Chicken Tamale' Bake

I'm going to give credit where credit is due on this one.  I found this WONDERFUL and EASY recipe on www.emilybites.com  She creates healthy and simple recipes, and I have yet to find one that I haven't liked. This was a HUGE hit in our home.  My 2 year old son just chowed his down.  Here are the ingredients and directions.  PLEASE try it, you won't be dissapointed! :)

Ingredients:
1 cup shredded reduced fat Mexican cheese blend, divided (I used Weight Watchers brand)
1/3 cup skim milk
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 t ground cumin
1/8 t ground cayenne pepper
1 (14.75 oz) can of cream-style corn
1 (8.5 oz) box of corn muffin mix
1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles, drained
1 (10 oz) can enchilada sauce
2 cups cooked shredded chicken breast

Directions:
 
1.    Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly mist a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
2.    In a large bowl, mix together ¼ cup of the Mexican cheese, the milk, egg, cumin, pepper, corn, muffin mix and green chiles in a bowl until combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and bake for 15-20 minutes until the layer is set (an inserted toothpick should come out clean).
3.    Using a fork, liberally poke holes all over the surface of the corn cake layer. Pour the enchilada sauce over the top and spread across the surface of the corn cake. Sprinkle the shredded chicken evenly across the top and follow with the remaining ¾ cup shredded cheese. Return the dish to the oven and bake for another 15 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before cutting into servings.

Whole Wheat Crunchy Chicken Salad Wrap

This is SOO yummy and super healthy!! Play around with this recipe and add whatever you like to it or take out whatever you don't like.  The "wrap is your canvas" lol!

 INGREDIENTS:
 1 Whole Wheat Tortilla
1/2 C. red grapes, halved
1/2 Apple, chopped
3 Tbs. chopped Pecans
1/8 C. chopped walla walla onion (any onion will do)
1 1/2 grilled or baked chicken breast, chopped into chunks of your desired thickness
3 Tbs. Mayo
Salt and pepper to taste
red pepper flakes to taste
1/2 Avocado
                                                                                    1/4 C. Lite cream cheese

DIRECTIONS:
 Mash up 1/2 of an Avocado in a bowl.  Once that is mashed to the consistency you like, mix in the cream cheese until all blended together. 

After all your ingredients are chopped.  Throw together in a bowl and add in Mayo, Salt, Pepper and red pepper flakes.  Mix together.   Spread 1-2 Tbs. of the avocado mixture on the tortilla and spread out. Place 1/4-1/2 of chicken salad mixture on top of that and then wrap like a burrito, cut in half and DEVOUR! ;)  ENJOY!

Cake Batter peppermint chunk cookies!!

these are the simplest, most delicious cookies you will EVER have!! They are so moist and chewy!! I don't think I'll have another cookie any other way from now on!! Enjoy!!

Ingredients:
1 box of Betty Crocker Cake Mix (your choice)
2 eggs
1/2 vegetable oil
2 candy canes or 8 peppermints crushed

Directions:
Pre-Heat over to 350 Degrees.

Mix all the first three ingredients together by hand.  ( it starts off messy,but then it forms into a ball of dough)  Crush the peppermint pieces in a ziplock baggie with something heavy and pour into the batter and mix that all together. 

Take 1 Tbs of dough and form into a ball and place on a cookie sheet and flatted out with your hands just a bit.  Place in the over for 10-12 minutes.  Let cool and enjoy!!!

Meatball Sliders

MMMMMM!!!! These little babies were DELICIOUS and super easy to make! Just a few ingredients and your in Meatball heaven. ;) Enjoy!

• 1 pound Ground Chuck Or Ground Beef
• 1/2 cup Panko Or Other Bread Crumbs
• 1 clove Garlic, Minced
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• 1/2 cup Milk
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1/2 whole Medium Onion, Diced
• 1 jar (large) Marinara Sauce
• 12 whole Dinner Rolls (or Slider Rolls)
• 4 slices Provolone Cheese, Cut Into Four Wedges Each

Preparation Instructions

Mix meat with bread crumbs, garlic, salt, pepper, and milk. Knead together with hands. Roll into heaping tablespoon-sized rolls.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook for one minute. Add meatballs between the onions and brown for one minute. (You might have to do this in two batches, depending on the size of your skillet.)

Pour in jar of marinara; shake pan gently to mix. Put on lid and allow to simmer for 20 minutes.

When ready to serve, cut each dinner roll in half. Place a wedge of Provolone on the top and bottom of each roll. Spoon a meatball with the sauce onto the bottom bun; top with the top bun.

