Cilantro-Lime Chicken Fajita Pizza with Grilled Onions

 

I know this is such a cheater way of updating my food blog, but this accidental leftover turned AMAZING and I HAD to share!!!  These Cilantro-lime chicken fajitas that I posted a while back have been a "go to" fave for our family.  It makes a ton and we always have leftover.  So a few nights back I decided why not make it a pizza???  I LOVE pizza and I'm pretty sure you can make almost anything into one.  So here we go in a few super EASY steps....



1. Use 1-2 cups of leftover fajitas
2. Use 1/4-1/2 cup salsa
3. Use your all time favorite pizza dough...we prefer the one below.  Although as a BUSY Mom of four littles Trader Joes prepared dough & herbed dough are TOTALLY acceptable and SUPER AMAZING!
4. Top with Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mozzarella   :)

Assembly: Pizza dough (follow pizza dough directions below), top with some salsa in place of where your red sauce would be, spread fajita leftovers evenly, and then lightly top with your cheese of choice!  EASY!!! Bake until golden brown and all bubbly!  We also love to slide the pizza off the pan right onto the oven rack for a few minutes to get a crispier crust just at the last 5 minutes or so.  Oh and if you ever grill your pizzas then this would be AMAZING too!  Sadly our grill is out of commission at this time or that would be our preferred method!  Enjoy!!!  Let me know if you give it a shot and what you think.  Our family LOVED it!  I think next time I'll top it with some sliced jalapenos for a little kick!  Happy cooking!!!

Great Pizza Dough

Makes enough dough for 2 pizza's

5c. flour

2tsp salt

2c. warm water

2 pkg's of active dry yeast

2 tbsp. sugar

Mix dry ingredients, then add water (slowly while mixing just a little...don't over mix) Cover with a clean towel and set in a warm place, Let rise 1 hour. punch down dough. Let rise again 1 hour. Divide into two large balls. Roll out on flowered surface. bake at about 400-450* for 20-25 minutes after putting toppings on. (I like to pre-bake the dough about 5-7 minutes without toppings on and then add the sauce and topping and finish baking. It's much crispier and is always cooked through. I can't stand a doughy pizza!)

Main Dish: Creamy Swedish Meatballs

Creamy Swedish Meatballs

So, I am addicted to pinterest.com.  Have you been on there yet?  There is so much eye candy from crafts, fashion, tips, organization, to recipes and MORE! I adapted a recipe I found on pinterest last night and our family is in LOVE!  The homemade Swedish meatballs are super easy to throw together and the sauce is so creamy...(I could seriously get up right now and warm myself up another bowl!!!)  Also, my son had 3RDS!!!  All the kids loved this recipe as well, so it was super family friendly..YAY!  I sure hope you get a chance to make this, It's a keeper for sure!  When my sweet Hubby find a favorite recipe he is sure to ask me to put this in our "favorites" file, and this one made it in!  Btw, please forgive my photo skills, I didn't think to take a picture until last minute and snapped it with my phone.  :)  Happy Cooking!!!


Creamy Swedish Meatballs


•2 tsp olive oil


•1 small sweet onion, minced


•1 1/2 clove garlic, minced


•1 celery stalk, minced


•1/4 cup minced parsley


•1 lb Ground beef


•1 egg


•1/4 cup Plain breadcrumbs


•salt and pepper to taste


•1 tsp allspice


•4 cups reduced sodium beef stock


•8 oz cream cheese, softened

•2 Tbsp cornstarch



•Season salt, to taste


•1/2 tsp garlic powder




Pre heat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large deep saute pan, heat oil on medium heat, add onions, celery and garlic; sauté until onions are translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Add parsley and cook until soft, about 1-2 more minutes. Let cool a few minutes. In a large bowl combine beef, egg, onion mixture, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper and allspice. Mix well and form meatballs with your hands 1/8 cup each (fill 1/4 cup then divide the meat in half).  Place on greased cookie sheet & bake for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through.  Place on paper towel to drain any other grease and set aside.


Add beef stock to the pan and bring to a low boil; add cream cheese (cut up in chunks) and bring to a boil stirring continually until the cream cheese has melted down into the broth.  In a separate little bowl put 2 Tbsp corn starch and just enough cold water to make a paste.  Add to cream sauce and  continue to stir while at a low boil until thickened.  Taste sauce and add 1/2 tsp garlic powder & season salt to your taste. Place meatballs into the cream sauce and turn your heat down to low. Garnish with parsley and serve over rice or egg noodles or with toothpicks if you want to set these out as an appetizer.  Enjoy!

