Southwest Chicken Bake

I made this recipe about a month ago.  It was one of the dinners that we brought to our friends house for our weekly dinners.  Candace asked about the recipe, which reminded me to post it.  But, I could not for the life of me remember where it came from.  So after some searching, I found it in my email from Kraft Recipes. Of course, I should have figured it was Kraft.  Any how, it's easy, delicious and will leave you with a good amount of leftovers.  Enjoy! 

I ALWAYS forget to take pictures before we go to their house.  Then I grab a crappy phone pic.  This honestly doesn't do the meal any justice! 

What You Need


2-1/2 Tbsp. (1/2 of 1-1/4-oz. pkg.) TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Taco Seasoning Mix
1 lb.  boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
2 Tbsp. KRAFT Light Zesty Italian Dressing
1 cup  canned no-salt-added black beans, rinsed
1/2 cup frozen corn
2   green onions, chopped
1 cup TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Thick 'N Chunky Salsa
1/2 cup  KRAFT Mexican Style 2% Milk Finely Shredded Four Cheese
2-2/3 cups hot cooked long-grain brown rice


Make It


HEAT oven to 375ºF.


ADD seasoning mix to chicken in medium bowl; toss to evenly coat.


HEAT dressing in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook and stir 5 min. or until evenly browned. Spoon into 1-1/2-qt. casserole; cover with layers of beans, corn, onions and salsa.


BAKE 20 min. Top with cheese; bake 5 min. or until melted. Serve over rice.
TACO BELL® and HOME ORIGINALS® are trademarks owned and licensed by Taco Bell Corp. 

Chicken with Rosemary Butter Sauce

This recipe comes from Taste of Home magazine.  I've had it in my recipe binder for a while now and was in need of a chicken recipe this past week.  I'm not a sauce master yet, but this has been my best yet.  The sauce was good on the chicken but it was AH-MAZING on white rice.  Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 ounces each)
• 2 tablespoons butter, divided
• 1/4 cup white wine or chicken broth
• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1-1/2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary

Directions

• In a skillet over medium heat, cook chicken in 1 tablespoon butter for 4-5 minutes on each side or until juices run clear. Remove and keep warm.
• Add wine to the pan; cook over medium-low heat, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Add cream and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook and stir until slightly thickened. Stir in rosemary and remaining butter until blended. Serve sauce with chicken. Yield: 2 servings.

Chicken Tostadas

Chicken Tostadas 

what you need

8 tostada shells (6 inch)

1-1/4 cups  refried beans, warmed

2 cups shredded lettuce

2 cups  shredded cooked chicken breasts

1 tomato, chopped

1   avocado, chopped

1/2 cup pico de gallo

1 cup  shredded KRAFT Monterey Jack Cheese

1/2 cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream

make it

SPREAD shells with beans.
TOP with remaining ingredients

Grilled Chicken & Potato Salad

For Mother's Day we decided to grill out and take advantage of the gorgeous weather.  Here are a few of the recipes we used.  The chicken was from Food Network Magazine and the other was from Kraft Foods Magazine.  Enjoy! 

Great American Potato Salad 

what you need

1/2 cup KRAFT Real Mayo Mayonnaise

1 Tbsp.  yellow mustard

1/2 tsp. celery seed

1/2 tsp.  salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

4 cups  cubed red potatoes, cooked, cooled

2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped

1   onion, chopped

2 stalks celery, sliced

1/3 cup  dill pickle relish

1 MIX first 5 ingredients in large bowl.

2 ADD remaining ingredients; mix lightly.

3 REFRIGERATEseveral hours or until chilled.

Carolina-Style Barbeque Chicken 

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup yellow mustard
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons mustard powder
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 8 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs (2 to 2 1/4 pounds)
• Vegetable oil, for brushing
• 1 large tomato, sliced
• Prepared macaroni salad, for serving (optional)

Directions

Preheat a grill to medium. Whisk the yellow mustard, vinegar, brown sugar, mustard powder, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste in a bowl. Whisk in the butter.

Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then toss with about one-third of the mustard sauce in a large bowl until coated. Let sit at room temperature, 10 minutes.

Brush the grill grates generously with vegetable oil. Put about 1/4 cup of the remaining mustard sauce in a small bowl for basting and reserve the rest for topping. Grill the chicken, covered, basting occasionally with the sauce, until well marked and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 170 degrees F, 10 to 12 minutes per side.

Serve the chicken with the reserved mustard sauce, sliced tomato and macaroni salad, if desired.

Lemon Blueberry Muffins

A big thanks to Kendall at Keeping up with the Joneses for sharing this delicious recipe.  I'm over my usual breakfast of granola bars and toast.  I decided I wanted to make muffins for work this week and knew exactly where to visit for the perfect recipe.  These took no time to whip up and were the perfect Saturday treat.  I'm looking forward to having them this week for breakfast! 

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 cup butter
1 1/4 cups low-fat buttermilk
1 large egg
1 Tbsp grated lemon rind
1 cup blueberries
Cooking spray
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 400°.
• Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 5 ingredients (flour through nutmeg) in a medium bowl; cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal.
• Combine buttermilk, egg, and rind; stir well with a whisk. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moist. Gently fold in blueberries.
• Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until the muffins spring back when lightly touched. Remove muffins from pans immediately, and place on a wire rack to cool.
• Combine lemon juice and powdered sugar in a small bowl. Drizzle glaze evenly over cooled muffins.

