Oh Kitchen, How I have missed you!! and I have missed you too Blog!!! (Chicken, Black Bean Tortilla Stack, Spanish Rice)

Life has gotten in the way lately of my time spent in the kitchen,  but no more..  not going to let anything steal my passion..  there are times of course where I can't stand the thought of walking into the kitchen and cooking..  but most of the time I am itching to get in here and create..  :)   It relaxes me like nothing else.. 
The past month has been busy with Samantha, work and a new relationship,  actually the relationship has been developing for the past few months..  wanted to take it slow,  and still taking it slow.. :)
We completely redid my cosmetic dept at work and I still have the soreness and bruises to prove it..  bruises all over my body and my neck and shoulders killing me.. not sure what I did to re-injure it,  but it is painful..  lose the feeling in my arms and hands often throughout the day.. not fun.. praying that it gets better soon..  it is hard to function normally sometimes with it like this.. 
So, I came home and showered and headed to the kitchen.. my place of peace.. 

Chicken, Black Bean Tortilla Stack

Olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
1 lb ground chicken
1 lb black beans, cooked, drained and rinsed
1 pkt taco seasoning
1 pkg frozen corn
salsa
colby jack cheese, shredded
mozzarella cheese, shredded
flour tortillas, medium to large

In a large saute pan heat olive oil,  add the onion and cook for about 4 minutes,  add the garlic and cook 2 more minutes,  add the chicken and cook until done.. add the black beans and the taco seasoning.  add a little water and stir..  add the corn and some salsa and stir well..  let simmer for about 10 minutes..
In a pie place pour a little salsa on the bottom,  top with a tortilla,  put 1/3 of the chicken and black bean mixture on top,  top with some colby jack cheese,  keep layering and end with a tortilla, salsa and the mozzarella cheese.  put in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes..  can be prepared up to baking and wrapped in foil and frozen,  just thaw overnight in the fridge and bake for about 30 minutes..

Spanish Rice

Olive Oil
1/2 chopped onion
2 cloves garlic
1 c rice
1 c salsa
1 c water

In a medium saucepan heat oil,  add the onion and cook about 4 minutes,  add the garlic and cook another 2 minutes.. add the rice and cook until a light brown, stirring often.. add the water and salsa, cover and cook for about 20 minutes over medium heat.. stirring often.. fluff with a fork before serving

Is It Spring Yet!!! (Mexican Cornbread Casserole)

I don't know what it is about this weather but I am so over it..  it isn't really cold enough to say it is winter and it isn't warm enough to be spring..  I am just ready for spring..  I am just ready to plant some roses, lavender, lilies and other pretty flowers..  I am also ready to try my hand at growing some vegetables.. 
Over the past week and a half I have been experiencing ulcer flare-ups..  so awful,  trying to work retail and remain stress free is difficult at best..  but I have been working on relaxing..  cooking relaxes me,  but I haven't been doing that much,  but I plan on doing it more..  trying to cook great meals for the least amount of money possible..  money can get tight and I am not really a coupon person,  but I am going to start clipping ones that I can actually use..  I plan on doing better..  it is going to be a challenge to see how little I can spend to feed us for a month..  :) 
For dinner tonight I decided to make Mexican Cornbread Casserole,  I have been craving Mexican Cornbread for a while..  :) 

Mexican Cornbread Casserole

Olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 bell peppers, green and another color, chopped
garlic, minced
1 lb ground beef
8 oz cheddar cheese, shredded
2 1/2 c cornmeal
3 tbsp sugar
2 eggs
1 can cream corn
1 can whole kernal corn, drained
pickled jalapenos
milk
4 oz pepper jack cheese, shredded

In a large saute pan heat oil,  add the onions and peppers,  cook for about 5 minutes, add the garlic and cook another minute,  add the ground beef and cook until done.. 
While that is cooking put the cornmeal and sugar in a bowl,  add the eggs, cream corn and whole kernal corn.. mix well and add the pickled jalapenos and some milk,  stir and keep adding milk until the right consistency.. about 1 1/2 c..  add the pepper jack cheese and stir well..  Put the meat mixture in a 9x13 dish,  cover with 4 oz the shredded cheddar cheese and then pour the cornbread mixture over.  Bake in a 375 degree preheated oven for 15 minutes,  then sprinkle the rest of the cheddar cheese on top and return to the oven and cook another 10 to 15 minutes or until done in the middle..  Serve with a green salad.

