Orange Chipotle Chicken with Cilantro Rice

This was pretty good...not my absolute fave but a quick and healthy meal. I think I would have preferred the chicken grilled.

PS - chipotle in adobe is SPICY! But you can alter how much you put in to suit your tastes!!!

Orange Chipotle Chicken with Cilantro Rice

1 tsp chile powder

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp sea salt, divided

1 tsp safflower oil (I used olive oil)

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb), rinsed and patted dry, pounded 1/2-inch thick

Juice 1 medium navel orange (1/3 cup orange juice)

2 tbsp pure maple syrup

1 tbsp chopped chipotle chiles in adobo sauce

1 tsp orange zest

2 cups cooked brown rice (I used white)

1/4 packed cup chopped cilantro leaves

1. In a small bowl, combine chile powder, cumin and 1/4 tsp salt. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet to medium-high. Tilt skillet to coat bottom lightly. Season both sides of chicken with chile-cumin mixture and cook for 3 minutes per side or until no longer pink in center. Remove from skillet and set aside.
2. Add orange juice and maple syrup to juice and bits left in skillet and cook for 1 minute to thicken slightly (until it measures 1/4 cup liquid), stirring constantly. Remove from heat, stir in chipotle chiles in adobo sauce and orange zest. Add chicken back to skillet, return to heat and cook for 1 minute on medium-high, turning constantly.
3. In a medium bowl, combine rice, cilantro and remaining 1/4 tsp salt. Serve chicken over rice and spoon any excess glaze over top chicken pieces.

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Creamy Jambalaya Pasta

THIS IS AMAAAAAAAAZING!!!!!! Make it tonight! DO IT! It comes together so quick but looks and tastes like it took tons of time and effort! I thought the Cajun seasoning might have been a little too spicy for my 2 year old but I was wrong. She ate 2 full servings!

Creamy Jambalaya Pasta

1lb  Farfalle pasta
1/2 lb smoked sausage, cut into bite-size pieces
1 cup heavy cream (or half & half or evaporated milk)
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped onion or 2 Tbsp minced onion flakes
1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup white wine
1/4 cup tomato sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped parsley
Parmesan cheese


In a large pot, boil water for pasta. Salt water. Boil pasta and cook until al dente. Set aside.

Brown sausage in a small skillet over medium heat. Once browned, add onion and saute for two minutes. Add garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds or until fragrant. Add white wine to skillet, making sure to scrape up any brown bits from the bottom. Let wine reduce by half, about two minutes.
Stir in Cajun seasoning, paprika, salt, pepper and tomato sauce. Add cream and heat to almost bubbling, then reduce heat to low. Allow the cream mixture to reduce by half, about 5 minutes. Drain pasta and add to skillet. Toss with parsley and freshly grated Parmesan. 1

Pizza Grilled Cheese

It's the perfect kid food. It's quick, it's easy, you can alter it to your tastes. MAKE THESE! A side of pizza sauce and tater tots is all you need!!

Pizza Grilled Cheese

4 slices of bread
butter or margarine
4 slices of mozzarella cheese (I used shredded)
pepperoni
Italian seasoning or basil
pizza sauce for dipping

Warm a medium/large skillet over medium heat. Butter each piece of bread on one side. When skillet is hot place a piece of bread butter side down on the skillet then add one slice of cheese and small shake of Italian seasoning or basil (add a small shake of parmesan cheese here too if desired). Top with a desired amount of pepperonis. If any other toppings are desired, add now. Add another slice of mozzarella and top with slice bread butter side up. Repeat with second sandwich. When bottom slice is golden brown then flip over carefully. Once both sides are brown remove from pan cut and serve with pizza sauce if desired. Make 2 sandwiches

Where I got the recipe!



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Valentine's Day Extravaganza!!!

I LUV Valentine's Day!! Be cheesy and dorky and mushy! It's fun! You get to make someone feel special! We had a great day full of candy, silly food and crafts!

One of the crafts the girls did:

Breakfast was simple - blueberry muffins in heart wrappers with strawberry milk.  Why didn't I make heart shaped muffins you ask? Well I attempted. It was a giant fail. I guess I can't be awesome at everything!

Lunch was jello and hot dogs - but not just any jello and hot dogs!

The hot dogs were simple - boil as normal, cut on a diagonal, assemble with toothpicks. The jello took a loooong time to make but it's a simple recipe. My hint - make sure each layer is set before you pour the next and pour slowly! Here's the jello recipe! I used a heart cookie cutter to cut out the jigglers.

You know those Little Debbie cakes that come out for every holiday? Hearts for Valentine's, Christmas trees for Christmas? I made some of those. They taste EXACTLY like the store bought ones. It's crazy. They are a little time consuming but fun!

Recipe for the snack cakes!

Dustin's gift has to be hands down, my favorite gift I've given him! He got to open a super cheesy gift every hour he was at work! I put each in a little gift bag with a heart shaped note attached. Here are a few of my favorites!







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Grilled Cheeseburger Wraps

My 2 year old ate this as is. This is a MIRACLE. Usually she's very anti-carb. Any kind of wrap, sandwich, ect she eats the insides and leaves the rest. Even today for lunch she sucked the insides out of pizza rolls (I'm working on earning the Healthiest Mom Lunch Of The Year Award) and left the "crust". Not these little gems. She inhaled half of one and immediately asked for another and inhaled it too. We may be eating these every day for at least the next year.

