19 Jan 2016

Mexican Lasagna

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Mexican Lasagna Casserole

As a mother of two – a preschooler and a toddler – life in my kitchen has gotten really slim.  Meaning – I used to love being in my kitchen.  But, now I’m multi-tasking and keeping an eye on the kids and an eye on the stove – its a wonder I don’t burn dinners and chop off my thumb in the process.

My friend Kristin over at Dine and Dish (you so have to check out her blog for everything) did an enchilada casserole.  I had been trying to make it for two weeks but kept either using an ingredient for something else, or forgetting an ingredient.  So, I just changed the recipe.  Thanks for the inspiration!

And my family loves some Mexican food.  Wait, I love Mexican food.  Therefore, I impose it on my family.  I hope they don’t mind.  This dish took 20 minutes to put together, takes 25 to cook, and it is great for leftovers.  I call that a win – win  – win.  And it is only made better by avocados and more cheese – that has to be a good dish.

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Mexican Lasagna
Author: 
Recipe type: Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 8-10
 
Easy layered Mexican lasagna perfect for any time of the year
Ingredients
  • ¾ lb ground chuck (or whatever ground beef or turkey is cheapest)
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cups black beans (I used dry beans and cooked them down)
  • 1 can whole kernel corn (frozen would work too)
  • juice of half lime
  • 1 14 oz can of diced tomatoes
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2½ tsp taco seasoning
  • 6-8 flour tortillas, soft taco size
  • 1 bottle green salsa (I used Trader Joes because it is Whole30 compliant)
  • 1 can refried beans (or you can make them yourself)
  • Mexican blend cheese
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Cook the meat until almost done. Add onion and cook until meat is done. Drain. (This is a good tip. You can buy cheaper meat with higher fat - just drain it really good when its done cooking.)
  3. Put the meat and onion mixture back in the pan. Add corn, lime, beans, tomatoes, and seasoning. Let simmer for 3-5 minutes.
  4. Start your lasagna with 2 tortillas in the bottom of a 11x7 pan. Then spread those with ⅓ of the can of refried beans. Then scoop up some meat mixture and layer that on top. Top with cheese then salsa. Then repeat.
  5. I left mine topped with cheese (just because I ran out of tortillas).
  6. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.
  7. Eat it with a green salad. You can also serve tortilla chips if you want crunchiness and sour cream and more cheese and avocado are a must!
 

5 Nov 2015

Sweet Chili Kung Pao Cauliflower

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a healthy warm satisfying dish
a healthy warm satisfying dish

When moving to a new place you always want to scout out a couple of things: parks, hiking trails, great local Mexican restaurants, and definitely a favorite sushi/chinese take out place.  One of my favorite things to do is to sit on the couch eating take out Chinese.  We haven’t done it in a while because we’ve not found a place that’s not really expensive here in our area.

There was a great local dive in Chapel Hill called Charlie’s.  It had the best corn egg drop soup and was just down the strip mall from where I worked for a while.  I loved everything on their menu.  Would love to grab lunch with a sweet friend there or take some home for dinner.  This is especially worth it for those cold, rainy winter nights.

It might not be winter yet, but its been constantly raining and cloudy with much of the same in the coming forecast – and I’ve been wanting to try something healthy with cauliflower.  Speaking of cauliflower – I hope my Mister will eat this.  There are only a few things that my mister doesn’t like – and I’ve changed his mind about one of them already since we got married.  So, I think the flavor of this dish will win him over to the cauliflower side!

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Sweet Chili Kung Pao Cauliflower
Author: 
Recipe type: main dish
Cuisine: Chinese
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 2-4
 
A healthy satisfying twist on a Chinese favorite
Ingredients
  • 2 T unsalted butter
  • 1 head cauliflower, chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • ⅓ cup sweet chili sauce (bottled) - divide into three
  • ½ cup chopped sweet peppers (red, orange, yellow)
  • 1 tsp chopped garlic (1-2 cloves)
  • ¼ cup salted peanuts
  • 2 T water
Instructions
  1. Heat butter in a non-stick pan or wok.
  2. Add cauliflower and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Saute with the water for about 3-5 minutes.
  4. Add some of the chili sauce.
  5. Add peppers and garlic. Saute about 2-3 minutes
  6. Add peanuts and more chili sauce. Stir until all combined
  7. Remove from heat and stir in the remaining chili sauce.
  8. You can add some green onions/chives or more peanuts on top for presentation.
  9. Serve with rice for a complete meal.
Trader Joes has a great Sweet Chili sauce that we use for some chinese chicken dishes.  It was perfect in this dish as well.  I also had chopped up some yellow, orange, and red peppers and had them in the freezer.  This dish took all of 10 minutes.  I love quick dishes – in between refilling preschooler sippy cups and singing the Dino Train song – quick is good for this busy momma!

