Easy Chicken Enchiladas

Don't let the short ingredients list and ease of this recipe fool you; it is YUMMY! Especially as leftovers.

8 oz. package Cream Cheese
1 cup Salsa
2 cups chopped, cooked Chicken
1 can Black Beans, rinsed and drained
6 Flour Tortillas
2 cups shredded Cheddar Cheese
Shredded Lettuce
Chopped Tomatoes
Sour Cream

Preheat oven to 350*. Lightly grease a 9 X 13” baking pan and set aside.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine cream cheese and salsa. Cook, stirring until melted and well blended. Stir in chicken and beans. Fill tortillas with this mixture, roll and place seam-side down in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle cheese over the top. Cover with aluminum foil.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through. Garnish with lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream.

Vegetable soup

Serves: 6 Prep: 35 min

3 c chicken broth (canned or homemade)
1 med onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, sliced
2 carrots, thinly sliced
1 16 oz can sliced green beans, drained
1 small zucchini, sliced
1 16 oz can diced tomatoes
1 T Italian seasoning
1 T garlic powder
Salt & pepper to taste

In a large pot, cook the onion, celery & carrots in the chicken broth. Add green beans & zucchini. Cook covered for 10-15 min. Add the tomatoes & seasonings. Cook an additional 10 min.

Chili

Serves: 6 Prep:30 min

Olive oil flavored cooking spray
1/2 lb extra-lean gound beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 T finely chopped jalapenos or green chilies
2 16 oz cans diced tomatoes
1 16 oz can black beans, drained & rinsed
1 16 oz can kidney beans, drained & rinsed
2 T chili powder
1 T cumin
Cheddar cheese, grated
salt & pepper to taste

Spray frypan with cooking spray. Brown ground beef. Add the onion & green pepper & cook until onion is translucent. Add remaining ingredients. Cover & cook over low heat 15-20 minutes. Adjust seasonings to taste. Serve with cheese.
Can also put in a tortilla or over whole wheat spaghetti.

Banana Bread

3/4 c butter or margarine
1 1/2 c sugar
2 eggs
3 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 mashed bananas
1/4 c milk

Cream butter, sugar & eggs. Mix dry ingredients & add to butter mixture. Blend in bananas & milk. Bake in 2 loaf pans, greased & floured, at 350* for 40-50 minutes. Take out of pans hot.

Taco Soup

Brown 1 lb hamburger & add 1 pkg taco seasoning.
In large pot or crockpot add:
hamburger
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
2 cans tomato soup
1o oz beef bouillion (1 cube)
1 can pork & beans (any size)

Heat & serve with tortilla chips & cubed or grated cheese.
Very easy to make a larger batch.

Turkey Stoup

2 T. Olive Oil
1 large Onion, chopped
4 Celery ribs, chopped
2 medium Carrots, chopped
3 Garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 bay leaf
15 oz. can stewed tomatoes
1 qt. Chicken or turkey broth (4 cups or 2 14 oz. cans)
5 C. shredded Turkey or Chicken
Salt and Pepper
1 package frozen Cheese Raviolis or Tortellini
Basil
¼ C. grated Parmigiano Reggiano (I'm not fancy--I use cheddar!)

Place a large soup pot over medium-high heat with the oil. Add onion, celery, carrots, garlic and bay leaf and cook until soft and fragrant (about 4-5 minutes.) Add the tomatoes, broth and turkey or chicken, and let simmer for 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add ravioli or tortellini and cook according to package directions. Add basil and serve each bowl with a sprinkle of cheese.

New England Clam Chowder

1/2 cup diced bacon
1/2 cup minced onion
2 cans condensed cream of Potato soup 910 1/2 oz)
1 1/4 cup milk
4 cans minced clams (7-8 oz cans)
1 TBSP lemon juice
1/4 tsp pepper

In a large saucepan, cook and stir bacon and onion until bacon is crisp and onion is tender. Stir in soup and milk; heat through, stirring occasionally. Stir in clams, with liquid, lemon juice and pepper. Heat through.

Quick Coffee Cake

3 TBSP softened butter or margarine
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup milk
1/4 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 TBSP butter or margarine

Mix 3 tbsp margarine with sugar. Add egg and beat until creamy. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to sugar mixture alternately with milk. Add vanilla. Spread batter evenly in a greased 8 inch square baking pan.

