Tag: cheese

Mexican Dishes · Soups and Stews

Green Chile Enchilada Chicken Soup

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Green Chile Enchilada Chicken Soup is a quick recipe for busy families. My daughter, Megan, made this one night while I was visiting. Since the family has a love/hate relationship with beans and other ingredients, she served rice and beans separately as well as cheese, cilantro and chips. Each family member was in charge of their final bowl of soup and it was delicious!

Green Chile Enchilada Chicken Soup

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 to 1 can green enchilada sauce (we used 1/2 can to please younger kids)
  • 1/2-1 tsp. oregano
  • 2 boxes chicken broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 2-3 cups shredded, cooked chicken
  • 1.5-2 cups corn
  • salt and pepper
  • Serve with:
    • cooked white rice
    • chopped fresh cilantro
    • cooked great northern beans
    • shredded cheese
    • tortilla chips
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Saute the onion and bell pepper in olive oil until soft.
  2. Add green enchilada sauce, oregano, broth, and water. Bring to a soft boil
  3. Add chicken and corn and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
  4. Serve bowl of soup and add rice, fresh cilantro, beans, cheese and chips as desired.

Recipe by daughter, Megan

Casseroles · Poultry · Vegetables

Tuscan Chicken and Spaghetti Squash

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Tuscan Chicken and Spaghetti Squash was an easy dish to put together and used things I had on hand. I thought the flavor was very good but a little too rich for me. Next time, I would either use half and half or substitute half of the cream with chicken broth. My spaghetti squash have produced well and I’m always looking for new dishes to try!

Tuscan Chicken and Spaghetti Squash

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 medium spaghetti squash
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken (cut into bite size pieces)
  • salt
  • pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 4 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 shallot (minced)
  • 2 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil, drained, julienne cut)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
  • 3 ounces baby spinach
  • fresh parsley (optional, garnish)
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Carefully pierce the spaghetti squash into the center with a knife several times. Place on a microwave-safe plate and cook on high for 8-12 minutes or until tender. Let cool while you prepare the chicken.
  2. Season the chicken with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning.
  3. Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until it’s no longer pink in the center, about 7 minutes.
  4. Remove the chicken from the pan, place on a plate and tent with aluminum foil to keep warm.
  5. Add the remaining butter to the pan along with the garlic and shallot. Cook 1-2 minutes or until they just start to soften.
  6. Mix in the sun-dried tomatoes and cook an additional minute.2 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes
  7. Pour in the heavy cream and cook until hot and bubbly, about 1-2 minutes.
  8. Turn off the heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese and spinach. Add the chicken and any accumulated juices back to the pan.
  9. Once the squash is cool, cut it in half length-wise, remove the seeds and scrap out the strands with a fork.
  10. Stir the squash into the cream sauce until evenly coated.
  11. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.

Recipe from DeliciousLittleBites

Salads

Salad with Peaches, Blackberries & Basil Vinaigrette

cathysmahaLeave a comment

What a delicious summer salad! I love a salad with fresh fruit, nuts and cheese and this one did not disappoint. I took a few liberties with the recipe using endive instead of salad greens and fig goat cheese instead of feta. That’s the beauty of a salad, you can make it your own! I served this with a grilled steak and it was delicious!

Salad with Peaches, Blackberries & Basil Vinaigrette

INGREDIENTS:
Basil Vinaigrette:
  • 3/4 cup olive oil, extra virgin
  • 1/2 cup white balsamic vinegar
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 3 tablespoons minced fresh basil
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
Salad:
  • 10 ounces salad greens (I used endive)
  • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese or any blue cheese (I used fig goat cheese)
  • 1/2 cup pecans (halves or pieces)
  • 1/2 pint fresh blackberries
  • 3 peaches, sliced and tossed with citus/water mixture
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Shake all ingredients in tightly closed jar, or whisk in bowl until emulsified.
  2. Peel peaches, if desired.
  3. Slice peaches and let sit in a bowl with water and about 2 tablespoons of any type citrus juice (lemon, orange, etc.) while preparing the rest of the salad. (I skipped this step since the salad would be immediately consumed).
  4. Toss greens, blackberries, and pecans together. Top with peach slices and cheese.
  5. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently.

