Quick King Ranch Chicken Skillet

This is a very tasty and easy recipe to make.  I love the King Ranch casserole, so I was excited to try this skillet recipe.  It did not disappoint.  The dish was very tasty and had a nice mild southwestern flavor to it.  It was all cooked in one dish which makes for easy clean up.  I will be making this dish again.  Everyone loved it.

Quick King Ranch Chicken Skillet
From Southern Living
Ingredients:


1 tablespoon canola oil
1 medium-size yellow onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
2 large poblano chiles, stemmed, seeded, and chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)*
1 (10-oz.) can diced tomatoes and green chiles (such as Ro-Tel), undrained
1 (10 1/2-oz.) can cream of mushroom soup
4 cups chopped, cooked chicken (from 1 rotisserie chicken)
1/2 cup lower-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
8 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2 cups), divided
8 (5 1/2-inch) white corn tortillas, each cut into eighths
Fresh cilantro leaves, chopped optional

Directions:
Step 1
Preheat oven to 425°F. Heat oil in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet over medium-high. Add onion and poblanos, and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 6 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and green chiles, mushroom soup, chicken, broth, cumin, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, and boil, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Stir in half of the shredded cheese. Arrange cut tortillas over top, and sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Step 2
Bake in preheated oven until cheese is melted and mixture is bubbling, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro.
*can substitute a green, red, orange, or yellow pepper
Serves 6

Green Chile Cheese Bread

The other day I made the most delicious bread - Green Chile Cheese Bread.  Moist, not too dense,   a slight spicy taste, and a wonderful  slightly crunchy texture from the semolina flour.   This bread is perfect for toast and sandwiches.

You need to be patient when making this bread due to the rising times.  You will be richly rewarded for your patience.  Enjoy.



Green Chile Cheese Bread
From Taming the Spoon

Ingredients

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 cup chopped hatch chiles or green jalapeño peppers, seeded, ribs removed
1 envelope (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
¼ cup warm water (110 degrees)
1 cup milk, at room temperature
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled to room temperature
1 large egg, lightly beaten, at room temperature
2½ cups unbleached bread flour
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon semolina flour, divided
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon table salt
½ pound sharp Cheddar cheese, grated (about 2 cups)
Extra grated cheese for sprinkling on top, optional

Instructions

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a small skillet over low heat. Add peppers and sauté until softened, 5 minutes. Cool to room temperature.
In a small bowl, stir yeast into water and set aside until foamy, about 5 minutes. Add milk, the 3 tablespoons of melted butter and egg. Mix well.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together peppers, bread flour, 1 cup semolina flour, sugar and salt. Add milk mixture to dry ingredients. Stir mixture with a wooden spoon until dough starts to come together. Attach bowl and dough hook to mixer. Turn to low and mix about 1 minute. Add cheese, increase speed to medium and continue mixing for 2-3 minutes more, or until dough comes together and cheese is evenly mixed in. Form dough into a ball.
Generously grease a large bowl with butter. Add dough and roll it around to coat with butter. Cover bowl loosely with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm, draft-free place until dough has doubled in volume, about 2 hours.
While dough is rising, prepare the baking pan. Butter a 9-by-5-by-3-inch baking pan. Dust pan with remaining semolina flour. When dough has finished rising, turn dough out onto a well-floured surface and, using floured hands, gently form dough into a rough loaf. Put dough in prepared pan and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let dough rise in a warm, draft-free place until dough completely fills pan and rises above it slightly, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Sprinkle extra cheese on top of dough, if desired.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove plastic wrap and bake bread in center of oven until it is golden on top and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom, 50 minutes to 1 hour. The internal temperature of the bread should also be at least 190 degrees. Cover bread with a sheet of aluminum foil if crust starts to get too brown. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Run a knife around edge of pan to loosen loaf, then remove from pan and cool completely on a rack.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

Cream Cheese Potato Soup

I felt like having a nice bowl of soup the other night.  I had some potatoes on hand so I set to work.  I cubed the tomatoes and cooked them in some chicken broth with some seasoning salt, white pepper, paprika, dried parsley, and a bay leaf.  I boiled the potatoes until they were soft.  The soup cooled for a while,  I removed the bay leaf;  with an immersion blender, I pureed the soup.  I returned the soup to the stove and stirred in the cream cheese until the cheese melted.

I ladled the soup in some bowls and topped with bacon and cheese.  Mmmmmm soup doesn't get much better.


