Grilled Veggie Burritos

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
2 cups Long Grain Rice
4 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
2 whole Limes, Juiced And Zested
1/4 cup Chopped Cilantro
2 whole Zucchini, Cut Into Slices Lengthwise
1 whole Yellow Squash, Cut Into Slices Lengthwise
2 ears Corn, Leaves And Silk Removed
Olive Oil For Brushing
Salt For Sprinkling
1 can Seasoned Black Beans (15 Ounce Can)
6 whole Burrito-sized Flour Tortillas
1 whole Small Onion, Finely Chopped
2 whole Roma Tomatoes, Diced
1 cup Grated Monterey Jack Cheese
Optional Toppings: Salsa, Sour Cream, Guacamole, Extra Cilantro, Hot Sauce

Instructions

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add rice and stir around for 2 minutes. Pour in chicken broth and the juice and zest of 1 lime. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 20-25 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed. Stir in the juice and zest from the remaining lime, then stir in the cilantro. Set aside.

Brush zucchini and squash slices, along with the ears of corn, with olive oil.

Sprinkle with salt. Grill them on a grill pan, a charcoal grill, or saute them in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat, turning them halfway through. Remove when the veggies have great color on the outside.

Set aside to cool, then dice them.

Heat the beans in a small saucepan until hot.

Warm the tortillas in the microwave for 30 seconds.

To assemble the burritos, lay out each tortilla on your work surface. Spoon on rice, then beans, then sprinkle on plenty of grilled veggies. Top with chopped onion, tomato, cheese, and any other toppings you'd like. Spoon salsa all across the top. Tuck in the sides, then roll the burrito up as tightly as you can. Cut in half and chow down!

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Ingredients

6 oz penne pasta
2 cups cooked, chopped chicken
4 cups Romaine lettuce, chopped
1/2 (medium size) cucumber, chopped
1 carrot, shredded
1/4 cup green onions, thinly sliced
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup croutons (optional)
Caesar salad dressing, to taste

Instructions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain water and set aside to cool.

Chop the grilled chicken breasts into small chunks. In a large bowl toss together chicken, cooked penne pasta, lettuce, cucumber, carrot, green onion, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan cheese and croutons.

Drizzle with desired amount of Caesar salad dressing and toss to coat.

One Pan Cheesy Smoked Sausage & Pasta Skillet

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 lb Hillshire Farm Smoked Turkey Sausage, sliced
1 cup diced onion
1 Tbsp minced garlic (about two fresh cloves)
2 cups Chicken Broth
1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup milk or heavy cream
8 oz dry pasta (any small pasta will do)
1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper, each
1 cup shredded Cheddar-Jack cheese
1/3 cup chopped scallions, for garnish

Instructions:

Add olive oil to a 4-5 quart saute pan over medium high heat. Add onions and sausage and cook until lightly browned. Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.

Add chicken broth, tomatoes, milk, pasta, and seasonings. Bring the mixture to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer for about 15 minutes, or until pasta is tender.

Turn off the heat and stir in 1/2 cup of cheese. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top and cover for about five minutes to allow cheese to melt. Top with sliced scallions and serve.

Makes about 4 servings.

Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas

Ingredients:

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp cumin
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp salt
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 medium onion, sliced
1 large bell pepper, seeded and sliced (I use half a green and half a red)
12 flour tortillas
Toppings such as cheese, sour cream, and guacamole – if desired

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place chicken strips in a greased 13×9 baking dish.

In a small bowl combine the oil, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, dried oregano, and salt

Drizzle the spice mixture over the chicken and stir to coat.

Next add the tomatoes, peppers, and onions to the dish and stir to combine.

Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.

Serve on tortillas with desired toppings.

Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese

Ingredients:

4 large Jalapeno Peppers
3-4 ounces Cream Cheese, softened
4-5 Green Onions, minced
Black Pepper, to taste
4 slices Colby Jack or Cheddar Cheese
4 slices Sourdough Bread
Butter

Directions:

On a hot grill {or in your oven cranked to 450}, char the jalapenos... about 10-15 minutes.

Place charred jalapenos in a bag to steam. After about 10 minutes, gently peel of the skin. Slice off the tops and discard. Slice down one side of the pepper and carefully remove the seed and ribs of the pepper.

Preheat griddle to 375 degrees.

Next combine the cream cheese, minced green onion and black pepper in a small bowl. Spread desired amount of cream cheese on one slice of bread then layer jalapeno's and cheese.

Butter outer slices and griddle until golden and crispy.

Homemade Hot Pockets

Ingredients:

3 cups flour
1/4 cup dry milk
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 tablespoons yeast
1 cup warm water (not hot)
Diced meat (your choice)
Cheese (shredded)
Parmesan Cheese
Garlic Powder

Directions:

1. Combine the flour, dry milk, sugar, salt, yeast, and water in a stand mixer and knead well.
2. Divide dough into 10 equal portions.
3. Take each portion, roll it into a rectangle and top with cheese and meat.
4. Fold sides and ends up to create a pocket.
5. Place seam side down on a sprayed cookie sheet. Top liberally with parmesan cheese and garlic powder.
6. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until lightly brown.
7. Serve while warm, or cook completely, wrap individually in saran wrap and store in a freezer bag in freezer.

