South of the Border Salad

Salads are not a normal meal in our home, but when I make one, I tend to make this.  I didn't take a lot of pictures while making the salad, but it is easy enough to make without the pics!  The best thing about this salad is that you can add anything you want!

1-2 large chicken breast, boneless
Chipotle rub
1 can black beans, rinsed
2 ears of corn, grilled or 1 can corn
1 bag of lettuce mix
1/4 red onion, sliced
1 tomato sliced
1/2 bag shredded cheddar cheese
1 bottle of southwest ranch salad dressing
Small bag of taco chips
Salt/Pepper

Possible Additional ingredients:
Avocado
Red/Yellow/Green Pepper

First up - sprinkle the chipotle rub on the chicken and grill until the meat registers 165 degrees.  Let the chicken rest while you assemble the salad.

If you don't want to grill the corn, you can easily open up a can! Assemble all ingredients into the salad and toss with the salad dressing.  Chop up the chicken and add to the salad.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper!

Enjoy!

El Dorado Casserole

Every two years our family gets together for a family reunion.  This year we were so happy that cousins Pat and Dan, along with their daughter Trish and Russ (husband) were able to join us.  They traveled from Oregon to Utah to be with the family.

For Patti's night of cooking, she decided to make a family recipe - El Dorado Casserole.  This casserole is great - a wonderful recipe for family night!

Here are the ingredients:

1 pound hamburger, browned and drained
1 package taco seasoning
1 can (8oz) tomato sauce
1 can black olives, sliced
1/2 pint cottage cheese
1 pint sour cream
2 cans mild diced green chilis
1-1 1/2 pounds cheddar cheese
1 bag Dorito chips

Add the taco seasoning, tomato sauce and olives to the browned meat.  In a separate bowl, combine the cottage cheese, sour cream and chilis.  Grate cheddar cheese and place in a bowl.  Crush Doritos and place in a bowl.

Spray 13x9 inch baking dish and layer as follows:

Doritos
Meat mixture
Sour cream mixture
Cheese

Keep layering with cheese ending on top.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Patti served this casserole with fajitas, although the casserole is a meal in itself!  Enjoy!

King Ranch Casserole

Several years ago, Mom and Dad temporarily moved to Dallas, TX.  I had the pleasure of visiting them.  It was a great trip.

My Dad, the cowboy!

One of my Dad's favorite things to show off was the Cattle Drive Sculpture.  He was fascinated by it and I must admit, it was pretty neat!

While they lived there, Mom picked up some great recipes!  I love this recipe because it is super easy, cheesy and the whole family loves it!

Here are the ingredients:

1 red pepper, diced
1 onion, diced
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
2 cans Mild Rotel
1 can black beans (I added this)
1 can corn (I added this)
1 small package of corn tortillas
1 package of Mexican cheese or any cheese you like
2 cups diced chicken (a shredded rotisserie chicken works great!)

Dice the pepper and onion.  Drain and rinse the beans.  Drain the corn.  Mix together with all ingredients, except cheese and tortillas.

Layer all ingredients:  Soup mixture, tortillas, cheese - repeat.  Top with cheese and bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.

This is a great recipe to share with friends.  If you want to spice it up, add some additional flavors:  chili powder, chipotle peppers, etc.  The possibilities are endless!

Enjoy!

Surprise Recipe Swap

This is 2nd month participating in the Surprise Recipe Swap, hosted by Jutta from Hungry Little Girl.
This is a great way to check out other blogs and try some new recipes.

I was fortunate enough to get paired with Ashley from Cheese Curd In Paradise.  I loved looking at the recipes on her blog.  There are a variety of recipes to try.  Her Mexican recipes caught my eye, but I couldn't decide which one to make so I combined two of them!

I decided to make Chicken Enchiladas.  Here are the ingredients:

for enchilada sauce:

 

1 Tbl olive oil

1 Tbl flour

1 can (28 oz) red enchilada  sauce

2 cups chicken stock

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2 Tbl chopped cilantro

4 chicken breasts
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon pepper

3 green onions, sliced
1/2 small can of green chilis
1 bag of Mexican cheese
1 bag of flour or corn tortillas

To begin, I combined the spices and sprinkled them on the chicken.  I grilled the chicken, let it cool and cut it into small pieces.  I then combined the chilis, and green onions with the chicken.

While the chicken was cooking, I made the sauce.  First I took 1/2 cup of the chicken stock and combined that with the flour.  In a sauce pan, I combined all other ingredients, heating them to the boiling point.  When the ingredients are hot, add the chicken stock with the flour.  This will thicken the sauce.

Now you are ready to make the enchiladas.  Take a flour or corn tortilla, put some of the chicken mixture, along with some cheese.  Roll it up and put it seam side down in an oven proof pan.

Add the enchilada sauce on top.  Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.  Sprinkle chopped cilantro on top.

 They were really good!  Check out Ashley's blog!  It is one of my favorites!

Chicken and Black Bean Burritos

I can't remember where I got this recipe from but it is a doosy!  Every time I have made it, I was a hit.  It is super easy and fast!

Here are the ingredients:

1 pd chicken breast, sliced into thin strips.
4 slices bacon
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups salsa
1 16 oz. can of black beans
1 small can diced chilis
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup green onions, sliced
12-14 large flour tortillas
1 package shredded Mexican cheese

Cook bacon until crisp.  Remove from pan.  Add chicken and cook until no longer pink.  Stir in garlic, salt and cumin.  Stir in 1/2 cup salsa, beans, chilis, red pepper and green onions.  Crumble the bacon and return it to the pan.  Cook these ingredients about 5 minutes.

Take a tortilla and place some cheese on the end.  Put some chicken filling and roll it up.  Place it seam side down in a baking pan.

Pour the remaining salsa and cheese over the top of the burritos.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Serve with fresh salsa, guacamole and sour cream!  Delicious!  See, I do cook other things than Italian food!