Southwest Chicken and Sweet Potato Fries

Grilled Southwest Chicken
Not really a recipe, but I thought I would share I love this marinade for chicken. Just follow the directions on the back of the packet and grill or bake.

Oven-Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Supposedly sweet potatoes are better for you than regular potatoes, so I gave this recipe a try last night by Cat Cora. I don't even like sweet potatoes usually but these were good. You just have to get them crispy enough and eat them while they're hot.

Ingredients:Serves 4

1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes , peeled and cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. dried Italian herb seasoning
Preheat oven to 425°. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil coated with cooking spray.

Spread the sweet potato strips out onto the baking sheet in a single layer, coat with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and spices, turning them over to evenly coat on all sides with oil and spices.

Bake for 30 minutes, turning every 10 minutes with spatula. Serve warm.

Crock Pot Sweet Pork

This recipe is a family favorite...and come to find out (looking in the blog archives)it's a lot like Chelsea's Crock Pot Chicken Tacos, except using Pork

1 pork tenderloin

1 jar Pace Picante (24oz)(mild or medium)

1 cup brown sugar

We usually get our pork at Costco, they come in a 4 pack
While we're at Costco we also grab these tortillas

1) Put roast in crock pot

2) In another bowl mix brown sugar and Picante together

3) Pour mixture over pork

4) turn on high for 4-5 hours

5) Once done shred

We like to do ours Cafe Rio style. We will put the sweet pork in a big flour tortilla, add black beans, cilantro/lime rice, and cheese (we like jalepeno jack, but is good with any kind really). Then roll that sucker up and enjoy!!!

To make cilantro lime rice, just add chopped cilantro and lime juice once the rice is done cooking. Easy peasy!!!

Taco Soup

This recipe is SO easy because it is mostly canned! ;) And it makes a TON

1 lb ground beef

1 large onion chopped

1 can pinto beans (undrained)

1 can black beans (undrained)

1 can red beans (undrained)

1 can corn (undrained)

1 can tomato sauce (15 oz)

1 can Rotel spicy tomatoes

2 small cans chopped green chili

1 package taco seasoning mix

1 1/2 cup water

1 bag Fritos

Shredded cheddar cheese

Cook meat & onions in large pot, drain fat. Stir in everything except Fritos and cheese. Bring to boil and let simmer for 15 minutes uncovered. Serve in bowl and top with Frito's and cheese.

Funi Salad

I know this sounds a bit weird, but I promise....it is SO good!!

(i usually half the recipe and it still makes a lot)

2 small heads cabbage (1 purple and 1 green)

8 green onions

8 Tbs sesame seeds - toasted

8 Tbs sliced almonds - toasted

2 packages top ramen noodles - broken up a wee bit

1 bell pepper - chopped

Dressing:

4 Tbs sugar

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp salt

1 cup oil

6 Tbs rice vinegar

Pour dressing on right before serving

okay, okay....here are some dang recipes :)

So...this is for you Robyn...I'm actually really embarrassed that I am putting these on this blog because I don't really consider them recipes when they are soooo easy and only have a few ingredients....anyway, here they are for what they are worth.

Sorry...no pictures...I wasn't even going to attempt it!

Cheese Enchiladas

Green enchilada sauce
Lots of shredded cheddar cheese
Flour tortillas (as many as you need for however many enchiladas you are going to make)
Preheat oven to about 300 degrees

So.....completely immerse the tortillas in the green enchilada sauce (I usually pour the sauce into a pie pan for an easier dipping process) and then roll up a whole lot of cheese inside the now dripping tortilla and then place in glass Pyrex cooking dish. Complete this process again and again until you are satisfied with how many enchiladas you want. I usually cram a whole bunch in there. Then, take remaining cheese and spread on top of enchiladas and pour more enchilada sauce on top. Cover with tinfoil and bake on low for about an hour and then remove tinfoil and continue baking (you can turn the oven higher at this point if you want to speed up the process) until it gets a bit crusty on top (maybe 30 more minutes or so). Enjoy!!!


Easy Crock pot Chicken (found this recipe at AllRecipes.com)

1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cheddar cheese soup
8 chicken breasts (uncooked and lightly seasoned with a bit of garlic salt and onion salt)
Sour cream (if so desired)

Just FYI, I lighten this meal up by using the low fat or fat-free soup and sour cream.

So.....put the chicken in the crock pot, add the three different cans of soup (try to mix the soup together a bit) and cook on low pretty much all day (6-8 hours). At the end you can mix in 1 cup of sour cream (still really good without it and probably better for you). Eat this over rice, veggies, or pasta. Sometimes I will also saute a few mushrooms at the very end and add them at the same time as the sour cream.

Oh and sometimes, I use the left over chicken and sauce and add them to the aforementioned enchiladas just to spice it up a bit. It is very delicious!

Brownies (with carrot & spinach)

This recipe is from the "Deceptively Delicious" cookbook

***Dont' serve the brownies warm - it's not until they're completely cool that the spinach flavor totally disappears***

Nonstick cooking spray

3 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate

1/2 cup carrot puree (can use baby food)

1/2 cup spinach puree (can use baby food)

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 Tbs trans-fat-free soft tub margarine spread

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

2 large egg whites

3/4 cup oat flour; or all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat an 8x8-inch baking pan with cooking spray

2) Melt the chocolate in a double broiler or over a very low flame

3) In a large bowl, combine the melted chocolate, vegetable purees, sugar, cocoa powder, margarine, and vanilla, and whisk until smooth and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes.

4) Whisk in egg whites. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt with a wooden spoon.

5) Pour the batter into the pan and bake 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely in the pan before cutting into 12 bars.

***These brownies are low in calories (only 133 per brownie) and saturated fat. They're also packed with 3 grams of fiber, while spinach and carrots provide two powerful antioxidants that help your kids' eyes stay healthy!***

Here are some tips on how to prepare and puree the spinach and carrots. You could also use baby food.

Potato & Onion Chowder

Its soup season!! My favorite!! I made this twice last week and each time forgot to take a pic. I'm sure I'll be making it again soon and will upload a pic then.

1 cup diced onions

1/2 cup finely chopped celery

2 Tbsp butter

1 can (about 14oz) condensed chicken broth

1 tsp. salt

Dash of pepper

2 cups cubed potatoes (i usually put in a little more, whatever 2 large potatoes give me)

1 1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup light cream

1 tsp. chopped parsley (I will use dry parsley sometimes, still tastes good)

Saute onions & celery in butter until transparent, but not browned. Add chicken broth, salt, pepper, and potatoes. Cover and bring to boil. Reduce heat and boil gently until potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes. Add milk, light cream, and parsley. Heat thoroughly. Makes about 4-5 servings.