Cucumber Salad

Ingredients

2 large cucumbers
1/2 onion
2-3 tomatoes

{For the dressing}

3 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. oregano
1/8 tsp. salt

Directions

Make the dressing: add all ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to combine.
Slice the cucumbers and onion. Dice tomatoes, removing excess juice. Place in a bowl.
Add the dressing and toss to coat. Salt/pepper to taste if needed.
Best if refrigerated for at least an hour to let the flavors combine.

Chicken Alfredo (by Pioneer Woman)

Ingredients:

12 ounces, weight Bowtie Pasta
4 Tablespoons Butter
2 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts 
Salt And Pepper, to taste
2 cloves Garlic, Minced
3/4 cups Dry White Wine (may Substitute Low-sodium Chicken Broth)
1/2 cup Half-and-half
3 Tablespoons Heavy Cream 
Low Sodium Chicken Broth, As Needed For Thinning
3/4 cups Parmesan Shavings Or Grated Parmesan
2 Tablespoons Fresh Parsley, Minced

Preparation Instructions:

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

Salt and pepper both sides of the chicken breasts. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and cook until deep golden brown on both sides and done in the middle. Remove from the skillet, slice into thin strips, and set aside.

Add additional 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet, followed by the minced garlic. Stir the garlic around the pan to avoid burning, and cook for 1 minute. Pour in wine (or broth), then let it bubble up and reduce for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Add half-and-half, cream, and extra salt and pepper, whisking constantly until it's all combined. Allow liquid to heat up and thicken for a few minutes. If it gets too thick, you may thin it with a little chicken broth.

When the sauce looks good, remove it from the heat. Add Parmesan to the pan, then throw the hot pasta right on top of it. Toss it a bit. Add the chicken and continue tossing until it's all combined. Again, if it gets too gloopy, splash in a little broth (you may return the pan to low heat if it needs it.)

On the show she added baby spinach and grape tomatoes. So I did too and it was amazing.

Taste it, adjust seasonings, and top with minced parsley and extra Parmesan. Serve immediately!

Crunchy Baked Tacos

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef or turkey
1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes, drained
1 packet taco seasoning
1 C cheese, divided
1/4 C salsa verde
15 crunchy taco shells
Shredded lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, sour cream, guacamole, lime juice to top

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Brown and drain meat.
Stir tomatoes, seasoning, 1/2 C cheese, and salsa into meat.
Arrange taco shells standing up in a 9x13" pan. Fill each shell with the meat mixture, dividing equally until all the meat is used.
Sprinkle remaining 1/2 C of cheese over the tops of the filled tacos and bake for 15-20 minutes. Cheese will be melted and the meat hot.
Top with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, sour cream, guacamole and lime juice

Beef Enchiladas

Ingredients:

• 1 cup prechopped onion 
• 1 cup beef stock
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 (15-ounce) can unsalted tomato sauce
• 3 cups cooked hamburger meat
• 1 (15-ounce) can unsalted black beans, rinsed and drained
• 12 (6-inch) flour tortillas
• Cooking spray
• 3 ounces preshredded 4-cheese Mexican blend cheese (about 3/4 cup)
• 1 cup chopped tomato 
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 6 tablespoons sour cream

Directions:

1. 1. Preheat broiler to high.
2. 2. Combine first 9 ingredients in a medium saucepan; stir with a whisk. Bring to a boil over high heat; cook 2 minutes or until thickened. Reserve 1 1/2 cups sauce mixture. Add chicken and beans to pan; cook 2 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly heated.
3. 3. Stack tortillas; wrap stack in damp paper towels and microwave at HIGH for 25 seconds. Spoon about 1/3 cup chicken mixture in center of each tortilla; roll up. Arrange tortillas, seam sides down, in bottom of a 13 x 9-inch glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with reserved sauce and cheese. Broil 3 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned and sauce is bubbly. Top with tomato and cilantro. Serve with sour cream.

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.

Vegan Tomato Salad with Cucumber, Avocado, Cilantro and Lime

(Makes 2 servings)

6 medium tomatoes, diced into bite-sized pieces (about 2 cups diced tomatoes)

2 medium cucumbers, diced into bite-sized pieces (about 1 cup diced cucumber)

1 avocado, diced into bite-sized pieces

1 cup chopped cilantro (use more or less to taste)

1 T + 2 T fresh squeezed lime juice

1 T best quality extra virgin olive oil

1/4 tsp. Spike seasoning (optional, but good)

salt to taste (I used Vege-Sal, but sea salt would be great here)

Peel avocado and cut into 1/2 inch pieces (I use this method for peeling and cutting an avocado.) Put avocado pieces into plastic or glass bowl and toss with 1 T lime juice. Season generously with salt.

Chop tomatoes, cucumbers, and cilantro and add to avocado in bowl. Whisk together 2 T lime juice and 1 T olive oil (with Spike seasoning if using) then stir gently into salad. Serve immediately. This doesn't keep well, so only make as much as will be eaten right away.

BLT Wraps

Ingredients:

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped

8 (10-inch) flour tortillas

1 large head iceberg lettuce, chopped

1 medium onion, thinly sliced (optional)

16 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

Combine mayonnaise and tomatoes in a small bowl. Spread evenly over 1 side of each tortilla, leaving a 1/2-inch border.

Layer lettuce, onions, and bacon evenly over tortillas; sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Roll up tortillas; cut in half diagonally, and secure with wooden stick.

Easy Blender Salsa

Ingredients:

• 1- 14 oz can diced tomatoes
• 1- 10 oz can orginal Rotel
• 1/2 small onion, roughly chopped
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and smashed
• 1/2-1 jalapeno, seeded or not (depends on how spicy you like it)
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• small to medium size handful of cilantro, washed
• juice of 1 lime

Directions:

Put all the ingredients in the base of a food processor or good blender and pulse to combine for 30 seconds or so until all the ingredients are finely chopped and salsa is desired consistency. Taste for seasoning and adjust to taste. Serve with chips or over tacos.

***I only hit pulse for like 15 seconds and that was good with my blender... Just blend until you get the consistency that you want***