Lime Cilantro Slaw (for taco's)

  If your looking for an easy topping for chicken taco's, here is a great spring/summer recipe. Just mix all these ingredients together, sprinkle a little feta cheese, and serve over shredded fajita chicken! That's it, it may look fancy but, nope that's all.

1 lime zested

2 tsp fresh lime juice

1/2 tsp rice vinegar or white wine vinegar

1/2 tsp olive oil

1 tbl garlic powder

3 tsp white sugar

4 tbl fresh cilantro

3 tbl chopped red onion

4 cups shredded green cabbage 

Tomato Basil Tart

This is not a great pic, I just snapped a quick one on my phone on the way out the door. This tomato tart is a great dish to take to a brunch pot lock, teacher luncheon, or just anywhere you need a delicious side. It's pretty and simple!

• Pie Crust, store bought
• 1 1/2 C shredded Mozzarella
• 4 medium tomatoes, sliced
• 1/4 C pesto
• 1/2 C mayo
• 1/4 C shredded Parmesan cheese
• fresh basil for garnish
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• salt/pepper

Instructions

• Bake pie crust according to directions on crust.
• Remove from oven and sprinkle 1/2 cup Mozzarella on bottom. Let cool.
• While crust is cooling, cut tomatoes into slices (about 1/4" thick or thicker if preferred) and drain on paper towel.
• Spread layer of pesto over cheese.
• Place tomatoes over pesto layer.
• Combine mayo, Parmesan, pepper/salt, garlic powder and remaining Mozzarella and spread on top.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes or until browned.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Here is a quick recipe for super yummy chocolate cookies with Resse's minis. These went so fast in my house, I was lucky to get a picture!

• 1 box any flavor Duncan Hines cake mix
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup oil

1. Add 1/2 cup oil and two eggs to one box of cake mix. Add chips, nuts, and flavorings if desired (or a bag of Resse's minis).
2. Drop by teaspoonfuls on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Cucumber Couscous Salad

Resolution #1......make eating at home as easy as eating "fast food"

I'm starting the new year eating fresh and healthy, which really means food prep. This is a great salad that I can make on Monday and eat for lunch for a few days. If it's easy and on hand, I will be more opt to eat it rather than run through a "fast food" restaurant.

Here's the recipe:

• 2 tablespoons good quality olive oil
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 large tomato, chopped small
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 1 green/red/or yellow bell pepper, diced
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 1 cup shaved or shredded fresh Parmesan cheese 
• 1 1/2 cups prepared couscous
• 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon to taste
• fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice and garlic powder to form dressing. In a large bowl, toss together the tomato, cucumber, pepper, green onions and cooked couscous. Add fresh parsley and dressing, tossing to combine well.
Season well salt and a bit of fresh cracked black pepper. Adjust seasonings to taste.

**** Sometimes I add any extra veggies that I have in the fridge. Tomatoes, carrots, zucchini...whatever you like.

The Easiest Pear Crisp you ever made.....

This is not a great picture, but this is a great dessert!!! I made it for Christmas Eve, and will be making it again for other occasions. It was so easy to prepare, and delicious.

1 package of oatmeal cookie mix (I found it in a package, next to the cake mix)
1 stick of salted butter room tempeature
6 to 8 fresh pears
1/2 cup sugar

Wash and slice your pears and place in a shallow baking dish. Sprinkle with sugar and set aside. Mix cookie mix with butter until crumbled. Sprinkle mix over pears and bake on 350 for 30 min. That's it!! So easy and so good!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

This is one of those recipes that I just came up with. We have a local restaurant in our town that has the BEST tortilla soup I have ever had. It really had me stumped though, because it seems so simple. Just chicken and broth of corn and cilantro, but getting that flavor wasn't easy. This recipe almost gets it.

This is what I came  up with, and although it; is exact, it's pretty close.

3 chicken Breast
2 cans of diced green chili's
1 package of fajita seasoning
2 boxes of chicken broth
2 to 3 cups of frozen corn (we like alot)
3 tablespoons garlic powder
Salt to your taste

1 bunch cilantro, a handful of cheese (white american),and tortilla chips for garnishing

Put the 3 chicken breast in the slow cooker for 4 hours on high, with 1 box of chicken broth. Once the chicken in cooked shred it and add all other ingredients (except the garnish). Wait about an hour for it to warm back up, top each bowl with cilantro and chips, and serve.

Creamy Chicken and Rice

This is an easy comfort food recipe for a cold day. I bought big rolls at the grocery store and cut the center out to make a bread bowl, and it made it even yummier!

1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped (optional)
1 celery rib, chopped 1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil
2 teaspoon minced garlic or 3 tablespoon garlic powder
Two cans chicken broth
3/4 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons All Purpose Gold Medal® Flour
3 cups heavy whipping cream
 2 cups chopped, cooked chicken
1 cup cooked  rice (I make it separate, then add to the soup)

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion, carrot, celery. Stir and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until slightly tender. Stir in the garlic and cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the broth, seasoning, and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and cream until smooth. Stir it into the soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 3 to 4 minutes, until thickened. Stir in the chicken and rice and heat through until the soup is creamy. If the soup thickens too much upon cooking or standing, it's okay to stir in a little extra chicken broth. I  throw it all in the crock pot to on low to keep it warm.