What We Love Right Now April 11, 2012: Chicken Enchiladas {in a Bowl}

If you’re like me, you don’t have time to mess around with elaborate dishes, but this recipe will give you the taste of scrumptious enchiladas with out the sweat! It’s so easy to make, full of flavor, and will easily become a go-to weeknight meal.

Chicken Enchiladas {in a Bowl}

What You’ll Need:

2-3 chicken breasts, cooked & shredded {I used one pack of 3}

2 tbsp. olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 medium onion, diced

1 red pepper, diced

1 {4 oz.} can diced green chiles, drained

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. cumin

2 {10 oz.} cans green chili enchilada sauce

2/3 cups red enchilada sauce

2 cups shredded cheese {preferably a Mexi-blend }

1 cup sour cream

Penne pasta

Optional Toppings:

Green Onions

Black Olives

Diced Tomatoes

Sour Cream

Fix it Fast:

1. Cook chicken, drain, and shred. Set aside.  In a medium pot boil pasta according to package. While boiling, chop the onion, pepper, and garlic (Time Saver: I used preminced garlic in a jar. You can find this in the produce section of your local grocery store).

2. In a deep, large skillet heat the olive oil.  Cook onions for about 3-5 minutes, or until tender.  Add garlic & red pepper and cook an additional 5 minutes.

3. Add shredded chicken, green chiles, cumin, chili powder, salt, & enchilada sauces to the skillet. Simmer for about 10 minutes.

4. Add cheese and stir until melted and heated through.

5. Add sour cream to the skillet. Warning: DO NOT bring to a boil!  Be sure to cook on low heat or the sour cream will curdle–YUCKY. I turned off the stovetop and let the sour cream heat that way. Stir until sour cream is mixed thoroughly. Side Note: I did use the full cup of sour cream, but I think it was a little too much. My guess is that you could cut back or not add the cream at all and just use it as an extra topping only.

6. Drain pasta and return to pot. Add sauce mixture to pasta pot, mix well, and serve in a bowl with additional toppings of your choice!

**My kids love tacos and were a fan of this meal. Your child may not be a Mexican cuisine lover. If that’s the case, be sure to set aside some pasta in a separate bowl and serve with spaghetti sauce. This is an easy way for you to serve your family dinner from the same meal and not become a short order cook .

Simple Minestrone Soup

We love a good bowl of soup on a cold wintery day. The veggies in this recipe are available year round so they’re always available at your local market and fresh! Make a batch to eat now or freeze some for later!

What You Need:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

2 medium carrots, sliced

1 stalk celery, sliced

1 clove of garlic, finely chopped (or substitute with 1 teaspoon garlic powder)

1 tablespoon pot herbs (or substitute with a teaspoon of oregano and basil)

1 can chicken broth (about 2 cups)

1 can diced tomatoes (also add one can water)

1 can white kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup frozen peas

1 cup cooked elbow macaroni

Fix it Fast

1. In a large pot, heat oil over medium/high heat.

2. Add onion, carrots, celery, garlic, and herbs.

3. Cook, stirring until onions look slightly wilted.

4. Add broth, tomatoes, water and beans. Bring to a boil, then turn heat on low and simmer 10 minutes or until carrots are tender.

5. Add peas and macaroni to hot soup, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and serve!

Sweet Potato Chips

If you haven’t noticed, sweet potato fries have taken the restaurant menu over! It seems every where we go they are offered and if they aren’t offered they are being offered in a test market in a larger city. Kids love sweet potato fries. Are they more healthy than white potatoes? Just by a little. They are a great source of vitamin A and have a little more vitamin C than white potatoes. We think they taste a little better and offer a little more color at meal times too. Here is a super quick and easy recipe for sweet potato chips, a perfect pair for your grilled burgers, ham sandwiches, or pb&j’s.

Sweet Potato Chips

What You’ll Need:

2 medium sweet potatos

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Fix it Fast:

1. Preheat over to 400 degrees. Spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray.

2. Wash and peel sweet potatoes. Cut into thin slices and place in a large bowl.

3. Pour oil into your hands and gently rub onto potato slices. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Toss gently to coat evenly.

4. Place slices as a single layer on baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Check for desired crispiness. Remove from oven and cool 5 minutes.

**For a spicier version try seasoning with garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and chili powder

Ole! Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at home!

Let’s face it: Cinco de Mayo falls on a weeknight, some of us work, and sitters will be hard to come by. Celebrate with your family at home! We’ve got a yummy, super easy Cinco de Mayo recipe that is sure to please the whole family! Don’t forget to pick up a pinata and some sombreros at the party store for some extra family fun.

Burrito Supreme-o

What I Need:

-1/2 lb. ground beef

-1 15 oz can spicy chili beans, undrained

-1 tsp ground cumin

-4 10 in. flour tortillas

-2 1/2 cups shredded Mexican chees blend

-1 cup mild taco sauce

-3/4 cup sour cream

-shredded lettuce if desired

Fix it Fast:

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 15×10x1-inch pan with cooking spray.

2. In 10-inch skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat until well browned. Drain. Add chili beans and cumin; mix well.

3. Place tortillas, overlapping, down one side of pan. Spoon beef mixture down center of tortillas; sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups of the cheese.

4. Roll tortillas over sausage mixture to create 1 large burrito, seam side down. Spoon taco sauce over burrito; sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese.

5. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until hot. To serve, cut burrito into slices. Serve with sour cream.

Super Simple Rotisserie Chicken Recipe

A simple supper recipe for busy Moms. It’s sure to be a hit with the whole family!

Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Salad

What you need:

One Rotisserie Chicken from your local grocery store

One box of Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad Pasta Salad mix

Grape tomatoes

Fix it fast:

Cook Suddenly Salad according to package.

Add shredded rotisserie chicken and tomatoes to salad.

Mix well and serve.

Kid Friendly Crock Pot Pizza Casserole

What you need:

• 1 med. green pepper
• 3 15 oz jars of pizza sauce
• 1 box rontini pasta
• 1 med. onion
• 1 pack pepperoni
• 1 pack of sliced mushrooms
• shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 lb. ground beef

Make it fast:

1. Chop onion and green pepper. Place in crock pot.
2. Add mushrooms and pepperoni to crock pot.
3. Brown meat and drain. Add to crock pot.
4. Cook pasta according to package; drain; add to crock pot.
5. Add pizza sauce to crock pot. Add cheese (according to taste). Mix vegetables, sauce, and meat well.
6. Cook on high 2 hours.

Saturday Night Simple Stir Fry

What you need:

• 1 lb. pork tenderloin, cut into thin slices
• 1 cup sliced carrots
• 1/2 cup Asian Sesame Dressing
• 1/3 cup Barbecue Sauce
• 1 cup snow peas
• 1/4 cup chopped peanuts

Make it fast:

1. Heat a large nonstick pan with cooking spray on medium heat. Add pork and carrots; cook approx. 5 min.; stir occasionally.
2. Stir in dressing and barbecue sauce. Stir fry 5 min. on medium heat or until carrots are crisp.
3. Add snow peas; cook 2 min.
4. Top with peanuts.

Ham and Cheddar Cheese Macaroni

What you need:

• 1 pkg. (7-1/4 oz.) Macaroni & Cheese Dinner
• 1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen peas
• 12 slices Fresh Shaved Honey Ham, chopped
• 1/2 cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Make it fast:

1. Prepare the macaroni dinner according to the package and add peas to the boiling water for the last two min. Then drain.
2. Stir in the ham and 1/4 cup cheddar cheese. Cook on medium heat 1-2 min. or until heated through. Be sure to stir occasionally.
3. Top with the remaining cheddar cheese.