Chicken fajita chowder

This chowder is great for fall! it has a Mexican kick and isn’t spicy!!! Great with chips or bread. I don't remember where I actually found it. I think it might have been a Betty Crocker recipe but I'm not really sure anymore.

ingredients

• 3 Tablespoons all purpose flour
• 1.4 oz package fajita or taco seasoning mix divided
• 4 boneless chicken breasts, cubed
• 3 tablespoons veggie oil
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 15 1/4 oz can sweet corn and diced peppers, drained
• 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 14 1/2 oz can Mexican- style stewed tomatoes
• 4.5 oz can chopped green chilies
• 3 cups water
• 1 cup instant brown rice, uncooked
• 10 3/4 oz can nacho cheese soup
• 1 1/4 cup water

directions

• 1
  Combine flour and 2 tablespoons seasoning mix in a large plastic zipping bag, add chicken. seal bag and shake to coat. Saute chicken in hot oil in a large pot over high heat about 5 minutes, until golden stirring often.
• 2
  Reduce heat to medium high, Add onions and garlic; saute 5 minutes. Stir in remaining seasoning mix, corn, and next 5 ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Add soup and 1 1/4 cups water; thoroughly heated. Sprinkle with desired toppings and garnish.

notes

Toppings: sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped green onions, tortilla chips Garnish: fresh chipped cilantro


I really liked this recipe. Well I am posting it so i would hope that I liked it! Anyway, when I made this recipe I wasn't expecting for it to make so much. I think next time I do make it I'll only make a half batch. Its bad that I have so many leftovers that my roommates and I are sick of eating it. Well actually thats not really a bad thing. What I do like it that it had the tastes of a chicken taco but without the major mess of a taco. I bet this would be just as good with beef or pork! I should try that sometime, or one of you can and tell me how it goes. I would love to hear back from you guys!.

Ta Ta for now,

Lil' Char

Char's Fried Rice!

Hey guys, Sorry this is a day late but I kind of had to much of a lazy day yesterday and spaced that i had to update my blog. Sorry! Anyway, this post is dedicated to my Aunt who keeps asking me to send her this recipe. I made it for her on our family trip and everyone in my family loved it. I don't know where I actually found this recipe originally. I just make it from memory by now so I'm sorry if it doesn't make sense. I typed it up from memory. I usually just throw things in and don't measure so it was a little weird to actually measure everything out.  Oh and be prepared to make a lot of dishes. I usually use three different pans so I make plenty of dishes but I also make a ton of this recipe because it makes perfect leftovers!

Ingredients

4 cups rice (I use minute rice white or brown)

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 clove of minced garlic

1 teaspoon minced ginger root (use a vegetable peeler to peel the skin. Just use the meat of the root)

1 cup frozen peas and carrots

1 green onion chopped (don’t put in until the end. Just toss into it before serving)

1 can Baby corn (optional)

½ cup Mushrooms (optional)

1 small can Chopped Water Chestnuts (optional)

1 to 2 eggs

½ cup oyster sauce (I use Stir fry sauce. I think it tastes better)

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions-

1.       Cook the rice. I follow the package directions for this one!

2.       In a separate pan cook the ginger and garlic in the oil. Only cook for a few minutes until its fragrant.

3.       Add in the veggies and cook. When the rice is done add to the pan of veggies. Make sure that you use a large pan for this.

4.       In a separate pan scramble up the eggs and add to the rice and veggies mixture. When warm add in the sauce and mix well!

5.       Now its time to eat it!

You can always add in chicken or steak. 

What I love about this recipe is that I can add whatever I feel like that day! I love making this when I have a bunch of veggies in my fridge that needs to be used up. This recipe is perfect for that! Although you wont see me use baby corn. I feel like its weird and if I wanted corn I would just add normal corn.  Plus I really don't like oyster sauce so I use stir fry sauce. I really like Lee Ann Chin sweet and sour sauce or teriyaki. This recipe is really easy and super yummy! Believe me I've been making it for a very long time! If you want to make it a full meal then I would suggest adding chicken. What I like to do with the chicken is marinate in the stir fry sauce for a half hour, then cube it and add it to the pan before the veggies but you can do whatever you like! The fried rice I made today only had peas, carrots, and eggs in it. I didn't want to buy everything so I just made some super vegged fried rice. I also made some chicken breasts to pun with it. Its basically chicken marinated in the same sauce used for the rice and pan fried. I was going to chop it up and put it in the rice but I thought it would look pretty next to the rice. Well I hope you guys like this recipe!