** You can use your choice of meats, cheese, or ingredients **

** Common Ingredients For Variety of Hot Pockets **

Ham & Cheese
Chicken & Cheese (we added onions & bell peppers)
Pepperoni & Cheese
Sausage & Cheese
Egg & Cheese
Turkey & Pepper Jack
Baked Chicken, Broccoli, & a small amount of alfredo sauce

Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Quesadillas

• Ingredients:
• 
  
• 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 1 small onion, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
• 1 small orange bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch-thick wedges
• Cooking spray
• 3 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (about 3/4 cup)
• 4 (6-inch) flour tortillas
• 1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream

Directions:

1. 1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
2. 2. Combine paprika, garlic powder, oregano, cumin, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Rub paprika mixture evenly over chicken; let stand 10 minutes.
3. 3. Arrange chicken, onion, and bell pepper on grill rack coated with cooking spray. Cook vegetables 4 minutes on each side or until tender. Cook chicken 6 minutes on each side or until done. Remove chicken and vegetables from grill; coarsely chop vegetables. Let chicken stand 5 minutes; thinly slice chicken.
4. 4. Sprinkle about 3 tablespoons cheese over half of each tortilla; divide vegetables and chicken evenly over cheese. Fold each tortilla in half over filling; lightly coat tortillas with cooking spray.
5. 5. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Place 2 quesadillas in pan; cook 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until cheese melts and tortillas are lightly browned. Repeat procedure with remaining 2 quesadillas. Cut each quesadilla into 2 wedges; serve with sour cream.

**The attached picture is NOT mine. It was taken from the Cooking Light website where this recipe was found**

Pizza Sandwich (Quick Fix)

Ingredients:

Bread
Sliced cheese
Pepperoni
Ham

Directions:

Basically you are making a grilled cheese just adding pepperoni and ham.

Butter one side of each bread. Place butter side down on pan. I added 3 rows of 3 pepperoni and a piece of sliced ham. Add a slice of cheese and top with other slice of buttered bread (butter side up). Lightly brown on one side and flip and do same thing until cheese is melted.

Baked Ham & Swiss Sandwiches

Ingredients:

1 (12 pack) of King's Hawaiian rolls
1lb deli ham, shaved
1lb swiss cheese, thinly sliced
1 1/2 sticks butter
3 tablespoons dijon mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons worchestershire sauce
3 teaspoons poppy seeds (optional)
1 onion, chopped

Directions:

Heat oven to 350. Melt butter and mix in mustard, worchestershire sauce, onion, and poppy seed.

Cut each roll in half.

In greased, lipped, pan place bottom half of rolls and spread 1/3 of the onion mixture over the bottom of the rolls followed by ham and cheese.

Place the top of the rolls and spread the remaining onion mixture over the top.

Cover and bake 15-20 minutes.

Pizza Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 can (8oz) refrigerated crescent rolls
1/2 cup pizza sauce
1/4 cup pepperoni (sliced into 4 pieces)
1/2 cup Italian sausage, cooked and drained
1/2 cup shredded cheese

Directions:

Heat oven to 375 F. Spray regular size muffin pan with cooking spray. Unroll dough; separate into 8 triangles. Press into muffin cups.

In a small bowl, mix sauce, pepperoni, Italian sausage and cheese. Spoon about 2 tablespoons mixture into each dough-lined cup; sprinkle each with additional cheese.

Bake 16 to 18 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately remove from cups and serve.

Taco Pizza

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 (10oz) can refrigerated pizza crust
1 (16oz) can refried beans
2-3 cups shredded cheese
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
1/4 cup sliced black olives
4 green onions, chopped

Directions:

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Brown ground beef in a large skillet, over medium-high heat. Drain grease. Add taco seasoning to the ground beef and follow package directions.

Unroll pizza crust on a 10x15 cookie sheet. Let dough set at room temperature for 5 minutes. Press the dough over the bottom and up along all 4 sides of the cookie sheet. Bake pizza dough for 8-10 minutes, or until light golden. Remove from oven.

Place refried beans in microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute. Stir well and then spread beans evenly over the top of the warm pizza crust. Top with the ground beef mixture, sprinkle with cheese and then add the tomatoes, black olives, and green onion.

Return to oven and bake another 5-7 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Serve immediately and enjoy.

Store any leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Perfect Potato Soup

Ingredients:

6 slices thin bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 whole medium onion, diced
3 whole carrots, scrubbed, cleaned, and diced
3 stalks celery, diced
6 small potatoes, peeled and diced
8 cups chicken or vegetable broth
3 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon salt, more to taste
Black pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon Cajun spice mix
1 teaspoon fresh minced parsley
1 cup grated cheese of your choice

Directions:

Add bacon pieces to a soup pit over medium high heat and cook bacon until crisp and fast is tendered. Remove the bacon from the pot and set aside. Pour off most of the grease, but do NOT clean the pot.