22 Jul 2015

Easiest Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

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Easiest Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

I’ve mentioned already this month that we are on a very tight grocery budget so I’m making the most of it by using what I already have.  So, I was rummaging through my freezer – and for this meal I only needed to be 1 can of cream of chicken soup.  How effecient is that?

I love comfort food.  My mister finds that strange.  Do you love comfort food?  I’m talking about mostly foods that you can eat with a spoon: my Granny’s chicken and rice, pie, ice cream, macaroni and cheese, cereal, mashed potatoes, guacamole.  The list could go on.  My mister knows that I have a relationship with food because I’ll sit down on the couch with a big bowl in my hand and sometimes sigh as I dig into my favorite dessert or pasta goodness (I don’t do that as often but the relationship still exists.

The biscuits I used were leftover from a 4th of July cookout I went to.  I just saved some of the biscuits in the freezer and used them here.

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Easiest Homemade Chicken Pot Pie
Author: 
Recipe type: Main Dish
Cuisine: Southern
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6
 
A homemade comfort food staple in short time
Ingredients
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 T unsalted butter
  • ½ bag of frozen mixed vegetables (no need to thaw)
  • 3 cups shredded chicken (I had some in the freezer)
  • 1 can cream of chicken soup
  • ½ cup whole milk
  • ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 6 Leftover Joy the Baker biscuits
Instructions
  1. Saute your onions in the butter.
  2. Add the mixed vegetables and cook until thawed.
  3. Add everything else (not the biscuits) and stir until combined
  4. Pour into a shallow baking dish.
  5. Top with thawed biscuits.
  6. Bake for 15 minutes or until biscuits are warmed.
So, if you need a quick comfort food meal to put on the table in less than 30 minutes, here is one for you.

10 Apr 2015

Cast Iron Macaroni and Cheese

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Cast Iron Macaroni and Cheese

My husband would quickly tell you that my favorite meal would either consist entirely of macaroni and cheese or maybe just throw a good medium steak topped with onion and mushrooms on the side for some more protein.

So, since my younger son is teething and longs for soft foods, I decided today would be the day to make some homemade cheesy goodness for their dinner – and to have as a side to some leftover bbq sliders for my husbands dinner.

 

 

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Cast Iron Macaroni and Cheese
Author: 
Recipe type: Main Dish
Cuisine: Pasta
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6-8
 
Southern, baked, double the cheese, heavy cream - how delicious!
Ingredients
  • 1 box elbow pasta, cooked to al dente according to directions
  • ½ stick unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 1 T dijon mustard
  • salt and pepper
  • 1½ cup heavy cream
  • 1½ cup whole milk
  • 7 oz grated sharp white cheddar cheese
  • ¼ cup italian bread crumbs
  • 2 T cold unsalted butter
  • 2 oz shaved Parmesan cheese
Instructions
  1. Cook pasta according to directions. Cook with oil and salted water - so your pasta doesn't clump together.
  2. In a 10 inch cast iron skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add in flour and whisk together until no clumps remain.
  3. Add in milk and cream and spices.
  4. Add in sharp cheddar.
  5. When all is blended together, fold in pasta.
  6. When pasta is all coated, sprinkle on Italian bread crumbs.
  7. Cut the butter in tiny pieces and place on top of the pasta.
  8. Sprinkle on Parmesan cheese.
  9. Bake at 400 for about 20 minutes until cheese on top is melted and browned.
8 Nov 2014

Pepper Jack Chicken Enchiladas

by | posted in: food, The Charming South Kitchen, Uncategorized | 0

Pepper Jack Chicken Enchiladas

Some moms ask me how in the world I make dinner and bake and cook the way I do with two littles two and under.  Well, its not always easy and you have to do what works for your family (like mine is really easy or fast food healthy-ish lunches) and leftovers so I’m not cooking everyday.  My mister also gets home at the boys’ bedtime, so I can cook our dinner as they are eating theirs.