Recipe from biscuitsandburlap

Poultry

Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole

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Who doesn’t love an easy, crowd-pleasing chicken dish. This recipe is sooo good and is wonderful served with wild rish or potatoes and a salad. This could easily be made ahead of time and just pop it in the oven when it’s time. Lefovers are divine!

Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole

INGREDIENTS:
  • 2-3 chicken breasts
  • 1 cup plain greek yogurt
  • 1/2 cup diced cooked bacon
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 tsp Dukes mayo
  • 1 tsp diced garlic
  • 1 bundle chopped chives
  • 1/2 tsp Tabasco (if you like heat, add more to taste)
  • 1/4 c diced pecans (or almonds)
  • pepper/salt to taste
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Preheat oven to 375, and begin to clean {trim fat) from chicken.
  2. Place chicken in a baking dish.
  3. In a separate bowl, place all other ingredients (NOT the chicken) and stir together.
  4. Scoop a spoonful of the mixture on top of each chicken breast and spread to cover.
  5. Bake for 20-25 minutes (depending on the thickness of chicken, make sure inside is cooked to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees).

Recipe from CoastalBend/MomCollective

Mexican Dishes · Soups and Stews

Green Chicken Enchilada Soup

cathysmaha1 Comment

What a quick, easy and delicious soup! Temperatures were bitterly cold in Colorado when I made this soup. It came together in 30 minutes or less and was delicious! What an easy dinner for a busy family night. I’m thinking this soup would freeze well, if there are any leftovers!

Green Chicken Enchilada Soup

INGREDIENTS:
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 1lb chicken breasts, chopped into bite sized pieces (I used rotisserie chicken)
  • 1 large shallot or small onion, chopped 
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
  • 1/4 cup gluten free flour blend (could use AP flour if not GF)
  • 3 cups chicken stock
  • 1 cup milk, any kind
  • 15oz can gluten free green enchilada sauce (I like Hatch brand)
  • 4oz can chopped green chiles
  • 2, 15oz cans great northern beans, drained and rinsed (I used 1 can white beans, 1 can black beans)
  • 2 teaspoons cumin (I use 1 tsp.)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano 
  • 8oz freshly shredded Monterey Jack cheese, plus more for topping
  • Toppings: tortilla strips, shredded Monterey jack cheese, fresh cilantro, green onions, lime wedges, sour cream, green Tabasco sauce
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Melt butter in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add chopped chicken breasts and shallot/onion, season with salt and pepper, then saute until chicken is opaque, 4-5 minutes – chicken does not need to be entirely cooked through. Add garlic then saute until extremely fragrant, 1-2 minutes.
  2. Sprinkle in flour then stir to combine and cook while stirring for 1 minute. Slowly stream in chicken broth while stirring until a smooth sauce has formed then pour in remaining chicken broth and milk. Add green enchilada sauce, canned chiles, beans, cumin, and dried oregano then turn heat up to bring soup to a bubble, stirring occasionally. Turn heat down to medium-low then simmer for 10 minutes, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot occasionally.
  3. Turn heat off then remove pot from hot burner, add half the cheese, and then stir until completely smooth. Add remaining cheese then stir until completely smooth. Let soup sit and thicken for 15 – 20 minutes then scoop into bowls and serve with toppings.

Recipe from IowaGirlEats

Kitchen · Pastas

Sausage Brussel Sprouts Parmesan Pasta

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Later in life I discovered Brussel Sprouts were actually delicious when prepared properly. This pasta recipe sounded delicious and it didn’t disappoint. Iowa Girl Eats has another winner!

