Chipotle Bean Burritos

This is another Cooking Light recipe.  I prefer black beans so I only use black beans in this recipe.  The great thing about this is you get the taste of refried beans without the fat.  Topped with lots of fresh ingredients these suckers are tasty!

• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained
• 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained
• 3 tablespoons refrigerated fresh salsa 
• 6 (10-inch) reduced-fat flour tortillas 
• 1 cup (4 ounces) preshredded reduced-fat 4-cheese Mexican blend cheese
• 1 1/2 cups chopped plum tomato (about 3)
• 1 1/2 cups shredded romaine lettuce 
• 6 tablespoons thinly sliced green onions
• 6 tablespoons light sour cream (I like to substitute non-fat plain greek yogurt..Matthew doesn't :)
• Other topping ideas: cilantro, radishes, lime juice, diced mango
• 
  
• Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add garlic to pan; cook 1 minute, stirring frequently. Stir in chile powder and salt; cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Stir in 1/3 cup water and beans; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in salsa. Partially mash bean mixture with a fork.
• 
  
• Warm tortillas according to package directions. Spoon about 1/3 cup bean mixture into center of each tortilla. Top each serving with about 2 1/2 tablespoons cheese, 1/4 cup tomato, 1/4 cup lettuce, 1 tablespoon onions, and 1 tablespoon sour cream; roll up.

Cheesy Chicken Tacos

This is a variation of a recipe that I learned when I was first married and living in Provo.  The portions I am listing will feed to so expand it as needed to feed your group.

1 large chicken breast, frozen
2 oz cream cheese
1/2 c salsa
Lettuce
Shredded cheese
Chopped tomatoes
Tortillas

Put chicken breast, cream cheese and salsa in crock pot and set to low for 6-7 hours.  Shred chicken.  Layer up the tacos with meat and toppings.

Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas

Yet another recipe for chicken enchiladas, but this one might be the winner.  The green chile sauce is a nice change from red enchilada sauce.  Published in Southern Living...meaning not authentic but still delicious!

5 T butter, divided
1 med onion, chopped
1 med-size red bell pepper, chopped
2 cups cooked chicken
3 (4oz) cans diced green chiles, divided
3 cups shredded colby-jack cheese blend, divided
8 (8-inch) flour tortillas
2 T flour
3/4 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup milk

Toppings:  fresh cilantro, tomatoes, avocados, lettuce

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Melt 2 Tbsp. butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add onion and bell pepper, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender.

2. Stir together onion mixture, chicken, 1 can diced green chiles, and 2 cups shredded cheese. Spoon a heaping 1/3 cupful chicken mixture on 1 end of each tortilla, and roll up. Arrange enchiladas, seam sides down, in a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish.

3. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, melt remaining 3 Tbsp. butter in a heavy saucepan over low heat; whisk in flour until smooth. Cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute. Gradually whisk in chicken broth and milk; cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, 3 to 4 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat, and stir in remaining 2 cans green chiles.

5. Remove enchiladas from oven. Pour green chile mixture over enchiladas. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese.

6. Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly. Serve with desired toppings.

Black Bean Soup and Tortillas

This recipe comes from the book Our Best Bites.  Delicioso!

1 T olive oil
3/4 c diced carrots
3/4 c diced celery
1 c diced onion
4 large cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1 (3.5oz) can diced green chilies
2 (15oz) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 t kosher salt
1/8 t back pepper
1/2 t chili powder
1/4 t cumin
1/2 t dry oregano leaves
1 lime juiced (I used the zest from 2 limes instead)
Optional toppings:  sour cream, tortilla chilps, shredded cheese, hot sauce, chopped cilantro

Heat olive oil in a large stockpot over medium heat.  Add carrots, celery, onion, and garlic and saute for 4-5 minutes.

Add the black beans, chilies and beef broth.  Stir to combine and then add the salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and bay leaf.  Simmer uncovered for about 20-25 minutes or until carrots are tender.  Remove from heat.  Remove bay leaf from soup.

Transfer the soup to a blender.  Place lid on blender but remove the stopper in the lid to let heat escape.  Cover hole with a paper towel to avoid splatters.  Or, use an immersion blender.

Puree soup until desired consistency is reached.  Squeeze in the juice from one lime and pulse to combine.