Ta ta for now,

Lil' Char

Chicken fruit salad

This fruit salad is easy and its one serving! the whole recipe is one major serving of yummy! The only thing this recipe is missing is the granola! I found it in the same cookbook as before and I need a quick and easy lunch for work. It was easy to make and super simple! Oh the cookbook is called Incredibly easy Chicken by Favorite Brand Name recipes. I don't really know if that's the author but It was on the cover so I gave it to you!

Ingredients

1/2 cup diced roasted skinless chicken
1/2 rib celery, cut into 1 -inch pieces
1/4 cup drained Mandarin orange slices
1/4 cup seedless grapes
2 tablespoons lemon  yogurt
1 tablespoon mayo
1/4 teaspoon soy sauce
1/8 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon

Directions

1. toss together the chicken, celery, oranges, and grapes. place in a air tight container.
2. Mix together the yogurt, mayo, soy sauce, and pumpkin pie spice and place in a small air tight container.
3. For serving pour the sauce over the salad or dip pieces into the sauce!

I'm sorry this is so short but I felt like it had to be shared! It was so good! I even had it two days in a row! The second time I made the sauce I added a little more lemon yogurt and I thought it tasted better but its all about preference. I really like lemons! I would really recommend this for people on a diet! I don't know why but it made me feel healthy just looking at the pictures! haha Oh and sorry this post was out so late. I had to work a double.

Ta Ta for now,

Lil' Char

Savory Dill Chicken

Hey guys,
Today I have a recipe that is actually from a cook book! I know right? No pinterest today! Anyway, I've been in the mood for chicken and I remembered I had this cookbook all about chicken that my brother got for me for Christmas one year! I'm pretty sure he found it in the bargain bin because I shop in the cook book section all the time and I've never seen it before! The cookbook is called Incredibly Easy Chicken. Believe me when the name says it all! I really didn't have to do much with it but it still turned out good! There are a bunch of recipes that I want to try from it but I also don't want to eat a month of chicken.

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons I can't believe its not butter spread ( I used real butter for this)
1 1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 cup water
1 package KNORR recipe classics vegetable or spring vegetable soup, dip and recipe mix
1/4 teaspoon dried dill weed
1/2 cup sour cream

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, melt your butter over medium- high heat and brown chicken, turning occasionally about 5 minutes.

2. Stir in water, recipe mix, and dill weed. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to low and simmer covered, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked. Remove chicken to serving plate and keep warm.

3. Remove skillet from high heat; stir in sour cream. Spoon sauce over chicken and serve, If desired, with noodles.

Oh my gosh guys this recipe is amazing! I wasn't sure how it would turn out but I really like it! I think next time I might try it with an onion soup mix. I just really like onions and I feel like it needs more vegetables but over all it was yummy! I made it over noodles and I also added a few extra scoops of sour cream to make my sauce a little creamier. Plus the best part was that I will have extra for my lunch tomorrow! I like the idea of having extras! I will have to let you know how it tastes re- heated! Again please try this recipe and tell me how it goes! Also pictures are always welcomed!




Ta Ta for now,
Lil' Char

Happy Halloween Everyone!

So today is Halloween and also my last day as a vegetarian. Its been a long and fun adventure with this and I must say to all vegetarians out there that you guys are awesome and I give you props!!! As for me I don't think I can do it for a life kind of thing. I think I can handle a week or so every few months or something like that. Sorry I stopped posting a lot after a few weeks. I had a lot of work related things that came up. I look back on this month and realize that it has been a great month! I got to try so many new recipes and I even got to eat my favorite dinner all the time! haha! If anyone every tries this or is thinking about switching, grilled cheese is the best fail safe!!! you can always add tomatoes, avocado, onions, green peppers, any veggies you want! What I believe the hardest part of this was the craving for a burger and when I was at work and they were cutting the super delicious turkey I wanted to eat it so badly! But thankfully I refrained! I told my self I could make it a month and I have! I have decided to stay as a flex-atarian, which basically I will eat vegetarian but can still eat meat when I crave it or go out with friends. That will make life easier than finding vegetarian options.... Its really not that easy. Everything has bacon in it these days!

