Best-Ever Chicken Fajita Chowder

The name of this dish says it all. We ate the leftovers so fast that I almost forgot to take a picture. This is what was left in my daughters bowl. Hope this gives an idea of how tasty it really is.

1 pound boneless chicken breasts, chopped

1 EACH medium green, sweet red and yellow peppers, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

2 TBSP olive oil

3 cups water

2 cups frozen corn

1 cup uncooked brown rice

1 cup green enchilada sauce (I used mild)

1/4 cup canned chopped green chilies

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend

1 cup (8 oz) sour cream

tortilla chips

Over medium-high heat, cook and stir chicken, peppers and onion in oil until vegetables are crisp-tender. Stir in the water, corn, rice, enchilada sauce, chilies, and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; over and simmer for 40 min or until rice is tender. (Probably because of the rice I used, it took a lot longer to cook than 40 min).

Remove from heat. Stir in cheese and sour cream until cheese it melted. Top with tortilla chips.

Barley Beef Skillet

Healthy and filling are two words I would use to describe this dish.

1 lb lean ground beef or ground turkey would probably taste ok

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 garlic clove, minced

1 can (14-1/2 oz) reduced-sodium beef broth

1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce

1 cup water

2 small carrots, chopped

1 small tomato, seeded and chopped

1 small zucchini, chopped

1 cup medium pearl barley

2 tsp Italian seasoning

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

In a large skillet, cook the beef, onion and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the broth, tomato sauce and water; bring to a boil. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 45 min or until barley is tender.

Bacon Chicken Alfredo

My husband made this recipe and did a good job. It took him a lot longer than he wanted it to. He left out the spinach because he thinks cooked spinach is gross all wilted.










1 pkg (16 oz) whole wheat fettuccine (I didnt use that much cause it makes a ton!)
8 bacon strips, chopped (use turkey bacon to be healthier) My husband used regular bacon and cooked it real slow so it turned out good and not all fatty.
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1/2 tsp salt, divided
1/4 tsp pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 TBSP butter
3 TBSP cornstarch
3 cups milk
1 cup half and half cream
1 pkg (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, divided (I substituted another kind of cheese)
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

1. Cook fettuccine according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook bacon over low-medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain.

2. Sprinkle chicken with 1/4 tsp salt and pepper. Cook chicken in garlic in butter over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; remove and keep warm.

3. Combine cornstartch and milk until smooth; stir into skillet. Add cream and remaining salt. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened. Add the spinach, chicken, 3/4 cup cheese, Italian seasoning and half of bacon; cook and stir until cheese is melted.

4. Drain the fettuccine; add to chicken mixture. Cook and stir until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bacon.

Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

These are a good snack or guilt-free treat.

1/3 cup canola oil

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

2 TBSP sugar

3 TBSP water

1 egg white

3/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup whole wheat flour

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 cups old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup raisins

1. In a large bowl, combine the oil, sugars, water, egg white and vanilla. Combine the flours, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; gradually add to sugar mixture and mix well. Stir in oats and raisins.

2. Drop by scant 1/4 cupfuls onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray; flatten slightly. Bake at 350 for 10-12 min or until golden brown. Cool for 1 min before removing from pan to wire racks.

Calzones

I took a risk making these. I am not very good when it comes to homemade dough, but they turned out ok for my first time. Cant wait to make them again. Totally worth the effort and time!

Calzone dough

3 1/4 cups unbleached a.p. flour

9 oz tepid water

3/4 tsp active dry yeast

1 1/2 tsp fine sea salt

2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle and mix, low, until mixture comes together. Switch to the dough hook and continue mixing, medium-low, another 3-4 minutes. Guess what? I dont have a mixer so I mixed it by hand/spoon and it worked just fine. Check dough - if too dry, add a bit more water, if too sticky, add a bit more flour.

2. Dump dough onto a lightly floured countertop or board and continue to knead until dough is smooth and elastic. Form dough into a ball and place in a lightly greased bowl, turn to coat, and cover with plastic wrap or a tea towel. Let rest 1/2 hr to 45 minutes until risen.

3. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and press down to deflate. Cut the dough into 6 portions or however many you desire, and form into tight balls to press air out. 6 portions made pretty good sized calzones.

4. At this point, you can place the balls of dough on a floured surface covered with oiled plastic or a towel, and let rise one hour if you want to use the dough today. Alternately, place the dough on a lightly floured tray, cover with oiled plastic and refrigerate overnight. Allow dough to sit at room temp 10-15 min before shaping/baking.

Calzone filling

However many pizza dough balls you will be making

mozzarella

ricotta

grated parmesan

chopped cook ham, italian sausages, pepperoni (whatever meat you want)

Sauteed sliced onions and green, red and cubanelle peppers

marinara sauce of your choice

1. Place a pizza stone in the oven and preheat oven to 475 ( I dont have a pizza stone)

2. Pat/roll/stretch dough into 8" circle. Lift round onto floured peel (I used cornmeal). Working quickly, arrange the filling of your choice down the center nearest to you, leaving 1/2 border. Gently fold top of dough over, stretching as needed to meet edges of other half. Pinch edges to seal with fingers, or with tines of a fork. Cut 2 small vents in the top.

3. Shake the calzone onto the pizza stone. Bake until nice and brown, 8-10 min. Using a peel, remove from oven.

Cran-Orange Streusel Muffins

"Orange" you in love with these muffins?! "Cran" you say easy to make!? Happy Valentine's Day!

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1 cup fat-free milk

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped

2-1/2 tsp grated orange peel

Streusel Topping:

2 TBSP all-purpose flour

2 TBSP brown sugar

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

2 TBSP cold butter

In a large bowl , beat butter and sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Beat in egg. Beat in milk, applesauce, and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; stir into butter mixture just until moistened. Fold in cranberries and orange peel.

Coat muffin cup (I used paper baking cups instead) with cooking spray; fill three-fourths full with batter. For topping, combine the flour, brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over batter.

Bake at 400 for 18-22 min or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Hearty Breakfast

This is a well rounded meal with a fruit smoothie:)
This was super easy to make. My family likes having breakfast for dinner. The recipe calls for 4 eggs but I only cooked two to meet my families needs.

1 small onion, finely chopped
1/4 tsp dried rosemary
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 tsp butter
2 tsp olive oil

4 eggs
1/4 cup shredded cheese
1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-in. cubes
1 large Yukon Gold potato, cut into 1/2-in. cubes
1 medium red potato, cut into 1/2-in. cubes

1. In an ovenproof skillet, saute the potatoes, onion and seasonings in butter and oil until vegetables are golden brown and tender. With the back of a spoon, make four wells (I only made two) in the potato mixture; add an egg to each well. Remove from the heat; sprinkle with cheese.

2. Broil 3-4 in. from the heat for a few minutes or until eggs are completely set.