Food Ideas- Cinnamon Ornaments

I got this recipe from a friend years back. When Christmas comes around I LOVE making these with the kids. They make adorable gift tags, ornaments and make your house smell AMAZING!!! I wanted to be sure to get this recipe up soon so you could make plans to make these adorable Cinnamon ornaments with your little angels this year for the holidays! :) (Btw, these are NOT to be eaten!)


Cinnamon Ornaments


1 C applesauce (non-sweetened)
3/4 C ground cinnamon
1 T ground allspice
1 T ground nutmeg
2 T ground cloves
McDonald size straw
Ribbon for adorning


Mix all the ingredients well and place on to a smooth surface and knead until all incorporated and the mixture acts like play dough. Sprinkle cinnamon if you need to use it like flour when making sugar cookies. Roll out dough into 1/4 inch thick slab and cut out shapes using cookie cutters or shape like play dough.


Use a straw (the McDonald's ones or that size works well) or something to make a hole for ribbon or string. Allow ornaments to dry separately on cardboard for 5-7 days. A dehydrator works well and they are ready overnight. Do not put in the oven, it cracks. Adorn with ribbon and hang. Makes great tags for a gift if you use a Sharpie. You can also use glue and glitter to give it some extra bling (decorate as you would sugar cookies)!  I love using the craft glitter glue and top with initials!


For those of you who have access to Winco or other bulk spice purchasing - it's a really economical little something to give at Christmas.

Main Dish- Chicken Soup with Herb Dumplings

Chicken Soup with Herb Dumplings

So, when I think of Chicken & dumplings I think of the ultimate comfort food.  I actually didn't grow up on it, but after I was married and after many trial and error, I've finally come up with our very own and favorite Chicken & dumpling recipe.  It seems that a lot of the different recipes I have tried over the years have different ideas of what a dumpling truly is.  According to Wikipedia, Dumplings are cooked balls of dough. Some of the recipes I have had "dumplings" in the name but were more like thick noodles.  This dumpling recipe below is an actual Mennonite recipe and we have loved it!  They ARE little clouds of heaven floating around in golden broth.  Mmmmm.... :)  I hope you love this recipe as much as we do!


Chicken soup:



6-8 cups water


Season salt


Pepper

1 tbsp Thyme


Chicken bullion (I use the loose stuff, not cubes & just add to my taste)


Turmeric (just a pinch)


2-3 chicken breasts


1 med sweet onion, chopped


1 ½ c. Celery heart & stalk, sliced


2 large carrots, grated


2 bay leafs


2 tsp butter


2 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil


¼ cup Heavy cream


-Boil chicken breasts, seasonings, & bullion in 6-8 cups water. Remove chicken when cooked through reserving cooking liquid in pot. Shred chicken and add back to pot. Saute’ celery, onion, carrots, & bay leaf in 2 tbsp oil/2 tbsp butter mix with lid on, stirring and cooking through until veggies are soft. Add cream to soup pot along with sauteed veggies, taste to be sure seasonings are to your liking, adjust as needed. Bring soup to a boil, then turn down and simmer for 15-20 minutes; prepare dumplings (directions below) and drop into low boiling soup by spoonful’s. Turn down to med-low or low boil and cover for 18 minutes to cook dumplings. Remove bay leafs, serve & Enjoy!

Dumplings:

2 c. flour


1 tsp salt


4 tsp baking powder


2 tbsp parsley


1 egg


2 tbsp melted butter


2/3 c. milk


Sift first 4 ingredients into bowl, then mix in dried parsley, then combine remaining ingredients and stir in quickly with a wooden spoon until smooth. Drop by spoon evenly around boiling soup. Cover tightly and simmer 18 minutes until done…no peeking, keep the lid on! YUM!!!

 



Side Dish- Slow Cooker Refried Beans

Slow Cooker Refried Beans

 

Hola amigos!!!  Mexican dishes must be one of my absolute FAVES.  I would always have taco/burrito night and buy a few cans of refried beans to go along with the meal.  I have tried my hand with dried beans before with little to no luck.  They never seemed to work out for me, but when I saw this EASY slow cooker recipe for refired beans I figured why not!?  Let me tell you, these we full proof!  They were so simple and sooooo satisfying.  I LOVE knowing exactly what went into my food and they really taste incredible!  I hope you take the time to give this a try.  I have made this MANY times since then and I'm never buying canned refried beans again!

Slow Cooker Refried Beans

Adapted from http://www.100daysofrealfood.com

Ingredients



• 1 onion, peeled and halved


• 2 cups dry pinto beans, rinsed


• 1 fresh jalapeno or other hot pepper, seeded and chopped


• 2 cloves garlic, minced


• ¾ teaspoons salt


• ½ teaspoon black pepper


• 1 tbsp cumin (sometimes I like a little more)


• 6 cups water


Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.  (This pic is missing the garlic & water...oops)

2. Cook on high for 7- 8 hours. Drain the excess liquid & reserve.   

3. Using the immersion blender, add back liquid a little at a time and blend until you reach your desired consistency.  Be sure to taste and add more cumin, salt or pepper to your taste!