Ladle into bowls and top with desired toppings.  Serve with extra lime wedges.

Flour Tortillas
2 1/2 c flour
3/4 t kosher salt
1/4 c plus 2 T shortening
3/4-1 c hot water

In the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the flour and salt.  Add the shortening and combine until crumbly.

With the mixer running, slowly add 3/4 c of hot water.  Mix until the dough starts to come together, adding more water if necessary; the dough should be about the consistency of Play-Doh.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.  While the pan is heating, divide the dough evenly into 8-10 balls.  Roll the balls as thinly as possible into circles.

Place a raw tortilla onto the hot skillet and cook until large bubbles appear and the tortilla looks slightly oily, about 1 minute.  Flip and cook another 30 seconds to a minute or until the tortilla is cooked through but not brown or burned.  Repeat with remaining tortillas, keeping the cooked tortillas under a clean kitchen towel.  Serve immediately.

Sweet Chicken Enchiladas

Yummy enchilada recipe from Katie Tucker!

6 Tbs honey
4 1/2 Tbs lime juice
1 Tbs chilli powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Mix ingredients together and toss with 1 lb shredded chicken (I crock pot the chicken). Fill tortillas with chicken and shredded montery jack cheese. Pour green enchilada sauce on bottom of 9x13 pan and over filled tortillas. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 min.

Tex-Mex Lasagna

This Cooking Light recipe is definitely a strange concept but I like it. Vegetarian too!

3/4 cup bottled salsa
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 (14.5-ounce) can no salt-added diced tomatoes
1 (8-ounce) can no salt-added tomato sauce
Cooking spray
6 precooked lasagna noodles (such as Barilla or Vigo)
1 cup frozen whole-kernel corn, thawed
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups (8 ounces) preshredded reduced-fat 4-cheese Mexican blend cheese
1/4 cup chopped green onions

Preheat oven to 450°.

Combine first 4 ingredients; spread 2/3 cup sauce in bottom of an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Arrange 2 noodles over sauce; top with 1/2 cup corn and half of beans. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese; top with 2/3 cup sauce. Repeat layers once; top with remaining 2 noodles. Spread remaining sauce over noodles. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese. Cover and bake at 450° for 30 minutes or until noodles are tender and sauce is bubbly. Let stand 15 minutes. Sprinkle with onions.

Chili

This chili was and still is a staple in the Whipple household. It goes great with Perfect Cornbread from the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook (1970s edition).

1 pound hamburger
1 large onion chopped
½ bell pepper chopped or two stalks of celery
2-3 (16 ounce) can cut tomatoes or a qt jar, depending on how tomatoie you want it
4 tablespoons chili powder
¼ - ½ tsp salt
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans
1 can pinto beans

Cook and stir hamburger, onion, green pepper, celery. Drain off fat if any. Stir in tomatoes (with liquid), chili powder, salt, Worcestershire sauce. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 1 hour. Stir in beans. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered until hot, about 15 minutes.

Tex-Mex Lasagna

• 3/4 cup bottled salsa
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can no salt-added diced tomatoes
• 1 (8-ounce) can no salt-added tomato sauce
• Cooking spray
• 6 precooked lasagna noodles (such as Barilla or Vigo)
• 1 cup frozen whole-kernel corn, thawed
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 cups (8 ounces) preshredded reduced-fat 4-cheese Mexican blend cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions

Preheat oven to 450°.

Combine first 4 ingredients; spread 2/3 cup sauce in bottom of an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Arrange 2 noodles over sauce; top with 1/2 cup corn and half of beans. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese; top with 2/3 cup sauce. Repeat layers once; top with remaining 2 noodles. Spread remaining sauce over noodles. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese. Cover and bake at 450° for 30 minutes or until noodles are tender and sauce is bubbly. Let stand 15 minutes. Sprinkle with onions.

Chipoltle Chicken Taco Salad

Dressing:

• 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

• 2/3 cup light sour cream
• 1 tablespoon minced chipotle chile, canned in adobo sauce
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 4 teaspoons fresh lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 
  SALAD:
• 4 cups shredded romaine lettuce
• 2 cups chopped roasted skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 2 breasts)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 cup diced peeled avocado
• 1/3 cup thinly vertically sliced red onion
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (8 3/4-ounce) can no-salt-added whole-kernel corn, rinsed and drained

To prepare dressing, combine first 7 ingredients, stirring well.

