Chicken Chimichangas

Ingredients:
1 ½ cups chicken broth
1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
½ cup red enchilada sauce
1 ½ onion (diced, divided)
6 (12 inch) flour tortillas
4 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
1 pound Monterey jack cheese (shredded)
4 cups refried beans or black beans
¼ cup vegetable oil
Avocado topping-
3 avocados (peeled and pitted)
½ cup cilantro (finely chopped)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 green onions (diced)
¼ cup jalapeno chile peppers
1 tomato (diced)
2 cups shredded lettuce
1 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Step 1: In a medium saucepan combine chicken broth, rice, enchilada sauce, and diced onion. Bring to a boil, and reduce heat to low and let it simmer for about 20 minutes or until the rice is tender. Stir in shredded cooked chicken and mix well.
Step 2: Heat refried beans in a saucepan over low heat until they stir easily. Heat tortillas in a large skillet or in the microwave so that they fold easily.
Step 3: Spoon equal amounts of refried beans onto each tortillas followed by equal amounts of the chicken/rice mixture, Monterey jack cheese, and black olives. Roll up the tortillas¸while tucking in the sides. Secure the wrapped tortillas with a toothpick.

Step 4: Spray entire wrapped tortilla with cooking spray.  Heat on griddle, or pan.  Brown all sides.
Step 5: To make guacamole- in a medium bowl mash together avocados and lemon juice. Stir in cilantro, green onions, jalapeño peppers, and tomatoes. Top chimichangas with cheddar cheese, guacamole and sour cream.
(Makes 6 Servings)

Crispy Southwest Chicken Wraps

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked rice, warm or at room temperature
• 1 cup cooked, shredded chicken (or other leftover meat, like shredded pork or beef)
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 green onion, finely sliced (white and green parts)
• 1/2 red or green pepper, diced
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• juice of 1 lime
• 1/2 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
• 2 cups shredded cheese (I use a combination of Monterey jack and sharp cheddar)
• Sour cream (optional)
• 6 burrito-sized flour tortillas

Directions

1. Mix rice together with chili powder, cumin and garlic salt. Add remaining ingredients except for cheese and sour cream. Sprinkle cheese over tortillas, leaving 1/2-inch border around edges, then arrange chicken and rice mixture down the center of each tortilla. (Optional: I like to dollop little bits of sour cream over the cheese before arranging chicken and rice mixture down the center – it makes the wraps delightfully creamy.) Roll stuffed tortillas, leaving edges open and slightly flatten the wraps with the palm of your hand. Spray seam-side of the wrap lightly with cooking spray.
2. Heat a large non-stick skillet (or griddle) over medium heat for 1 minute. Arrange wraps, seam-side down, in pan or griddle and cook until golden brown and crisp, about 2-3 minutes per side. Cooking them seam-side down first helps seal the long edge so they don’t fall apart. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining wraps. Serve warm.

Courtesy of:  http://www.melskitchencafe.com/

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 small Onion, chopped

2-3 cloves of Garlic, minced

2 cups Chicken Stock

1 jar Salsa, whatever kind you like, I use my homemade

2-3 Chicken Breast, shredded, I boil it in water with some Knorr chicken bouillon and

Knorr

Tomato bouillon

1 can Sweet Corn

1 can Black Beans

Cumin and Chile Powder, you can also use a packet of Taco Seasoning instead

Lime

Salt

Pepper

Garnish with:

fresh diced Tomatoes

diced Avocado

Cilantro

Sour Cream

Kraft Fiesta Cheese Blend

Tortilla Chips, Yellow, White, or Blue Corn

Saute' onion and garlic in a few tablespoons of oil over medium heat. Add chicken stock and salsa. Add shredded chicken, corn and beans. Season to taste with salt, pepper, cumin, chile powder, and lime juice. Pour into bowls to serve and let your family or guests garnish how they like!

