Taco Soup and Garlic cheese biscuits

Last night I made Taco Soup for dinner. Scott's not a big soup fan so I rarely make soup but we both REALLY liked it. I'll be making this a LOT this winter!  It's easy and very filling! And YUM!

Ingredients:
2 lbs ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 14.5 oz can whole kernel corn
2 16 oz cans of ranch style beans (I only used one can because I'm not a bean lover & it was fine)
* Maybe not everywhere but I know here - you find cans at the grocery store of ranch style beans. If you don't have those - substitute pinto or black or whatever you like.
3 cans of diced tomatos (maybe substitute 1 can rotel if you like spicy) (I got the garlic/onion kind and I think it gave it great flavor)
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 pkg Hidden Valley dressing mix

Brown and drain meat. Saute onions for a few minutes.  Combine all ingredients in a large pot.  Add chili powder, salt and pepper to taste. Simmer 1-2 hours. I topped it with shredded cheese!


Garlic Cheese Biscuits

2 1/4 cups bisquick
2/3 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp garlic salt


Combine ingredients and make drop biscuits by just dropping spoonfuls on a sprayed pan.  Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Such a great side!

Chicken Chow Mein

When I was in college - I would spend a lot of weekends with my grandparents and every time my mam-ma would make me chicken chow mein and her famous chocolate pie. I haven't had that in probably 15 years and all the sudden it's all I can think about. I have been craving it for weeks. My mam-ma passed away several years ago and neither my mom or I could find the recipe but we think this is pretty close.

2 or 3 chicken breasts
1 carrot
1 celery stalk
1 diced red pepper
1 4 oz can of sliced mushrooms (or fresh mushrooms)
1 can water chesnuts
1 can baby corn (I used half the can)
1 can bamboo shoots
Sesame Seed Oil
Soy Sauce
Chow mein noodles or white rice

Boil the chicken breasts. Save the chicken broth. In a large pan - put a tbsp or two of sesame seed oil over medium heat and saute all the vegetables for 10 minutes or so. Cut the chicken into small pieces and add in. Add 2 cups of chicken broth and soy sauce to taste (I added quite a bit). Leave on medium heat and cook another 10 minutes or so. Serve over chow mein noodles. (or white rice if you prefer).

Roast

One of my favorite meals and biggest comfort foods is roast, carrots and potatos. I've been making this for the last 15 years and I don't have a specific recipe - I am always changing and evolving how I make it in search of the perfect one!

The way I have made it recently that has turned out really great is :

I use rump roast - I heard that it's the most tender and it really is. It's never tough. I also use the small red potatos. And the small carrots.

I put all of that in the crockpot with a package (or two) of dry onion soup mix. Instead of water - I use beef broth to fill it up. You could dilute it with some water if that seems too salty.

I cook it for around 8 hours on low. This results in tender meat also!

You get a very moist roast with GREAT flavor.

In the past I used cream of mushroom soup but I like it this way much better.

Chicken Spinach Artichoke Squares

I made this recipe up the other night because I just happened to have these ingredients and was trying to use them all.

Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts cut in strips
Pkg of frozen spinach
1 can of drained artichoke hearts
8 oz sour cream
Parmesan cheese
Garlic salt (to taste)
1 can of crescent rolls

Heat olive oil in a skillet and cook chicken strips 5-7 minutes on each side or until done. Add in frozen spinach and artichokes and cook together 7-10 minutes. Add in sour cream, parmesan cheese (as much or little as you want), and garlic salt.
Heat oven to 350 degrees and open up crescent rolls. Put a small amount of mixture on each roll and fold up. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and cook 10-12 minutes.

Turkey Piccata

I got this recipe out of a Southern Living cookbook. It was SO good and so easy that it will become on permanent rotation at the Stamps' house. I am always looking for something besides chicken to cook.

Ingredients:
1 lb boneless turkey cutlets
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
3 tbsp butter, divided
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp drained capers
6 lemon slices, halved
1 tbsp chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

Combine flour, salt and pepper in a shallow dish. Dredge turkey cutlets in flour mixture. Melt 1 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp olvie oil in a large non stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of the turkey and cook 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove turkey from skillet and place on a wire rack in a jelly roll pan in a 200 degree oven to keep warm. Repeat with remaining turkey, butter and olive oil.
(NOTE - I didn't remove the turkey - I kept it in and just made the sauce with the turkey in the pan and it turned out great.)
Stir wine and next 3 ingredients into skillet and cook over medium high heat for 2 minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened. Remove from heat; stir in remaining butter.
Place turkey on a serving platter and pour sauce over it. Sprinkle evenly with parsley.