Total Time: 25 minutes
Serves: 12 muffins

Chicken Bundles

Whenever Pillsbury rolls are on sale, I stock up.  There is just so much you can make with the dough.  This is a recipe hubs and I created together.  We had chicken and veggies we wanted to use and I was more than pleased with the outcome.  This meal took 15 minute to make and another 15 to cook.  It was so easy and can be made many different ways.  Enjoy! 

Ingredients: 

1 can of pillsbury crescent rolls

1 cup of cooked chicken, cubed or shredded

1/3 cup chopped red peppers, sauteed 

1/3 cup sauteed mushrooms

1 cup shredded cheese (we used italian blend) 

salt and pepper to taste 

Directions: 

Cook chicken.  Bake, boil, fry.  However you would like.  I boiled. 

Cut chicken into small cubes. 

Sauté red peppers and mushrooms. 

Unroll crescent rolls onto a cookie sheet.  

Break into 2 square pieces (4 triangles together)

Pinch all edges together.  

Spoon chicken, peppers and mushrooms in center of the dough. 

Top with cheese. 

Fold dough over to create a pocket.  Pinch edges together to seal.  

Sprinkle salt and pepper on the top of the dough. 

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until dough is slightly brown.  

Chicken Lasagna with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Every since one of my best friend's had her baby last month, we've been having weekly dinners.  Hubs and I bring dinner every Thursday, my new favorite tradition.  I'm always on the lookout for a recipe that I can make ahead of time and bring over hot.  I came across this one at Keeping up with the Joneses.   I also borrowed her picture, because I forgot to take one at home and my phone pics didn't turn out well.  Anyhow, delicious recipe.  Definitely will make it again.  Enjoy! 

Chicken Lasagna with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce (from Southern Living)

Ingredients:

4 cups shredded cooked chicken
2 8 oz containers chive-and-onion cream cheese
1 10 oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well-drained
1 tsp seasoned pepper
3/4 tsp garlic salt
9 no-boil lasagna noodles
2 cups (8 oz) shredded Italian three-cheese blend
1 12 oz jar roasted red bell peppers, drained
1 16 oz jar creamy Alfredo sauce (I bought Bertolli)
1 3 oz package shredded parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp dried crushed red pepper

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 350. In a food processor, combine the drained red peppers, alfredo, shredded parmesan and red pepper flakes. Process until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides. In a bowl, combine the chicken, cream cheese, spinach, pepper and garlic salt.
• Lightly grease 11x7 inch baking dish. Layer dish with one-third red pepper sauce, 3 noodles, one-third of spinach mixture and one-third cheese. Repeat twice to finish. Place on a baking sheet and bake, covered, for 50 to 55 minutes. Uncover and bake 15 more minutes.

Total Time: 1.5 hours including time to cook the chicken
Serves: 8

Chicken Caprese

I love tomatoes and mozzarella.  Love, love, love it! When I came across this Rachel Ray recipe, I knew I had to add it to my weekly dinner list.  I have to say, I'm not a huge Rachel Ray fan.  I don't enjoy watching her show, but the lady can cook and I have enjoyed the recipes I've made of hers.  This one is now at the top of my list.  It was very easy to make and so delicious.  We decided to drizzle balsamic vinegar on top instead of EVOO. Enjoy! 

Ingredients

• 2 6- to 8-ounce chicken cutlets, pounded thin
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), plus some for drizzling
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar (eyeball it)
• 1 vine-ripened tomato, cut into thick slices
• 1 ball fresh mozzarella, cut into thick slices
• 24 leaves fresh basil, chopped
• Salt and pepper
• 
  
• Preparation

Pre-heat an outdoor or indoor grill to medium-high heat 

Season the chicken cutlets with salt and pepper. Drizzle with EVOO and balsamic, and place on grill. Cook for 2-3 minutes each side. There shouldn’t be any pink in center of breast. Take off the grill and place on 2 separate dinner plates. Top with tomato and mozzarella slices, and garnish with basil, a drizzle of EVOO and salt and pepper. 

Tiramisu Bowl

Last weekend, we hosted Mother's Day dinner at our house.  We decided to grill out (those recipes to come) and I thought this bowl would be the perfect ending to our dinner.  It was cold, light and fresh. This was another recipe that popped into my inbox from Kraft.  I was able to prepare it earlier in the day in order for it to have 2 hours to chill.  When I first started making this dish, I became instantly frustrated because the darn wafers would not line up around the bowl.  Every. Single. Time. I lined them up, they all fell over.  It was a domino effect.  After walking away a few times, I decided to line the wafers up with the bottom facing out.  That worked. Thankfully.  The rest was easy to make.  But, this dessert didn't taste like tiramisu to me, it didn't have enough of the coffee taste.  Nonetheless, it was enjoyed and eaten.  

what you need

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

3 cups  cold milk

2 pkg. (3.4 oz. each) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding

1 tub  (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided

48 NILLA Wafers

1/2 cup  brewed strong MAXWELL HOUSE Coffee, cooled

2 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, coarsely grated

1 cup  fresh raspberries

make it

1

BEAT cream cheese in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Beat in milk and dry pudding mixes. Stir in 2 cups COOL WHIP. 

2 LINE 2-1/2-qt. bowl with 24 wafers; drizzle with 1/4 cup coffee. Top with half each of the pudding mixture and chocolate. Repeat all layers.

3

TOP with remaining COOL WHIP and raspberries. Refrigerate 2 hours.