Crispy Southwest Chicken Wraps

1 cup cooked rice, warm or at room temperature
1 cup cooked, shredded chicken (or other leftover meat, like shredded pork or beef)
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 green onion, finely sliced (white and green parts)
1/2 red or green pepper, diced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
juice of 1 lime
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
2 cups shredded cheese (I use a combination of Monterey jack and sharp cheddar)
Sour cream (optional)
6 burrito-sized flour tortillas

Mix rice together with chili powder, cumin and garlic salt. Add remaining ingredients except for cheese and sour cream. Sprinkle cheese over tortillas, leaving 1/2-inch border around edges, then arrange chicken and rice mixture down the center of each tortilla. (Optional: I like to dollop little bits of sour cream over the cheese before arranging chicken and rice mixture down the center – it makes the wraps delightfully creamy.) Roll stuffed tortillas, leaving edges open and slightly flatten the wraps with the palm of your hand. Spray seam-side of the wrap lightly with cooking spray.
Heat a large non-stick skillet (or griddle) over medium heat for 1 minute. Arrange wraps, seam-side down, in pan or griddle and cook until golden brown and crisp, about 2-3 minutes per side. Cooking them seam-side down first helps seal the long edge so they don’t fall apart. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining wraps. Serve warm.

Recipe Source: original recipe from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe

Note: great freezer meal.  Make filling ahead and freeze.  Makes fun quick lunches.  We like to serve with Costco bake-yourself tortillas.

Black Bean Brownies

Black Bean Brownies (Gluten-free)

Ingredients:

• 1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added black beans, drained and rinsed (I only had a regular can on hand so I left out the salt)
• 3 large eggs 
• 1/3 cup melted butter 
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder 
• 1/8 teaspoon salt (if using no-salt-added black beans)
• 2 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla extract 
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar 
• 1/2 cup gluten-free semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used mini, added some to batter and sprinkled some on top).
• optional: 1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts (I omitted this)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. 

Butter or grease an 8-inch baking pan. Place the black beans, eggs, melted butter, cocoa powder, salt, vanilla extract and sugar in the bowl of a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Remove the blade and gently stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts. Transfer mixture to the prepared pan. Bake the brownies for 30 to 35 minutes, or until just set in the center. Cool before cutting into squares. 

Notes:

I started making these when some of my young women in Orem had Celiac's and could not have flour. This has a different consistency than usual brownies (denser) but I think are quite tasty! Even though I can tolerate gluten just fine, I like the idea of having extra nutrients and protein from the black beans in there! Definitely a nice option for those who cannot tolerate gluten. 

Recipe from wholefoods.com

Black Bean "Mud" Soup

Black Bean "Mud" Soup

Ingredients:

• 4 large cloves garlic, roughly chopped
• 3/4 C diced carrots (about 2 med carrots)
• 3/4 C diced celery (about 2 ribs)
• 1 C diced onion (about 1 sm-med onion)
• 2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 3.5oz can green chilies
• 2 cans low-sodium beef broth (I make my own from bullion, about 4 cups)
• 1 t kosher salt
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 t chili powder
• 1/4 t cumin
• 1/2 t dry oregano leaves
• 1 bay leaf
• Optional Toppings: sour cream, tortilla chips, grated cheese, chopped cilantro,  avocados, lime, etc.

Directions:

Place all ingredients (except toppings) in crockpot and cook on High for about 4-6 hours or on low 6-8 hours. Remove bay leaf. 

Place soup in a blender. (You could use an immersion blender in place of this step). Place lid on blender, but remove the stopper in the lid to let heat escape. Place a paper towel over the hole to avoid splatters. 

Puree soup until completely smooth.  Optionally you could pulse until a semi-chunky soup is achieved. Squeeze in the juice from one lime and pulse to combine.

Ladle into bowls and top with desired toppings. Serve with extra lime wedges.  Makes about 8 C soup.

Notes:

My boys have termed this "Mud" soup and they all love it. The ingredients are very simple and usually available from what I have on hand and I love the taste. It is filling and healthy! You can also make it on the stovetop (see link below where I got the recipe) but I love throwing everything in the crockpot. 

Recipe adapted (only directions) and picture from: http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/01/black-bean-soup/