Taco Soup

Taco Soup

1 lb ground beef

1 taco seasoning packet

1 onion, diced

1 bell pepper, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 cans Rotel, drained 

2 c beef broth

1/2 c heavy cream

1 block cream cheese

Lime juice, to taste

Optional toppings: shredded cheese, avocados, cilantro, sour cream, guacamole, & jalapenos

1. In a large pot, cook beef, onion, pepper, & garlic with taco seasoning.

2. When beef is cooked, add remaining ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes.

OR

1. Place everything except cream & cream cheese in slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours, stirring those other ingredients in just before serving.

Baked Chicken Fajitas

Baked Chicken Fajitas

1 T chili powder

2 t paprika

1 t onion powder

1 t garlic powder

1/2 t cumin

1 t salt

1/8 t cayenne, opt

1 onion, cut in 1/4" strips

3 bell peppers, cut in 1/4" strips

1 lb chicken, cut in thin strips

juice of 3 limes, separated

tortillas

Optional toppings: sour cream, cilantro, cheese, avocado, tomatoes, guacamole

1. Preheat oven to 425* and line a baking sheet with foil.

2. Mix all spices in a gallon bag; add onions, peppers, and chicken.

3. Shake bag until everything is well coated; add juice of two limes and shake again.

{3a. Place bag in fridge to marinate for at least an hour}

4. Spread chicken and vegetables on baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes, until chicken is cooked through. Squeeze juice of half of the remaining lime over baking sheet and serve with tortillas.

Sweet & Sour Chicken [Cook's Country recipe]

Sweet & Sour Chicken
Sauce
1 T cornstarch
1/2 c + 1 T water
1/2 c pineapple juice
1/2 c orange juice
1/2 c vinegar
1/2 c sugar
3 T ketchup
1/4 t red pepper flakes
Chicken 
1 lb chicken breasts, cubed
salt and pepper
1 c flour
1 c cornstarch
2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1 1/4 c water
vegetable oil
2 bell peppers, cut into 1" pieces
6 green onions, cut into 1" pieces

Sauce
1. Dissolve cornstarch in 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl and set aside.
2. In a medium pot, combine juices, vinegar, sugar, ketchup, pepper flakes, and remaining 1/2 cup water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat to medium and simmer until reduced to about 1 1/2 cups, about 8-10 minutes.
3. Whisk in reserved cornstarch mixture and cook until thickened, about a minute; remove from heat, cover, and keep warm, stirring occasionally.

Chicken
1. Set a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet and line half of the rack with paper towels.
2. Using different paper towels, pat the chicken dry and season with salt and pepper.
3. Whisk flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, 2 t salt, and 1 t pepper in a medium bowl; slowly whisk in water and 3 T oil until smooth. Place chicken in batter and submerge to coat.
4. Pour vegetable oil into a large Dutch oven until 1 1/2" deep and heat over medium-high heat to 375*.
5. Use one fork to spear a piece of chicken, and then use another fork to slide that chicken off and in to the oil. You can fry several pieces at a time, just make sure that you have the temperature at 350-375* before dropping in each piece.
6. Fry, stirring gently to prevent sticking together, until chicken is golden brown; transfer chicken to paper towel-lined side of rack, let drain, and then move to exposed side of rack to dry completely.
7. Once all chicken has been fried, remove Dutch oven from heat. Place peppers in oil and stir until softened; remove. Place onions in oil and stir until bright green; remove.
8. In a large bowl, combine chicken, peppers, onions, and 2/3 of sauce; toss to coat. Serve remaining sauce on the side.

Serve over rice.

Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup

Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup
1 1/2 lb chicken breast
1 onion, diced
1 bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 jalapeno, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1- 15 oz can diced tomatoes
2 c chicken broth
1 T chili powder
1 T cumin
1 t oregano
1/2 t paprika
salt and pepper, to taste
1- 13.5 oz can coconut milk, opt
2 T cilantro, chopped
1 avocado, pitted and sliced

1. Place chicken in the bottom of a slow cooker; add onion, bell pepper, jalapeno, and garlic.
2. Pour in tomatoes and broth; sprinkle with chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper.
3. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
Shred chicken before serving. Stir in coconut milk. Garnish with cilantro and avocado.