That's it!  Easy peasy slow cooker refried beans....they are AMAZING!!!  If you don't own an immersion blender you can always use a potato masher or regular blender to break down your beans.  These immersion blenders are pretty amazing though, I use mine to make, baby food, smoothies, Homemade tomato basil soup, cheddar broccoli and many more as well!  :)  Enjoy!!!

Easy Chicken Spaghetti

A sweet friend loaned me her Pioneer Woman Cookbook (Which I NEED to give back hehehe) and I found this delicious recipe and LOVE IT!  It's perfect because I can put it together earlier in the day, and then just pop it in the oven about 45 minutes before my Hubby gets home & there's dinner.  The boys devoured this up and I really liked it as well.  This would also be a wonderful meal to take to someone in need.  :)  PW's recipe is all from scratch and starts with a whole fryer chicken that you boil and simmer for 25 minutes.  With 3 kids under 3 1/2 there are just times I can't be in the kitchen for that long...it's just the season I am in.  I have to nurse, clean and change a million diapers in there some where too!  :)  So I hope you like my easy spin off of her amazing recipe!  If you DO have the time to make it her way then GO FOR IT!!!  It will taste amazing! 

Easy Chicken Spaghetti
Adapted from: The Pioneer Woman

1 lb. Spaghetti noodles
2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or chopped
2 cups chicken broth
1 (4oz) Jar diced pimientos, diced  (These are just roasted red peppers that have been canned or bottled in liquid)
2 tsp olive oil
1 sweet onion
1/4 cup finely diced green bell pepper
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
2 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese, divided
1 tsp seasoned salt  (I use Lantana of Texas all purpose seasoning)
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 to 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, to taste

Directions:
Pre heat oven to 350 degrees.  Bring a pot of salted water to boil; break spaghetti noodles in half and add spaghetti noodles to pot.  boil for 8 minutes.  Drain spaghetti and your jar of pimientos and set aside.

Then finely dice the onion and bell pepper.  Heat a medium pan on the stove with 2 tsp of olive oil; saute the onion and bell pepper till soft, but not translucent.  (They will still cook more in the oven)  Set aside.

In a large bowl place the cooked spaghetti noodles, cream of mushroom soup, 2 cups of cheddar cheese, the sauteed onion, bell pepper, drained pimientos, and seasonings.  Finally add the chicken and chicken broth; stir together well, taste to check the seasonings.  If you like more spice add more cayenne pepper!

Pour the mixture into a 9 x 13 baking dish; top with the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese.  Bake for 35-45 minutes, until bubbly.  ENJOY!

12 NEW THINGS!

I was over at one of my favorite blogs and saw that Sara Mae was doing a 12 new things in 12 months challenge!  I am ALWAYS up for a challenge and was REALLY excited about trying/learning 12(ish) new things that I have NEVER done before!  Since Morgan is due to arrive in November I won't be starting my "12 new things" until December!  (A little behind...since they started in AUGUST...but better late then NEVER!!!)  But I am REALLY excited about my 12 and I put a LOT of thought into what I might accomplish with the Lords help!  Here they are...

December: Make homemade Cinnamon Ornaments with the boys & hang them on the tree!

January: Learn how to run by following this couch to 5K training schedule found here. (I have NEVER been a runner...but figure now is a good time to start & it wouldn' t hurt with getting some of that baby weight off!  Hehehe)

February: Learn how to make a digital photo book online through this company!

March: Actually RUN this 5K...the date is set!!!!  (I have never ran anything more than 2 miles and that was a WHILE ago!)  :)

April: Learn how to sew my daughter a piece of clothing...this is what I had in mind!

May: Learn to makeTiffany's Homemade Fresh Tortillas with all the works for Cinco De Mayo!!!

June:  Learn to make my own laundry detergent using Mrs. Duggar's recipe!

July: Learn how to make these ADORABLE Distressed picture canvasses of the kids for my BARE bedroom walls.  (Placement may be subject to change depending on how well they turn out!  ;o)

August: Implement a morning devotion for the kids...I liked this Read & Share DVD Bible!

September: Taking a cooking class with my Hubby or a friend at Sur La Table or Hipcooks and learn some new techniques!

October: Go to a College football game with my Husband!  (Not really learning a skill here...but we have never been & we LOVE date night & football!!!)

November: Learn to sew my birthday girl a black apple doll!

I would love to hear if you took up on this challenge...let me know by leaving a comment and a link to your 12 new things!  I will be updating each month on how terrible or how well my challenge turned out for the month!  How FUN!!!  :)