Chicken Stuffed with Prosciutto and Fontina

I made this for dinner last night. (Another Paula Deen recipe - I can't help it I love that woman). I couldn't find fontina cheese so I just used mozzarella cheese sticks. It was good - we had rissoto and salad with it.

Ingredients

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
• 1 (4-ounce) piece imported Italian fontina cheese
• 2 slices imported prosciutto
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup sliced portobello mushrooms
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 1 bunch baby arugula
• 1/2 fresh lemon, juiced

Directions

Place each piece of chicken between 2 sheets of waxed paper and pound them thin with a mallet, the flat of a large knife, or a rolling pin. Trim the rind from the cheese and cut it into 2 thick sticks.

Wrap each stick with a slice of prosciutto and place in the center of each flattened chicken breast. Roll the chicken breast around the prosciutto and cheese to make a sausage shape and secure with toothpicks or butcher's twine. Season the rolls with salt and pepper.

Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a heavy skillet. Quickly brown the chicken rolls over medium-high heat, reduce the heat to low, and scatter the mushrooms into the pan, sprinkle with wine and rosemary. Cook, turning the chicken rolls frequently, 10 to 15 minutes.

When the first bit of cheese begins to seep out, the chicken is done. Remove it from the pan to a cutting board at once. Cut each of the rolls at an angle into 6 slices. Cover to keep warm. Reheat the pan juices, swirl in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, and season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

To serve arrange the chicken and mushrooms on a bed of arugula leaves tossed with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper. Warm the pan juices and strain them over the chicken.

Paula Deen's Shrimp Gumbo Bake

I like to try all of Paula's recipes and let you know how they are........well this was VERY good!

It's a great change from the normal chicken. :-)

Ingredients

Gumbo:

• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 cup finely chopped celery
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
• 1 1/2 teaspoons House Seasoning, recipe follows
• 1 cup chicken or fish stock
• 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 10-ounce package frozen cut okra
• 2 cups shrimp, cleaned, peeled, and deveined
• (This wasn't in the recipe but I added 1 1/2 cups of rice to thicken it up some and it was good that way!)

Topping:

• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/3 cup milk
• 12-ounce package corn muffin mix

Directions

In an iron skillet, saute onion and celery in oil. Add bay leaves, thyme, lemon-pepper seasoning and House Seasoning. Pour in stock and add tomatoes and okra. Cover pot and gently simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in shrimp.

To prepare the topping, preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Mix together egg and milk, add to muffin mix, and combine until just well-blended. Drop by tablespoonfuls on top of hot shrimp mixture, leaving the center uncovered. Bake 15 to 20 minutes.

Cook's Note: This Southern dish usually is prepared and served in an iron skillet, but may be cooked in a frying pan with an ovenproof handle.

House Seasoning:

1 cup salt

1/4 cup black pepper

1/4 cup garlic powder

Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Paula Deen's Wild Rice and Shrimp Casserole

(Photo and recipe are by Paula Deen)

I took a picture of the casserole I made and deleted it somehow. This is REALLY good. If your husband is like mine - he won't eat anything with the name "casserole" in it so I just called it Wild Rice and Shrimp Supreme and he liked it.

Ingredients

• 1 (8-ounce) package wild rice
• 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 (10 3/4-ounce can) condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 2 cups grated sharp Cheddar
• Salt and pepper

Directions

Cook the rice according to package directions minus 1/4 cup water. Drain and cool.

Bring 2 cups water and 1/2 tablespoon salt to a boil in a medium saucepan and cook the shrimp for 1 minute. Drain immediately and set aside.

Heat the butter in saucepan and saute the pepper and onion until soft, about 5 minutes.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine the rice, soup, 1 1/2 cups of cheese, shrimp and vegetables. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Mix well. Spray a 9-inch square aluminum cake pan or an 11 by 7-inch glass casserole dish with vegetable spray. Place the mixture in the pan and top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake for 30 minutes, until bubbly.

Paula Deen's Hurry Up Chicken Pot Pie

This is sooooo easy and great for a cold night or when you need comfort food!

* I left out the egg - since Harper is allergic so I think you could too - it was GREAT without it.

Ingredients

• 2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast
• 2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced carrots
• 1/2 cup frozen green peas
• 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup chicken broth
• Salt and pepper, optional
• 1 1/2 cups instant biscuit mix
• 1 cup milk
• 1 stick melted butter

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a greased 2-quart casserole, layer the chicken, eggs, carrots, and peas. Mix the soup, chicken broth, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Pour over the layers. Stir together the biscuit mix and milk, and pour this over the casserole. Drizzle butter over the topping. Bake until the topping is golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes.

