Mexican Chicken Bake

I am totally stuck in a rut for dinner ideas.  Or at least I was until I remembered this recipe I had bookmarked a week or so ago.  So glad I remembered!  This was probably one of the best meals I have made in a long time.
I took the original recipe from here…Dandy Dishes
Of course I had to change some stuff around and make it all mine right?


Mexican Chicken Bake Serves 4
Ingredients:
3 chicken breasts (follow the simple recipe below for Salsa Chicken)
1 can pinto beans (drained and rinsed)
1 ½ tablespoons cumin
1 ½ tablespoons chili powder, or more if you really like it spicy
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
Juice of 1 lime
¼ cup sour cream
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Optional garnishes:
Shredded lettuce
Diced cherry tomatoes
Sliced avocado
Cilantro leaves
Sour cream
Diections:
Preheat your oven to 375º. In a large bowl place the shredded chicken, spices, lime juice, sour cream, cilantro and salt and pepper to taste then mix well. Transfer to a lightly oiled baking dish and top with cheese. Pop into the preheated oven for 15 minutes then garnish the top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, avocado slices and serve with a nice dollop of sour cream and your favorite hot sauce.
Salsa Chicken
Ingredients:
I jar of good quality salsa (or just you favorite!)
chicken (4 breast or 8 thighs-boneless skinless)
Directions:
Throw chicken and salsa into a crockpot on low and cook for 4-8 hrs depending on whether or not you had the foresight to thaw your chicken (yes, I throw frozen chicken in here).
Once the chicken is done.  You need to remove it from the crockpot and the sauce and shred it.  This chicken can now be used in tacos, nachos, or anything else that requires some nicely seasoned chicken!
***We ended up using this dish in tacos, as nachos and just like the picture is!  They loved them!!!
***You could also use a rotisserie chicken and shred that in place of the salsa chicken!

Read more »

Thanksgiving Day Eve!

Eggplant Parmesan-Our Way!

It's been a busy couple of days in our house! Not only are we getting ourselves ready for Thanksgiving but our oldest daughter just tested and passed her blue/brown belt in karate!

Tying on her new Blue/Brown Belt!!!

As is our family tradition with a slight change, the dinner that night is all about her. Usually we go out but due to the fact that we have so much going on I decided it would be easier and an earlier night for them to make her a favorite meal. Her absolute favorite meal is Eggplant Parmesan but without the tomato sauce (tomato hater!). I didn't take pictures of hers as it's pretty straight forward. Use all the layers but don't use sauce and add more goat cheese! I made this the day before and cooked it off and just heated it up for us the next night. Worked out perfect and Italian always tastes better the next night!

Eggplant Parmesan-Our Way!!!

Ingredients:

3 medium sized eggplant or 4 small
2 cups Italian breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp granulated garlic
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 Tbsp oregano
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp white pepper
5 eggs
1/4 cup of milk
10.5 oz of goat cheese cut into 1/2 inch slices (we love goat cheese so we use large ones - 10.5 ounces but use what you like)
1 lb of shredded mozzarella
2 jars of your favorite spaghetti sauce
Canola or vegetable oil (for frying the eggplant)

Directions:

• Preheat your oven to 375°
• Wash and remove the stems from the eggplant. Slice the eggplant lengthwise about 1/2 inch thick.
• Mix all of the dry ingredients together. This will be your breading for the eggplant.
• Mix eggs and milk together to make your wash.
• Preheat a skillet or fry pan with about 1/2 inch of oil (this will vary depending upon the size of your pan) on med-high.
• Dip each slice of eggplant in your wash and then in the breadcrumbs.
• Cook each slice until browned. Flip them and brown the other side. Remove from pan and place each slice on a rack to drain.
• In a small 8x8 casserole dish you will need to start layering your ingredients. Start with a thin layer of sauce to prevent sticking. Add a layer of eggplant. You will need to have these overlapped. On top of the eggplant you will use about 2/3 of the goat cheese. Cover with about 1/3 of the mozzarella and about 1/3 sauce. Top with another layer of eggplant. This is the last layer so you will want to use up all of your ingredients. On top of the eggplant layer the goat cheese, the last of the sauce and top with the remaining mozzarella.
• Bake this in your preheated oven for about 45 minutes or until bubbling and browned.
• Allow to rest for about 10 minutes, cut and serve!

Sliced eggplant-skin on and not salted and drained

Post fry and layered in casserole dish over sauce and mozzerella

Goat cheese sprinkles! This is topped with sauce and more mozzerella!

As Always...

Happy Entertaining!!!

Judy
www.nofearentertaining.com

Read more »