Easy Chicken Enchiladas for 2 (or 4)

2 cups cooked, shredded chicken- I like boneless skinless chicken thighs but rotisserie works great too.
2 cups shredded mexican cheese
2 10 oz. cans red enchilada sauce (I used 1 mild, 1 medium)
1 4 oz. can diced green chilies
1 cup sliced olives (optional)
4 flour tortillas

Preheat oven to 375. Grease a 8 x8 baking pan with olive oil or cooking spray.
Mix chicken with 1 cup of cheese, 3/4 can enchilada sauce, green chilies and 1/2 cup olices. Divide chicken mixture onto 4 tortillas and roll each. place in pan with seam side down. Cover enchiladas with the other can of enchilada sauce and the rest of the previous can if you love sauce like I do.Cover with another cup of cheese and remaining olives. Bake on middle rack of oven for an hour.

Panda Express Chow Mein

We have made this recipe twice now and it is SO yummy! I just added some shredded chicken to mine from Costco and it made a complete meal. They would be an awesome side to any Asian dish. I found this recipe via Nycole on pinterest but you can find the original here:
http://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/2012/12/our-version-of-panda-express-chow-mein.html

Ingredients

• 1/4 c. soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. fresh ginger, grated ( I used powder-still good)
• ground black pepper, to taste
• 2-3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• 3 (5.6 oz) packages refrigerated Yaki Soba noodles (found in the produce section of the grocery store.. usually the 3 packages are sold together in one 17oz. pack)
• 2/3 c. chopped celery (chopped diagonally)
• 1 medium-sized onion, thinly sliced
• 2 c. chopped cabbage

Instructions

• In a small bowl combine soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger and black pepper. Set aside.
• Remove Yaki Soba from packages and discard included flavoring packets. Rinse noodles well, drain, and set aside.
• Heat oil in a large wok or skillet. Add celery and onion and saute for about 1-2 minutes or until onions start to become soft and transparent. Add cabbage and saute an additional minute or so.
• Toss Yaki Soba noodles and soy sauce mixture with the vegetables over medium-high heat for an additional 2-3 minutes or until noodles are heated through. Serve immediately

Two things that might help. 1. I personally had a hard time finding the noodles. After inquiring at both Meijer and Kroger I had no luck. The next week I went back to Kroger and they had a new product- the KAME stir fry noodles. They worked great. Plus I didn't need to rinse them. The original post said she found hers at Wal-Mart. 2. Don't skimp on the veggies. It seems like a lot but they cook down.

The noodles the recipe calls for. These are in the refrigerated section

The ones I used. They were on the shelf with all the Asian foods.

Healthier Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

I know it's not really the season for pumpkin anymore but I made muffins with this recipe and froze them for a quick morning breakfast for Keith and we've really liked them. I'm calling it healthier because I pulled one of the top rated pumpkin bread recipes on allrecipes.com and substituted several ingredients.

Ingredients:

1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup applesauce
2/3 cup water
4 eggs
2 1/2 cups white sugar
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
1/2 Tbsp. nutmeg
1/2 Tbsp. allspice
2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Grease pans. In a large bowl combine pumpkin, oil, applesauce, water, eggs, and sugar. Beat until smooth. Blend in flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, baking soda and salt. Fold in chocolate chips. Bake for 1 hour for bread or about 25-30 minutes for muffins until an inserted knife comes out clean. Cool before removing from pans.

This recipe made a loaf of bread, 12 regular sized muffins and 12 mini muffins.

Chicken lime lettuce wrap

Chicken Lime Lettuce Wrap:

recipe from six sister's stuff

1 ½ lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks or strips
¼ c. red wine vinegar
1 lime, juiced
2 t. sugar
1 t. salt
1 t. ground black pepper
2 green onions, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped (more or less to taste)
Large pieces of lettuce (or tortillas)

Sauté chicken over medium high heat until browned.  Add vinegar, lime juice, sugar, salt, pepper, green onion, and garlic.  Simmer 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked thoroughly.  Add cilantro and
simmer for an additional 30 seconds.  Serve on large pieces of lettuce or warmed tortillas with desired toppings.

we also added tomatoe, cheese, cucumber, and a little ranch to ours.   They were really yummy!

