TLo's Chicken Enchiladas

If you are looking for a great (and easy!) enchilada recipe, my friend Theresa sent this one to another friend Kristie who sent it to me. Wow, how's that for convoluted? What I like about it is the meager number of ingredients, the ease at putting it together and the quickness of getting it to the table.

1 medium onion, chopped
2 Tbsp. margarine
1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken, and froze the remaining chicken for a later recipe)
1 jar (12 ounces) picante sauce, divided (I just dump in salsa, about 1/4 cup)
1 package ( 3 ounces ) cream cheese, cubed
1 tsp. ground cumin (I add lots, probably 1 TBSP)
2 cups ( 8 ounces ) grated sharp cheddar cheese, divided
8 flour tortillas ( 6 inches each )

I use a 10oz can of Enchilada Sauce over top instead of picante sauce.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a skillet, saute onion in margarine, stirring constantly, until tender. Stir in chicken, 1/4 cup picante sauce, cream cheese, and cumin. Cook until thoroughly heated. Stir in 1 cup cheddar cheese. Spoon about 1/3 cup chicken mixture in center of each tortilla. Roll up; place seam side down in a greased 13 x 9 x 2 - inch baking dish. Top with remaining picante sauce and cheddar cheese; bake 15 minutes. Serves 4 - 6

Thanks, TLO! My family enjoyed this one immensely. We paired it with blue corn chips and Mexican rice.

It's Been A Long Time Since We Rock and Rolled...

Wow, it really has been a long time since I've posted on my other Blogger blog and even longer since I've shown my face around here.

I did start out with the best intentions, but once I became a working momma, it was just too hard to keep up with this menu planning thing for everyone else. I have, however, continued to plan my menu two weeks at a time for the past year and a half. Frankly, planning the menu isn't time consuming, but putting recipes out here for everyone takes forever.

And frankly, I don't plan on starting now. BUT, I am going to slowly but surely add my recipes to this blog one at a time so when I do have time to bless the world with my time and money saving work, (ha ha ha!) the process will be so much smoother.

If you happen on this blog and are curious, keep checking back. 90% of my recipes are what I consider to be easy and (now more than ever) busy mom (or dad) friendly. I don't come up with anything on my own, and will give credit to where it's due whether cookbook, website or friend.

In the meantime, Bon Apetite! I have no idea if I spelled that right.

Red Bean and Rice with Sausage

Ingredients:
One package of Mahatma Red Beans and Rice (maroon package)
One package of whatever brand you like (we use Healthy Choice Turkey) sausage. The kind that come in the two curved links, all ready cooked.

Cut sausage up into bite sized pieces, put into pot with red beans and rice and cook with the rice. If you are like my husband, you'll saute' the sausage first and then dump it in with the rice. But I don't care about it being brown-er. =)

If you happen to make Red beans and rice from scratch. I'll gladly let you do it for me!

Menu: Aug 15-31st

A few notes first: over the past several weeks we have gone out to eat way more than normal, and then we went out of town. So I have several repeats from the last menu. Sorry about that, but I don't waste food!

Secondly, I will have to post the grocery list tomorrow night as I have gone back to work, and my time is kind of limited now. But for tomorrow, we're having red beans and rice with sausage. So all you need on the way home is: sausage (the kind that comes in the big curved two link, pre-cooked package) and mahatma's red beans and rice. Super easy meal. And that's good because I'll be nice and tired tomorrow night!

Wed, Aug 15th: Red beans and rice with sausage

Thurs, Aug 16th: BBQ Chicken Salad ( I could eat this once a week anyway, I love it!)

Fri, Aug 17th: Lemon Basil Bowties with Chicken (Rachael Ray Mag.)

Sat, Aug 18th: Pizza after Church

Sun, Aug 19th: Crockpot Spaghetti

Mon, Aug 20th: Leftover Spaghetti (Salad and bread)

Tues, Aug 21st: Tantalizingly Tangy Meatloaf

Wed, Aug 22nd: Garlic and Lime Pork Chops

Thurs, Aug 23rd: 15 min soup with Spinach, Artichokes and Tortellini with fresh bread

Fri, Aug 24th: BBQ Chicken with Mac and Cheese, Baked Beans, Salad

Sat, Aug 25th: Pizza After Church

Sun, Aug 26th: Black Bean Lasagna

Mon, Aug 27th: Black Bean Lasagna Left Overs

Tues, Aug 28th: Sandwiches and Soup

Wed, Aug 29th: Chicken Chilaquiles (yes, the ones Big Mama posted about. We had just tried them and loved them!)