So, I whipped this together in a couple of steps.  I relied on Publix with a Mojo Rotisserie Chicken.  Pulled it apart a few days ago and made stock.  Froze the stock for later.  Kept the chicken in a bowl in the fridge.  Then as the boys were eating their dinner, I was working in the kitchen right beside them (to make sure they didn’t toss things on the floor, which did happen) – I was talking with them, playing with them, showing them what I was doing (I do want my boys to love to cook if that is the Lord’s plan).  These were in the oven in less than 20 minutes.  Then as they baked, I had time to put my younger to bed and read to my older one, then come back, put some cheese on top while my older was watching some Thomas the Train waiting on Daddy to arrive.  Easy!

 

 

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Pepper Jack Chicken Enchiladas
Author: 
Recipe type: Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 8-10
 
Spicy creamy healthy chicken enchiladas
Ingredients
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • evoo
  • small can green chilies, diced
  • ¾ cup black beans, rinsed
  • ¾ cup corn
  • 1 can cream of chicken soup
  • ¼ tsp each cumin, pepper, salt
  • 2 cups chopped cooked chicken
  • 8-10 soft taco size whole wheat tortillas
  • 1 can green chili enchilada sauce
  • 1½ cup grated pepper jack cheese
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375.
  2. Spray 9x13 pan with pam
  3. In a cast iron skillet, heat oil and saute onions for about 3 minutes.
  4. Add garlic and chilis, saute another 2 minutes.
  5. Add beans, corn, spices, and soup. Stir until heated through.
  6. Add chicken and stir until combined and warm.
  7. Scoop filling into tortillas and roll
  8. Place seam side down in 9x13 pan.
  9. Top with enchilada sauce.
  10. Bake for 20 minutes.
  11. Top with cheese and bake another 10 or until cheese is melted.
  12. Serve with avocado, tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, cilantro, tortilla chips, etc.
3 Nov 2014

Creamy Turkey and Spinach Enchiladas

by | posted in: food, The Charming South Kitchen | 1

Turkey and Spinach Enchiladas

My days in seminary were days that were hard pressed for cash. I was very thankful for work, scholarships, and help from the parents, but still, I didn’t eat out that often, especially the first couple semesters.  But, when I did, I would venture around the corner to my favorite Mexican place, Las Margaritas. It was a small chain, but I liked this location the best.  And then I tried their spinach and mushroom quesadillas.  I fell in love.  Gooey, cheesy, healthy (?), and warm, especially good for cold, NC winters.

And this is how life is funny: one of the friends I went to this restaurant with back then, is now my neighbor.  She got me started on making my own enchiladas with this recipe.  And tonight, she is getting these for dinner as she babysits my boys so my mister and I can go to a concert.  Life is grand.

And that taste, is what I’ve recreated in this enchilada recipe.  I’ve fallen in love with enchiladas.  I love making them.  By far, my favorite homemade mexican food to make.  So, I always try to come up with different ones.  So, today, I used what was in my fridge.

Fresh spinach.  Lean Turkey.  Cheese.

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Creamy Turkey and Spinach Enchiladas
Author: 
Recipe type: Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 8
 
Creamy and warm enchiladas packed with vegetables.
Ingredients
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 pkg ground turkey
  • evoo
  • 1 6 oz bag fresh baby spinach leaves
  • 1 can cream of chicken and mushroom soup
  • ½ cup grated cheddar cheese
  • ½ tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • 8 soft tacos (or 10 depending on the size of your pan, and how much filling you put in each one)
  • 1 can mild green enchilada sauce
  • 1½ cup grated cheddar cheese
Instructions
  1. Saute onion in evoo. Add ground turkey and cook until almost done.
  2. Add garlic and cook until turkey is no longer pink.
  3. Drain.
  4. Cook spinach in same pan.
  5. Add back in the turkey mixture.
  6. Cook until all spinach is wilted and incorporated into turkey mixture.
  7. Add soup, cheese, and spices.
  8. Fill each tortilla and roll.
  9. Put seam side down in a 9x13 pan.
  10. Pour enchilada sauce over the enchiladas.
  11. Top with cheese.
  12. Bake uncovered for 25 minutes at 375.
  13. Enjoy with sour cream, cilantro, and black beans on the side.
 

21 Aug 2014

Patchwork Butternut Squash, Kale, & Chicken Pot Pie

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Pot PIe

Bring on the Fall.  This week seems to be one of the hottest in the whole summer – just when I’m thinking of pumpkin lattes and vanilla and sweet potatoes.

I look forward to evenings when I can snuggle on the couch under a blanket with my hubs – watching a movie – after the boys go to bed – knowing that it is getting cool outside!

