Chile-Chicken Tacos and Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

Chile-Chicken Tacos
1.25 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 pkg (1.25 oz) taco seasoning mix
1 TBSP packed brown sugar
1 can (4.5 oz) chopped green chiles, undrained
1 cup frozen whole-kernel corn, thawed
1 can (10 oz) enchilada sauce
taco shells

Optional ingredients:
sliced green onions
Shredded lettuce
chopped tomato

Spray slow cooker with cooking spray. Add chicken thighs. Sprinkle with taco seasoning mix and brown sugar, toss to coat. Mix in green chiles, corn and 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce. Refrigerate remaining sauce for later if desired.

Cover and cook on low heat for 6-7 hours.

Use 2 forks to pull apart chicken into shreds or chunks. If desired, stir in green onions and cook for 15 more minutes. Serve in taco shells with tomatoes and lettuce. My kids like to add shredded cheese. Drizzle on warmed enchilada sauce if desired.

We either eat these alone or serve with some sort of rice and beans. It isn't one of those meals that we put a lot of time into. It is perfect for those nights that you have a lot going on and only have 5 minutes to eat some dinner.

Note- These Tacos are actually only 320 calories per serving (2 tacos = serving).


Here is a fun dessert that is incredibly delicious for those cupcake lovers!

Lemon Meringue Cupcakes
For the cupcakes...
5.5 oz cake flour
5.5 oz super fine sugar
6 oz unsalted butter, softened
3 large lightly beaten eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder

For the Lemon Filling...
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
3 Tablespoons lemon juice

For the Meringue Topping...
3 egg whites
3 oz caster sugar (super fine sugar...just use regular sugar and grind it a bit)
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare 12 paper cupcake liners in muffin tins. Place butter and sugar into bowl and crème with electric mixer until the butter changes color (about 2 minutes). Add in lightly beaten eggs to the mix a little at a time, beating on slow for 15 seconds between each addition.

Add vanilla then sift in flour and baking powder. Mix for another minute. Spoon batter into the cupcake liners until they are 2/3 full and place in the middle rack of oven. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Remove and let sit for a few minutes before removing from the muffin tins. Place on wire rack to cool.

To make the filling, mixed the condensed milk with lemon juice in small bowl. Cut a small hole in the center of each cupcake and dig out with spoon. Discard the center and fill hole with the mixture.

For the meringue, use an electric mixer and beat egg whites and cream of tartar until they form soft peaks, then beat in the sugar gradually. Load the meringue into a piping bag and pipe the top of the cupcakes.

Place the cupcakes back into the oven at 450 degrees and bake for an additional 3-4 minutes or until the meringue is golden brown (keep your eye on it) Let cool a few minutes before serving! YUM!

Submitted by Jodi

Cranberry Chicken (Crockpot)

5 or 6 frozen chicken breasts
1 can of whole cranberry sauce
3/4 regular salad dressing bottle of French or Catalina

Put all ingredients in crockput and let cook for about 4 hours. Shred with fork while it is still in crockpot and serve over white rice.

Submitted by Brenna: Super easy to make and yummy!

French Toast

1 large egg
1/3 c. whole milk
1/2 tsp. pure maple syrup
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. grated orange zest
1/8 tsp. kosher salt
Pinch of ground cinnamon
4 slices bread
2 tsp. unsalted butter

***Serves two*** (we quadruple the recipe and use almost a full loaf of bread)

In a shallow pan, combine egg, milk, syrup, vanilla, orange zest, salt & cinnamon and beat lightly with fork. Place bread in batter and poke holes in it with a fork to help it to absorb the liquid. Flip to other side.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over moderately high heat. Add 1 tsp. butter and tilt to coat pan. (I use olive oil spray) When the butter stops sizzling and is fragrant, arrange bread in pan. After underside is cooked, after 2-3 minutes, turn over with spatula, adding more butter to pan as you lift each one to flip.