Mix brown sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over batter. Dot with 2 tbsp margarine. Bake at 350* F for 20030 minutes.

Corn Chowder

5-8 potatoes
onion to taste
2 cans Cream Style Corn
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups milk

Cover onion and potatoes with water, cook until potatoes are tender. Add corn. Add in milk until white. Heat through.

Apple Cider

1 gallon apple cider
8 cinnamon sticks
1 1/2 tsp whole cloves
2 large oranges
2 medium apples

In a 5 qt. saucepan heat cider, cinnamon and coves to boiling. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 20 minutes. Slice oranges and apples and place in a punch bowl. Pour hot cider over fruit.

Makes 16 cups

Pumpkin Drop Cake

1 can Libby's Pumpkin pie filling
1 cup evaporated milk
1 pkg yellow cake mix
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup melted butter

Mix pie as on back of can using 1 cup evaporated milk. Pour into ungreased 9x14 inch pan. sprinkle whole package of yellow cake mix on top. Sprinkle 1 cup chopped pecans. Pour 1 cup melted butter over. Bake at 350* for 50-60 minutes until set and slightly brown. Serve hot or cold

Carmel corn

Popcorn
2 Cup brown sugar
3/4 cup margarine
3/4 cup milk
1 tsp baking soda

Pop popcorn. Cook the sugar, margrine, and milk to the soft ball stage. Add the soda and pour over popcorn

Colleen’s Pumpkin Roll

**My SIL's recipe. So good you'll cry.

In a large bowl, beat 3 eggs on high for 3 minutes. Beat in:
1 c sugar
2/3 c pumpkin
1 tsp lemon juice
¾ c flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp salt

Cove a cookie sheet with waxed paper and spread mixture on paper. (Make sure to cover well – it’s hard to peel the waxed paper off otherwise) Sprinkle chopped walnuts on top (the nuts help hold it together, but they are optional). Bake for 15 minutes at 375*. Let cool for 10 minutes.

Spread powdered sugar on a clean dish towel. Pick up the waxed paper ends and turn over so that the baked pumpkin side is on the powdered sugar. Roll up the towel by the short end. Leave rolled up for 30 minutes. Unroll and carefully peel off the waxed paper. Spread with the following:

1 c powdered sugar
6 oz cream cheese
4 tblsp butter
½ tsp vanilla

Mix and spread this on the inside of the pumpkin roll and roll it up again. I usually roll it in waxed paper and then roll it in foil. Keep these refrigerated – best when chilled.

Salsa Bean Soup

1 tsp veggie oil
1 tblsp minced garlic
2 c water
½ tsp chili powder
3 cans black beans, drained
1-8 oz bottle salsa
1 tblsp lime juice
½ c cheese

Heat oil; add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Stir in water, chili powder, beans and salsa. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer. Place 3 cups of the black bean mixture in blender and process until smooth. Return to pan. Stir in lime juice; simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and sprinkle with cheese.

Frosted Raisin Squares (Ralston Bars)

**I am posting this because I have been craving them for about...10 years. Anyone know what we could use as a Ralston equivilent?

½ c. softened butter
¾ c. brown sugar
½ c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. flour
½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
¾ c. instant Ralston or ½ c. regular Ralston
1 c. raisins

glaze:
2/3 c. confectioner’s sugar
2-2 ½ tsp. hot water

Preheat oven to 350*. Grease 9x13 pan. Cream together butter & sugars. Add egg and vanilla. Mix well. Stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and Ralston. Add to mixture, stir in raisins. Spread evenly in pan. Bake 15-20 minutes or until knife comes out clean & top is slightly brown. Cool and spread with glaze. Cut into squares.

Russian Tea

2 c. water
2 c. sugar
2 c. orange juice
¾ c. lemon juice
1 tsp almond extract
1 tsp vanilla
2 quarts water

Boil sugar and 2 c. water together for 3 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and simmer. Serve warm.

Corn Chowder

10 oz. corn
½ c. cubed potato
½ c. onion
1/3 c. water
2 tsp. chicken bouillon
¼ tsp. pepper
1 ¾ c. milk
1 tblsp butter
2 tblsp. Flour

Combine corn, potato, onion, water, bouillon and pepper. Bring to boil and reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 10 minutes. Stir in 1 ½ c. of the milk and the butter. Combine the remaining milk and flour. Stir milk / flour mixture into corn mixture. Cook and stir until thick and bubbly.

