Cottage Cheese Chicken Enchiladas

These enchiladas are delicious. I probably make them every other week because we like them so much. Make them as spicy or as mild as you like. I usually use mild taco seasoning and medium enchilada sauce. I also use low fat cottage cheese and sour cream. They still taste great.

Ingedients:

• 1 Tbs olive oil
• 2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (boiled, shredded)
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 can chopped green chili peppers (7 oz)
• 1 package taco seasoning
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 cups cottage cheese
• 1 tsp salt
• pinch of ground black pepper
• 12 tortillas (6 inch)
• 1 can enchilada sauce (10 0z)
• 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese
  

Directions:

1. Meat Mixture: heat oil in skillet over medium/high heat. Add chicken, onion, green chili peppers. Saute until brown. Then add taco seasoning and prepare as packet instructions direct.

2. Cheese Mixture: in large bowl, combine sour cream and cottage cheese. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Preheat oven to 350 F

4. Assemble: heat tortillas until warm. In each tortilla, spoon meat mixture, cheese mixture, and a bit of shredded cheese. Roll tortillas and place in lightly greased 9x13 inch casserole dish. Top with enchilada sauce and any remaining meat or cheese mixture.

5. Bake for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Margarita Spaghetti

This is one of our favorite recipes. If you like spaghetti, you will love this. It makes a lot of food, so I generally half the recipe. Two of us can't eat a pound of spaghetti. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb spaghetti
• 8 oz fresh mozzarella
• 1/4 cup Romano cheese
• Fresh basil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp garlic salt
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 Tbs butter
• 10 Roma tomatoes (finely chopped)
  

Directions:

1. cook spaghetti
2. In sauce pan, mix and let simmer olive oil, butter, garlic salt, Roma tomatoes, salt, pepper,
sugar
3. Chop basil
4. Cut up mozzarella
5. Gate Romano cheese
6. In large bowl, combine spaghetti, sauce, basil and cheese

Pumpkin Spice Doughnuts

So, I really don't fry things often because oil kind of itimidates me. It splatters all over, is hard to keep at a consistent temperature, and is easily combustable. However, this recipe is so totally easy and delicious that it is worth the risk! Happy fall and enjoy!

Whisk together in large bowl until frothy

- 1 egg

- 1 egg yolk

Add

- 1 cup pumpkin

- 1/2 c sugar

- 1/2 c buttermilk

- 1/4 c brown sugar

- 3 T melted butter

Stir until combined then stir in

- 4 tsp. baking powder

- 1 tsp. salt

- 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

- 1/2 tsp baking soda

Gradually fold in 3 cups of flour until a sticky dough forms. Cover in plastic wrap and freeze for 15 min. Meanwhile, heat 2 inches of oil to 370 degrees in an electric skillet or straight-sided pan over medium heat. Pat dough out on a well floured surface to 1/2 inch thick. Dip a biscuitt cutter or rim of a 3" wide glass in flour then cut out your doughnuts transferring to a floured baking sheet using a spatula that has been dusted in flour. ( I use a glass to cut out the main doughnut and then cut the hole out of the center with a sharp knife). Fry doughnuts and holes in batches in the oil until browned, about 3 minutes, turning once. Drain on paper towel and finish with sugar or glaze.

Apple Cider Glaze

-1/4 c apple cider
- pinch of salt

- 3 c powdered sugar

Heat cider and salt in small sauce pan until hot. Off heat stir in sugar
until smooth. Dip cooled doughnuts in glaze and let stand about 5 min.

Cinnamon Sugar

- 1 c sugar

- 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Mix sugar and cinnamon in a small paper bag. Toss donuts and holes while still hot.