Mini Frittatas

Mini Frittatas
12 eggs
12 slices of bacon
1/2 red bell pepper
1/2 c shredded sweet potato
3/4 c chopped mushrooms
salt and pepper, to taste

1. Preheat oven to 400* and line the 12 cups of a muffin tin with one slice of bacon each; bake for 15 minutes. Drain the bacon grease and reduce oven heat to 350*.
2. While the bacon is cooking, mix all other ingredients in a medium bowl; divide mixture among the 12 muffin cups.
3. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until it passes the toothpick test.

Cream Cheese Pinwheels

Cream Cheese Pinwheels
2 blocks cream cheese, softened
1 pkg Ranch dressing mix
1/2 t pepper
5 green onions, thinly sliced
5-8 burrito-sized flour tortillas
1 bell pepper, finely diced


1. In a medium bowl, mix cream cheese, the majority of the Ranch packet (to taste), black pepper, and green onions. Spread evenly on tortillas.
2. Sprinkle bell pepper on tortillas and roll up tightly. Refrigerate for at least an hour, then slice and serve.

Zucchini, Rice, & Beans

Zucchini, Rice, & Beans
1 large zucchini, diced
1 small green bell pepper, diced
1 T vegetable oil
1- 15.25 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1- 14.5 oz can fire-roasted tomatoes
3/4 c water
1 c instant rice, uncooked
1 c Cheddar cheese

1. In a large pan over medium heat, saute zucchini and pepper in oil for a few minutes until slightly tender, stirring occasionally.
2. Add beans, tomatoes, and water; increase heat to high and bring to a boil.
3. Remove from heat, stir in rice, and let stand, covered, for 7 minutes, until rice is cooked; stir in cheese.

Southwestern Chicken Pasta

Southwestern Chicken Pasta

1/4 c olive oil
1 T minced garlic
1 red pepper, chopped
1 yellow pepper, chopped
4 roma tomatoes, chopped
1- 16 oz bag frozen corn
1/4 c chopped cilantro
1 bunch green onions, chopped
juice of 1 lime
1/4 t cumin
1 t oregano
3 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1 lb small pasta (bowtie, rotini, macaroni, etc)

1. In a large pan, heat oil, garlic, and peppers over medium heat; saute about 5 minutes.
2. Add everything except the pasta and heat over medium-low heat.
3. Meanwhile cook pasta to al dente; drain pasta and toss with chicken mixture.

One Pot Southwest Pasta

One Pot Southwest Pasta
1 lb rotini
2 c frozen corn
1 green bell pepper, cut into strips
1 sm red onion, sliced
1- 10 oz can Rotel
4 t chili powder
1 1/2 t cumin
1 1/2 t garlic powder
1 t red pepper flakes
1 t salt
2 t olive oil
4 c chicken broth
1- 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 c Cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
sour cream (opt)
avocados (opt)

1. In a large pot, combine pasta, vegetables, Rotel, spices, olive oil, and chicken broth; cover and bring to a rolling boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, covered, for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Remove from heat, and add beans and cheese; let rest for 5 minutes before serving with sour cream and/or avocados.

Easy Picadillo

Easy Picadillo
1 lb ground beef
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1- 14.5 oz can salsa-style chunky tomatoes
1 c canned black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 c golden raisins

1. In a medium pan, cook beef and pepper over medium heat until beef is browned, about 8-10 minutes; drain.
2. Stir in remaining ingredients and reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through.

Minestrone Pasta

Minestrone Pasta
3 c small pasta shells, cooked
2 carrots, sliced
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1- 15.5 oz can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1- 15.5 oz can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1- 14.5 oz can Italian-style stewed or diced tomatoes, drained
2/3 c Italian dressing
1/2 c Parmesan cheese

1. Toss all ingredients in a large bowl and serve warm or cold.

GF Crustless Pizza

GF Crustless Pizza
Crust:
1- 8 oz pkg full fat cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
1/4 t black pepper
1 t garlic powder
1/4 c Parmesan cheese
Toppings:
1/2 c pizza sauce
1 1/2 c mozzarella cheese
pizza toppings - pepperoni, sausage, bacon, ham, peppers, pineapple, olives, etc
garlic powder
 