Return pot to medium-high heat and add the onions, carrots, and celery. Stir and cook for 2 minutes or so, then add the diced potatoes. Cook for 5 minutes, seasoning with salt, pepper, and Cajun spice.

Pour in the broth and bring it to a gentle boil. Cook for 10 minutes, or until potatoes are starting to get tender. Whisk together the flour and the milk, then pour until the soup and allow the soup to cook for another 5 minutes.

Remove half to 2/3 the soup and blend in a blender/food processer** until completely smooth. Pour it back into the soup pot and stir to combine. Let it heat back up as you taste for seasonings, adding more of what it needs. Stir in the cream, then stir in the parsley, reserving a little for garnishment.

Serve in bowls garnished with parsley, grated cheese, and crisp bacon pieces.

** This recipe states to BLEND the soup in a blender/food processer. I tried this and with me holding into the lid as I always do it blew the lid off and went all over me leaving some burns on my arm. My suggestion (what I ended up doing) is taking half the soup out and using a masher or hand mixer **

Stuffed Pepper Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 lb pound extra-lean ground beef
• 2 small green peppers, coarsely chopped
• 1 tsp onion powder
• salt to taste, optional
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 C long grain brown rice, cooked
• 1 24oz jar of low-sodium spaghetti sauce (If you are using a plain spaghetti sauce, you will want to add in 1/4 tsp Italian seasoning, 2 tsp season salt, 2 tsp onion powder, and 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder to give more flavor.)
• 1 1/2 C reduced-fat mozzarella cheese blend, divided

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Cook meat in frying pan until almost completely browned. Drain and rinse. Place beef back in pan and add peppers, onion powder, salt, and garlic cloves. Cook over medium-low heat until beef in completely cooked and peppers begin to turn tender.
3. In a 2 1/2 qt casserole, stir together the rice, spaghetti sauce (and added spices if using), and 3/4 C cheese.
4. Add in the beef mixture and stir until combined. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
5. Bake for 25 minutes or until heated through and cheese begins to brown. Let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Adapted from: Kraft Recipes

Yield: 7 – 1 Cup Servings

Chili Tater Tot Casserole

Ingredients:

2 cans of Hormel chili with beans (or any brand you prefer)

   or homemade chili

tater tots

1 cup cheddar cheese or more

Directions:

Open the cans of chili and pour in a dish. This first time was in a 9 x 13 but I found that a square casserole dish worked better. Line tater tots on top of the chili and sprinkle cheese on top. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes or until tots are golden brown. You can also add ground beef to this to stretch it a little. Super simple!

Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

6-8 strips of bacon

1 onion, peeled & chopped

1 clove garlic, peeled & minced

1 red or green bell pepper, seeded & chopped

1 (2lb) bag frozen hashbrowns

1 1/2 cups shredded cheese

12 eggs

1 cup milk

1 tsp dried dill

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Spray crock pot with non stick cooking spray. Cook bacon until crisp, cool, and chop into 1/2 inch pieces, set aside. Saute onions, bell peppers, and garlic for 5 minutes. Place 1/3 frozen hashbrowns in the bottom of the crock pot, add 1/3 the bacon, and 1/3 onion, garlic, pepper mixture, and 1/3 cheese. Repeat the layers and end with cheese. 

In large mixing bowl mix eggs, milk, dill, salt & pepper. Pour over ingredients in crock pot, cover and turn on low. Cook for 8-10 hours.

Yields: 8-10 servings.

Creamy Burrito Casserole

1 lb ground beef
1/2 medium onion, chopped 
1 pkg taco seasoning
6 large flour tortillas
1 - 16 oz can refried beans
2-3 cups shredded cheese 
1 (10 3/4 oz) can cream of mushroom soup
4 ounces sour cream
Picante if desired

1. Brown meat & onion; drain.
2. Add taco seasoning and stir in refried beans.
3. Mix soup and sour cream in separate bowl.
4. Spread 1/2 sour cream mixture in bottom of casserole dish.
5. Tear up 3 tortillas and spread over sour cream mixture.
6. Put 1/2 the meat mixture over that.
7. Add a layer of cheese.
8. Repeat layers.
9. Bake uncovered at 350 for 20-30 mins

Fiesta Chicken

Fiesta Chicken Casserole:

2 cups chicken breast grilled cubed (I used canned chicken to make it faster)

2 cups medium shell pasta, cooked

2 cups cheddar/jack cheese blend

1 can of cream of chicken soup

1 can Rotel

1 can green chilies

1/2 cup of milk

Mix it all together in a bowl and then pour into a 13x9 pan.

Cover with cheese salt and pepper to taste! 

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes