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.

Greek Meatball Gyros

Sorry I have been missing, it might happen over the next few months but i'm going to try to keep up the best I can. Anyways, these Meatball Gyros are awesome! I used my own tzatziki sauce recipe and Duck's Oven meatball recipe that is slightly adapted.  Delish!

1 lb lean ground beef
1 egg
3 tbsp crumbled feta cheese
2 tsp parsley
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp onion powder
1 tbsp olive oil
4 pita breads
diced red onion
sliced cucumbers
diced tomato
tzatziki sauce

Heat oven to 400.  In a mixing bowl combine the ground beef, egg, crumbled feta, parsely, garlic, salt, pepper, onion powder and olive oil. Place in a baking dish and bake for 30 minutes flipping the meatballs halfway through.  Once the meatballs are cooked, build the gyros and enjoy! 

Caprese Lasagna Roll Ups

Okay these are good. Like really good.  I adapted this recipes from Cooking Classy.

8 lasagna noodles
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
3/4 cup ricotta cheese
1 large egg white
1/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese
black pepper
3 - 4 medium roma tomatoes (thinly sliced)
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
2 cups marinara sauce

Heat oven to 350.  Boil lasagna noodles. While the noodles are boiling mix together the ricotta and egg white. Stir in the parmesan cheese, 1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella and black pepper to taste. Once the noodles are cooked through lay them out on wax paper.  Spread the ricotta mixture evenly across each noodle. Top with 3 or 4 slices of tomato and some chopped basil.  Place 1/2 cup of pasta sauce in the bottom of a baking dish.  Place the rolled up lasagna noodles seam side down. Top with remaining sauce and mozzarella cheese.  Bake for 30 minutes. 

Rosemary Ranch Chicken Kabobs

This recipes came about after looking at several different similar recipes.  This is just an easy version without any mayo in them since the hubs hates mayo.

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 tbsp rosemary (chopped)
1/2 cup olive oil
1 pkg ranch dressing mix

Cut chicken breasts into cubes. In a small bowl whisk together olive oil, rosemary and ranch dressing mix. Marinate for 3 to 12 hours. Place the chicken on the screwers and grill over medium high heat until it is cooked through. 

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

The other day we ended up with more brown bananas than one family should have.  I decided to make this delicious banana bread from Lovin' From the Oven. I did slightly adapt it.

Bread:
3 over-ripe bananas
1/3 cup melted butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
dash of salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cups flour

Swirl:
1/3 cup sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon

Heat oven to 350.  Grease a loaf pan.  In a medium bowl mash up the bananas. Stir in the melted butter, sugar and egg. Add in the vanilla, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Mix in the flour.  Pour half of the batter into the bottom of the loaf pan.  In a small bowl combine the cinnamon and sugar.  Sprinkle 2/3s of the cinnamon mixture over the batter.  Top with the remaining batter and sprinkle on the remaining cinnamon and sugar. Bake in the oven for 45 to 55 minutes. 

Tomato Corn and Cheddar Pie

This recipe is awesome.  It's like everything I love about summer. All together. In a delicious pie crust. This recipe is slightly adapted from Clock Work Lemon.

2 pie crusts (store bought or homemade)
1 3/4 pounds tomatoes (sliced)
1 1/2 cup fresh corn (cut off the cob)
3 tbsp chives (chopped)
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp lemon juice

Heat oven to 400. Whisk together the lemon juice and mayonnaise. Place the pie crust in a pie plate. Put down half of the tomatoes in the pie crust then layer with half of the corn, half of the chives, half the salt, half of the pepper and half of the cheese. Top with the remaining tomatoes, corn, chives, salt, and pepper. Drizzle with the lemon mayonnaise then top with the remaining cheese. Top with second pie crust and crimp the edges. Cut four vents into the top of the crust. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Remove and let the pie sit for 10 minutes before cutting into it.