Mom’s Chicken Biscuit Stew

¼ c. butter
1/3 c. flour
½ tsp. salt and pepper
1-10 ¾ oz can chicken broth
¾ c. milk
2 c. cubed cooked chicken
1/3 c. chopped onion
1 c. cooked peas, drained
1 c. cooked whole baby carrots
1 can biscuits

Melt butter in skillet. Put in flour, salt, pepper, chicken broth and milk. Cook, stirring until thickened. Add chicken, onion, peas and carrots. Simmer until hot and bubbly. Arrange biscuits on top. Bake at 375* 20-25 minutes or until biscuits are brown.

Apple Bread

½ c Applesauce
1 & ½ c chopped apples
2 large eggs
½ c oil
2 ½ t. vanilla
2 c all purpose flour
1 c sugar
¾ t. soda
¼ t. baking powder

Mix and bake at 325 degrees until completely done. BREAD WILL BE MOIST. Makes one loaf. Cool before slicing. (For Zucchini Bread use 2 c shredded zucchini in place of the sauce and apples.)

Instant Oatmeal Packets

In a blender, blend ½ cup of oats until powdery. Place the following into sandwich bag:
¼ cup unpowdered oats, 1-2 Tablespoons powdered oats, pinch of salt and 1 teaspoon
sugar (optional). Close the sandwich bag securely and store in a cool, dry place.

Microwave Directions: Empty packet into microwaveable bowl. Add 2/3 cup water or milk. Microwave high about 1 ½ minutes. Stir.

Conventional Directions: Empty packet into pan. Add ½ cup boiling water; cook and stir over high heat until thickened, about 1 minute.

Variations – To each packet add: a little cinnamon and chopped dried apples. Or, cinnamon and nutmeg. Or, add 1 tablespoon brown sugar and some raisins (omit white sugar in recipe).

Peanut Butter Banana Bread

2 ½ C. Flour
½ C. Sugar
½ C. Brown Sugar
1 T. Baking Powder
¼ tsp. Salt
¼ tsp. Cinnamon
2 ripe Bananas (1 Cup)
1 C. Milk
¾ C. Peanut Butter
3 T. Oil
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 Egg, slightly beaten
1 C. Chocolate Chips

In large mixing bowl, stir together flour, sugars, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
In a second bowl, combine bananas, milk, peanut butter, oil, vanilla and egg.
Add banana mixture to flour mixture. Stir until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour in two greased loaf pans. Bake at 350* for 50-55 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes our clean. Cool for 10 minutes then remove from pan. Cool thoroughly. Wrap and store in refrigerator overnight before serving. Frost with frosting and top with crushed peanuts and mini chocolate chips.

Frosting: In a small sauce pan, melt 3 T. peanut butter and 2 T. butter. Remove from heat. Stir in 1 C. powdered sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla, 1 T. milk. Add more milk if needed.

Mexican Deep Dish Pizza*

*this is the simplified, unfussy version of a Rachael Ray recipe. The original recipe calls for ground chicken, so if you want you can use that. I have also used hamburger. I usually just put chicken in the crock pot and then shred it when cool and add to the recipe.

2 8 ½ oz. Boxes Corn Muffin Mix
2 Eggs
4 T. Butter, melted
1 lb. Chicken, cooked and
shredded
1 small Onion, chopped
½ Red Bell Pepper, chopped
1 can chopped Green Chilies
2 t. Cumin
1 t. Coriander
1 C. Taco Sauce
Salt
2 ½ C. shredded Cheddar Cheese
2 small Tomatoes, diced


Preheat oven to 400*. Mix muffin mix together with eggs, melted butter and milk. Grease or spray a 9 X 13 pan and pour in the muffin mix. Bake until cornbread is light golden in color, 12-15 minutes.

Place a skillet over medium –high heat and add oil. Add chicken, onions, red bell pepper, chilies, cumin, coriander, taco sauce and salt. Cook until mixed and warmed through.

Remove cornbread from oven and top with meat, veggie mixture, spreading to cover the entire surface of the cornbread. Sprinkle cheese and tomatoes on top of that. Put back in oven and cook 5 minutes more just to melt cheese.

