Chicken Tortilla Soup

Ok I can't say enough about this soup. In short, it's AMAZING! When I first made it I read the recipe over 3 or 4 times because I kept thinking I was forgetting some ingredients. But nope! There are very few ingredients, which makes it an even greater recipe! Seriously so good, you have to try it out! From Our Best Bites

2 chicken breasts or 6 chicken tenders
1 large onion, chopped
5-6 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
4 cans chicken broth
1 15-oz. can chopped or diced tomatoes
2 seeded jalapeno peppers (optional)
1/4 c. fresh lime juice(3-4 limes). Don't even think of buying the stuff in a bottle! This is the key ingredient
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper

TOPPINGS:


Store-bought tortilla strips, or 2-3 corn tortillas, plus oil for frying
Avocado (my FAVORITE part)
Grated cheese
1/4 c. cilantro

Cook chicken as desired (bake, boil, grill I prefer in the crockpot) with a little bit of taco seasoning and shred.

In a large stockpot, heat some olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and saute 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and minced jalapeno and cook a few minutes more until pepper is softened and garlic is fragrant. Add chicken broth and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and allow to simmer 15-20 minutes.

While soup is simmering, juice the limes and set aside. Start preparing the toppings: grate the cheese, chop the cilantro, cut up the avocado, and fry the tortillas (or break up chips). Right before serving, add lime juice and chicken to the soup. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle soup into the bowls and add desired toppings.

Enjoy!!! And then come back and tell me what you think!

Chickpea and Sweet Pepper Salad

Beans, healthy, light, lemon=many of my loves. Delish.
From Picky Palate

Country Chicken Pasta

Again from Eat it Up Food

Ingredients

2 cups uncooked pasta, any shape short pasta

3 cups cooked cubed chicken

2 jars (12oz. each) chicken gravy

1 bag (1lb.) frozen veggie mix: carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, peas

whatever you have

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup herb seasoned stuffing crumbs ( stove top)

2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine

1.Heat oven to 375. Cook and drain pasta, using minimum cook time. It will continue to cook in the oven.
2. In an ungreased 2 1/2 quart casserole dish, mix pasta and remaining ingredients together except for stuffing and butter.
3. Cover casserole. Bake 20 minutes. Uncover and stir casserole. In a small bowl, mix stuffing and butter. Sprinkle of top. Bake uncovered about 10 minutes longer or until hot and topping is brown.

Lemon Chicken Pasta

My girl Britney has done it again! Another delicious, easy, healthy, recipe. Love her!

Ingredients:

4-5 cups of penne pasta (I do about 1 cup of dried pasta a person)
1 can 98% fat free cream of chicken soup
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 water
zest of 1 lemon
juice from 1 lemon
2-3 chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
fresh parsley, chopped
salt & pepper

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add salt and the pasta. While your pasta is cooking you will cook up the chicken and make the sauce.
2. In a small skillet, bring it to medium heat. Drizzle it with a bit of olive oil. Season your chicken with salt, pepper, and onion powder and place into the pan. Cook for about 7-9 minutes, until cooked through.
3. Now, while your chicken is cooking we will make the yummy sauce. Drizzle a bit of olive oil in a medium skillet. Heat at medium heat and cook the garlic for just a minute. Stir the garlic as you cook it. You DON'T want it to burn. It will taste bitter, so keep stirring and as soon as you start to smell the garlic you know that it is beginning to soften and cook. Next add in your soup. Whisk the soup and garlic together and add in the zest and lemon juice. Now at this point you will add the water. You can make your sauce as thick or thin as you like. So start adding water until you get it where you like it. Heat the sauce through and give it a taste. You may want to add a bit of salt and pepper, but it is up to you :)
4. Alright, lets get this meal together! Drain your pasta and return to pan. Add the sauce to you pasta and toss to coat. Divide your lemon pasta among your plates and then top with chicken and fresh parsley.

New food site

Supercook.com

Just discovered this and haven't played around on it yet, but apparently you can type in all the ingredients you have or want to use, and it will pop up a bunch of recipes using those ingredients. WHAT?! If it's true it could be AMAZING!

Sweet and Spicy CousCous

I love, love, LOVE cous cous so I can't wait to try out this recipe! Found on The Sisters Cafe, it looks divine!

Food Painting

Here's a fun idea from the great blog Fun Snacks 4 Kids!!

Fun lil holiday treats

Have you ever seen the blog Fun Snacks 4 Kids? Well if not, check it out!! It's awesome! Rachael is a preschool teacher and has so many great ideas! Here are some fun holiday ones:

Gingerbread playdoughA string of Christmas lights with edible paint! Reindeer cookies! Broomsticks!