Friday, July 29, 2011

Chicken Enchiladas

As a kid this was my favorite meal to go to Gramma's and have. (Besides, OF COURSE, her pizza.) I got the recipe when I got married and only then realized I had suckered for the easiest.recipe.ever to be my favorite. It's a great one to freeze because it bakes up as if it's never been frozen! Also...I've never met a kid who didn't like it!

Ingredients:
4 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 pint sour cream
1 can (4oz) green chilies (I usually leave these out!)
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1/2 bunch chopped green onions
1 1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/2 c shredded monteray jack cheese
12 flour tortillas

Mix chicken, sour cream, cream of chicken soup and chilies. Place about 2 tablespoons of mixture in center of each tortilla and roll up. Place rolled tortillas seam side down in a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish. Pour remaining mixture over tortillas and spread evenly. Top with grated cheese and onions. Bake uncovered at 350* for 30 minutes.
Sometimes I make this as a casserole. Cut the tortillas in 1 inch squares (pizza cutters work great for this!). half of the tortillas in lightly greased dish. Top with half of the chicken mixture, and repeat layers. Top with cheese and onions and bake as above.
If you want to freeze it then just top with saran wrap and foil or a lid.

Chicken Pot Pie

A friend shared this recipe with me early this year and I have really enjoyed having it. It is so easy and quick-especially if your chicken is already cooked and, like me, you cave and buy the store pie crusts!

Ingredients:
2 refrigerated pie crusts (usually this is just one package with 2 crusts in it)
1/3 c butter
1/3 c onion, chopped
1/3 c flour
1/4 t pepper
1/4 t salt
1/4 t poultry seasoning (can easily be done without this..i added it!)
1 3/4 c chicken broth (or water with 2 chicken boullion cubes)
1/2 c milk
2 1/2 c cooked chicken chopped or shredded
2 c frozen veggies (I just use walmart's mixed veggies!)

Preheat oven to 425*. Place one pie crust in ungreased 9in pie plate.
In 2qt saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Saute onion about 2 minutes while stirring. Add salt and pepper; then add flour alternately with milk and chicken broth. (I've found it easiest to add some flour and stir it until the mixture is fairly clumpy, then add some milk until it is fairly juicy again, then add the rest of the flour and then the rest of the broth. This is to keep the flour from clumping in the liquid.) Stir mixture until boiling and thickened (a few minutes). Stir in chicken and mixed veggies.
Pour into pie crust. Top with 2nd crust and seal edges and flute. Cut slits on top. If you are going to bake it, nows the time to do that for 15 minutes. Then cover with a pie crust shield and bake 20-25 more minutes. Let stand AT LEAST 5 minutes before serving to let it thicken.
If you want to freeze it put it in the fridge until it is cold then cover with wax paper then either foil or saran wrap and place in freezer. Bake the same way when totally thawed.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

A-mazing Mocha Punch

Punch? Really? This is so much better than a meazly "punch"...maybe it should be called Mocha Madness...or something super dramatic. It's fantastic! You'll want to try it! It's a hit any time of the year, but I always crave it during these hot summer months! I'm SO sorry I don't have a picture!

Mocha (Madness) Punch

6 cups water
1/2 c instant chocolate drink mix
1/2 c sugar
1/4 c instant coffee granules
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream
1/2 gallon chocolate or chocolate chunk ice cream
Whipped cream (optional)
Chocolate curls (also optional)

In microwave safe measuring cup bring 1 1/2 cups of the water to a boil. Stir in chocolate drink mix, sugar, and coffee granules until dissolved. Refrigerate until cold. (I usually leave it overnight or all day.)

About 30 minutes before you want to serve the punch (20 minutes if it's super warm out) add 4 1/2 cups water and mix well. Pour into punch bowl and add half of each tub of ice cream by scoopfuls. Stir in and let set for about 10 minutes. Add the rest of the ice cream by the scoopful and stir again. Serve when it is slightly melted. Garnish with a dallop of whipped cream an a few chocolate curls if desired.

ENJOY this amazing-ness. Even my picky coffee hater (yes they exist..sigh!) brothers like this drink!