queso dip

Yields: about 2 cups
 

Ingredients:
1 tbsp. canola or vegetable oil
¼ cup onion, finely chopped
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped
12 oz. white American cheese, shredded*
4 oz. Monterey jack cheese, shredded
¼ - 2/3  cup milk
1 tomato, seeded and finely diced
2 tbsp. cilantro, minced

Directions:

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.  Add the onion and jalapeño to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes.  

Reduce the heat to medium-low.  Add both of the shredded cheeses and ¼ cup of the milk.  Whisk or stir until completely melted.  

Mix in the tomato and cilantro, and add additional milk gradually as necessary to achieve desired consistency.  Transfer to a warmed serving bowl and serve immediately.

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken

Ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 packet Ranch dressing mix (I like Hidden Valley)
1 1/2 bottles of your favorite wing sauce
optional: blue cheese and/or additional wing sauce for dipping

Directions:

1. Add chicken to slow cooker & top with ranch mix
2. Add wing sauce
3. Cover & cook on low 6-7 hrs.
4. Add 2 tbsp. butter & mix through
5. Remove chicken.  You can shred & add to rolls/buns or serve with noodles, rice, etc.


*Courtesy of AllRecipes.com

Best Ever Ribs

Ingredients:

4 pounds pork baby back ribs
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups honey BBQ (I used Sweet Baby Ray's Honey BBQ)
1 cup chili sauce
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
4 tablespoons vinegar
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 dash hot sauce

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Season ribs with salt and pepper. Place in a shallow baking pan. Brown in oven 15 minutes. Turn over, and brown another 15 minutes; drain fat.DO NOT SKIP THE BAKING!
   
3. In a medium bowl, mix together the ketchup, chili sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, oregano, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and salt and pepper. Place ribs in slow cooker. Pour sauce over ribs, and turn to coat.
4. Cover, and cook on Low 6 hours, or until ribs are tender.

buffalo chicken wraps

Ingredients:

8 frozen breaded chicken breast strips (3/4 lb.)
1/4 cup mayo or red. fat mayo
1 tbsp. hot pepper sauce
2 cups shredded lettuce
4 spinach flour tortillas (8 inch)
1 large tomato, chopped
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Bake chicken as directed on package. Meanwhile, mix mayo and hot pepper sauce until blended.
2. Place lettuce down centers of tortillas; top with chicken, tomatoes and cheese.
3. Drizzle with mayo mixture; roll up.

makes 4 wraps

Marinated Grilled Shrimp

Ingredients:

3 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup tomato sauce
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 pounds fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, stir together the garlic, olive oil, tomato sauce, and red wine vinegar. Season with basil, salt, and cayenne pepper.

2. Add shrimp to the bowl, and stir until evenly coated. Cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour, stirring once or twice.
3. Preheat grill for medium heat. Thread shrimp onto skewers, piercing once near the tail and once near the head. Discard marinade.
4. Lightly oil grill grate. Cook shrimp on preheated grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until opaque.

Pasta & Clams Marinara

Ingredients:

Linguini or angel hair pasta
2 tbsp. olive oil
2-3 cloves garlic
2 cans minced clams w/ juice
1 cup. favorite marinara
optional: red pepper flakes (if you like spice... 1/4-1 tbsp.)

Directions:

1. Boil noodles in salted water.
2. Meanwhile, heat olive oil and add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for about a minute. (be careful not to burn)
3. Add clams and marinara sauce to garlic sauce.
4. Drain noodles and top with sauce.

Broiled Spicy Honey Brushed Chicken

Ingredients:

3 teaspoons garlic powder
3 teaspoons chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoon paprika
3/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
2-3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
Cooking spray
6 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons cider vinegar

Directions:

1. Preheat broiler
3. Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl. Add chicken to bowl; toss to coat.
3. Place chicken on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Broil chicken 5 minutes on each side.
4. Combine honey and vinegar in a small bowl, stirring well. Remove chicken from oven.
5. Brush 1/4 cup honey mixture on chicken. Broil 1 minute. Remove chicken from oven and turn over. Brush chicken with remaining honey mixture. Broil 1 additional minute or until chicken is done.

* can also be cooked on the grill 20-30 mins.

Planet Hollywood Creole Mustard Sauce

*Makes 1 1/2 cups.

Ingredients:

1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup Creole style mustard
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 tablespoon horse radish
1/2 teaspoon cider vinegar
1 dash Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon water
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon green onions -- sliced in 1/4" pcs
1 tablespoon crushed garlic packed in oil
1 teaspoon chopped green bell pepper (fine)
1 teaspoon finely chopped celery
1 teaspoon finely chopped onion

Mix well.

Garlic Chicken

Ingredients:

2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3-4 tbsp. butter or margarine
2-3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
3-4 cloves of garlic (crushed or pressed)
1/2 c. breadcrumbs
1 tsp. dried basil
1/3 c. shredded cheddar cheese
salt & pepper (to taste)
optional: 1/2-2 tbsp. red pepper flakes

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375. Heat a saucepan over medium-low heat - add butter and EVOO, then add garlic cloves.
2. While that is heating, mix breadcrumbs with salt, pepper, red pepper, basil and shredded cheddar cheese.
3. Dip boneless, skinless chicken breast in butter/garlic mixture until coated. Then dip in breadcrumb mixture. Pour any remaining butter garlic mixture over chicken.
4. Place on baking sheet or shallow baking dish and bake 25-45 mins (depending on thickness-until cooked through)

*For a healthier alternative, I skipped the shredded cheese - and it was just as good!