1. Preheat oven to 350* and lightly grease a 9x13 pan. 
2. Mix all crust ingredients together and spread on pan.
3. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until golden brown. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes before adding toppings.
4. Spread pizza sauce on crust and top with cheese and toppings; sprinkle with garlic powder and bake for another 8-10 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Southwestern Layered Beef Casserole

Southwestern Layered Beef Casserole
1 T vegetable oil
3/4 c uncooked rice
1- 10 oz can Rotel
1/2 c chicken broth
1 t salt, divided
1/2 t pepper, divided
1 lb ground beef
1 onion, finely chopped
1 bell pepper, finely chopped
1 T chili powder
2 cloves minced garlic
1 t cumin
1 t coriander
1- 8 oz can tomato sauce
1- 15 oz can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 c shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
1 c frozen corn, thawed
2 green onions, sliced

1. Preheat oven to 350* and grease a 9x13 pan.
2. Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat; add rice and cook, stirring frequently, until light brown, about 5 minutes.
3. Transfer rice to greased pan; stir in Rotel, broth, 1/2 t salt, and 1/4 t pepper.
4. Place beef, onion, bell pepper, 1/2 t salt, and 1/4 t pepper in the skillet and cook over medium heat until beef is cooked through and vegetables have softened.
5. Stir chili powder, garlic, cumin, and coriander in to the beef mixture and cook until fragrant, about a minute; stir in tomato sauce and cook until slightly thickened.
6. Add beef mixture to pan and spread evenly over rice mixture; layer on beans, cheese, and corn.
7. Cover dish tightly with foil and bake for 60-70 minutes, until liquid is absorbed. Uncover, sprinkle with onions, and let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

French Bread Pizza

French Bread Pizza
2 loaves French bread
1 or 2- 14 oz jar(s) of pizza sauce (depending on how saucy you like it)
pizza toppings (pepperoni, Canadian bacon, bell peppers, onions, pineapple, mushrooms, olives, etc)
2 c shredded mozzarella cheese

1. Preheat oven to 500* and line two cookie sheets with foil.
2. Cut each loaf of bread in half lengthwise, lay two halves on each cookie sheet cut-side up, and spread 1/4 of your sauce on each half.
3. Top each half with 1/2 c cheese and sprinkle with your favorite toppings.
4. Bake one cookie sheet at a time for 5-7 minutes each.

Grilled Stuffed Burrito

Grilled Stuffed Burrito
1 c cooked rice
1 c shredded, cooked chicken
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 green onions, sliced
1 bell pepper, diced (I used orange)
1/4 c chopped cilantro
juice of 1 lime
1/2 T chili powder
1 t cumin
1/2 t garlic salt
7 burrito-sized tortillas
2 1/3 c Cheddar cheese
sour cream (opt)

1. Combine everything from rice to garlic salt in a large bowl; mix well.
2. For each tortilla, spread 1/3 cup of cheese around the middle, leaving about a 1/2" border all around. Spread 1-2 tablespoons of sour cream in a line down the middle of the cheese.
3. Layer 1 cup of chicken mixture over sour cream; fold one side of the tortilla over the mixture, fold in both sides, and roll up tortilla. Flatten it a little bit with the palm of your hand.
4. Heat a large skillet over medium heat; heat each tortilla, seam side down, for a few minutes on each side until browned and crisp. Serve warm.

King Ranch Chicken

King Ranch Chicken
1/4 c butter
1 bell pepper, diced
1 onion, diced
1- 10.75 oz can cream of chicken soup
1- 10.75 oz can cream of mushroom soup
1- 10 oz can Rotel tomatoes and chiles
2 c cubed cooked chicken (about 2 breasts)
12 corn tortillas
2 c shredded Cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 325* and lightly grease a 9x13 pan.
2. In a large pan, melt butter and saute pepper and onion until tender.
3. Add soups, Rotel, and chicken and stir until well blended.
4. Alternately layer tortillas, chicken mixture, and cheese in the pan - two layers each.
5. Bake for 40 minutes.