Sausage Brussel Sprouts Parmesan Pasta

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1/2 lb. spaghetti (gluten free of not
  • 8oz. sweet Italian sausage
  • 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil + a few drizzles
  • 9 oz. shredded brussels sprouts
  • salt and pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes (or more or less)
  • 3 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
  • 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil in a large, 12” skillet over heat that’s just a touch above medium. Add sausage then brown, breaking it up as it cooks but taking care not to break the sausage up into too small of crumbles. Scoop sausage onto a plate then set aside.
  2. Drop pasta into salted, boiling water then cook until it’s just under al dente – pasta will continue to cook a little bit in the skillet later. DO NOT DRAIN PASTA WATER when pasta is done cooking.
  3. Meanwhile, heat 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil in the skillet then add brussels sprouts and red chili pepper flakes, season with salt and pepper, then saute until the brussels sprout are tender, 3-4 minutes. Add garlic then saute for 1 more minute or until very fragrant.
  4. Using tongs, transfer spaghetti from pot to skillet then add parmesan cheese and cooked sausage. Add a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and enough pasta cooking water to help the parmesan cheese melt and evenly coat the pasta. Taste then season with salt and lots of freshly cracked black pepper, and then serve.

Recipe from IowaGirlEats

Vegetables

Best Cauliflower

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Best Cauliflower

INGREDIENTS:
  • Cauliflower – 1 head
  • 2 Eggs
  • Milk – 125 ml (.52 cups)
  • Vegetable oil – 125 ml (.41-.52 cups)
  • Yoghurt without additives – 200 ml (.833 cups)
  • Flour – 2 tablespoons
  • Paprika – 1 tsp
  • Ground black pepper
  • Salt -1 tsp
  • Baking powder – 1 tsp
  • Cheese – 70-10 grams (1/4-1/2 cup)
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Preheat oven to  200 degrees Celsius (375 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit).
  2. Wash and cut the cauliflower in flowerets.
  3. Parboil the cauliflower in salted water for about 3 minutes, or until it starts to get tender.  Remove the cauliflower to a bowl.
  4. Beat the eggs and add milk.  Stir to combine.
  5. Add oil.  Stir to combine.
  6. Add yoghurt. Stir to combine.
  7. Add paprika, salt, pepper, flour and baking powder. Mix to combine.
  8. Pour the sauce over the cauliflower until it is coated.
  9. Pour the sauce over the cauliflower and stir to assure the cauliflower is coated.
  10. Grease a round baking dish.  Pour cauliflower and sauce into the pan.
  11. Bake for 20-24 minutes.
  12. Remove from oven and sprinkle with cheese of your choice.
  13. Place back in oven until cheese is brown.
  14. Remove from the oven and serve.

Recipe from Elena Dragan on YouTube

Mexican Dishes · Soups and Stews

White Chicken Chili

cathysmaha1 Comment

White Chicken Chili is a stick to your ribs, flavorful soup for cold weather. The original recipe does not have corn and thickens the chili with flour and milk. I chose to add cream cheese, inspired by other recipes. I serve with cilantro, cheese and chips but add whatever inspires you.

A great recipe to make for a crowd, perhaps New Years Day!

Crockpot White Chicken Chili

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 lb. chicken breasts (~2 large chicken breasts)
  • 15 oz. can great northern beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can corn, drained
  • 4 oz. can chopped green chiles
  • 1-2 fresh jalapenos, seeded then minced (use 1 for mild chili)
  • 1 shallot of 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • big pinch dried oregano
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • juice of 1/2 small lime
  • 4 oz. cream cheese, cubed
  • Toppings: green Tabasco sauce, verde sauce, lime wedges, tortilla chips, shredded cheese, chopped cilantro, sour cream
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Add first 13 ingredients: chicken breasts through lime juice into 6 quart crock pot. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours or until chicken shreds easily.
  2. Remove chicken then shred and place back in crockpot.
  3. Add cream cheese cubed and cook until melted (just a few minutes).

