Enchilada Pasta

This is pretty easy, and super tasty!  You can use chicken, shredded beef, even ground beef or turkey.

1 box rigatoni pasta
3-4 chicken breasts shredded (or your choice of other meat)
1 can Rotel tomatoes
2 cans green chili enchilada sauce
1/2 can red enchilada sauce
1 cup sour cream
1 pkg cream cheese
2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
1 onion chopped
garlic powder, salt, pepper
Garnish: sour cream, green onion, fresh tomato and avocado (optional)


Cook pasta according to directions.  Meanwhile, put chopped onion into large saucepan with a little oil, cook on medium until tender.  Add chicken, seasoning, sauces and Rotel to the pan.  Mix.  Add cream cheese and sour cream, stir until creamy.  Add cheese and stir.  Finally, add pasta and fold into sauce, until coated.  Serve with sour cream, green onion, fresh tomato and avocado.

Ritzy Chicken

4 chicken breasts
2 sleeve Ritz crackers - smashed into crumbs
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp either Italian seasoning or Mrs. Dash garlic & Herb
3 TBLS butter melted
Salt & Pepper

Mix together the crackers, seasonings.  Melt the butter, set aside.
Pound the chicken so it is all the same thickness. Salt and pepper each breast.  Dip each chicken in the dry crumbs, pressing into the chicken to coat it.  Lay in a greased pan.   Next, add the melted butter to the remaining crumbs and spoon the mixture onto the chicken.  Pat the coating down slightly to stay on the chicken.

Bake at 400 for 25-30 min.

Awesome Asian Pot sticker sauce

No, I am not making homemade Chinese Pot Stickers.  BUT, I am making awesome sauce to go with them.  and it is SO EASY!  3 ingredients!

1/4 cup Soy sauce
1/ 4 cup Hot water
1/8 to 1/4 cup sugar (depending on your taste - some people like it sweeter than others)
fresh chopped green onion
fresh minced ginger
mix all together.  Microwave 1 minute.  make sure all the sugar is dissolved.

I usually steam/saute the frozen pot stickers in a pan, and then add them to the sauce so they are almost submerged.  mmmm

My spin on Goulash

Ok, here is my own spin on goulash.  The picture doesn't so it justice..

1 box large macaroni noodles
1 lb. ground beef
1 green pepper
1 sweet yellow onion
1 jar of your favorite thick spaghetti sauce
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
Italian seasoning (2-3 tsp)
Smoked paprika (about 2-3 tsp)
minced garlic (1-2 cloves)
salt / pepper

Dice pepper and onion , saute in oil until tender.  Add ground beef.  Season with salt, pepper, Italian Seasoning and about 1 tsp. paprika.  (I usually add a little water, and cover it until the meat is cooked)  Drain.  Add the jar of sauce, add more Italian seasoning, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and another tsp of paprika.  You can add more or less depending on your own taste.  I tested it a few times and added more paprika until it tasted smokey and rich.

Cook macaroni noodles, and drain.  Add to the beef mixture.  Then add in the mozzarella and stir until melty, smokey and rich, ready to enjoy!

Chocolate mug cake.. so EASY

Yummm! Got a chocolate craving?? All you need is 5 minutes, a few simple pantry ingredients and a mug!

4 TBLS flour
4 TBLS sugar
3 TBLS cocoa powder
pinch salt
pinch baking powder
1 egg
3 TBLS milk
3 TBLS oil

In a bowl mix dry ingredients. In large mug combine wet ingredients. Slowly stir in dry ingredients until completely mixed. Microwave approx 2 minutes.

 Sprinkle with powdered sugar, chocolate or caramel sauce, serve with ice cream, or whipped cream...

 ***Optional, Add 3 TBLS choc chips before microwaving.. :)

Best Ever Split Pea Soup w/ ham

All the fresh herbs really make this soup rich and savory!