Chicken and Black Bean Quesadillas with Creamy Chipotle Dip

Chicken and Black Bean Quesadillas

www.jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com Time: 20 minutes hands on + 4-5 hours crock pot cooking Yield: 8-10 Quesadillas Recipe from Jamie Cooks It Up!   4 large chicken breasts 1 1/2 C water 1 T canola oil 1 envelope Fajita Seasoning Packet 1 can black beans 1 C corn 1-2 C Cheddar Cheese 8-10 flour tortillas 1. Place your chicken breasts inside a crock pot that has been sprayed with cooking spray. 2. Mix the water, oil and the Fajita Mix. Pour it over the top of the chicken. Cover with the lid and cook for 4 hours on high. 3. When the chicken is cooked through remove it from the crock, placing it on a plate. Shred it up with a fork. 4. Put it back in the juices of the crock pot and let it simmer for 1 more hour. 5. Heat up a skillet. Spray it with cooking spray (or butter it....depending on how closely you are counting calories). Lay a tortilla out on the skillet. Cover just half of the tortilla with some chicken, black beans, corn and cheese. Cover the yummy filling up with the other half of the tortilla. Heat until the cheese has started to melt. Flip it over and to let the other side of the tortilla get crispy, and to melt the cheese fully. Creamy Chipotle Dip Time: 5 minutes Yield: 1 cup Recipe from Jamie Cooks It Up! 1/3 C Chipotle Mayo 1/3 C Miracle Whip Salad Dressing 1/3 C Sour Cream 2 T sugar 1 T lime juice 2 T cilantro, chopped fine dash salt 1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. The end. Fastest dipping sauce this side of  The Biggest Loser.

Chocolate Eclair Cake

1/2 cup butter, 1 cup water bring to boil and remove from heat. Cool Slightly (2 min)add 1 cup flour, stir well. add 4 beaten eggs. Beat together, spread into 9 x 13 pan that has been sprayed with pam. Bake 350* for 30- 40 min. till brown. Remove from oven and cool completely. Filling: 3 small boxes instant vanilla pudding Mix with 4 cups milk. Stir in 8 oz. softened cream cheese. Spread over pastry. Top with 8 oz. cool whip. Heat 1 can chocolate fudge frosting 45 seconds or till slightly runny. Drizzle over cake with spoon. Refrigerate, best if made one day ahead!

Chick-fil-A Bites with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

This is seriously the yummiest chicken recipe that my whole family will eat. They sound a little weird with the pickle juice and all but the girl who recommended it to me is a fabulous cook and I trust that anything she gives me is going to be good. These seriously do not disappoint! We've made them twice now and I would recommend letting them marinate at least 2 hours. I tried to cheat by only letting them marinate an hour tonight and while still good, they didn't soak up as much flavor. 
I also loved the tip to check the heat of the oil. I used Canola but I'm sure peanut would be better. Enjoy!

From http://www.mynameissnickerdoodle.com
Directions:
2 large chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces and seasoned with salt & pepper
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup pickle juice
1 egg
1-1/4 cups flour
2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup peanut oil, divided (or canola or vegetable oil)
Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce: (I haven't made this yet but I'm sure it's good)
1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
1 1/2 Tablespoons yellow mustard
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 Tablespoons honey
Directions:

1. Whisk together egg, milk and pickle juice, and pour into a large ziplock bag or bowl. Add chicken pieces and marinate in the refrigerator for 2-4 hours.
2. Combine flour, powdered sugar, salt and pepper in a large ziplock bag. Shake to combine. Remove chicken from the marinade and add into the bag. Shake to coat the chicken completely.
3. Heat half the oil in a large skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat (6 or 7 out of 10.) Test the oil by dropping in a bit of the flour mixture. If it sizzles, the oil is ready, if it pops, lower the temperature a bit.
4. Gently place chicken pieces into the oil with tongs. Do this in 2 batches, as you don’t want to overcrowd the pan. Cook the chicken for 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown on one side. Turn the chicken over and allow to cook for 3-4 more minutes. Remove to a paper-towel lined plate. Heat the remaining oil and continue with the other half of the chicken pieces.
5. Stir together the honey mustard dipping sauce ingredients, and serve with the hot chicken bites.