Just a Cake

Wish my son's 1st birthday is coming up, tomorrow in fact, I shopped around for all sorts of cute ideas for his cake. I was going to have one made for him, until I stumbled upon this recipe on www.bakerella.com (LOVE HER!! check out her blog when you get a chance) I saw this beautiful cake and just KNEW this was the one! I can't WAIT to have my slice tomorrow with everyone else!! Enjoy!

Chocolate Cake:
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup natural unsweetened cocoa
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup milk
2/3 cup hot water

Buttercream Frosting:
1 1/2 cups butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

6 cups powdered sugar
4-8 Tablespoons milk

2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels, if desired

Chocolate Ganache:
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup butter
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels

For the cake:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease the bottom of two 9-inch cake pans. Then place parchment paper cut to size on the bottom of each pan and grease paper. Dust pans with cocoa.
• Sift dry ingredients together and place in a large mixing bowl.
• Add eggs, oil, milk and vanilla and beat for a couple of minutes until combined.
• Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add hot water and mix together.
• Pour into prepared pans and bake for about 28-30 minutes. Batter will be very liquid.
• Cool for about 5 minutes in the pan. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

For the frosting:

• Beat the butter in a mixer until smooth.
• Add vanilla and mix until combined.
• Add the powdered sugar in several additions, scraping down the sides after each addition.
• Add milk a tablespoon at a time and mix together until you achieve a smooth consistency.
• Note: If you want your frosting whiter without using shortening, add a little white icing color to tint.

For the ganache:

• Heat cream and butter in a saucepan until melted and remove before it starts to boil.
• Place chocolate morsels in a small bowl and pour cream on top. Let sit for a few seconds and whisk by hand until completely incorporated and smooth.
• Let cool until thick and pourable.
• The ganache can take a bit to thicken. You can make it before the buttercream, to save time. Just use a wire whisk to stir it every few minutes and keep it smooth

To assemble: trim tops off of cake layers with a long serrated knife so they have a nice, flat top. Place one layer bottom side up on cake stand. Mix about 2/3 cup morsels with about 1 cup of the frosting. Spread frosting on top of bottom layer. Place second layer on top. It helps to have a crumb coat on the outside of your cake first. Simply apply a thin coat of frosting to the entire cake to catch andy excess crumbs. Then place cake in freezer for a few minutes to firm up frosting and cover the entire cake again with a thick layer of buttercream. This will help you keep all those crumbs from getting caught in your pretty work. Slowly, pour ganache over center of cake. Pour just enough to start dripping down the sides.

Mexican Lasagna

This recipe is SOOO easy and so delicious! I found this recipe a long time ago and it has become a favorite in our home. I hope that your able to try it and enjoy for yourself...believe me, this will become a staple in your home like it is in ours. =)

Ingredients:

1 lb. of lean ground beef or ground Turkey
1 C. onion finely chopped
3 C. Salsa
2 C. Frozen corn
16 oz. Fat Free Cottage Cheese
1 1/2 C. shredded Cheddar Cheese
12 small corn tortillas, cut in half
1 1/4 tsp. Chili Powder
1 1/4 tsp. Cumin

Directions:

Brown your meat until cooked, add the onion and cook for about 4 mins until they are soften.
Add in your salsa, corn and spices. Cook together for about 8 mins just until your mixture is all hot.
Spoon some of the mixture in to the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish, layer the corn tortillas (remember they are cut in half) on the bottom add half a container of cottage cheese and then meat mixture, then layer tortillas, cottage cheese, meat, shredded cheese, top with remaining meat mixture and a little more cheese on top. cook in a 375 degree oven for 35-40 mins or until the cheese is all bubbly and yummy!
Enjoy! =)

Buttery Parmesean Orzo

What a Super delicious and easy recipe! I found this recipe on www.laurainthekitchen.com She's and amazing Italian cook, I've tried ALOT of her recipes and this one just happens to be one of my favs! Enjoy!

Ingredients
2 ½ cups of Chicken Stock
1 cup of Orzo Pasta
1 Tbsp of Unsalted Butter
1 Tbsp of Fresh Parsley, chopped
4 Tbsp of Freshly
Grated Parmiggiano Reggiano
Salt and pepper to taste

Process,

1) Preheat a medium saucepan over medium heat and add the butter, once it melts add the orzo and cook it for about 3 to 4 minutes or until it develops a brown nutty color (stir constantly)

2) Add the chicken broth and bring it to a boil, reduce the heat to medium low and let it cook for about 10 to 15 minutes or until the orzo is fully cooked and the chicken stock has been absorbed.

3) Turn the heat off and add the cheese, parsley and season with salt and pepper. Enjoy!