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Patchwork Butternut Squash, Kale, & Chicken Pot Pie
Author: 
Recipe type: Main Dish
Cuisine: Southern
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6-8
 
A fall flavored pot pie with chicken, butternut squash, and kale
Ingredients
  • 2 chicken breasts, cut into pieces
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 2 T unsalted butter
  • 2 T evoo
  • 1¼ cup diced butternut squash
  • ½ tsp fennel seeds
  • ½ tsp white pepper
  • 1½ tsp kosher salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 2 massive handfuls of chopped kale
  • ⅓ cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • 1 pie crust, torn in pieces
Instructions
  1. Heat the oven to 350.
  2. In cast iron skillet, heat oil and butter. Add in onion and cook for about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Add garlic and cook for about 1 minutes
  4. Add squash and cook for about 5 minutes.
  5. Remove from pan.
  6. Cook the chicken in same pan until done.
  7. Combine the vegetables, chicken, spices, and cheese.
  8. Pour into a deep dish pie pan. Cut strips of pie crust and make a lattice or patchwork pattern out of them. Layer on top of pot pie.
  9. Cook for about 45-50 minutes or until top crust is golden brown.
I’d never made a pot pie until I moved back to Raleigh in 2010.  My boss’s wife – and friend – made a delicious one and said it was so easy – well, this one is too and has wonderful Fall flavors!

 

 

 

 

16 Mar 2014

Eat This: Spicy 3 Cheese Macaroni and Cheese

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3 cheese mac

Macaroni and Cheese will live on in my taste buds as one of the best foods in the world.  Blue box or baked – if there is mac and cheese at a table, you can assure yourself that I will have some on my plate.

So, looking through my pantry and fridge this afternoon, I made up this one to take to community group tonight.  Enjoy it – and long live macaroni and cheese!

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Spicy 3 Cheese Mac
Author: 
Recipe type: Main Dish
Cuisine: Comfort, Pasta
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6
 
Creamy macaroni and cheese sure to please
Ingredients
  • 8 oz elbow macaroni
  • 6 T unsalted butter
  • 3 T flour
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 block cream cheese
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 T stone ground mustard
  • kosher salt
  • pepper
  • ½ cup uncooked oats or wheat bread crumbs,
  • ¼ tsp sage
  • ¼ tsp oregano
  • ¾ cup Italian cheese blend
  • 2 T butter, chopped
Instructions
  1. Bring water to boil for pasta - include olive oil and salt to flavor water. Cook until done - about 8 minutes.
  2. In another pan, heat butter until melted. Add in flour and stir until combined about 2 minutes. Add in milk and bring to a boil.
  3. Stir in cream cheese and cheddar cheese and mustard. Then add in cooked pasta.
  4. Place in greased casserole.
  5. Top with Italian cheese.
  6. Top with oats (crushed in food processor) and seasonings.
  7. Dot with butter.
  8. Cook uncovered at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until brown and melted gooeyness.
 

2 Jan 2014

Cold Soba Salad with Red Chili Salmon

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Asian Soba Salad

I absolutely love trying new foods.  I had never had soba noodles before so this was a new experience for both my husband and me.  It was a delicious recipe that I tweaked over from Laura at Blogging Over Thyme and she had sweet comments to say about the photos too!

So, be adventurous in this new year – eat this salad!

And, this is not a sponsored post from Gourmet Gardens, but I absolutely love their bottles spices.  So easy to use and tasty.  And as a cooking mom, who doesn’t need convenience!

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Cold Soba Salad with Red Chili Salmon
Author: 
Recipe type: Main Dish
Cuisine: Asian
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4
 
Delightful noodle salad with salmon
Ingredients
  • 1 pkg soba noodles (Japanese Buckwheat Noodles)
  • 2 T sesame oil
  • 2 T reduced sodium soy sauce
  • 1 T sugar
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro leaves
  • 8 green onions, sliced thin
  • ½ cup chopped, dry roasted peanuts
  • 4 4 oz frozen wild caught salmon fillets
  • 1 tsp gourmet gardens chunky garlic
  • 1 tsp gourmet gardens ginger
  • 1 tsp gourmet gardens red chili
  • 1 T coconut oil
Instructions
  1. Heat water to boil for noodles and cook according to pkg instructions.
  2. Rinse under cold water.
  3. Combine sauce and whisk together.
  4. Pour over noodles.
  5. Add onions and cilantro.
  6. Let chill for at least 30 minutes
  7. Heat coconut oil in separate pan.
  8. Add spices and heat for a few seconds.
  9. Cook salmon in pan until done.
  10. Plate and top with more onions, cilantro, and peanuts.
Next time I will add snow peas or carrots.  Something to give the noodles more oomph!