Cream Cheese Potato Soup

Ingredients:
4 cups chicken broth
1 Tablespoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1 bay leaf
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, cut into small chunks
Bacon crumbles
Grated Cheese


Directions:
1. In a Dutch oven combine broth, spices, bay leaf, and potatoes.
2. Boil on medium heat until the potatoes are tender.
3. Remove the bay leaf and with an immersion blender puree the potatoes.
4. Add the cream cheese and stir until cheese melts.  Taste and season if necessary.
5. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with bacon and cheese if desired. 

Serves 4-6

Fluffiest Blueberry Pancakes

Those were the best Blueberry Pancakes I have ever eaten.  That was the endorsement these pancakes received from the spouse.  The kids enjoyed them too.  Pancakes are a great option for any meal.  Quick, easy, versatile, and delicious.  I took advantage of making  blueberry pancakes  for dinner because blueberries are plentiful.

These pancakes took about 10 minutes to prepare and about 15 minutes to cook.  The were truly fluffy, delicious and loaded with blueberries. Cooking them in butter added a nice crunch to the edges.


Fluffiest Blueberry Pancakes
From Pinch of Yum
INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 cup flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 tablespoons melted butter
1+ cup fresh blueberries
more butter for the pan

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Mix the milk and vinegar and let it sit for a minute or two (you’re making “buttermilk” here).
Whisk the dry ingredients together. Whisk the egg, milk, and melted butter into the dry ingredients until just combined.
2. Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat. Melt a little smear of butter in the pan (essential for giving a yummy golden brown crust).
3. Pour about 1/3 cup of batter into the hot skillet and spread it flat-like (it will be pretty thick). Arrange a few blueberries on top. Cook until you see little bubbles on top and the edges starting to firm up. Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes until the pancakes are sky-high fluffy and cooked through.

4.Serve with butter and maple syrup. But honestly, sometimes I just like to eat these plain.

Serves 4

Beef Taquitos

Beef Taquitos are simply delicious.  They are a great finger food you just pick up, dunk in some salsa, guacamole, sour cream and eat.  These taquitos have a creamy beef filling with a little zest to it.  I used corn tortillas to wrap my filling but you can use flour if you wish.    Note: This recipe is a great way to use any leftover roast beef you may have on hand.  Before baking the taquitos, I lightly sprayed some cooking oil on them and sprinkled them with kosher salt.  This really enhanced the flavor. They are baked in a 425 degree oven for about 17 minutes.  I let them cool a little  - about 5 minutes before serving.

Best Taquitos ever.  Crispy, yet slightly soft in the center.

Beef Taquitos


Ingredients:
3 ounces cream cheese
1/4 cup salsa verde
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons dried cilantro
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 cups shredded cooked beef
1 cup shredded Mexican Cheese
12 corn tortillas
cooking spray
kosher salt


Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.
2. Place cream cheese in a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave for 20 seconds or until it is easy to stir.
3. In a large mixing bowl, add the cream cheese, salsa verde, lime juice, dried cilantro, chili powder, ground cumin, onion and garlic powders.  Stir until well mixed.
4. Add the beef and cheese to the mixture and combine well.
5. Heat corn tortillas wrapped in damp paper towels in the microwave for about 25-30 seconds.  This will make them easier to roll without cracking.
6. Place 2 tablespoons of the filling on the lower third of the tortilla keeping it away from the edges.  Roll up the tortilla and place seam side down on the prepared baking sheet.  Repeat until all filling has been rolled up.
Note:  As you are working on the taquitos, the ones placed on the baking sheet cover with a damp paper towel.

7. Remove the paper towels and lightly spray the taquitos.  Sprinkle the tops with kosher salt.  Place the pan in the oven and bake for about 15-20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to brown.
8. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.  Dip in sour cream, salsa, or guacamole.


Makes 12 Taquitos

Strawberries 'n' Cream Bread

Moist, creamy texture, and delicious are just a few ways I would describe this bread.  I have always loved a good strawberry bread.  When I saw this recipe as I was searching the web, I knew I had to make it.   Strawberries and cream what a wonderful combination.

As this bread was baking, the house smelled heavenly.  I couldn't wait to try the bread.    The aroma did not disappoint.  The bread was delicious.  A moist creamy bread with strawberries and the sweet crunch of pecans with a hint of cinnamon.  The recipe called for walnuts, but I did not have any so I used pecans instead.

A great bread to add to your baking list.



Strawberries 'n' Cream Bread
From Taste of Home


Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup chopped fresh strawberries
3/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted, divided


Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs. Add sour cream and vanilla; mix well.
2. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; gradually stir into creamed mixture just until moistened. Fold in strawberries and 1/2 cup nuts.
3. Pour into a greased 8x4-in. loaf pan. Sprinkle with remaining nuts. Bake 65-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.