Mexican Chicken (a.k.a. King Ranch Chicken)

This recipe is SO quick, easy and good. It's great for your family or for taking to a potluck or a family needing a meal. YUM, YUM!

INGREDIENTS:

3-4 chicken breasts, boiled and cut into bite size pieces
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can rotel
1-2 cups cheddar cheese
Package of corn tortillas (small)

Tear the tortillas into small pieces and line the bottom of a pan. Mix together the soups, rotel and chicken and pour on top. Top with cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until cheese is bubbly. Seriously - it's that easy!

I usually serve with spanish rice (just a rice-a-roni mix) and/or a green salad

Chicken Florentine

I saw this on a Paula Deen episode and thought it sounded good so I made it for my family this weekend. Make sure and drain the spinach WELL - I didn't and it made it a little too liquidy but it was still good! This is another dish that would be great to make and freeze and cook later!

Ingredients

• 2 (10-ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach
• 6 chicken breast halves (about 4 pounds), cooked, boned, and shredded
• 2 (10 3/4-ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 cup grated sharp Cheddar
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 1/2 cup soft bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons butter

Directions

Remove the outer wrappers from the box of spinach. Open 1 end of each box. Microwave on full power for 2 minutes, until thawed. Drain the spinach and put into a large bowl. Add the shredded chicken.

In a medium bowl, combine the soup, mayonnaise, sour cream, Cheddar, lemon juice, curry powder, salt and pepper, to taste, and wine. Whisk together to make a sauce. Pour the sauce over the spinach and chicken. Mix well with a spatula.

Place the mixture into an 11 by 7-inch casserole dish or 2 (9-inch) square disposable aluminum foil pans that have been sprayed with vegetable oil cooking spray. Pat down evenly and smooth with a spatula. Combine the Parmesan and bread crumbs and sprinkle over the top. Dot with the butter.

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees F for about 30 minutes until bubbly.

Artichoke Chicken

Ingredients

• 1 (15 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tbls garlic salt
  
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the artichoke hearts, Parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, and garlic salt. Place chicken in a greased baking dish, and cover evenly with artichoke mixture.
3. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until chicken is no longer pink in the center and juices run clear.

SWISS STUFFING CHICKEN

I tried this out and froze it before I had Harper. It was SO good!!!!

SWISS STUFFING CHICKEN

4 large skinless boneless chicken breasts
6 oz. Mozerella or Swiss cheese slices
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
1/4 cup white cooking wine
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup herb-flavored crushed up Pepperidge Farm stuffing mix
1/2 stick butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place uncooked chicken in shallow buttered casserole dish. Layer cheese on top. Mix soup, wine, salt, pepper; pour over cheese. Sprinkle stuffing mix on top and drizzle with melted butter. Bake for 1 hour.

Beef Enchiladas

This is something my dad used to make for us every once in a while. He used corn tortillas and I think fried them in oil (maybe?) but I'm going the easy route and just doing flour. (I was making two pans so I have more ingredients up here than you need!)

Beef Enchiladas

1 lb hamburger meat
1 small onion, chopped
1 can of chopped black olives
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 can of Enchilada sauce
8 oz of shredded cheddar cheese
6-8 flour tortillas

Brown the meat and saute the onions in with it. Once that is done, add in the olives and let it heat and then add in 3/4 of the cheese and let it melt - mix it all together. Fill tortillas with the meat mixture and roll up. Combine the mushroom soup and enchilada sauce and pour on top. Top with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.

Serve with Spanish rice!

Poppyseed Chicken

If you are from the south, or have ever had a baby, or had a family member die, or have gone to a church potluck -you have probably had or made poppy seed chicken. But in case you haven't - I thought I would share the recipe. There are lots of versions - but this is the one I use:

Poppy seed chicken

2 or 3 chicken breasts, boiled and cut in small pieces
1 16 oz sour cream
2 cans cream of chicken
2 tbls of poppyseeds (I don't measure - I just shake a ton in)
Ritz crackers
1 stick of butter

Mix the first 4 ingredients and put in a baking dish. Cover with crushed up ritz crackers. Melt a stick of butter and pour on top. Bake for 20-30 minutes at 350.
I serve mine over rice. This is SUCH a good comfort food!!!!

Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Grilled Pork Tenderloin

(by Paula Deen)

This is one of our favorite meals. It's easy and SO good!!!!!