To prepare salad, combine lettuce and remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Drizzle dressing over salad; toss gently to coat. Serve immediately.

Tip: Add a spoonful of adobo sauce for a spicier salad. Kidney or pinto beans also taste great in this dish.

Mexican Chicken Casserole

• 1 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• 2 (4.5-ounce) cans chopped green chiles, divided
• 1 3/4 pounds skinned, boned chicken breasts
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup evaporated skim milk
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1/4 cup (2 ounces) tub-style light cream cheese
• 1 (10-ounce) can enchilada sauce
• 1 can corn
• 2/3 can olives, sliced
• 12 (6-inch) corn tortillas
• Cooking spray
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded reduced-fat extra-sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 ounce tortilla chips, crushed (about 6 chips)

Combine broth and 1 can of chiles in a large skillet; bring to a boil. Add chicken; reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until chicken is done, turning chicken once. Remove chicken from cooking liquid, reserving cooking liquid; cool chicken. Shred meat with two forks, and set aside.

Preheat oven to 350°.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 can of chiles and onion; sauté 3 minutes or until soft. Add reserved cooking liquid, milk, Monterey Jack, cream cheese, and enchilada sauce; stir well. Stir in shredded chicken, corn and olives; cook 2 minutes. Remove from heat.

Place 4 tortillas in the bottom of a 2-quart casserole coated with cooking spray. Spoon 2 cups chicken mixture over tortillas. Repeat layers twice, ending with chicken mixture. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese and chips. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Thai Beef Tacos with Lime-Cilantro Cole Slaw

Marinade 1-2 lbs Beef Flank Steak for 30 mins. – 1 hour in:
1 T. Sugar
1 ½ tsp. minced garlic
½ tsp. Chili garlic sauce (Lee Kun Kee-Chinese section)
¼ tsp. pepper
2 garlic cloves

Grill steak and cut into strips. Put in corn tortillas (fried first and folded) with shredded cabbage, tomatoes, cheese, and drizzle with Cilantro Dressing.

Cilantro Dressing
In Blender:
2 tomatillas *peeled and cut up
½ bunch Cilantro
1 clove garlic
1 Jalapeno, seeded (then add a few seeds; use rubber gloves)
1 lime, juiced
1 Buttermilk Ranch Dressing (made up: Buttermilk, packet, mayonnaise)

Southwest Chicken Wraps

This was served at a Stake Relief Society training meeting last sunday and was delicious!!! I haven't made it myself yet.

Wraps
3-4 Grilled Chicken Breasts (marinated 30 mins. – 1 hr. in Spicy Ranch dressing) cut into strips
½ bunch cilantro, chopped
Red leaf lettuce, chopped
2-3 Roma tomatoes, chopped
Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
1 recipe Cilantro Dressing
Tomato Basil flour tortillas/Spinach flour tortillas
1 pkg. low fat Cream cheese/ 2-3 Tbls. Salsa whipped together

Warm 3-4 tortillas between 2 damp paper towels in microwave for 40 seconds. Spread tortilla with cream cheese/salsa spread. Put a few strips of chicken on first (not in middle, but closer to an edge). Top with chopped lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, cilantro and drizzle, generously with Cilantro Dressing, then roll up tight. Cut diagonally and serve both sections with fruit kabobs.

Cilantro Dressing
In Blender:
2 tomatillas *peeled and cut up
½ bunch Cilantro
1 clove garlic
1 Jalapeno, seeded (then add a few seeds; use rubber gloves)
1 lime, juiced
1 Buttermilk Ranch Dressing (made up: Buttermilk, packet, mayonnaise)

Shrimp and Black Bean Soup

1 large onion, chopped
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 cans (14.5 oz each) reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 cans (10 oz each) diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained
2 c frozen corn
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained
4 1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 lb. uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 minced parsley

In a Dutch oven, saute onion in oil for 3/4 minutes or until tender. Add the broth, tomatoes and green chilies, corn, black beans, tomatoes, chili powder, sugar and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring for 20 minutes.

Stir in shrimp; cook 5-6 minutes longer or until shrimp turn pink. Stir in parsley.