Yummy enchiladas!

Well, made a new recipe today! Some chicken enchiladas with very few ingredients! Basically, chicken with cream of mushroom soup, salsa and cheese... At least that's the inside ingredients. Then, of course, there are tortillas and enchilada sauce. I have to say, the hardest part is shredding the chicken breasts, LOL.

But, it turned out good enough for even my kids! Which is always the most exciting part of making new food. For me anyways! I love to see the appreciation on the faces of our children...

All you really have to do is boil the chicken breasts with a little bit of salt. Once they are boiled, u take them out and shred them, saving the broth they were cooked in. Once they are shredded, cook the cream of mushroom according to the directions, using the broth instead of milk. Add the chicken, salsa (to taste), and as much cheese as u want. Heat that up, until the cheese is melted. Spoon into tortillas and roll up, put them into your pan. Continue until your pan is full. Preheat oven to 350. Pour enchilada sauce on them and then add cheese on top of that. DONE! Put it in the oven to melt the cheese. Turns out very, very yummy! Definitely worth a try.

For some additives, you could add corn, sun dried tomatoes, black beans or rice. :)

Yummy Minestrone Casserole

This is a great dinner to make that incoporates all of the basic food groups. Plus, it's pretty easy with lots of optional ingredients. The pictures will show the ingredients I currently used, but there are other options that I will list that you can also use. Just know that when substituting ingredients, make sure you take into account the different liquid amounts as well. So here goes:

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb hamburger
• 1 box Hamburger Helper
• 3 Cups of water
• 1 bag frozen mixed veggies(optional)
• 1 bag Shredded cheese (Your choice)
• 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning (I tend to season to taste)
• Garlic seasoning
• Onion seasoning
• Parmesan

OPTIONAL (If you use these veggies and water content DO NOT use the mixed veggies with 3 cups of water)

• 1 onion (Finely chopped)
• 1 clove garlic (Finely Chopped)
• 1 cup water
• 2 stalks celery (sliced)
• 1 can corn (undrained)
• 2 cups diced tomatoes (undrained)

DIRECTIONS        

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Cook ground beef and drain. If using the Garlic and Onion, cook them with the ground beef until soft.
3. In a 9x13 pan, combine meat mixture and the rest of the ingredients EXCEPT THE CHEESE AND PARMESAN. This includes the seasoning and noodles within the box of Hamburger Helper. Add about one cup of shredded cheese into the pan and mix well. You can add more, but you will be adding cheese later as well. Cover with tin foil. Put in oven and cook for about 30-40 min. After the timer goes off, add the reminder of the shredded cheese on top of the casserole. Put back in the oven uncovered for only 10-15 min. This will allow the cheese to fully melt and the remaining liquid to further soak in.

You can add the Parmesan when you put serve it on the plate. Goes well with bread and butter, and a salad. I know my kids love this because it is tasty and cheesy! I hope you have as much luck!!

A la carte Sloppy Joes

We all have our days when we don't want to cook much, or when it seems we don't have anything in the house....Well fellow cookers, here is a simple recipe with great results for everyone! At our house we like to call this "A la carte Sloppy Joes". Before posting the recipe, I would like to note that this is also great for anyone that has specific diets or food allergies. Because of the separate ingredients, you can choose 'low-sodium' or 'gluten-free' products, anything at all.......

INGREDIENTS
1 can tomato sauce (16 oz)
1 bottle BBQ sauce (of your choice)
1 pound hamburger

DIRECTIONS
Brown the hamburger and strain as normal. Place hamburger back into pan, add up to 3/4 can of tomato sauce and 1/2 bottle of BBQ sauce. Keep your heat on low so the mixtures heat slowly until its perfect for you. Mix all ingredients together. Then taste, if you think it tastes to 'tomatoee' (wrong word I know) then add more BBQ sauce. Once the mixture tastes good to you, turn up the heat til warm enough for you and your family. :)

It's that easy! Takes about 15 min depending on how thawed your hamburger is.

NOTES
*If you are an onion loving family, thinly chop onions and cook them with the initial phase of the hamburger.
*This is wonderful on sandwiches, but also a GREAT topping on Baked Potatoes!

Easy Chicken Carbinara

Seriously this is something I came up with and named it on my own....but it is a good recipe that KIDS will love! What do you need? Noodles, Nuggets, Alfredo sauce and tomatoes (optional). Now cook everything according to packaging, dice the tomatoes, dice nuggets and layer everything as such: Noodles, diced nuggets, alfredo sauce and tomatoes for topping. Sun dried tomatoes work even better and add taste, but if you use them cook them with the alfredo sauce.

I wasn't sure what to cook for the night, searched my cupboards and easily came with this. The kids ate 2 helpings! What more could a mom ask for!?

The New Year...

Alright, so here is the question of the day, What are your traditions for New Years Eve? I know some people like having Pizza, some lasagna, and other routine everyday dinners. Not for us! We enjoy just making a feast out of the ENTIRE night! Talking about, nachos, veggie platters, lil smokies, chips and salsa, and the list goes on! If it's a finger food and easy to make then it is definitely on for NYE! Especially because those foods can last allllll night long while your drinking and visiting with Friends!!

So, WHAT are YOUR traditions?!?

Quick Filling Dinner!

Hmmmmmm, I always get stumped when I start to think about what to cook for DINNER!! What do I need to dethaw, do I have to go to the store?? Sooo many questions that all depend on the first answer! Well, luckily for today I don't have to ask any of those questions! Why??? Because I'm making one of the EASIEST filling meals EVER!!! I can make it, cause the hubby who needs NO CARBS isn't going to be home, so I won't be teasing him. LOL! Now, you're asking what is this meal? Simple.....

MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH PEAS AND TUNA

The ingredients are as simple as the title, and that's why it's so great! You cook M&C and then as you are warming it up to melt the butter and such add a can of tuna and a can of Peas........and you are done!! Kids love IT, even the peas because it's all mixed in with the cheese and KIDS LOVE CHEESE!!

My Christmas Ham!

OMG! It was my first time hosting Christmas dinner, and I was sooo nervous! But I found this recipe for Sangria Ham and added a bit of my own touch and it turned out DELICIOUS! I couldn't have gotten better compliments! Honestly, if you cook it low enough and long enough it will turn out moist with an unforgettable taste! Plus, if you use the right ingredients you can make it taste light, people will eat more if it is light and not full of heavy ingredients. All you need for this is ham, sangria wine, pineapple juice, brown sugar.....and that's pretty much it!! It's definitely a recipe that everyone should try!!!