Friday, April 13, 2012

Favorite-Recipe Friday: Chicken Verde Enchiladas

Why Favorite-Recipe Friday, you ask?  Well, what better time to try a new recipe than on the weekend?

I'm not sure where I got this recipe from.  I think it was one of those situations where I took ideas from 2 or 3 recipes and came up with my own concoction, which is something that I do quite often.  Hey, experimenting is the fun of cooking! 






Chicken Verde Enchiladas

Ingredients:
  • 1-1.5 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • 14 oz chicken stock or broth
  • 28 oz (approximately) green chile enchilada sauce
  • 1 jar salsa verde
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cilantro
  • 1 16 oz can refried beans
  • 1 pkg corn or flour tortillas
  • 2 cups (approximately) Colby Monterrey Jack cheese, shredded
  • Sour cream (if desired)
Directions:
  1. In a crock pot, cook chicken in stock or broth for approximately 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low. 
  2. Remove chicken from crock pot and shred.
  3. Place shredded chicken in a pot and add dry ingredients and about 1 to 1-1/2 cups of the enchilada sauce, mix well.
  4. Allow to simmer for about 5 to 10 minutes.
  5. Add refried beans, mix well.
  6. Remove from heat.
  7. Spoon mixture into tortillas, roll, and place in a greased baking pan or dish.
  8. Spoon enchilada sauce over the rolled tortillas.
  9. Drizzle some salsa verde over the top.
  10. Top with the shredded cheese.
  11. Cover with foil and place in the oven and bake at 350 degrees for about 25 to 30 minutes.
  12. Remove from oven and allow to cool for a couple of minutes.
  13. Top with more salsa and sour cream if desired.
  14. Enjoy!
Tips:
  • You can also add in a small can of green chiles to give it a little more of a kick.
  • You can use pork instead of chicken and use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.
  • If you are short on time, you can also cook the chicken in a pot on the stove top. Just pour the stock or broth into the pot with the chicken, cook on high until it comes to a boil, and then reduce heat, cover,  and allow to simmer for about 1-1/2 to 2 hours.
Well, there you have it!  I hope you enjoy your enchiladas and have a great weekend!

Do you have a recipe that you would like to share?  Well, send it to me and I will feature it on my blog.  Better yet, consider doing a guest post with me.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

My Random Thoughts

I think I have mentioned that I have had a lot running through my mind lately and that I have been needing to get back to blogging on a regular basis so that I can process it all.  Well, here's a little peek into some of the random and possibly crazy thoughts that pop into my head on a regular basis...



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I need some coffee!
 
      I need to get my butt in my office and start work earlier than I do.

Wow, the year sure is flying by already!
 
      OMG! Speaking of flying by, my birthday is close!

Hmmmm, I should do an extra load of laundry.
 
      I wish our house would hurry and sell...

Moving sucks.
 
      Holy crap! Our anniversary is almost here too!

Did I remember to mail that bill?
 
      I need to start going to bed earlier.

I sure would like to have that house in Honeyville.
 
      Ugh! I'm tired.

Oh shoot (okay, maybe it's a swear word instead), I still need to make that appointment!
 
      Did I remember to close the freezer?

Sometimes I wish there were more hours in the day.
 
      I need a glass of wine!

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I've said it before, I may need therapy....but I'd settle for a vacation...
  

Friday, April 6, 2012

Favorite-Recipe Friday: Pizza in a Dish

Why Favorite-Recipe Friday, you ask?  Well, what better time to try a new recipe than on the weekend?!

I got this recipe online and I'm not sure where I got it!  Of course, I tweaked it a bit and made it my own, and it has always been a very popular and favorite dish.  Even my son, Tate, loves it and he is extremely picky, so I know that I am definitely on to something when he will eat it and want seconds besides!  This is definitely a twist on the traditional pasta dishes.



Pizza in a Dish

Ingredients:
  • 2 cups of elbow macaroni or your favorite pasta (I like penne)
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 tsp garlic, minced
  • 2 (or more) cups spaghetti sauce
  • 6-8 oz of sliced pepperoni
  • 1 2.25oz can of sliced black olives, drained
  • 1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp pepper
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
Directions:
  1. In a medium-sized pot, brown ground beef with onion and garlic.
  2. Add sliced pepperoni and olives, and stir.
  3. Add spaghetti sauce and stir.
  4. Add dry ingredients and stir well, and allow to simmer on low.
  5. In the meantime, boil your pasta per package directions.
  6. Drain pasta and stir into meat mixture.
  7. Add shredded cheese to pasta and meat mixture, and stir until melted in.
  8. Remove from heat and serve.
  9. Enjoy!
Tips:
  • You can also add in any of your other favorite pizza toppings like mushrooms, peppers, etc.
  • I like Barilla pastas; they cook to a perfect al dente.
  • I also like Barilla spaghetti sauces, but Ragu is another favorite of mine.
Well, there you have it!  I hope you enjoy your Pizza in a Dish and have a great weekend!

Do you have a favorite recipe that you would like to share?  Well, send it to me and I will feature it on my blog.  Better yet, consider doing a guest post with me. 

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Forward Momentum

It has been awhile since I last blogged.  I have been a bit preoccupied by getting our house ready to put on the market.  I  apologize for this, but it is possible that I will still be hit and miss for awhile, depending on how things go.  We seem to have this forward momentum going!

It's funny how life can be that way sometimes. Things wax and wane and rise and fall.  There are dry spells, slow times, and dark days in our lives and in our luck...



Forward momentum

...And then suddenly things can change and it's as though there's a new lease on life.  You can feel the tide turn and the light shining on you...

Forward momentum

...You suddenly know what you want to do, that it's the right thing to do, and that it's the right time to do it...

Forward momentum

...This has happened so many times throughout my life.  I will decide that I want or need something, or that it is time for a change, and I get focused and determined.  When this happens, there seems to be no stopping me.  Where there is a will, there is a way, especially when you know it is right!  Mine and Blake's relationship started the same way; it was a whirlwind romance and there was no stopping us!...

Forward momentum

...It seems that my husband and I have come to another  one of those times in our lives, a crossroads of sorts.  It's time to make some changes, and it feels right and like the right time...

Forward momentum

...We have gone through some rough patches, one of those dry spells with dark days where our luck didn't seem so great.  But now we can feel things changing...

Forward momentum

...So, now we are taking a another big step and a giant leap of faith together.  So far so good, things seem to be moving along.  We made the decision to sell our house, did our homework, decluttered and organized, talked to a loan officer, talked to a realtor, and got our house on the market, all in a rather short amount of time...

Forward momentum

...Now we are hoping that we can keep the proverbial ball rolling and keep the momentum going.  No matter what though, we will keep the faith that things will work out just the way they are supposed to... 

Forward momentum

...We have definitely already learned from this experience, had positive things come out of it, and grown closer as a couple.  As long as we stick together, there will be no stopping us!

Forward momentum...