Serve at once. Ideas to top with: syrup, powdered sugar & lemon, crushed fresh raspberries, whipped cream & strawberries.

Submitted by MacKenzie:The key to great French toast is exceptional bread, whether peasant bread, sourdough, or a good homemade sandwich loaf. The texture of the bread affects the outcome: Course peasant bread needs time to soak up the mixture and will produce a toast that is appealingly chewy and robust. A softer bread will soak up the custard quickly and make a more traditional French toast with creamy center.

We like to eat this with flat turkey sausage, (yummy) and smoothies with flax seed and spinach added to it to get some more nutrients & vitamins. :) (And to cross cancel the sausage...right)???

Buttercream Frosting and Spinach Tortellini Salad

Submitted by Marti: I have never been able to make frosting and always buy it, but, for my daughter's last birthday I found this Butter Cream Frosting recipe and it worked great on her cake and my husband thought it was really good to eat also so I thought I would share it. Then I also have a salad recipe that is a family favorite so I thought I would give that one also since the frosting you can only use every once in a while.

Butter cream Frosting
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
Light corn syrup

Directions: Blend butter and shortening in a large bowl with mixer until well-blended and creamy. Blend in vanilla. Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Add milk; mix until light and fluffy.
Use immediately, or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to two weeks. Re-whip before using. This recipe can be thinned out to spreading consistency by adding about 3 tablespoons of corn syrup.
Yield: 3 cups.

Note-I always double this recipe when I decorate a cake to ensure that I have enough to both frost and embellish. If you have any left over, seal it in an airtight container and put it in the fridge. It will stay good for up to two weeks...just re-whip it before using to soften it up.

Spinach Tortellini Salad
Ingredients:
1 bag spinach 9oz
1package cooked three cheese tortellini (I like Digiorno or Buittoni, they are in the refrigerator section by parm cheese)
1 package sliced fresh mushrooms
Salad dressing*

Directions: cook tortellini according to directions -- let cool (I usually refrigerate over night) toss with spinach, mushrooms and *dressing.

*Salad Dressing:
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
3/4 cup canola oil
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon grated onion or 1/2 t onion salt
2 cloves garlic
1 Tablespoon parsley or 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
6 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon tarragon
Pepper

Blend ingredients in processor or blender.

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce

Submitted by Holly: When we lived in the Middle East I learned to love lots of different Asian foods, and Thai is by far my favorite. This recipe only has one tricky ingredient, tamarind paste, but I've found it at Whole Foods, H-Mart (an Asian grocery store), as well as Indian markets. If you live in Virginia and want to try it, I can lend you some! It isn't critical to the recipe, but it does make it much better. If you can't find it, you can add an extra teaspoon of lime juice. Beyond that one ingredient, everything else should be easy to find in the Asian food aisle of your local supermarket. This is quick, easy, and delicious! I make this often when I'm having a crowd over because it's easy to double, quadruple, etc. Also, the sauce makes a lot, so don't double it if you're doubling the recipe. Enjoy!

Chicken Satay:
2 lbs chicken breast meat, cut into 1/4"-thick slices
2 Tbsp oil (I use canola)
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 tsp tamarind paste
1 tsp lemon zest
2 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tsp)
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 Tbsp lime juice
1 tsp brown sugar

To make the marinade, place oil, soy sauce, tamarind paste, lemon peel, garlic, cumin, lime juice, and sugar in a food processor or blender and blend until it makes a paste. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the chicken and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour (or up to 12). Thread the chicken onto skewers and grill on a barbecue grill or under the broiler for 3-5 minutes on each side, or until chicken registers 160F on a meat thermometer. Serve satays hot, with the dipping sauce.

Peanut Dipping Sauce:
2 Tbsp creamy peanut butter
1 cup coconut cream (or coconut milk)
2 tsp red Thai curry paste
1 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp brown sugar

Mix all ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring, to form a smooth sauce. Can be made ahead and reheated when needed.