Baked Potato Soup

4 Potatoes
2/3 C. Flour
6 C. Milk
1 C. extra sharp Cheddar Cheese
1 tsp. Salt
½ tsp. Black Pepper
1 C. Sour Cream
Chopped Celery
¾ C. chopped Green Onions
6 slices Bacon, cooked and crumbled


Preheat oven to 400*. Pierce potatoes with a fork; bake for 1 hour or until tender. Cool. Peel potatoes and coarsely mash. Discard skins.

Place flour in a large, heavy pot. Gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk until blended. Cook over medium heat until thick and bubbly (about 8 minutes). Add mashed potatoes, ¾ C. cheese, salt and pepper, stirring until cheese melts. Remove from heat. Stir in sour cream, celery and ½ C. onions. Cook over low heat 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated; DO NOT BOIL. Sprinkle each serving with cheese, onions and bacon.

*This is the recipe as I got it. I usually do it a little different. Jacob doesn't like the texture of it with the potatoes actually mashed, so I cube the potatoes small and boil them, like for potato salad, but don't let them get all the way done. Then, I put everything in the crock pot and let it simmer in there all afternoon.

Hot chocolate mix

1/2 cup cocoa
5 cupsinstant dry powdered milk
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup creamer
1/4-1/3 cup powdered sugar

Mix well. Use about 1/4 cup added to a cup of water.

Enchilada Pie

1 lb. hamburger
1/2 cup onion chopped
2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 TBSP chili powder
1 (8oz) can tomato sauce
6 tortillas, buttered
1 1/2 lb grated cheese
1 cup water

Brown hamburger and onion. Add seasonings and sauce. In 2 quart casserole, alternate tortillas, meat sauce and cheese. Add water. Cover and bake at 400* for 20 minutes.

Dinner in a Pumpkin

1 small to medium pumpkin (about 9 lbs)
1 onion chopped
1 1/2 - 2 lb lean ground beef
2 TBSP soy sauce
1 1/2 cup cooked rice
2 TBSP brown sugar
1 (4oz) can sliced mushrooms, drained
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 (8oz) can sliced water chestnuts, drained

Cut off top to pumpkin and thoroughly clean out seeds and pulp. In a large skillet, brown hamburger and onion; drain. Add soy sauce, brown sugar, mushrooms, and soup. simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add cooked rice and water chestnuts. Spoon mixture into pumpkin shell. Replace pumpkin top and place entire pumpkin, with filling, on a baking sheet. Bake 1 hour, or until inside meat of the pumpkin is tender. Put pumpkin on plate. Remove lid and serve meat. For your vegetable, slice cooked pumpkin; serve with butter and salt/pepper or brown sugar.

Raisin Pancake Squares

Shortening
2 Cups packaged pancake mix
2 TBSP cooking oil
1/2 cup raisins or mixed dried fruit bits
1 egg
1 1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
Margarine or butter
Syrup

Turn the oven to 425*. Put some shortening on a piece of paper towel or waxed paper. Spread the shortening over the bottom of a 15x10x1 inch baking pan. Crack the egg into the mixing bowl. Add the pancake mix, milk, cooking oil, and cinnamon. Stir with a wooden spoon till the dry ingredients are wet. (The batter should have small lumps, so don't stir too much.) Stir in raisins or dried fruit bits.

Pour the batter into the greased baking pan. Spread the batter evenly in the pan. Put the pan in the oven. Bake about 10 minutes or until the edges are light brown and the top springs back when yo lightly touch it with a finger. Cut into 6 squares. Spread with margarine or butter. Serve with syrup.

Donovan used to make this when he was younger

White Chili

6 (16 0z) cans Greata Northern beans- not drained
1 large onion- finely chopped
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1 (7oz) can green chilis with juice
1 lb white chicken, cooked and chopped
1 tsp. cumin
3 tsp. oregano
1 TBSp chili powder
4 chicken bouillon cubes
16 oz. sour cream
1/2 cup Cheddar cheese - shredded

Combine all ingredients and cook in crock pot for 2 hours.

One last try!

I have not been so good at keeping this blog updated and some of you have not been so good at contributing. Let's give it one more try this month. If I don't see a lot of contribution throughout this month, I will probably go ahead and delete the blog, so now might be a good time to make sure you've saved any past recipes you want to keep.

Since there is snow in the mountains this morning, lets do favorite fall recipes.