1 pound dried split peas
5 carrots peeled and chopped
1 onion chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
1 sprig rosemary
1-2 thyme sprigs (take leaves off)
3 bay leaves
8 cups chicken broth/stock
salt/pepper
1 ham bone (try and have it with a lot of meat left)
extra ham - chopped

Put all ingredients in a stock pot / simmer 2 hours. Remove ham bone, and take meat off, chop. add back to soup.

Sweet & Spicy Caramel Chicken with peanuts

This is a delicious chinese dish. Sweet and spicy!!! Very easy!!
INGREDIENTS
8-10 boneless skinless chicken thighs, quartered.
1 TBLS oil

SAUCE (below)
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/3 cup cold water
1-2 tsp soy sauce
1/3 cup fish sauce
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1 TBLP ginger paste, or fresh grated ginger
4 cloves garlic minced
1 dash hot Chinese sauce or any hot spice
(mix everything together in a bowl)

ALSO NEED
peanuts
chopped green onion

OPTIONAL
chopped green or red peppers
chopped onion
Diced Jalapenos
Any other veggies you desire, or cashews

In a LARGE skillet or wok, add a little oil and start to brown chicken. Once chicken is about half cooked, add about 1/3 cup of the sauce. Sautee about 5 minutes (on high heat). Add the rest of the sauce and the raw vegetables. Keeping on high, allow the sauce to reduce into a glaze. (will take about 10 minutes at least). Just before the dish is complete add the green onions, peanuts and jalapenos. Serve with rice, or fried rice. ENJOY!



**note. It will seem like a lot of sauce at first, and really watery. Keep it on high heat, boiling - stir every couple minutes. Once it is nearly reduced, it will go fast, so keep a close eye on it, stir constantly. Remove from pan immediately, so it stops cooking. :)

Southwest green chili tater-tot casserole

Just threw this together, hope its good!!

1 pound ground beef
1 green pepper chopped
1/2 medium onion chopped
1 can green enchilada sauce
1 can green chilies
1 can corn
1 bag tater-tots
2 cups shredded cheese (Mexican blend or cheddar)
1/2 cup sour cream
Salt, pepper, garlic salt.

Preheat oven according to tater-tot directions. Cook the tater-tots half way according to package. Meanwhile, Sautee the ground beef with the onions and green pepper until vegetables are soft and meat is browned. Drain. In separate bowl, mix enchilada sauce, sour cream and green chilies. Add to beef mixture (in pan). Add corn. Mix well. Add to baking dish (I sprayed with non-stick spray first). Sprinkle 1/2 of the cheese over the beef mixture. Lay tater-tots in a single layer over the mixture, make sure the whole thing is covered. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Bake at same temp another 15-20 minutes. Let sit 5-10 minutes before serving.

Oriental Chicken Soup

1 pkg sliced baby bella mushrooms
2 carrots sliced
2 celery stalks chopped
One onion - diced
4-6 c. chicken broth
1 c. fresh bean sprouts
1 (6 oz.) pkg. frozen snow peas, thawed
1/3 c. sliced scallions
2 tbsp. dry sherry
2 cloves garlic – minced
one medium bok choy with leaves, cleaned and cut into 1/4 inch slices
2 chicken breasts cooked and shredded
1 sm. can bamboo shoots
1 TBLS soy sauce
1/2 tsp Chinese sesame oil
Salt and pepper to taste

In a soup pot, combine garlic, sesame oil, onion, carrot, celery and 1/2 cup broth. Cover and let them cook 10 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients, and simmer covered until vegetables are cooked. Enjoy! Can add fried wonton strips if you want.

Caramel Apple Salad

Description
Quick, easy and tastes like a caramel apple without the stick!

Ingredients
1 8oz. frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 small box instant butterscotch pudding
1 8 oz. can crushed pineapple with juice
3 C. diced apples
1 C. chopped peanut topping
1 C. mini marshmallows

Directions
Mix cool whip, pudding, pineapple with juice. Add apples, nuts and marshmallows and mix well. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve.