Cafe Rio Chicken

Hooray for Pinterest! Not sure if this recipe tastes like the real deal or not, but we still like it.

2 pounds chicken breasts
1/2 small bottle of zesty Italian dressing
1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
1 package ranch dressing mix, whisked into 1/2 cup water
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 tablespoon ground cumin

Place all ingredients in a crock pot. Cook on High 5-6 hours or on Low 8 hours.
Shred with forks and serve in salads, burritos, tacos, etc. We usually serve with shredded lettuce, rice, black beans, corn, avocados, tomatoes, salsa and sour cream. Oh, and fresh tortillas, of course!

You can double or triple this to make extras for freezing.

southwest quinoa casserole

yummy, quick, and easy!

recipe found at: food.com 

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 (14 ounce) can Rotel Tomatoes
• 1 (15 ounce) can whole black beans, drained
• 1/4 cup sliced jalapeno
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1/2 cup vegetable broth
• 3/4 cup quinoa
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• sour cream (optional)
• 
  

Directions:

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 400.
2. 2
   combine all ingredients except cheese and sour cream in a 2 quart casserole.
3. 3
   cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
4. 4
   remove and stir.
5. 5
   bake for another 20 minutes or until all liquid has been absorbed and quinoa is tender.
6. 6
   cover with cheese and broil till cheese is melted (usually around 1 or 2 minutes).
7. 7
   serve with sour cream

{slow cooker} white chicken chile soup

Mom made this while she was in town and it was a HUGE hit. We've made it twice this week because it's sooooo yummy.

(from mom herself...)

Ingredients

3 cans 15 oz. Great Northern Beans,

    drained and rinsed

3 ½ cups chicken broth

2 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp cumin

2 tsp oregano

1/2 to 1 tsp cayenne pepper

½ to 1 cup roasted green chilies,

    diced*

1 -2 cups chopped onions, sautéed

     in butter

Directions

Place all ingredients in crock pot; cook on low for up to 8 hours –or- simmer in large pot for 2 hours. Add 4 cups shredded chicken (use slightly undercooked chicken because the heat of the soup will toughen it if it is fully cooked). Allow to cool slightly before stirring in 2 cups sour cream. (If too hot the cream will curdle, but the soup will still be ok!)  Add 3 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese. Warm and serve; do not boil after adding sour cream and cheese.

*I try to use fresh-roasted chiles, but if I can’t get them I can usually find a container of frozen ones in most grocery stores around here. Otherwise, you can use the canned ones.

Black Bean Quesadillas

Sooo easy-peasy and yummy!  Kids didn't care for the salsa in them, but overall liked them.  This will be one I make sure we have ingredients on hand for for busy nights.

Tortillas

Cheese

Black beans

Salsa

Spread salsa, cheese and beans on a tortilla.  Cover it with a second tortilla.  Place on a foil covered cookie sheet and back at 400 for 15 minutes.  Dip in sour cream, guac, salsa, etc.  That's it!!

black bean burgers

Got this yummy recipe from Monica while visiting Cleveland. It is super easy and filling and a great meatless Monday (or any day option!). 

Ingredients 

1 can of black beans - drained and rinsed

1 cup oats

1 medium sweet potato 

salt and pepper or any burger seasonings of your liking

3-4 tbsp oil

Optional 

(but makes it taste so much yummier)

1/2 onion diced

1-2 tsp. minced garlic

Instructions 

Cut sweet potato into small chunks and microwave 4-5 minutes, or until potato can be mashed with a fork. Either remove the skin before or after heating them up - but before mashing them up. (I did keep the skin on the first time I made these, but the seemed to get in the way when I made the patty - so next time around I'll take them off). 

Saute onion and garlic for a few minutes, until onion is tender.

Place all the ingredients in a large bowl and mash together with the seasonings. 

Once mashed together, form into a burger patty.

Warm 1-2 tbsp oil in a pan and cook the black bean burgers a few minutes each side until slightly crispy. 

I put the burgers in a preheated oven (400 degrees) for 5 more minutes while finishing up dinner prep to keep them warm all the way through.

Serve on burger buns with favorite condiments and sides.

Yummy!