Chicken Enchiladas (done right!)

This was a first-time go with this Jessica Seinfeld-inspired dinner and it turned out much better than I expected! Great flavor, great texture, and super easy to pull off!

Chicken Enchilada

In a large sauce pan:
-Put 1 package of cut-up chicken breasts with a bit of olive oil and garlic powder (or fresh minced garlic)
-Saute until chicken is cooked through.

Remove from heat, then mix in:
-1/2 c. sweet potato puree (make your own or buy an organic canned version*)
-1/4 c. greek yogurt or sour cream
-1 can of black beans**
-3/4 c. cheddar or colby jack shredded cheese

In a greased 9 x 13 baking dish:
-Wrap prepared chicken mixture into 6 tortillas and place each one seam down in the pan.
-Top with spinach puree, salsa, and cheese
-Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.

*This Farmers Market brand is available at most mainstream grocery stores.
**This is a great trick for stretching your meat content in any mexican dish; mix in black beans either in combination with or instead of the meat called for. Economically and ecologically responsible!

Chicken Kabobs with Quinoa

Things have been a little hectic around here lately with Nick working longer hours than usual and me trying to keep up with 2 very-active-and-ready-to-be-outside kiddos. So, this Easter, we decided to take a step back and just enjoy some down time as a family, celebrating Jesus and the beauty of the resurrection. I wanted a delicious, yet low-maintenance, meal to put on the table. When that's the case, I usually opt for the grill and that is just what I did today. I know it's been a long winter when raw meat on a stick looks as beautiful to me as our chicken did today! :)

Chicken Kabobs with Quinoa

Kabobs:
You can really do just about anything here. I opted for cut up chicken breasts, red peppers, and pineapple drizzled with a honey teriyaki marinade.

Quinoa:
Cook the quinoa as directed on the packaging and mix in desired ingredients. I used diced tomatoes, corn, black beans, and scallions.

Not Your Standard Tuna Casserole

This is my idea of comfort food. Warm, creamy, and carb-y :) This recipe soothes my nutritional side by packing a big punch of iron and protein with the added spinach and beans! This one is stolen directly from Ms. Rachel Ray a few years back, but since you can freely search and find it on her own website, I don't feel too bad posting it here as well.

Tuna Casserole

Ingredients:
1 box whole wheat penne
1 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs butter
2 garlic cloves, grated, minced, or chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 Tbs flour
1 c. chicken stock
1 c. milk or half and half
salt and pepper
pinch of nutmeg
grated parmigiano reggiano (or just shredded parm)
1 15oz can cannellini beans, drained
1 box frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed to remove excess water
2 6oz cans of tuna, drained
bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 400.

Boil water and cook the pasta (sprinkle some salt in the water before dropping the pasta.) Once cooked to al dente, drain, and set aside.

In a large skillet over medium/high heat:
-Heat a bit of olive oil and the butter. Add garlic and onion and cook until tender (and fragrant!).
-Sprinkle in flour and cook for a minute, then whisk in chicken stock and milk.
-Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
-Bring to a bubble and thicken.
-Turn off heat and mix in cheese, beans, spinach, tuna, and penne.

Pour the contents into a 9 x 13 baking dish and top with bread crumbs. Bake about 10 minutes or until the top is browned.

Enjoy!

Honey BBQ Salmon Salad

Super simple, healthy meal for busy people who like good food. 'Nough said.

Honey BBQ Salmon Salad

1. Lay out salmon fillets in a baking dish.
2. Mix 1/4 c. honey, 1/4 c. bbq sauce. Spread over salmon fillets.
3. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.
4. Serve salmon over salad greens tossed with an asian-style dressing (we used sesame ginger tonight).

Vegetarian Spaghetti

This lighter version of the traditional fare was perfect for this very-in between-winter-and-spring kind of weather we've been stuck with here in MN!

Vegetarian Spaghetti

In a large saucepan, mix:
-olive oil
-garlic, chopped or minced
-onion, finely chopped
-carrots, finely chopped
-red pepper, finely chopped*
-2 Tbs. curry

Mix these ingredients and cook until the veggies soften a bit, then add:
-crushed tomatoes
-chickpeas

Simmer for 15-20 minutes. Combine with prepared thin spaghetti noodles and top with shredded parmesan reggiano cheese. Serve with a fresh salad and warm bread.

