Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup

This is hands down one of the most delicious things I have ever made.  My mom was in town when I made it and we all couldn't get over just how delicious it is.  I slightly adapted it from Baked Bree.

1 tbsp olive oil
2 chicken breasts
1 tbsp taco seasoning
3 tbsp butter
1 onion (diced)
1 red pepper (diced)
1 yellow pepper (diced)
1 jalapeno pepper (finely diced)
2 cloves garlic
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
Salt and pepper
3 tbsps flour
1 (32oz) box chicken stock
2 cups half-and-half
1 can Rotel
1 can red kidney beans (drained)
1 can black beans (drained)
1 cup frozen corn kernels

Cut the chicken breast into small pieces.  Toss in the taco seasoning and saute in 1 tbsp of olive oil until cooked through. Set the chicken to the side.  In a deep pot melt the butter and saute the onion and all of the peppers for 10 minutes. Add the garlic and stir for 30 seconds.  Stir in the cumin, oregano, salt and pepper then add the flour and stir for 1 minutes.  Pour in the chicken stock and half and half then bring to a bubble.  Reduce heat to low and add in the chicken, rotel, kidney bean, black beans and corn.  Let simmer for 20 minutes then serve.  Top with your choice of tortilla chips, sour cream, avocado, cheese or salsa. 

Mini Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Well I haven't shared our big news on here yet!  Our family has grown through adoption, our sweet daughter was born October 7th.  We were gone for almost two weeks so we have only been home 10 days.  That is why the blog went quiet for a little while.  I'm getting back into the swing of things and this simple recipe from Six Sisters Stuff was the perfect easy way to bake with pumpkin!  I did slightly adapt them and they were a great treat!

1 (15oz) box Spice Cake Mix
1 (150z) can Pumpkin
5 tbsp Butter (melted)
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tbsp cinnamon

Stir together the spice cake mix and pumpkin. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 to 45 minutes.  Grease a mini muffin tin.  Remove batter from the refrigerator.  Dip a spoonful of batter into butter and place in the greased mini muffin tin.  Repeat with all batter until it is gone.  Bake in oven for 10-15 minutes or until muffins are cooked through.  Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes.  Combine with sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Remove each mini muffin and dip into the cinnamon sugar mixture.  

French Bread Pizzas

This is the perfect Friday night or Saturday afternoon recipe! I got this from Yellow Bliss Road and now I am craving them just by looking at them!

1 loaf French Bread
Pizza Sauce
Cheese
Toppings

Heat oven to 350. Slice the french bread into portions. Spread with sauce, top with cheese and bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the oven.  Remove and serve. 

Easy BBQ Baked Chicken

This is my Mom's BBQ chicken recipe. It's so so easy but so delicious.

3 Chicken Breasts
1 cup BBQ Sauce
3/4 cup Water

Heat oven to 375.  Place chicken in an 8x8 baking dish.  Pour BBQ sauce over chicken and pour water in the bottom of the dish.  Cover with tin foil and make 1 small cut in the foil.  Bake in the oven for 35 to 45 minutes.  Remove from oven and serve. 

Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole

Since we did away with Cream of Whatever soup over a year ago I have really really missed hash brown casserole.  I saw this recipe on 100 Days of Real Food and knew that I had to make it although i did slightly adapted it. It was delicious and cheesy and just like everything you want it to be!!!


6 tbsp butter
1/2 cup onion (diced)
1 clove garlic (minced)
4 tbsp  flour
1 1/2 cups milk
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups cheddar cheese
1 pound frozen hash browns

Heat oven to 350. Grease an 8x8 baking dish and set to the side.  In a large skillet melt the butter over medium heat. Saute the onions for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Turn the heat down and whisk in the flour.  Let the flour mixture cook for 2 minutes.  Whisk in the milk, salt and pepper. Turn the heat off and stir in cheese. Mix in the hash brown until evenly coated then pour into the baking dish.  Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.  Turn on the broiler for 2 to 4 minutes to brown the top layer of cheese.  Remove from oven and serve.