Chicken, black beans, and Salsa

photos taken by Heidi

   SALSA
original recipe of Heidi

4 lbs. roma tomatoes, chopped
2 green peppers, finely chopped
2 med. spanish onions, finely chopped
4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
juice from half of a lime
cilantro, hand full, finely chopped
jalapenos, to your desired heat
salt ( i usually salt the tomatoes heavily after I chop them.)
  
combine all ingredients and chill.  I like to make this the day before, so all my flavors have a chance to blend.

Chicken
I grill the chicken with granulated garlic sprinkled on the up side once it is placed on the grill.  Once I turn it over I squeeze fresh lime juice on the cooked side.

Black Beans
Heat on stove and add a little fresh onion and cilantro.  

My kids love to add sour cream to theirs.  I try to keep it healthier so I do not add it.  :(
I also sprinkled fresh queso cheese.

ENJOY!  :) 
  

Pepperoncini Beef Sandwiches

Recipe adapted by Heidi  from Our Best Bites .com
Photos taken by Heidi (I put the cheese under the meat so you could see the meat in the picture! )

4 lb. beef roast, trimmed of excess fat
5 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1 16-oz. jar sliced pepperoncinis, undrained

Crusty sandwich rolls (I used ciabatta and hard sandwich buns)
Sliced provolone cheese 

Transfer the roast to a slow cooker and add the minced garlic and the entire jar of pepperoncinis.  Cook on for about 6-8 hours, or on low for 8-10 hours or until the beef is fork tender.
For sandwiches, slice the rolls and grill the inside of the bun.   Spread lightly with mayonnaise and then add the shredded beef,  a slice of provolone cheese and lettuce. Serve immediately. Makes at least 15 large sandwiches.

This will be a new favorite of ours!  LOVED!!!

Green Tomatillo Salsa

I played around tonight making my favorite salsa.  Not ready to post a recipe yet..need to perfect it.  Thought I would share.  We had steak tacos so I made it to go with the tacos.  YUM!!

Whole Chicken in Crock Pot

Tonight we had a classic.  Chicken, mash potatoes, gravy, and corn.  I cooked a whole chicken in a crock pot with about a cup of water.  Cooked on high till the popper popped up.  Used the the drippings to make a gravy.  Nothing fancy, but thought I would blog about it just to give you a quick and easy home cooked meal.  Hope you had a GREAT night!  :)

Do you love our fine china?  It makes living in a RV a little easier!  :)

BLT pasta salad

Recipe adapted by Heidi  from Taste of Home .com 

2 cups elbow macaroni

5 green onions finely chopped

1 large tomato

1 1/4 cup mayo

5 t white vinegar

1/4 t salt

1/4 t pepper

1 pound bacon cooked and crumbled.

Mix mayo, salt, pepper and vinegar...then add to pasta and other ingredients ... Add bacon right before serving.

Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon chips

Recipe adapted by Heidi  from Crystal Messenger, friend
Photos taken by Heidi

3 Granny Smith apples, finely chopped
2 lbs strawberries, hulled and sliced
4 kiwi's peeled and chopped
1 T. orange juice
2 T brown sugar
2 T apple jelly

Mix all ingredients together just before serving.
Serve with cinnamon chips.

SO yummy and refreshing!  :)



For the Cinnamon Chips

2 packages of flour tortilla
water
cinnamon
sugar

Preheat oven to 475.  Cut the shells into 8 sections.  Lay them on a cooking sheet and brush them with water.  Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on them and bake 5-7 minutes or until brown.  For a tastier chip, you can brush melted butter on them instead of using water.  Watch them because they can burn easily!  :)

Zuppa Toscana Soup

Recipe adapted by Heidi  from Olive Garden .com Photos taken by Heidi   1 lb. spicy Italian sausage - crumbled (I usually add a pinch of red pepper flakes to regular Italian sausage 1/2 lb. smoked bacon - chopped 1 qt. water (2) 14.5 oz. cans (about 3 2/3 cups) chicken broth 8 lg. russet potatoes - scrubbed clean, cubed 2 garlic cloves - peeled, crushed 1 med. onion - peeled, chopped 2 cups chopped kale OR Swiss chard 1 cup heavy whipping cream salt and pepper - to taste Italian cheese to sprinkle on before serving   -In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown sausage, breaking into small pieces as you fry it; drain, set aside. -In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown bacon; drain, set aside. -Place water, broth, potatoes, garlic, and onion in a pot; simmer over medium heat until potatoes are tender. -Add sausage and bacon to pot; simmer for 10 minutes. -Add kale and cream to pot; season with salt and pepper; heat through.

Seasoned Cheesy Chicken

Recipe created by Heidi 


Chicken Breasts (desired amount)

italian seasoning

provolone, mozz., and parm. cheese (or your desired ones)

place chicken on baking sheet and pour seasoning on chicken.  Pour water on pan around chicken.  Bake until fully cooked.  Take chicken and put on a clean pan, put cheeses on and bake until cheese is melted..

serve over a mixture of equal amounts of cream of chicken soup and sour cream (I usually have it cooking in a sauce pan while chicken is cooking...so flavors can blend.)

I served these at a Valentine Banquet and at Justin LaQuay's Graduation party and they were a hit!

Sorry for the lack of measurements!  It is just how I roll.  haha

Chips n Chicken (kid favorite)

1 large egg

1/4 cup milk

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp paprika

2 tsp lemon juice

2 cups coarsely crushed potato chips

1 tsp parsley flakes

4 chicken breasts

 

combine first 6 ingredients in med. bowl, beat with fork.

combine chips and parsley in separate bowl

cut chicken breasts into strips, dip into egg mixture then into chip mixture

bake on greased cookie sheet at 425 for about 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked.

 

This recipe came out of a kids favorite cook book.  We love them and so do the boys!  (I do usually leave out the parsley since most kids don't like green stuff!  haha

Pumpkin Dip

1 can Libby's pumpkin mix
 2 cream cheeses, softened
 2 cups powder sugar
 1 tsp cinnamon

 All you do is mix it all together and serve with graham crackers.

Make sure the cream cheese is very soft or it will be lumpy!!

Cheesy Potatoes

Recipe adapted by Heidi, origin unknown 

for 1 9x13  I usually do 1 1/2 bags of Ore-ida crispy crowns or tater tots

Thaw them completely (a MUST) and break them up.

Mix in 1 cans of cream of chicken soup and a 16 oz sour cream.  ( usually just add until I get the consistancy I want.  I like them creamy so when they cook they do not dry out)

add about 8 oz of cheese.

back 350 uncovered for 45 minutes or until done in the center.  I am sure these can be done in the crock pot also.  I have not tried it but I am sure I will very soon and then I will update this.  :)

Sugar cookie

Recipe given to me by my sister, Michelle Allen