*You could substitute hot peppers here, but since I prepare food for a preschooler, I opted for the sweeter side of things :)

*The sauce in this recipe served over rice or potatoes works great for the daniel fast.

Fish Bake

My apologies, this photo does not do this quick and easy meal justice!

Fish Bake

In a 9 x 13 baking dish:
-Lay 3-4 frozen fish fillets (haddock, halibut, cod, tilapia, etc.)
-Drizzle with light italian dressing
-Bake at 450 for 20-25 minutes

Pull it out of the oven and top with:
-sliced mushrooms
-mozzarella cheese
-Then return to oven and bake for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Serve over rice, quinoa, couscous, etc.

What's on your grill?

It cannot be understated how much I LOVE this time of year, this year especially. Most years we grill right through the winter, but the 4' snowbank in front of our grill and the perpetually frigid temps kept us inside with the oven on this year. Today it was 72 and sunny, as well as my hubby's birthday. What a great occasion to celebrate the first grill lighting of the year! We went straight up traditional tonight:

Grass-fed beef burgers, with all the fixings
Spring green salad with strawberries, walnuts, and feta
Sweet potato fries {NOT burned tonight :)}

I am anxious for some grill-inspiration, so tell me, what's on your grill??

Chocolate Stout Cupcakes

Tomorrow is my hubby's birthday and tonight we celebrated at dinner with our neighbors! My awesome neighbor hosted, so I got the night off from cooking. Instead my preschooler and I spent the afternoon constructing a cupcake course, golf course, that is.

Chocolate Stout Cupcakes

Preheat oven to 350.

In a large mixing bowl:
-3/4c. unsweetened cocoa
-2c. sugar
-2c. flour
-1 tsp. baking soda
-pinch of salt

In another bowl, mix:
-1 bottle of stout beer*
-1 stick of butter, melted
-1 Tbs. vanilla
-3 large adds (add one at a time)
-3/4c. sour cream

Gradually, add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture.

Lightly grease muffin tins, or drop in wrappers.
Fill cups 3/4 full.
Bake for 12 minutes, rotate pan and then bake for another 12 minutes.

*My hubby brews his own beer and currently has a coffee/chocolate stout on hand. I used this and it was delicious. The original recipe recommends Guinness.

Build Your Own Crockpot

Another beyond simple idea, but this turned out so great I had to share it.

Build Your Own Crockpot
Step 1 - Add veggies, fresh or frozen
Step 2 - Add protein (I did chicken, but beef, pork, fish, or a variety of beans would work)
Step 3 - Add sauce of your choosing*

Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Serve over rice, couscous, or quinoa.

*I have found a new line of marinade-ish type products that I really like - Organicville. For this particular night, I used the sesame teriyaki variety and it was delicious. I picked mine up at Costco, but I've seen them in mainstream grocery stores as well. But think broad, you could use salad dressing, bottled marinade, or create your own sauce with soy, sesame, ginger, garlic, etc. Get creative, this is the fun part!

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Hello, Friends! So sorry it's been awhile since posting. It has just been that kind of week here. That, and I am actually really uninspired in the kitchen this time of year, tired of the "winter" meals and desperately waiting the arrival of spring, with which comes farmers' markets full fresh produce and weekly CSA deliveries. I am literally counting the days!!

I hesitate to enter these 2 ideas as they are so simple, they can hardly be considered a recipe, but I also know that sometimes all I need is inspiration. Hoping this can provide a warm (and E-A-S-Y) meal for you and yours.

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Put in the crockpot:
-Chicken (I did a whole one and de-boned it, but you could use any cut you like/have)
-BBQ sacue

Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
Shred and serve on a warm bun with additional BBQ sauce.

Finishing Touches:
I meant to serve mine with sweet potato fries, but they burned while I was feeding the baby (like I said, it was that kind of week) so we had raw carrots and hummus instead!