Thurs, Aug 30th: Chicken Chilaquiles Left Overs

Friday, Aug 31st: Nacho Bar

**I will have to go back and link to recipes later; blogger is being very bizarre right now. In the mean time...go get the red beans and rice with sausage....easy and good!

Daddy Dinner Night

Starting with the next menu plan, we will institute Daddy Dinner Night here at the Storch house. During the summer I have all the time I want to plan and cook, but when school starts, on top of keeping the house together, having dinner help will be very nice.

Here's the scoop: One weeknight a week Terry will be in charge of dinner. I don't care if he brings something home, gives me the ingredients to pick up at the store or takes us out. So, when you see this on the menu, you'll know what's up!

Chicken and Bacon Roll Ups (Cooking Light, July 2007)

Ingredients:
1/2 cup reduced fat mayo
1 tsp minced fresh tarragon
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
4 (2.8oz) whole wheat flat bread (such as flatout)
2 c shredded romaine lettuce
2 c chopped tomato (about 2 tomatoes)
4 bacon slices cooked and drained
2 c boneless rotisserie chicken breasts

Combine mayo, lemon juice and tarragon in small bowl. Spread 2 tablespoons of mayo mixture over each flat bread. Top with 1/2 cup lettuce, 1/2 cup tomato, 1 bacon slice crumbled and 1/2 c chicken. Roll up!

Suggested: serve with sweet potato chips.

August 1-15, 2007 Menu and Shopping List

Menu

Wed, 1st
BBQ Chicken Salad
Thurs, 2nd
Chicken and Bacon Roll-ups (use the leftover rotisserie chicken from Wed.)
Fri, 3rd
Hubs Out--take girls out to McD's--I know, healthy!!
Sat, 4th
Pick up Pizza after Church
Sun, 5th
Paula Deen's Chicken and Rice Casserole
Mon, 6th
Leftover Chicken and Rice Casserole
Tues, 7th
Beef Tacos
Wed, 8th
Tantalizingly Tangy Meatloaf
Thurs, 9th
California Chicken Spaghetti
Fri,10th
Garlic-Lime Pork Chops
Sat, 11th
Sandwiches and Soup
Sun,12th
Corn and Red Pepper Quesadillas
Mon,13th
OUT TO EAT--Last night before I have to go back to work!!
Tues,14th
Spaghetti (slow cook in the crock pot)

SHOPPING LIST

Produce

tomatoes-4 (for tacos,sandwiches,salad,roll-up)
green leaf lettuce (tacos, sandwiches,salad)
red bell pepper
cilantro
cucumber
tarragon
lemon -2
romaine lettuce
garlic
roma tomatoes-6
limes-2

Meat

ground beef 4lbs (1 1/2 for tacos, 1 1/2 for meatloaf, 1 for spaghetti)
rotisserie chicken (for bbq chicken salad/rollups)
pkg of chicken tenders -2
boneless lean pork loin chops (recipe calls for 6, our family only needs 3)
4 slices of bacon (I plan on buying bacon bits, they work just as well, and I don't have to cook them!)

Dairy

sour cream
cheddar cheese (enough for your family for quesadillas and tacos)
sharp cheddar cheese (1 c)
eggs (1)
feta cheese

Frozen

garlic bread for spaghetti night
corn (for quesadillas, we only need a small package, you may need more)

Grocery Items

taco seasoning
can of black beans-2
lipton easy mexican rice -- to go with tacos
tortillas or taco shells --which ever you use
jar spaghetti sauce--2
italian seasoning
tomato paste
can corn
fat free italian dressing -1/3 c
jar salsa -1/3 c
ranch dressing-1/2 c
bbq sauce--1/3c
french fried onions
water chestnuts--8oz
green beans-2cans
pimentos-4oz
cream of celery soup
mayo-1 1/2 c
whole wheat flat bread -4
long grain and wild rice-6oz box
bread crumbs-1/2 c
worcestershire sauce
brown sugar-1/4 c
pineapple preserves -1/4 c
garlic powder
mashed potatoes--i get the boxed; it's easier on a weeknight; feel free to make home made!
angel hair pasta -16oz
olive oil
dried basil
cajun style blackened seasoning

**When I preview this post it looks all funny, but I can't seem to correct it. Sorry.