Next time I'll spruce it up a bit with my favorite burger toppings - bacon, pickles on the inside and mayo, lettuce on top...Add your favorite burger toppings and go CRAZY!

Grilled Cheeseburger Wraps

1 lb ground beef

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (I used a little more to taste)

2 tablespoon ketchup
1 tablespoon season salt
pepper and salt to taste
5 flour tortillas (the larger ones)
shredded cheddar cheese
yellow mustard

Brown ground beef in large skillet and drain. Add Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, season salt, and salt and pepper to the beef and simmer for 5 minutes. Sprinkle shredded cheese down center of each tortilla. Add a few heaping tablespoons of the beef mixture on top of the cheese. Spread some mustard on top of the beef. Roll up tortilla burrito-style and place wraps on preheated indoor grill (I used my George Foreman). Grill wraps for about 5 minutes until cheese is melted. Cut on a diagonal and serve immediately.

Where I got the recipe! 1

Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole

I'm from the Midwest. It's not a casserole unless there is a can of cream of something in it! This was awesome. A warm, filling, comfort meal. I had invited my parents over for supper when I made this and there was not a drop left in the dish. At all. So if you are feeding more than 4 I would double the recipe. And I would buy an extra can of French's Fried Onions to snack on while you make it. Those things are like candy.

Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole

1 box Rice-a-Roni (I used wild rice flavor)
1 can cream of chicken soup (or mushroom or celery)
8oz sour cream
2 boneless skinless chicken breast - cooked and shredded
6oz can French's Fried Onions
1C shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat the oven to 350. Prepare the Rice-a-roni according to package directions. Mix together the rice, soup, sour cream and chicken. Pour into a greased 9x13 baking dish. Bake uncovered for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with fried onions and cheese. Bake for 5 more minutes or until cheese is melted. 1

Crockpot Creamy Southwest Chicken Nachos

This was our Super Bowl Supper! Threw it in the crockpot in the morning and it was ready by game time! The WHOLE family loved it. Even Tiny 7 month Tinsley! She inhaled it! Get out your favorite nacho toppings for this - we had shredded cheddar, jalapenos and black olives. Marley ate all my black olives...

I used mild salsa...this wasn't remotely spicy. But the jalapenos gave it the missing kick. Don't like spicy? Use medium salsa. It's not spicy but it will give the nachos more flavor.

Crockpot Creamy Southwest Chicken Nachos

1 can of corn - drained
1 can of black beans - drained and rinsed
2 boneless skinless chicken breast (it's ok if they are frozen)
1 16oz jar salsa
1 8oz package cream cheese
tortilla chips
your favorite nacho toppings

Add the corn, black beans, chicken and salsa in the crockpot. Cook on high for 2 hours. Remove chicken and shred with a fork. Return to the crockpot. Stir in the cream cheese and cook on low for 4 hours.

Assemble any way you like!

Where I got the recipe! 1

Sweet Pork Tacos with Cilantro Ranch Dressing

I ate 4 of these. Yep, good. Really simple to prepare too! Sometimes I fail at life and we didn't have lettuce. Who doesn't have lettuce for tacos?! Use lettuce on yours. They needed the crunch!

I served these with a very quick homemade "spanish" rice. Bring to a boil one can of Rotel and 6oz tomato sauce. Add 1 cup of rice. Simmer until tender.

Sweet Pork Tacos with Cilantro Ranch Dressing
2-3 pounds pork
3 cans coke {not diet}
1/4 cup brown sugar
dash of garlic salt
1/4 cup water
1 can sliced green chilies
3/4 can enchilada sauce
1 cup brown sugar

put the pork in a heavy duty ziploc bag to marinade. add about a can and a half of coke and about 1/4 cup brown sugar. marinade for a few hours or overnight.

drain marinade and put pork, 1/2 can coke, water, and garlic salt in crock pot on high for 3-4 hours {or until it shreds easily, but don't let it get too dry}. remove pork from crock pot and drain any liquid left in the pot. shred pork.

in a food processor or blender, blend 1/2 can coke, chilies, enchilada sauce and remaining brown sugar {about a cup, you can add a little more or less to taste}. if it looks too thick, add more coke little by little.

 

put the shredded pork and sauce in crock pot and cook on low for 2 hours.

Cilantro Ranch Dressing

 

 1 cup salsa verde

1 package buttermilk ranch

1/3 cup cilantro

1/3 cup mayo

1/3 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

1/4 teaspoon cumin

1/4 cup sugar

 

Blend all ingredients together in a blender. Drizzle over tacos.

 

Where I got the recipe!

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Rolo Cake Mix Bars

It's one of those rare occasions when I bake. Get excited. This recipe is stupid easy. Yes chopping 40 Rolos in half sucks. But you forget about it the minute you take your first bite! These lasted 2 days in our house. Hurry! Run now and make these!!! Then bring me some!

Tip: when patting out the VERY sticky dough - put your hand in a ziplock baggie and spray the baggie with Pam. Use that side to pat the dough. If it starts sticking to the bag spray it with some more!

1 box cake mix (I used white)
5oz evaporated milk
1/4C butter - melted
40 Rolos - cut in half

Preheat the oven to 350*
Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.
Beat together the cake mix, evaporated milk, and butter.
Divide the batter in half and press one half into the bottom of the baking dish.
Bake until just set 8-9 minutes.
Remove from the oven and place the Rolos, caramel side down, all over the cake.
Drop the remaining batter on top, teaspoon size.
Bake 20-24 minutes, or until top is golden.
Let cool completely before cutting.

Where I got the recipe! 1