Hostess Cupcakes

So this is a fun one to bake, especially if you have fond memories of Hostess cupcakes like I do! I actually saw this recipe in the Food Network Magazine, but I chickened out and changed it a little bit. Here is what I did:

Cake: {Because I am leery of making cakes from scratch!}

1 devils food chocolate cake mix

1 cup milk

4 eggs

1 small pkg instant chocolate pudding

1/2 cup sour cream

So mix the ingredients together and place into cupcake liners. This is a really thick batter, so don't be alarmed! Bake according to the box- careful not to overcook. Remove from oven and let cool completely

Filling:
4 tbs unsalted butter {room temp}

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

3 tbs heavy cream

1 cup marshmallow creme

Using a mixer, cream the butter until fluffy, beat in confectioners sugar. Add the vanilla and 1 tbs heavy cream, beat until smooth. Add remaining 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 2 Tbs heavy cream in batches, alternating after each addition. Bean in the marshmallow creme and set aside.

Spoon the filling into a pastry bag with a medium tip. Insert the tip into the center of each cupcake top. Fill the cupcake until it is heavier {this is tricky to know how much you put in, you may want to play with it a little bit}.

Ganache and Icing:

6 oz bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chopped

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 stick plus 1 tbs unsalted butter

2 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups powdered sugar

For the ganache:

Place chocolate in a stainless steel bowl. Heat the cream and 1 tbs butter until just boiling, then pour over the chocolate and let stand for 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth. Add 2 tsp vanilla and let stand until cool but still glossy and liquid. {note: this will firm up the longer it sits, you don't want it to be too runny, so wait until it has a little bit of thickness}. Take the filled cupcakes and dip the top of the cupcake into the ganache. Chill for at least 15 minutes.

For the Icing:
With a mixer beat the remaining 1 stick butter, 1/4 tsp vanilla, milk and powdered sugar until smooth. Spoon into a pasty bag and with a small tip, pipe onto the cupcakes to decorate.

Mo's Meatballs

I know that Meatballs are a strange thing, but I swear these are so delicious it is a must try. Thanks Kristen for the recipe! This makes quite a bit, so I halve the recipe for my little family

3 lbs ground beef
1 can evaporated milk
2 eggs
2 cups oatmeal-slow cook
2 tsp chili powder- you can omit this if you don't like a kick!
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt

Sauce:
4 c. ketchup
1 1/2 c brown sugar
4 Tbs liquid smoke
1 tsp garlic powder
1 cup finely chopped onions

So you will want to prepare the sauce first, saute the onions for a few minutes to help them tenderize, then add the other ingredients and let it simmer

While the sauce is simmering, combine the other ingredients and mix well. Add 1/2 cup sauce to the meat. Then form the meat into baseball {yeah you read that right, not golf ball- baseball} size balls. Bring the sauce to a boil then pour over the top. Cook at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Seriously, I know this seems like a man's meal, but they are FANTASTIC!

I think I may be giving away anceint chinese secrets here, but these are sooooooo good. Caramel, chocolate and goey. You can't go wrong! Click on the picture to see it larger and actually read the recipe!

Green Chicken Enchiladas

Shannon clued me into this recipe from Cook's Country {great magazine}. It is incredibly easy and very tasty, if you like cilantro

2 10 oz cans green enchilada sauce
1 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 rotisserie chicken, skin discarded, meat shredded into bite size pieces (approx 3 cups)
2 1/2 cups shredded Mexican cheese
Salt and Pepper
12 small corn tortillas

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat to 400 degrees. Use Pam on bottom of 9x13 baking dish

Puree enchilada sauce and 1 cup cilantro in a blender. Combine 1 cup enchilada sauce mixture, chicken and 1 1/2 cup cheese in a large bowl and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper

Wrap tortillas in a clean kitchen towel and microwave until pliable, 30 to 90 seconds. Top each tortilla with 1/4 cup chicken mixture and roll tightly. Arrange seam side down in baking dish. Spray lightly with cooking spray, then top with additional 1 cup enchilada sauce mixture and remaining cheese. Bake until cheese is melted and enchiladas are heated through, 15-2o minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cilantro and top with remaining sauce.