Mondays can be good!!!! (Maple Rum Glazed Chicken, Chicken Flavored Rice)

What a wonderful Monday,  even though it rained most of the day..  My Monday was awesome..  I got so much done today..  I love when I can see what I have done..  Cosmetics tomorrow..  Yay!!  I haven't been over there for a week,  I am sure it is a mess..  will be nice to get it back together too..  :)  I wasn't going to cook dinner tonight,  was just going to have tomato soup and grilled cheese,  but the girls convinced me to cook,  and I am glad that I did..  I love trying new recipes..  I love being in the kitchen,  especially when I have someone to talk to.. and my Boo kept me company..
 

Maple Rum Glazed Chicken

Olive Oil
3 chicken breast,  sliced in half to thin out
3 green onions, chopped
8 oz sliced mushrooms
3 Tbsp Rum
1 c salsa or picante sauce
1/4 c maple syrup

In a large saucepan heat oil,  when it is hot add the chicken,  cook about 5 minutes on each side until brown,  add the onions and mushrooms,  stir around and then add the rum.  cook 2 minutes,  add the picante sauce and maple syrup..  stir and then let cook about 15 to 20 minutes until chicken is done,  turning after 10 minutes..

Chicken Flavored Rice

Olive oil
1 c rice
4 tbsp butter
2 c chicken broth
salt and pepper
paprika
garlic powder
Garlic and herb seasoning

In a saucepan heat oil over medium heat,  add the rice and cook until browned,  add the butter and melt completely,  add the chicken broth and seasonings,  stir well, cover and cook about 25 minutes over medium heat,  check after 15 and stir if needed..

Guest Bloggers (Cheeseburger Mac) (Saundra and Rebekah)

Today, Mom is at work... and lucky us... she left her computer open... so today everyone gets to learn how to make Cheeseburger Mac...

Now normally I'm not allowed in the kitchen, but today I made an exception

So the things you are going to need are

Some ground beef, don't ask me how much, I'm not sure.. I just dumped some into a pan...

Then you leave it alone for a few minutes and it should at some point in the future look like

At this point stop cooking the meat, it is now done

Now for the complicated part

Put some water in a pan like so

Put it on the stove and turn the eye on high.. (that rhymes)

wait until it boils to then add the Macaroni Like so


then stir it so the Macaroni doesn't get stuck to the bottom

Like so

Then you let it cook for about 10ish minutes

and while the Mac is cooking prepare your other ingredients

then you strain the macaroni

Like so

Then you want to add Milk,Butter and the Cheese sauce packets

Then you want to stir it until everything is combined

Like so

Then you want to go ahead and add the ground beef that we prepared

Like sooo

Then you mix it all together until you get

This

Yummy!

I hope you all have a awesome night

Love,
Saundra and Rebekah!!

Baby, It's Cold Outside!!! (Hot Chocolate)

Since it is cold out and we have a beautiful fire going in the fireplace I was craving Hot Chocolate.. so I wandered into the kitchen and started making Hot Chocolate.. 

Hot Chocolate

1 c sugar
1/3 c cocoa
4 c milk
1 tsp vanilla

In a large saucepan mix the sugar and cocoa,  slowly add the milk, stirring as you are pouring,  heat over medium heat until hot.. don't bring to a boil,  just heat until it is steaming..  turn the heat off and add the vanilla..   serve in mugs with whipped cream or marshmallows.. 

Wonderful Wednesday!!! (Chicken and Dumplings)

