Dinner Apr 13, 2011 - Corn Chowder

Good evening my friends!!  I hope your week is going well.  The weather here is beautiful--I just hope it lasts!!!  Tonight's dinner is from my aunt.  She made it for some family a while back; I wasn't there to enjoy it, but they sent me the recipe and I really wanted to try it!  It's very easy and turned out wonderful!!  I hope you enjoy :)

Corn Chowder

2 med unpeeled red potatoes
1 cup cooked ham, cubed
1/2 c diced red pepper (forgot this :)
1/2 chopped celery
1 t butter
2 T flour
2 c chicken broth
1 can evaporated milk
1 can cream corn
2 T gr onions
Salt and Pepper
Cooked, crumbled bacon (again, didn't add this.  I hate frying bacon.....maybe I should buy some of that microwave bacon.....)

Heat butter in soup-pot.  Saute pepper and celery 3-4 min.  Whisk in flour and cook about 2 min.  Add broth, milk and corn.  Add potatoes and cook on low until potatoes are tender.  Add ham and allow to warm.  Top w/ bacon and onions and serve!!  I made some freezer-yeast rolls and it was soooooo good!!!  Happy last-soup-of-the-season :)

Dinner Apr 12, 2011 - Mexican Casserole

Hello everyone!!!  I owe you a few days worth of meals :)  Dinner tonight was from one of my best friends from high school.  She sent this to me and I knew I'd have to try it--and we LOVED it!!  The kiddos picked around the onions a bit, but it tasted amazing.  I was going to serve it w/ corn bread, but ran out of time :)  I hope you enjoy!!

Mexican Casserole

1 lb ground beef
1 pkg taco seasoning
1/4 c water
1 c diced onion (I used a little less)

1 bag of tortilla chips 

1 can of chili beans--don't drain (I used kidney b/c I didn't have chili)

1 can of rotel, drained

1 can of cream of chicken soup

1 c shredded cheese 

Green onion (as I'm typing this I realized I forgot these--oops!!)

Heat oven to 350deg.  Brown ground beef and drain.  Mix taco seasoning and water.  Place in skillet w/ onion and saute a bit.  Crush the tortilla chips and place in the bottom of casserole dish.  Layer the meat mixture on top of the chips, then the chili beans. Then mix the rotel and cream of chicken soup together and layer that on top of the chili beans.  Place the shredded cheese and gr onions on top.  Top it off with the shredded cheese and green onions.  Bake for about 45 min.  We ate this w/ sour cream---delish!!!

Dinner Apr 10, 2011 - Chicken Kabobs

Hello everyone!!  It's grillin' time!!  I love this time of year; grill some dinner while the kids play in the yard and you enjoy a glass of wine.....sigh :)  Tonight's dinner came from http://www.kraftfoods.com/, but I had to change some things up b/c I was out of some things :)  So here's my version of some delightful, sweet chicken kabobs....

Chicken Kabobs

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks
1T paprika
1/2 T cayenne
Salt and Pepper
2 T Olive Oil
1 can pineapple chunks, reserve the juice when draining
Wooden skewers
1/2 c BBQ sauce
1 box couscous (cooked using 2 cups broth instead of water :)
1 loaf french bread (yep, Schwan's again!)

Heat the grill on med-high.  Place chicken, spices and oil into ziploc and shake to coat.  Soak skewers in cold water for about 15 min to keep them from burning.  Alternate chicken and pineapple on skewers.  Grill about 4-6 min per side.  Mix pineapple juice and BBQ sauce.  Brush on kabobs while cooking, being careful not to get too much b/c it'll make the grill flame-up.  Serve w/ couscous and bread--quite a meal!!!  I hope you enjoy this my friends :)

Dinner Apr 7, 2001 - Beef Enchiladas

Hello my lovely cooks :)  I am sorry I have been absent for a few days; it's been crazy around here!!  We had a friend over for dinner on Thursday and I decided to make her these tasty enchiladas!  I had a recipe for them, but once I read it I didn't like it so I adjusted it a bit :)  Below, you will find an amazing Mexican delight!!!

Beef Enchiladas

1lb ground beef
1 pkg taco seasoning
1/4 c water
1/2 c salsa (I used half medium, half hot)
1 can enchilada sauce
1 1/2 c shredded cheese, divided
8-10 flour tortillas
Sour cream and lettuce, optional

Heat oven to 350deg.  Brown meat in skillet until no longer pink; drain.  Return meat to pan.  Mix taco seasoning w/ water and add to beef.  Add salsa, sauce and 1 c cheese.  Mix and simmer on low for 10 min.  This makes the flavors mix and taste extra super-yummy :)  Fill tortillas and place in 9x13 pan.  Pour any remaining mixture over rolled enchiladas.  Top w/ cheese and bake for about 20-25min, until cheese is bubbly.  This dish was awesome!!  I topped it w/ the lettuce and sour cream and served it w/ some Spanish rice.  Voila--a meal!!!  I hope you enjoy :)

Dinner Apr 5, 2011 - Shrimp Tacos w/ Rice

Good evening!!  Dinner tonight was wonderful!  The thought of some lovely, fresh shrimp tacos while it's sunny and warm outside just makes me smile :)  Well, it wasn't quite as warm as I would have liked, but I'll take what I can get :)  These tacos were delish and soooo easy!  Below, I lead you to an evening that will make you feel like you're on a beach w/ a little umbrella drink...... ;)

Shrimp Tacos w/ Rice

1 lb raw, peeled & deveined shrimp
2T Olive Oil
1 tsp of EACH of the following:
- garlic powder
- onion salt
- cayenne (adjust to your heat-liking)
- paprika
- chipotle powder
2 tsp chili powder
tortilla shells, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa
2 cups hot, cooked rice
juice from 2 limes
2T fresh cilantro

Heat oven to 350 and place tortillas, covered in foil, in oven to warm while preparing dinner.
Heat skillet on med-high.  Place shrimp, oil and spices in ziploc and shake to coat.  Cook in skillet 5-7 min or until shrimp is pink.  Stir rice w/ lime juice and cilantro.  Serve tacos w/ shrimp, toppings and rice inside warm tortillas....paradise :)  Enjoy my friends!!

Oopsies :)

I want to tell everyone that I omitted a part of the Mango-Orange Chicken.....you are supposed to use the 2c chicken broth to cook the couscous.  I didn't say at all how to use it :)  Sorry guys!!!!

Dinner Apr 4, 2011 - Easy Stuff!!

Hello my fellow-followers!!  I hope your Monday is treating you well.  Mine is about to get better--because I've got book club tonight!!  It's my fav night of the month!!!!  So that leaves me w/ a nice, easy dinner to make for the fam....sloppy joes, I see you in my future :)  I've already posted this recipe, so I won't re-post it :)  Feel free to serve up some super-sloppy joes or pull up another recipe from days' past!!!  Enjoy!!