Crock Pot Chicken Enchiladas - sort of!

Ok, so this recipe is not completely crock pot… but the meat of it is and that's the hard part!  I can't remember where I found this recipe.  I jotted it down from a website somewhere so can't take all the credit but either way, they were yummy so here ya go!

Ingredients:
4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Taco seasoning (I used a couple tablespoons of Penzey's Chicken Taco)
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 t onion powder
1/2 t chili powder
Small onion, chopped
4 oz green chilis
1/4 C water

1. Put the chicken in the crock pot (mine started out frozen).  Sprinkle all the powdered seasonings over the chicken then spread the green chilis over the chicken… then in go the onions and water.
2. Cook on low 6 hours.
3. Remove chicken from pot and shred with 2 forks; set aside.

Ingredients - part 2:
1 C sour cream
1/4 C (or so - didn't measure) broth from crock pot
2-3 C shredded cheese (I used a Mexican blend)
1 can enchilada sauce
Tortillas - flour or corn, your choice
Sliced black olives
Chopped green onions

4. Mix together sour cream and 1/4 C broth and stir into shredded chicken.
5. Roll enchiladas with chicken mixture and cheese and place in a baking dish.
6. Pour enchilada sauce over all… then top with more cheese, sliced black olives and green onion.
7. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes and serve!

NOTE:  I made about 8 enchiladas in flour tortillas the 1st go-around and froze the remaining chicken filling.  I later used that leftover filling for another batch made with about 10 corn tortillas so the filling part of this recipe really made enough for 2 whole batches!!

Crockpot Chicken Barbacoa

I lose the love for cooking sometimes when it's required at the end of a long day that was preceded by and will be followed by more long days… so had to get organized.  My sister inspired me to finally get a new crock pot that does more than turn on and off - and to plan ahead with freezer-to-crockpot meals!  My 1st one was super tasty so I decided to share… you can make this on the spot or freeze ready to go in the crockpot… enjoy!  Recipe inspired by www.slenderkitchen.com

Ingredients:

2# boneless, skinless chicken breasts

7 oz can Chipotle peppers in Adobo sauce, chopped (find in the Mexican food isle)

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 onion, quartered

1 tsp oregano

1/2 C chicken broth

1. Combine all ingredients in a ziplock bag and place in the freezer.

2. When ready to cook, dump everything in a crockpot and set to low for 8 hours.

3. Remove onion pieces and shred chicken with 2 forks.

4. Serve in warm soft taco shells, topped with fresh corn relish (recipe below), cheese and sour cream!

To make "on the spot", use raw chicken and cook on high 4 hours.

Fresh Corn Relish:

Simply cut kernels off an ear of corn and combine with chopped red bell pepper, red onion and cilantro!

Kitchen note:  This would also be delicious with pork!

Accidental Chicken Chili Soup

I didn't know what else to call this one since it turned out totally different than what it started out as... It was supposed to be a Mexican chicken with creamy, cheesy sauce but here's how it turned out:

Ingredients:

2# chicken tenderloins

1 small onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

EVOO

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 C sour cream

1 C salsa verde

1 T chili powder

1 C water

1. Layer chicken in the crock pot.

2. Start sauteing onion & garlic in a little EVOO, until soft.

3. While onions & garlic are cooking, mix together soups, sour cream, salsa & chili powder.

4. Add onions to soup mixture then pour over chicken.

5. Cook on high for 1 1/2 hrs then turn to low for another 1 1/2 hrs.

Here's where things got "accidental"... the plan was to have the chicken with sauce over it next to a salad.  But when I tried to take the chicken out it FELL APART!  So I shredded it & returned it to the pot, added a little water & served up with shredded cheese, sour cream & sauteed peppers.  Next time I'll add some veggies!

Enjoy :)

Leslie's Italian Stuffed Peppers

Threw this together as an experiment & it turned out pretty yummy!!  Hope you like!

Ingredients:

1# ground Italian sausage

2-3 bell peppers

1/2 onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 C chopped cabbage

1 can diced tomatoes, drained

Small can tomato sauce

1 T Butter

Mozzarella cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1. Start sausage browing in a skillet over medium heat & crumble as it cooks.

2. Meanwhile, cut bell pepper in half lengthwise & remove seeds. Place in a baking dish.

3. When sausage is cooked, set aside in a collander to drain well.

4. In the skillet, melt 1 T butter & saute onion, garlic & cabbage.  Add tomatoes & sauce, simmer to break down tomato chunks.  Season with an Italian blend if desired.