Sticky Chicken

Submitted by Anne-Marie: Since my last contribution was of the dessert variety, I thought I'd venture into the main course. I got this from a friend in Iowa and we have loved it ever since. It is easy to make less or more and is excellent reheated... I usually double the sauce for the same amount of chicken so I have enough to spoon onto my rice. Using 4 chicken breast halves serves my husband, me and my three kids with one or two lunches leftover. Enjoy!

Sticky Chicken
2-4 Chicken Breasts, cut into strips or bite size pieces
1 egg
cornstarch
1 Tbs Soy Sauce
1/4 cup pineapple juice
1 Tbs Red Wine Vinegar
2/3 cup Sugar (I cut this down a bit, seemed a little sweet for us the first time)
3 Tbs Ketchup
Oil
Garlic Salt (I usually skip this part too)

Dip Chicken in egg, then coat with cornstarch ("this is easy if you shake chicken and cornstarch in a ziploc" My friend suggested that, I usually just crunch it around with my hand in a bowl :) ). Brown chicken in hot oil, then put in a foil lined 9x13 baking dish. Sprinkle with Garlic salt (or not :)). Mix Remaining ingredients and pour over Chicken.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 Minutes. Serve over rice.

Stoby's Cheese Dip and Ziti

Submitted by Shasta: I have 2 recipes to start this new year off!! There is a restaurant in Arkansas named Stoby's. There are 2 in Arkansas and it is Zagat reviewed (I know that came as a shock to me to). This place makes the best sandwiches and cheese dip. Now, don't look at the ingredients and throw the recipe out. This is definitely a great one to try (if only once or twice a year). But, if I ever lose this recipe I will be emailing every single one of you. I LOVE this recipe. I have had this recipe since I was 14 years old (yes, I have been a foodie for a while now) and now I will hand it out to each of you. Enjoy!!!

Stoby's Cheese Dip
4 cups water
1 cup powder coffee creamer
1 lb Velveeta cheese (cut in chunks)
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp cumin powder
2 tsp dry mustard
1 cup melted butter
2/3 cup flour
3/4 cup Pace Picante Salsa*
1 tsp lemon juice

In small bowl combine all spices, set aside. Boil water, then slowly add coffee creamer stirring constantly. Slowly add cheese and stir until melted. Add spices. Mix flour with melted butter then add to cheese. Stir until thickens. Add Pace Picante salsa and lemon juice. Serve warm with chips (a thick chip is best).
* I used to make it with mild salsa but I found that hot gives it more flavor without burning your mouth.

Ziti
1 box of ziti noodles, cooked and drained
1 recipe of tomato sauce (see below)
1 small container sour cream
1 package provolone cheese
1/2 lb mozzarella

Oil bottom of casserole dish and spread about 1 cup of tomato sauce and place some cooked ziti noodles in a thin layer on bottom. Then spread out the provolone cheese. Top with 1 cup tomato sauce and then another thin layer of noodles. Spread the sour cream out over that layer of noodles (the more sour cream you use the creamier the end result will be). Top with another cup of tomato sauce and noodles. Top with tomato sauce and cook in oven until bubbly. Spread mozzarella on top and melt in oven. (If you like more sauce, use more sauce) I just assumed I use about 1 cup of sauce on each layer.

Easy Tomato Sauce:
2 cans tomato sauce
1 clove garlic-minced
Tuscan style Italian Seasoning*
Oregano*

Boil everything and then simmer until ready to use, or you can package in quart bags and freeze for when you need them. It tastes better than jarred tomato sauce.
* I have never measured the seasonings but you can start out with 1-2 tsp of the Italian seasoning and 1/2 tsp of oregano. Adjust this to your own tastes. Remember: you can always add seasoning, you can't take it out. If you have over-salted a meal, add herbs or salt free seasonings to your dish, this will help cut the salt.