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

*This is one of our favorites, I make it every Friday for "Pizza Night". We save about $12 a week by making this at home, rather than spending $17 at our local pizza place.

Ingredients:

1 boneless, skinless chicken breast-cut up (I cook & shred 2 at a time, and freeze the other for the following week)
1 cup buffalo wing sauce -I use Steve & Ed's brand
Pizza crust /dough -Pillsbury Pizza Crust is my favorite, but Boboli works well too.
shredded mozzarella or colby jack cheese

Optional: Blue Cheese or Ranch for dipping!

Directions:

1. Cook chicken in a frying pan & let cool
2. Preheat oven to 450 or follow directions on crust packaging
3. Spread 1/2 of buffalo sauce with a pastry brush on crust and sprinkle lightly with some of the cheese
4. Shred chicken with fingers, and mix with remaining buffalo sauce
5. Add mixture to crust and sprinkle on remaining cheese.
6. Bake 10-15 mins or until cheese is melted and edges are brown (or follow crust packaging)

Bourbon Chicken - Crockpot Version

Ingredients:

2 lbs boneless chicken breasts, cut-up into bite-sized pieces
1-2 garlic cloves crushed (I use more, 3 or 4 - we love garlic!)
1/4 teaspoon ginger
3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup apple juice
1/3 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup soy sauce
2 tbsp of corn starch

Directions:

Mix all ingredients into your crockpot, then throw in the chicken.
Cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-5 hours.

Serve with rice or butter noodles.

Now how easy is that???

Creamy Chicken Enchilladas

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 can (4.5 oz) chopped green chiles, drained (I will replace this with fresh chiles)
8 oz cream cheese, cut up and softened
3-1/2 cup cooked, chopped chicken
8-10 flour tortillas
1 1/2 cups green chile enchilada sauce
1-2 cups Cheddar & Monterrey Jack cheese, grated

Directions:

Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat: add onion and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in green chiles, chicken & cream cheese. Stir constantly until cream cheese melts. Remove from heat.
Spoon approx 3-4 Tbsp chicken mixture down center of tortillas. Roll up tortillas and place seam side down in lightly greased 13X9 baking dish.
Pour enchilada sauce over enchiladas & top with as much cheese as desired.
Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes, until bubbly & cheese is lightly browned.

Bourbon Chicken

Directions:

2 lbs boneless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
1-2 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove crushed
1/4 teaspoon ginger
3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup apple juice
1/3 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup soy sauce


*MARINATE THE DAY BEFORE IF POSSIBLE:
Mix all of the ingredients except olive oil. Pour into a ziploc bag and throw the chicken in.

Directions:

1. Heat olive oil in a pan
2. Remove the chicken from marinade and brown in pan.
3. Add marinade & bring to a hard boil.
4. Reduce heat and simmer 20min.

Serve over hot rice or noodles.

Steak or Chicken Fajitas

Ingredients:

1 lb. of chicken or steak (I prefer Steak and buy it already cut into thin strips)
1 packet of Fajita Seasoning Mix
1 package of 8" tortillas
1 can of refried beans
sour cream

optional: salsa, chopped onion and peppers

Diretions:

1. Cook chicken or steak; drain
2. Add seasoning mix -follow directions on packet
3. Add chicken or steak to tortillas
4. Top with onions, peppers, salsa & sour cream
5. Serve with a side of refried beans.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Ingredients:

4 Boneless skinless chicken breasts
2- 15oz can black beans (undrained)
2- 15oz can Mexican Stewed Tomatoes
1 cup salsa (mild, medium, hot, whatever you prefer)
1- 4oz can chopped green chilies
1- 14 1/2oz can tomato sauce
2 cups grated cheese
Bag of tortilla chip

Directions:

Add all ingredients except chips and cheese to slow cooker.
Cook on low for 8 hours.
Just before serving remove chicken breasts and cut into bite size pieces and stir into soup.
Serve over a handful of chips in individual soup bowl.
Top with cheese.

Japanese Mum's Chicken (HOT!)

Ingredients

1 1/2-2 lbs of chicken drumsticks or wings - skin on (the skin is important for flavor)
1 cup water
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup soy sauce
2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 garlic clove, peeled and smashed a bit
1 small hot chili pepper, slit open, seeds removed

Directions

Place all the ingredients in a saucepan over a high heat.
Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for about 20 minutes.
Increase the heat, turning the drumsticks frequently in the sauce, and cook until the liquid has reduced to a sticky glaze.
Arrange the chicken on a serving platter, remove the garlic clove and chili from the liquid, and spoon the glaze over.
*NOTE* It's a glaze rather than a sauce, so there's not a whole lot of it.

Serve over egg noodles or white rice.

*Courtesy of The Busy Mom's Cookbook.