5. Return sausage to skillet & mix everything together.  

6. Spoon some into bell pepper halves, layer with shredded mozzarella cheese.  Stuff as much as you can in there & top with cheese.

7. Bake for about 30 minutes, until cheese is bubbly & browned on top.  Enjoy!  :)

Note:  I made about half this much for 2 pepper halves & had a little filling leftover.

Parmesan-crusted Chicken

I was craving fried chicken but I hate making it... too messy!  So I threw together this dish that went beyond satisfaction.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, halved & pounded out to about 1/2"
2 eggs, beaten
About 1/2 C grated Parmesan/Romano cheese blend
About 1/4 C flour
2 T butter
2 T EVOO
Salt & pepper

1. Prepare 1 bowl with the eggs & another bowl with the cheese & flour blended together.
2. Over medium heat, in a nonstick skillet, melt butter & blend in EVOO.
3. Salt & pepper chicken, dip in egg then coat each side with the cheese blend & into the pan.  Brown both sides until they're a nice golden color then remove to a baking sheet.
4. Finish off in a 425 degree oven for about 15 minutes.

Kitchen note:  Pounding chicken tenderizes the meat and finishing in the oven rather than the stovetop gives you deliciously juicy results!

Grilled Pork with Mango Salsa

Marinade:
1/2 C fresh orange juice (2 oranges)
1/4 C fresh lime juice (2 limes)
1/2 C dark rum
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp oregano
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp salt
1 whole bay leaf, broken in half
1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Mango Salsa:
1 small red onion
1/4 C fresh lime juice (2 limes)
1 lg mango, peeled & diced
1 small red b ell pepper, chopped
1/4 C chopped fresh cilantro
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 C fresh orange juice (1 orange)
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded & minced
1/2 tsp ground chipotle pepper
1/8-1/4 tsp salt, to taste
1/4-1/2 tsp ground black pepper, to taste

4 boneless pork chops

1. Combine all marinade ingredients in a large ziplock.  Add pork & slosh to coat.  Refrigerate at least 8 hours.
2. Heat grill to medium-hot. Remove pork from the bag, discarding marinade. Pat pork chops dry and rub with small amount of olive oil to prevent sticking.
3. Grill 8-10 minutes per side or until a thermometer reads 155 degrees. Remove from grill, cover loosely & let rest 5-10 minutes.
4. Serve with Mango Salsa (that can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated) and your favorite sides!

Leslie's Baked Ziti

This very versatile recipe has evolved so much that I can barely read the recipe card it started on - there are so many side notes!  My most recent and favored version combines Italian sausage, fresh mushrooms and spinach for an easy anytime dish.  This is also great as a "meals-on-wheels" dinner, as I call them.

Ingredients:
12 oz whole wheat penne pasta
16 oz mild Italian sausage, ground
About 1 C chopped yellow onion*
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
Cremini, white or Baby Bella mushrooms (your choice) - about 2 C thickly sliced*
About 3 C fresh spinach, roughly chopped*
1 jar tomato & basil pasta sauce
8 oz can tomato sauce
8 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded
Couple handfuls of shredded Romano cheese

*These are estimates - I never really measure!  :-)

1. Start a large pot of water to boil then cook pasta until just al dente.  (It will finish up in the oven.)
2. While pasta is working, cook sausage, onions & garlic until sausage is no longer pink.
3. Add mushrooms to the skillet & cook another 5 minutes.
4. Add spinach to the skillet, stir in & let it wilt.
5. Drain pasta and return to the pot, stir in sausage mixture, pasta sauce, tomato sauce & half of the cheese.  Mix well, then pour into a large baking dish & cover with foil.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
6. Remove foil & top with remaining cheese.  Return to the oven, uncovered, for another 5 minutes or so, until the cheese is nice & bubbly.
7.  Remove from oven & allow to cool for 10-15 minutes... while you prepare garlic toast or other side!  ENJOY!

Kitchen note: As I mentioned, this is a great recipe for sharing. When I take this meal to someone, I dish it into 2 seperate baking dishes (foil baking pans are perfect) then deliver one unbaked with the extra cheese on the side and directions on a Post-it... and keep the other for me.  :-)  It could also be made ahead and refrigerated, etc.  You can even bake it in individual servings!

Variations: Try a vegetarian ziti with zucchini and yellow squash instead of sausage... or substitute chicken for something different!