Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Tasty and warm for those winter days...

2 teaspoons butter
1 cup sliced celery
1 cup chopped carrot
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 small potato, diced
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
4 (14 ounce) cans chicken broth
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon
4 ounces egg noodles
2 cups cooked chicken
parsley

1. Melt butter in large pot. Saute the celery, carrot and onion for 2 minutes.
2. Add potato, thyme, poultry seasoning, chicken broth and boullion. Bring to a boil.
3. Add noodles and chicken and cook on low for 20 minutes.
4. Sprinkle with parseley.

Bourbon Chicken

A classic cajun dish served at home. Adapted from Stove Top Bourbon Chicken.

2 boneless chicken breasts
3 cups Mahatma Jasmine Rice
1 tsp salt
4 tbsp butter
2 tablespoon olive oil

Sauce:
1/4 cup cider vinegar (maybe half of that)
1/4 cup apple juice (?)
1 tsp cornstarch
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder

1. Bring 2 cups water to a boil and add rice, butter, and salt. Cook for 15 minutes or until rice absorbs all the water.
2. Combine all ingredients for sauce in a bowl and mix until smooth.
3. Cut chicken into bite-sized chunks and coat in olive oil. Fry in large skillet until lightly browned. (about 8-10 min, turning once mid-cycle)
4. Stir in sauce and bring to a hard boil.
5. Stir in frozen stir-fry vegetables and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes.
6. Serve over hot rice.

Loaded Potato Soup

This potato soup is good. Adapted from Potato Soup.

6-8 potatoes, medium-sized
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup flour
6 cups milk
2 cups cheddar cheese
1/2 cup real bacon bits
3 tsp chicken bouillon
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

1. Cube and boil potatoes until cooked, about 20 minutes.
2. Drain and mush potatoes slightly so that they are still chunky, not mushy.
3. Melt butter in pan and add flour. Cook on low heat and stir for one minute.
4. Add half the milk and stir until smooth. Add remaining milk.
5. Cook on medium-high heat until boiling, stirring constantly to avoid scorching.
6. After boiling, turn off heat and stir in potatoes, bacon, cheese, and spices.

Suggestions: Mixing in veggies chopped small, like broccoli, peas, or carrots, tastes great! I added 1/2 of a stir-fry bag to mine. Just add them in frozen and they will thaw in a few minutes, tasting so fresh. ^_^

Mesquite Texas Toast

A flavorful Texas-hardy treat.

keiser rolls or texas toast
real butter
mesquite seasoning*

* Best is Weber (R) Grill Creations (R) Smokey Mesquite Seasoning. Substitute salt, sugar, garlic, onion, chili pepper, red pepper, paprika, and mesquite seasoning.

1. Slice open the middle of a keiser roll and put in two slices of butter and season with mesquite seasoning. Or spread the butter and seasoning on top of texas toast.
2. Toast until just crispy, optionally, on broil in the oven for a few minutes.

Sneak Peak Tortilla Pizza

Quick, yummy pizza alternative when you're in a rush.

1 tortilla
1/4 tbsp butter
1/4 cup Prego Roasted Garlic Spagetti Sauce
1/4 cup shredded cheese
1/4 cup Canadian Bacon, diced
1/4 cup pizza toppings like olives, peppers, etc. (optional)

1. Coat one side of tortilla with butter. Place butter-side down on a baking sheet.
2. Spread spagetti sauce, cheese, Canadian bacon, and toppings on tortilla.
3. Toast until almost browned, about 7 minutes in a toaster oven. Cool well before serving.

Suggestions: Make several pizzas and serve as a meal. Or roll into wraps to serve as pizza rolls. Add pepperoni, pineapple, chicken, beef, olives, green peppers, tomatoes, or any other pizza topping.

Chicken Chimichangas

All the Tex-Mex goodness without the grease. From Oven-Fried Chicken Chimichangas.

45 min / 20 min prep

2/3 cup picante sauce or salsa
1 teaspoon ground cumin (or taco seasoning)
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves, crushed
1 1/2 cups cooked chicken, chopped
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 green onions, chopped with some tops (about 1/4 cup)
6 (8 inch) flour tortillas
2 tablespoons margarine, melted

1. Mix chicken, picante sauce or salsa, cumin, oregano, cheese and onions.
2. Place about 1/4 cup of the chicken mixture in the center of each tortilla. Fold opposite sides over filling. Roll up from bottom and place seam-side down on a baking sheet. Coat generously with melted margarine.
3. Bake at 400°F for 25 minutes or until golden.
4. Cool 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional cheese and green onion and serve salsa on the side if desired.

Suggestions: Goes well with sour cream, refried beans, Spanish rice, and a salad. Try green chile sauce instead of the picante sauce sometime.

Italian Pizza Bake

Feel like a little pizza? Dine on a chicken and veggie version that goes together in minutes. From Betty Crocker.

15 min prep / 40 min - 2 servings

1/3 cup Bisquick Heart Smart® mix
2 tablespoons fat-free egg product or 1 egg white
1 tablespoon water
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup diced green or yellow bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup cut-up cooked chicken breast
1/2 cup Progresso® diced tomatoes with Italian herbs, drained (from 28-oz can)
1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 cup shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 8x4-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. In small bowl, stir Bisquick® mix, egg product, water and garlic powder; spread in pan.
2. In 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook bell pepper and onion over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until tender. Stir in chicken, tomatoes and Italian seasoning; cook until hot. Spoon over batter. Sprinkle with cheese.
3. Bake 20 to 23 minutes or until golden brown; loosen from sides.