Easiest Mexican Chicken

This is one of our favorites! When Chris and I were on our honeymoon, a man at a campsite near us told me how to make this really easy chicken. It was the first thing I made when we got home and it was so good! I usually serve it with rice, a vegetable, and some cornbread. I could eat the cornbread with the sauce from the chicken as a meal in itself! Oh it is SO good!!!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

INGREDIENTS:

4-6 Chicken breasts trimmed of fat
1 15.5oz jar of (mild, med, or hot) chunky salsa
1 25.5oz jar of Tostito's smooth and cheesy dip

DIRECTIONS:

Place chicken breasts side by side in a 9x13 inch casserole dish. Pour salsa and cheese dip over the chicken. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for an hour. Depending on the thickness of the chicken breasts it may take a little longer. Check to be sure chicken is no longer pink. I sometimes take the foil off and let it bake about 10 mins.

ENJOY!!!

Easy Frittata!

This recipe is super easy to make and change up! You can make it in a small casserole dish (8x8) or small pie dish. If you are going to be serving a larger group you may want to double the recipe and use a larger dish. I will give you ideas of things to add in but really you can make it into anything you like!! We've had this for dinner and I've fixed biscuits and cheese grits to go along with it! Makes a great breakfast or dinner!!

Ingredients:

5 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
salt/pepper

Directions:

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk together the eggs, cheese, milk, salt, and pepper. Stir in your vegetables and/or meat (see below). Spray pie dish or casserole dish with nonstick spray. Pour mixture into dish and bake for 20 minutes until eggs are set. If you've doubled the recipe you will need to adjust the time.

"Stir it in" ideas:

-Cook and cut up some veggies like asparagus, broccoli, mushrooms, or whatever your favorites may be!
-Cook some sausage links and slice them before stirring in or cook ground sausage/drain and stir in!
-Cook and chop or crumble in bacon!

The possibilities are endless!!! Enjoy! Let me know if you try it especially if you add something of your own not mentioned here that turns out good! I'd love your feedback and ideas of how YOU did it and what your family likes! Don't forget to join this blog to get new recipes and ideas as I post them!

Dark Chocolate Strawberry Pie

*this recipe will make 2 pies, halve ingredients to make just 1 pie*

Ingredients:
2 (9 inch) pie crusts (store bought or use your favorite recipe)
3 full size dark chocolate Hershey bars
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
6 TBSP cornstarch
6 TBSP dry strawberry Jello from box
Red food coloring drops (optional)
4 cups sliced strawberries
Whip cream

Pie crust:
Place crust in pie pan or buy one in a pie pan.  Bake until golden brown according to crust directions.  Let cool. While pie crusts are baking stick 3 full size dark chocolate Hershey bars in oven to melt in an oven safe dish. Once pies are done spread dark chocolate over crust and cool before adding filling below.

Filling:
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
6 TBSP. cornstarch

Cook until slightly thickened.  Add 6 TBSP. strawberry Jello (dry from the box).  Let cool.  Red food coloring (drops) optional.

Place 4 cups strawberries in cooled crust.  Pour the strawberry mixture over the berries.

 Place in fridge to set up.
Add a dollop of whipped cream

I have not tried this pie yet but my sister says it is "soooooo good!!" And apparently my niece's new favorite pie!! I hope to try it soon. If you try it please post a comment about it!! Also remember to join this site/page to keep up when I post recipes!!

Chicken Casserole

Another favorite from Christin!! This is SOO good!

INGREDIENTS:

1 whole fryer chicken cooked/deboned or 4 boneless/skinless chicken breasts cooked/shredded
1 bag Pepperidge Farms herb stuffing (cubes)
16oz container sour cream
1 (14.5 oz) can cream of chicken OR cream of celery
1 smalled diced onion
1 small bag frozen mixed veggies (green beans, corn, peas, carrots)
1 stick butter (melted) divided

DIRECTIONS:

Cook frozen veggies and onion in boiling water until tender. Don't over cook veggies! Melt 1/2 stick of butter and mix with 1/2 of the stuffing, spread on bottom of casserole dish (9x13). Shredd cooked chicken and spread over stuffing. Mix veggies/onion, sour cream, cream of chicken, pour over chicken. Melt other 1/2 stick of butter and mix with remaining stuffing and spread over top of dish. Use 1-2 cups of the chicken broth and pour over entire dish.

BAKE:

OVEN: 350
TIME: 25-30mins

This is so good and even better served with some mashed potatoes!!

Sausage and Egg Casserole

Great breakfast casserole! Assemble it the night before, refrigerate overnight, and pop it in the oven the next morning!

INGREDIENTS:

1lb ground pork
9 eggs
2 cups milk
1 1/2 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp salt
3 slices bread cubed
2 cups shredded cheese
pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Cook pork and drain. Cover bottom of 9x13 casserole dish with pork. Sprinkle cubed bread all over. Mixed eggs, milk, dry mustard, salt  and pepper together and pour over meat and bread. Sprinkle cheese all over the top. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

BAKE:

OVEN: 350
TIME: 1 hour

Taco Dip

This has got to be Chris' favorite dips!! The recipe comes from my best friend Christin, and it's a home run every time we have it!! Sometimes I will add black olives between the bean and meat layers. I also only put jalapenos on half when I make it for the entire family so that the kids don't get any in theirs! 

INGREDIENTS:

16oz container sour cream
1lb ground beef (or venison)
1 (14.5oz) can re-fried beans
1 package taco seasoning
2 cups shredded cheddar (or fiesta blend)
1/2lb grated jalapeno cheese
sliced or diced jalapenos (optional)
4oz can black olives (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Cook ground beef and drain. Add taco seasoning and stir. Spread meat in bottom of 9x13 casserole dish. If using olives spread them over meat. Spread re-fried beans over top of olives and meat. You can heat the beans on the stove or in microwavable bowl until they are softened up and easier to spread. Sprinkle jalapenos over beans...remember it doesn't take much! Next spread the sour cream then top with the cheeses!!

BAKE:

OVEN: 350
TIME: 40-45 until bubbling and cheese is melted!

Serve with tortilla chips!

ENJOY!

Chicken Noodle Soup

This is a very easy recipe for chicken noodle soup! I have never been a big fan of chicken noodle soup but last week, as my entire little family was recovering from a terrible bug,  I made a batch of this and it was SOOO good! Hope you enjoy!

INGREDIENTS:

1 TBSP Butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
4 (14.5oz) cans chicken broth
1 (14.5oz) vegetable broth
1/2 lb chopped cooked chicken breast
1 1/2 cups egg noodles
1 cup sliced carrots
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Cook onion and celery in butter until just tender, about 5-7 mins. Pour in chicken and vegetable broths and basil, oregano, carrots, and noodles. Salt and pepper as desired. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20 mins before serving!

Makes about 6 servings. Although I added a little more broth, chicken, and noodles to make a little more! Delish!!!