Marinade:
1/2 cup soy sauce
2 oranges, juices
1 lime, juiced
1/2 cup tamarind concentrate (I have NO idea what this is and I have never been able to find any - so I just skip it)
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon chopped scallions

1 pork tenderloin (about 12 ounces)
Olive oil, for brushing

Combine marinade ingredients in measuring cup and stir to combine. Place the pork tenderloin in a plastic, sealable bag. Pour marinade over the tenderloin and seal bag. Marinate overnight in the refrigerator.

Preheat an outdoor grill or preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Remove pork tenderloin from marinade and pat dry. Brush olive oil onto grill and over meat for extra flavor. Reserve marinade. Grill tenderloin until cooked through, about 30 minutes to 40 minutes over medium heat. Or roast in oven for 35 to 45 minutes. Allow meat to rest about 10 minutes before cutting into 2-inch serving pieces.

While meat is grilling, bring reserved marinade to a boil in a small saucepan, then lower the heat and gently simmer until it is reduced to about 2 tablespoons. Stir occasionally. Drizzle a small amount of marinade over each piece of meat.

The meat always stays so tender! This is my favorite recipe to use for pork tenderloin.

Chicken Lasagna

Here is the recipe for Chicken Lasagna:

2 or 3 cooked chicken breasts
2 jars of Prego sauce (I'm partial to garlic and parmesan cheese)
Uncooked lasagna noodles
1 15 oz ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzerella
1/4 cup parmesan cheese

In a 11x7 dish, spread 1 cup sauce, top with uncooked lasagna noodles.

Then layer ricotta cheese, mozzerella cheese, and parmesan cheese. Cut up chicken into small pieces and spread on top. And I've never done this before but I thought it sounded good and I had a bunch extra so I added some fresh mushrooms. I figure it can't hurt?
Spread 1 cup sauce on top of that and then cover with another layer of noodles. Then put remaining sauce on top of the noodles. Cover with foil in oven. Bake 1 hour at 375. Uncover and top with remaining mozzerella cheese and let stand for five minutes.

Follow the link for the recipe for the snickers pie! Like anything Paula Deen makes - it is full of fat and full of flavor! So yum!

Meat Cupcakes

Meat Cupcakes

INGREDIENTS:3/4 LB. GROUND BEEF

1/2 C KETCHUP

1 T MUSTARD

2 T BROWN SUGAR

1 CAN BISCUITS

1/4 C SHREDDED CHEESE

DIRECTIONS:PREHEAT OVEN TO 400 DEGREES.BROWN THE BEEF AND DRAIN.MIX KETCHUP, MUSTARD, AND BROWN SUGAR TOGETHER TO MAKE A BARBECUE SAUCE.ADD THE SAUCE TO THE BEEF.SEPARATE DOUGH INTO BISCUITS.FORM DOUGH INTO CUPS ON THE MUFFIN TINS.SPOON THE MEAT INTO THE DOUGH CUPS.BAKE AT 400 DEGREES FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES(OR UNTIL THE BISCUIT DOUGH LOOKS DONE).SPRINKLE THE TOPS WITH CHEESE.AND DINNER IS SERVED!

Lemon Chicken with Green Beans and new potatos

This is our dinner at least two nights a week. I got the recipe from Jennie several months ago and I just love it. It's easy and fairly healthy. We are having it tonight. Yum!

6 tablespoons olive oil
2 lemons, 1 thinly sliced, 1 juiced
4 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
3/4 lb green beans
8 small red potatoes, quartered
4 chicken breasts

Preheat oven to 450. Coat a large baking dish with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Arrange lemon slices from 1 lemon in a single layer on the bottom of the dish. In large bowl combine remaining olive oil, lemon juice of 2nd lemon, garlic, salt and pepper. Add green beans and toss to coat. Using tongs, remove green beans and arrange them on top of lemon slices. Add potatoes to same olive oil mixture and coat. Arrange on inside edge of dish on top of the beans. (I think it’s so pretty!) I also add a lemon pepper mixture on top of everything. It adds a lot of flavor.Place chicken in olive oil mixture and coat. Place chicken in dish. Roast for 40-50 minutes. Remove chicken and continue roasting potatoes/beans if necessary.

I use canned cut green beans because I love canned beans. Put I'm sure fresh or frozen would be just as good!

Chicken Breast Supreme

CHICKEN BREAST SUPREME

Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts
4-8 strips of bacon
16 oz sour cream
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 can of sliced mushrooms
1 jar of dried beef (this is found near tuna or spam)

Wrap the chicken in bacon and put in pan

Mix up all the other ingredients. Tear up the dried beef into small pieces (this is what gives the meal the real flavor)

Pour mixture over chicken and bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours

I always serve with white rice and pour the extra sauce on top. If we had company - we would add vegetables or a salad and rolls - but since it's just us - we just had this. TASTY!