Chicken Taco Soup

This another recipe I can't believe hasn't been posted yet. This one is the EASIEST to make, not quite as good as the white chicken chili, but it's close! Use the recipe found here.

• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 (16 ounce) can chili beans (I use kidney beans)
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans
• 1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer (I obviously use chicken broth instead :)
• 2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
• 1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning
• 3 whole skinless, boneless chicken breasts (I use 1/2 can of Costco canned chicken)
• shredded Cheddar cheese (optional)
• sour cream (optional)
• crushed tortilla chips (optional)

Directions

1. Place the onion, chili beans, black beans, corn, tomato sauce, broth, and diced tomatoes in a slow cooker. Add taco seasoning, and stir to blend. Lay chicken breasts on top of the mixture, pressing down slightly until just covered by the other ingredients. Set slow cooker for low heat, cover, and cook for 5 hours.
2. Remove chicken breasts from the soup, and allow to cool long enough to be handled. Stir the shredded chicken back into the soup, and continue cooking for 2 hours. Serve topped with shredded Cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and crushed tortilla chips, if desired.

I chop my onion and saute it in a little oil in a big pot. Then I add the beans, corn, sauce, broth, tomatoes, taco seasoning, chicken until it heats through. The optional sour cream, cheese and chips are really not optional. :) It is YUMMY!

Vegetable Cheese Soup

We had this soup at a Relief Society activity awhile back and I've made it a few times since, it's good, but not the healthiest of soups. :)

I cut this recipe in half and it still makes a lot-

Cook till tender in 3 quarts water:

4 large sliced carrots

6 sticks celery with leaves chopped

1 large onion chopped

3 large potatoes diced

12 – 13 chicken bouillon cubes (I use McCormick’s chicken soup base – ½ tsp per cube)

Melt ¾ lb butter in different pan. Blend in well 1 ¼ cups flour and stir slowly into soup. Add 16 oz Cheese Whiz. May add some grated cheese also.

About 20 minutes before serving, add:

1pkg frozen broccoli or fresh broccoli

1 pkg frozen peas (I put in a can of corn instead)

Served great with bread bowls. This soup freezes well.

I never have cheese whiz. Sometimes I just use cheese and a little milk or sour cream, this time around I actually had some fake nacho cheese in a jar I put a little in. I top with shredded cheese, salt and pepper!

BBQ Chicken Salad

Slight variation from a taco salad.

Lettuce

1 can black beans

1 can corn

red onion

cheese

chicken nuggets coated with BBQ sauce

ranch dressing

additional bbq sauce as you like

I topped mine with crushed corn chips and pineapple. Yummy and Easy!!

Black Bean Tacos

Black beans are my best friend. That is no surprise. So it mexican. So to combine the 2 gives you a great cheap, meatless, fast meal!

There was an awesome recipe I used from a book I got from the library, but I didn't have it and never wrote it down, so I used one found here - http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/black-bean-soft-tacos/detail.aspx It's definitely not as simple, but still yummy.

• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 can diced tomatoes with green chiles (I had 1/2 can in my fridge. You could use more if you wanted probably)
• 1 can diced green chilies
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 8 (6 inch) flour tortillas, warmed
• 1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
• 1 large ripe avocado, peeled and sliced (optional)

Directions

1. In a nonstick skillet, saute onion and garlic in oil until tender. Stir in the beans, tomatoes, chilies and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 3-5 minutes or until mixture begins to thicken. Spoon about 1/2 cup off center on each tortilla; sprinkle with cheese. Fold one side of tortilla over filling. Garnish with avocado.

We ate ours on corn tortillas with sour cream!

Alfredo Mesquite Chicken Pasta

Oh my goodness, this was SO GOOD! But warning, so not healthy. That shouldn't be surprising though right? :)

I didn't feel like cooking and Jack offered to make dinner while I took a nap. I said I left the recipe open on the computer, he couldn't find it, so instead of waking me up made up his own and it was divine! I need to ask him again what he did, but it was something like this-

Half block butter

Half block cream cheese

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

some milk

mesquite seasoning

melted and poured over pasta with cut up chicken nuggets :)

Chicken Souvlaki

This is one of our favorite meals. But a MUST is the tzatziki sauce to accompany it

Use recipe found here - http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chicken-souvlaki-gyro-style/detail.aspx

• Souvlaki Marinade:
• 3/4 cup balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• • 4 large pita bread rounds
  • 1 heart of romaine lettuce, cut into 1/4 inch slices
  • 1 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 tomato, halved and sliced
  • 1/2 cup pepperoncini (I use sometimes)
  • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese (let's face it, rarely have, but still yummy!)

  Directions

  1. In a small bowl, mix the balsamic vinaigrette, juice from 1/2 lemon, oregano, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Place chicken in a large resealable plastic bag. Pour marinade over the chicken, seal, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  2. Remove chicken from marinade and place on prepared grill. Discard remaining marinade. Cook chicken until juices run clear, about 8 minutes on each side. Remove chicken from heat, and allow to sit about 10 minutes before slicing into thin strips.
  3. Place pita rounds on the grill, and cook for about 2 minutes, until warm, turning frequently to avoid burning. Arrange warmed pita, sliced chicken, lettuce, onion, tomato, and pepperoncini on a serving platter. Serve tzatziki sauce and feta cheese in separate bowls on the side. Stuff pita pockets with chicken and toppings to serve.
  4. 
     

  

White Chicken Chili

I can't believe I haven't posted this recipe yet. It is by far my favorite 5 minute meal. Open a few cans, a dash of seasoning and you have a delicious meal.

Use variation of recipe found here - http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cha-chas-white-chicken-chili/detail.aspx

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 2 (4 ounce) cans diced green chiles
• dash of ground cayenne pepper
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 can of Costco canned chicken
• 1 can white beans
• 1 can black beans
• 1 can kidney beans
• 1 can corn
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Slowly cook and stir the onion until tender. Mix in the garlic, green chiles, cumin, oregano and cayenne. Continue to cook and stir the mixture until tender. Mix in the chicken broth, chicken and beans, and corn. Simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. *BUT if you don't feel like waiting, eat right away and enjoy!

I don't think this tastes nearly as good without sour cream, cheese, and a little salsa mixed in then served with chips. You won't be disappointed! ;)

October Dinners

1- out of town

2- out of town

3- chili and chips

4- meatballs and rice w/ gravy

5- white chicken chili

6- chicken enchiladas

7- chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes and gravy

8- hamburgers

9- grilled chicken with roasted carrots and mashed potatoes

10- pastrami sandwiches

11- stir fry

12- ?

13-chicken soulvaki pitas

14-Brick Oven

15-chicken sandwiches

16-bbq chicken and pineapple french bread pizza

17-alfredo mesquite chicken pasta

18- black bean tacos

19- BBQ chicken salad

20- fish sticks

21- vegetable soup and bread

22- hamburgers

23- leftover soup and BLTs

24- block party-sloppy joes

25- rice-a-roni meal

26- taco soup

27- spaghetti and meatballs

28- Halloween party

29- Toquerville

30-pancakes and spam

31- chili dogs