Chicken Noodle Casserole

Chicken Noodle Casserole
12 oz egg noodles
1 1/2 T salt, separated
3 T butter, separated
1 [red] bell pepper, diced
1 onion, diced
3 T flour
2 1/2 c half & half
2 1/2 c chicken broth
3-4 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
2 c Cheddar cheese, shredded
1 1/2 c frozen peas
1 1/4 t pepper
25 Ritz crackers, crushed

1. Preheat oven to 425* and lightly grease a 9x13 pan.
2. In a large pot, boil noodles, with 1 tablespoon salt, until just al dente; drain, rinse with cold water for a few minutes until cool, drain again, and set aside.
3. Put the pot back on the stove over medium-high heat. Melt 1 tablespoon butter and add bell pepper and onion; saute until soft. Place in a bowl and set aside.
4. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the pot over medium heat; whisk in flour until incorporated; whisk in half & half and broth and then bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat back to medium and simmer until it starts to thicken up; add chicken and heat through.
6. Take off heat and stir in cheese until smooth; add noodles, peppers and onions, peas, remaining 1/2 tablespoon salt, and pepper.
7. Transfer mixture to prepared pan and top with crackers; bake for 15 minutes, until golden brown and bubbly. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Quinoa Salad Wraps

Quinoa Salad Wraps
1 c cooked quinoa
1 yellow bell pepper, finely diced
1 small red onion, finely diced
1 tomato, diced
shavings of 1-2 carrots
1/2 c broccoli, finely chopped
1 avocado, diced
2 T olive oil
2 T plain greek yogurt (or light sour cream)
2 T rice vinegar
3 T lime juice
2 T honey
salt and pepper, to taste
romaine lettuce
4-5 whole grain tortillas or pitas

1. In a medium bowl, combine quinoa, pepper, onion, tomato, carrots, broccoli, and avocado.
2. In another medium bowl, whisk together olive oil, yogurt, vinegar, lime juice, honey, salt, and pepper; toss quinoa mixture in dressing.
3. Line tortillas with lettuce and spoon quinoa mixture on top; wrap up and enjoy.

Calzone

Calzone
Dough-
2 1/2 t (1 pkg) yeast
1 1/3 c warm water
1/4 c olive oil, plus more
1/2 t salt
4-5 c flour
Filling-
marinara sauce
meats (pepperoni, sausage, ham, chicken, etc)
veggies (olives, mushrooms, peppers, onions, jalapenos, etc)
herbs (basil, oregano, Italian seasoning, etc)
cheese (Mozzarella, Cheddar, Parmesan, etc)


1. Using stand mixer with dough hook, dissolve yeast in water; add oil, salt, and 2 cups of flour; beat until smooth.
2. Add remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time, until it forms a soft dough; knead on low for about 10 minutes until dough becomes smooth and elastic.
3. Place dough in a greased glass bowl and turn once so dough gets greased as well; cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.

4. Preheat oven to 400*.
5.Punch down the dough and halve it; lightly grease, or line with foil, one (refrigerate/freeze half of the dough for later use) or two cookie sheets (halve the dough and perform steps 6-10 for each calzone).
6. Roll out into a large rectangle on a lightly floured surface; transfer to cookie sheet and turn lengthwise.
7. Spread enough marinara sauce to just cover the middle third of the dough with about 1/4" or less of sauce; layer meats, veggies, herbs, and cheese.
8. Rotate sheet 90* and cut slits in the dough from the outer edge in to the sauce, stopping about 1/4" from the sauce; rotate sheet and repeat for the other side of the dough [slits|filling|slits].
9. Rotate sheet 90* so that it's lengthwise again and braid dough slits like you're lacing up a shoe (one side across filling and then the other, repeat, repeat, repeat); pinch the ends to seal them.
10. Brush calzone with olive oil and sprinkle on some more herbs, if desired.
11. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown; place on cooling rack to cool.

Slow Cooker Thai Peanut Chicken

I got this recipe from here and then I tweaked it a bit.

Slow Cooker Thai Peanut Chicken

2 cloves garlic, minced
2/3 c [chunky] peanut butter
1 c chicken broth
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 c shredded zucchini
1/3 c soy sauce
1 t sugar
1 [red or green] bell pepper, julienned
1 T lime juice
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
13.25 oz [whole wheat] linguine, fettuccine, or spaghetti, cooked and drained
chopped peanuts, for garnish

1. Combine garlic, peanut butter, broth, chicken, zucchini, soy sauce, sugar, and pepper; toss into the slow cooker.
2. Cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours; 30 minutes before serving, stir in lime juice and half of cilantro.
3. Serve over noodles and garnish with peanuts and remaining cilantro.