Well that's my update!

Lil' Char

Angry Orchard cupcakes

Sorry guys for such an easy recipe. My friend found the recipe so I just decided to make it! I'm sorry I can't tell you where she found it. When she gave it to me it was written down on a price of paper so I don't know where it came from. If this is your recipe, you're amazing! Haha. Well lets get on with the show!

ingredients

3 eggs
one box of spice cake mix
1 cup angry orchard or other hard cider
1/2 cup oil

directions
basically you just follow the directions on the back of the box. I made the cupcakes.

I used a jar cream cheese mix but you can always make your own but if you do sub angry orchard for the water and it will be awesome!

Sorry I didn't post pictures with this.... I basically made it and before I could take pictures they were gone! I'm glad my friends loved them but next time I'm going to actually try them! yes I never got to try it but everyone said it was super yummy! Sorry this post is so short.

Lil' Char

Skinny Alfredo Spaghetti Squash

Hey guys,
Today I'm bringing you an amazing recipe! Now, I've had spaghetti squash before and its really good. I love it with a little bit of marinara sauce but today its an Alfredo recipe! I found this recipe on pinterest! The original post is from a blog called the Comfort of cooking. I haven't actually looked at it much yet but if her other posts are like this one I know I'll like it!

Ingredients:

1 medium-sized spaghetti squash
1 Tablespoon butter
3 cloves of garlic, finely minced
2 Tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups milk(I used fat-free)
1 Tablespoon cream cheese or Neufchatel cheese
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus 2 Tablespoons extra for topping
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Crushed red pepper flakes and fresh parsley, for optional garnish

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
First, prep the squash. Cut spaghetti squash in half using a large sharp knife, scoop out the seeds and place cut side down on a rimmed baking sheet covered with water. Bake until tender, about an hour.
As an alternate way of baking: Poke a few holes deep into the whole squash with a paring knife. Bake for 60 minutes, remove from the oven and let rest for 10 to 20 minutes before slicing in half with a large serrated knife. Scoop out the seedy inside leaving the spaghetti strands.
Once squash is cooked, use a fork to gently scrape the “spaghetti” strands into the center.
For the sauce, melt butter in a small pot over medium-low heat. Once hot, add garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Whisk in flour, cooking for another minute while stirring. Whisk in milk until no lumps remain. Once hot, add cream cheese and stir until smooth. Remove from the heat. Stir in Parmesan, salt and pepper.
Spoon sauce equally into each spaghetti squash half. Gently pull up the spaghetti strands to coat as much as possible with the sauce. Top with extra Parmesan and place under the broiler of your oven for 2-3 minutes, or until golden and bubbly.
Top each half with a pinch of red pepper flakes and fresh chopped parsley, if desired. Serve hot.

Be careful when you take the spaghetti squash off the pans... It will be very hot and I almost burnt myself.

I loved this recipe and I can't wait until winter to make this again. It seemed like the perfect winter recipe. The only problem is I couldn't eat it all! Haha! I liked that it had a homemade Alfredo sauce. It added a lot more flavor and you know exactly what goes in it! Although in weird, I added maybe a teaspoon of pepper. I'm a pepper kind of girl!

since the month is over half way I thought I'd update you on how my month is going. So far I haven't touched meat in 22 days! I'm so proud that I have almost made it! My roommate even made tacos for us to celebrate our half month mark! I almost failed when I went out to eat the other day. I ordered a grilled cheese and they put bacon one it! Who puts bacon on a grilled cheese? Anyway they replaced it for me and it was super yummy! With work I'm okay. Its a bit hard when I want to try something but it has meat in it so I don't. I feel so bad when a costumer asks how it tastes and I have to explain that I'm currently not eating meat. Most are happy to take a taste though! I haven't decided if I'm going to completely change to a veggie diet but I also don't know if i want to go back to eating meat. Its a hard choice.
well that's it for now,
Lil' Char!