What a wonderful day I have had..  I love my days off,  but they go by so fast,  so much faster than days that I have to work..  :)  My Chihuahua Dylan is slowly improving with the vitamin/aspirin/homemade food/snack regime that I have her on.. she has gained strength back and I am very happy about that.. she means so very much to me...
So at work we have an open top dumpster for things that we can't put in the compactor..  the Planogram team are re-setting Infant hardlines(furniture, diapers, food, formula, diapers, etc) with all the new product this week and have been putting the old displays in the opentop out back..  Monday night someone came and stole all this infant furniture that isn't meant to be used for babies.. so please please please,  if something seems to good to be true,  price wise,  don't buy it.. your baby isn't worth saving a few bucks on furniture.. all of the displays have a label sewn into them that says for display only,  because they are not built to safety specs...
I have been craving Chicken and Dumplings for a while now and finally decided to make them today since I had the time,  and my method takes a few hours..  I like making them like my sweet Mama used to make them..  I miss her... doesn't seem like she has been gone for over 12 years..  and that 20 years ago she was diagnosed with Cancer..  you blink and time passes you by..  I am learning again to slow down and enjoy what God has given me.. What He has given the girls and I.. He has been so good to us..  :)
It's funny how words from another can affect you..  for 23 years I heard a lot of negative things directed towards me..  mean, nasty, negative words..  those words messed with my brain,  they messed up how I am wired.. I feel like if I am not constantly moving, doing something productive then I am worthless..  I know that it isn't true,  but 23 years is a long time..  and I am trying to rewire my brain to believe that a little down time in my life is in fact good for me..  and it is taking time,  I didn't get this way over night,  and I am not going undo everything over night either..  took me a while to figure that one out.. 

Chicken and Dumplings

1 whole chicken, rinsed out and patted dry
water
salt and pepper
garlic powder
paprika
Garlic and Herb Mrs Dash

In a large Stock place cleaned chicken,  cover with cold water and add seasonings.. cover with a lid and bring to a boil,  reduce heat and simmer over medium low heat for about 2 to 3 hours,  remove chicken and strain the broth into a large bowl..

olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 oz mushrooms, sliced

put olive oil in the bottom of the stock pot.. heat and add onion, carrots and cook for 5 minutes,  add the garlic and mushrooms..  cook another 2 minutes.. add the broth back to the pan, remove the chicken from the bones and shred,  add to the broth,  heat over a medium heat..

2 1/2 c self rising flour
1 1/2 stick butter, softened
milk

Put the flour into a bowl and cut the butter in with a fork.. add milk until a soft dough forms..  turn out onto a floured surface and knead a couple times,  roll out flat and cut into 1 inch ribbons,  cut the ribbons crosswise into 1 inch pieces..  Bring the broth to a boil and drop the cut dough in pushing down until all the dough is in the broth,  reduce the heat and simmer half covered for about half an hour until the dumplings are cooked through..  Serve with a green leafy salad.. 

Recipes from Saturday!! (Vegetable Beef Soup, Cornbread, Banana Pudding)

I spent my day Saturday doing what I love to do the most,  cooking..  I got up early and took BooBear to work and came home, watched the birds for a little while and then went to the store..  Got a ton of fresh vege's and other stuff and came home and started dinner..  Vegetable Beef Soup,  which is so good when it cooks all day..  I also started cooking the chicken for the dogs food.. That will be a different post one day!!!

Vegetable Beef Soup

olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz sliced mushrooms
1 lb ground beef
worcestershire sauce
1 container beef stock
64 oz water
4 beef bouillon cubes
1 large can petite diced tomatoes
3 carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces
3 potatoes cut into cubes
1 pkg frozen mixed vegetables
salt and pepper
steak seasoning
cajun seasoning
garlic powder
paprika

In a large stockpot heat the oil,  add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes,  add the garlic and mushrooms,  cook for another 3 to 5 minute,  add the beef and cook until done,  add about 1/2 c worcestershire sauce..  add the beef broth, water, bouillon cubes, tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, mixed veges and seasoning.. bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for as long as you need..  I cooked mine all day and it was so good..  serve with cornbread..

My mama's cast iron skillet! It makes the best cornbread

Cornbread

3 c cornmeal mix
2 eggs
2 tbsp olive oil
1 to 1 1/2 c milk
2 tbsp sugar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees..  grease a 9inch pan and set aside.  Mix all ingredients together.  pour into prepared pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. until cooked through and brown on top

 

Banana Pudding

2 bananas
2 pkgs vanilla wafers
1 1/2  to 2 c sugar
3/4 c flour
3 eggs
6 to 8 c milk
1 tbsp vanilla

In a casserole dish layer sliced bananas an vanilla wafers until all gone. 
In a saucepan mix the sugar an flour,  add the eggs an stir well..  put over medium heat and slowly add the milk.  stir as you are adding the milk,  stir constantly until the pudding mixture comes to a boil and thickens,  add the vanilla an then pour over the bananas and vanilla wafers..