1 tsp chile powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• pinch cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 3 Tbs chopped scallions
• 2 cups cooked and shredded chicken *
• 1/2 cup shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded Pepperjack cheese
• 8-12 (6-inch) corn tortillas
• kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• cooking spray

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese with the salsa, lime juice, cumin, chile powder, cayenne, onion powder, garlic, cilantro, scallions, and 1/4 tsp kosher salt.  Fold in the chicken and cheeses.  Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if necessary.

Working 3 tortillas at a time, stack them on a microwave-safe plate and cover with plastic wrap.  Cook 30 seconds, or until tortillas are soft and pliable.

Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of filling onto the lower third of each tortilla, and roll tightly.  Place seam side-down on the prepared baking sheet.  Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.

Spray the taquitos lightly with cooking spray, sprinkle with salt.  Bake 15-20 minutes, or until the tortillas are crisp and golden-brown.  Serve with salsa, sour cream, and/or guacamole.


*This is how I prepare my chicken if I don't have leftover chicken to use:  Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Spread a piece of aluminum foil across a baking sheet, and arrange chicken breasts in a single layer in the center.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and season as you wish.  Fold the aluminum foil over the chicken breasts, and enclose them to form a "packet."  Bake the chicken (on the baking sheet) 35-45 minutes, or until it is cooked through.


**To freeze, prepare the taquitos, but before baking, place the baking sheet in the refrigerator until the taquitos are completely cold.  Wrap each taquito in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and freeze.  To bake, unwrap the taquitos and cook  in a 425 degree oven for 20 minutes (no need to thaw first).

Roasted Tomatillo Salsa
adapted from Rick Bayless, Mexican Everyday

• 4-5 medium tomatillos, husked, rinsed, and halved (about 8 ounces)
• 2 large garlic cloves, peeled
• 1 jalapeno
• about 1/3 cup loosely packed, roughly chopped cilantro
• 1/2 small white onion, chopped
• juice of 1/2 lime
• salt

Heat a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  lay the garlic, tomatillos, and jalapeno in a single layer, laying the tomatillos cut-side down.  Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the tomatillos are well-browned.  Turn everything over and brown the other side (the tomatillos should be very soft).  Remove the tomatillos and garlic and add to a food processor or blender, and cook the jalapeno on all sides before removing to a cutting board.

When the jalapeno is cool enough to handle, peel the shriveled blackened skin, halve, and remove ribs and seeds.  Roughly chop and add to the food processor as well.

Add 1/4 cup of water, onions, and cilarntro to the food processor, and blend to a coarse puree.  Pour into a dish and add more water if necessary, to give the salsa an easily spoonable consistency.  Add lime juice and salt to taste (usually about 1/2 tsp salt).

Taco Soup

Dane and I were given this recipe by one of my co-workers in Logan and we have been loving it ever since!!

1 15oz can Chilli Beans

1 15oz can black Beans (can use kidney if you don't like black)

1 28oz can Tomato Sauce

1 4oz can Green Chillies

2 15 oz Cans of Corn

1lb Hamburger

1 Chopped Onion

1 pkg Taco Seasoning

1 Bag Tortilla Chips

1 Sour Cream, any size

Grated Cheese

Brown Onion & Hamburger Meat with Taco Seasoning

Combine meat and cans with juices (except the liquid from the corn) in a crock pot and cook away.

I usually turn it on in the morning on low and let it cook until dinner

Serve with Tortilla chips, Cheese and Sour Cream.

Also, avocado is delicious on top

Serving Size: A crock pot full