Recipe adapted from IowaGirlEats

Soups and Stews

Sopa de la Casa

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Sopa de la Casa is a recipe I discovered in the early 1980s. It reminded me of the scrumptious tortilla soup that I first enjoyed at Tijuana Tilly’s, in Tijuana, Mexico. Sopa de la Casa was a regular on my table before my daughters were born and it was time to revisit this easy, delicous recipe. It was just as I remembered!

Sopa de la Casa

INGREDIENTS:
  • 8 slices bacon, diced
  • 1 1/4 c. finely chopped onion
  • 1 1/4 c. finely chopped celery
  • 2 green peppers, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cans (14.5 oz. each) chicken broth
  • 1 can (31 oz.) refried beans
  • 1/2 t. pepper
  • 2 T. chili powder
DIRECTIONS:
  1. In a soup pot, cook bacon until crisp. Move cooked bacon to a separate bowl. Drain half of the bacon drippings. Add onion, celery, green pepper and garlic. Cook until tender.
  2. Blend in chicken broth, cooked bacon, refried beans, pepper and chili powder. Bring to boil. Remove from heat.
  3. Garnish with tortilla chips and shredded Monterey Jack cheese.

Family Favorites · New Favorite · Salads

Wild Rice Harvest Bowls with Fig Balsamic Vinaigrette

cathysmaha1 Comment

Harvest Bowl is one of my favorite recipes of all times. There are a multiple of flavors and textures to enjoy. I added bits cooked pork roast, a delicious addition. However, the bowl with a meat addition is equally delicious. The best temperature for serving is slightly warm. Leftovers are great for 3-4 days, slightly warmed in the microwave. This the first time I’ve cooked with fig jam and I loved it. For a different twist, it could be interesting to try apple butter. Anyway you make it, you’ll love it!

Wild Rice Harvest Bowls with Fig Balsamic Vinaigrette

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 cup wild-brown rice blend (I recommend Lundberg)
  • 1-3/4 cup gluten-free chicken broth
  • 3 cups 1” butternut squash cubes (about 1 small squash)
  • 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1/8 teaspoon each garlic powder, chili powder, cinnamon
  • salt and pepper
  • 9 oz thinly shredded brussels sprouts
  • 1 large or 2 small apples, chopped
  • 3 oz white cheddar cheese, cut into cubes
  • 1/3 cup sliced almonds or pepitas
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries

For the Fig Dressing:

  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 clove garlic, microplaned or minced
  • 2 Tablespoons fig jam
  • salt and pepper
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Add rice and chicken broth to a small saucepan then bring to a boil, place a lid on top, then turn heat down to a simmer and cook for 40-50 minutes or until rice is al dente (verify liquid amount and cooking method with rice package directions.) Set aside to cool slightly – can be done a day ahead of time.
  2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a half sheet pan with a silpat or foil then spray with nonstick spray if using foil. Add butternut squash cubes, 1-1/2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, garlic powder, chili powder, cinnamon, salt, and pepper then toss with your fingers to evenly coat. Roast for 15-20 minutes, or until squash is tender, stirring halfway through. Set aside to cool slightly – can be done a day ahead of time.
  3. Meanwhile, line another half sheet pan with a silpat or foil then spray with nonstick spray if using foil. Add shredded brussels sprouts, remaining 1-1/2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper then toss with your fingers to evenly coat. Add to oven after stirring the squash then roast together for 8-10 minutes or until brussels sprouts are tender and golden brown.
  4. For the Fig Balsamic Vinaigrette: Combine ingredients in a bowl or jar with a tight fitting lid then whisk or shake to combine (might need to microwave for 15-20 seconds to help melt the fig jam.) Taste then add more salt, pepper, and/or fig jam if desired.
  5. In a large bowl combine cooked rice, butternut squash, brussels sprouts, apples, cheese, almonds, and dried cranberries. Drizzle Fig Balsamic Vinaigrette on top then toss to coat and serve. Leftovers are good for 3-4 days.

Recipe from IowaGirlEats