What We Eat - January

In January I was awesome with the whole "cooking at home thing". Not joking, I did great but by the time I remembered to take a picture we were done or it was gone or it didn't look as pretty as I thought it should, so next month I'll try and do better. For now, just know all this stuff was yummy.

Mexican Casserole



This recipe I stole from Brittney. I made it once and my girls love it. They eat more of this than anything else that I make. Like I warned, the picture isn't pretty but the food is awesome. I make it at least once a month and it's now a favorite.



1 lb. ground beef

2 pkgs Mexican Rice, prepared

1 can Black Beans, drained (babies love these, they try and pick them out of my food)

1 can Corn, drained

1-2 cans Pettite Diced Tomatoes (we use 2 because we love tomatoes)

1/2 c. Sour Cream

2 c. Mexican Cheese



I cook the ground beef and rice separate. I season the ground been with pepper, garlic (crushed) and diced onion. Sometimes a little seasoning salt. When the rice is done I add the beans, beef, corn, and tomatoes. I stir in the sour cream and 1 c cheese. Transfer to casserole dish and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. This feeds my family, including Amy and Spencer, and we always have enough for the girls and I to have lunch the next day.





Santa Fe Chicken



I got this recipe from Kraft Foods. The way they make it is a little bland so I've modified it and it's much better. I'll post the original recipe and then tell you what I added.


2 cups instant white rice, uncooked
1 can (19 oz.) black beans, drained, rinsed
1 yellow pepper, chopped (I used red cuz that's what I had)
1 can (10-1/2 oz.) condensed cream of chicken soup
2 cups water
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)
1/2 cup Thick 'N Chunky Salsa (I just use the kind we bottle every year)
1 cup KRAFT Mexican Style Shredded Four Cheese (I upped this to 2 c cheese. Not enough)



I added one can diced Green Chiles, this needs more flavor. I also seasoned with some salt and pepper along with some garlic and onions.


HEAT oven to 400°F.
MIX rice, beans and peppers in 13x9-inch baking dish. Combine soup, water and cilantro; pour evenly over rice mixture. (I just mixed it all together instead of layering, also mixed in 1 c cheese here).
TOP with chicken. Spoon salsa over chicken. (I think I might dice the chicken next time, make it more casserole like)
BAKE 35 min.; sprinkle with cheese. Bake 10 min. or until cheese is melted.



My family liked this with the modifications, the first time I made it things were pretty bland, definitly needed to spice it up a bit.





Rotini Casserole



We make this instead of spaghetti sometime because it's easier for the girls to pick up the noodles. I'm sure it's similar to things that everyone makes but I'll share anyways.



1 box Rotini , cooked

1 lb Ground beef, also cooked

season with pepper, seasoning salt, garlic, and onion

1 can Diced Tomatoes

2 c. Mozzarella Cheese

1/2 c. Grated Parmesan Cheese

1 (26 oz) can Spaghetti Sauce

I add additional Italian Seasonings to mine but I don't measure, just dash



Mix it together and bake for 20 minutes on 350. I cover so as not to get the top crispy, some people like that but it make for crunchy peices that babies can't chew well.



Yield: about 6



Grandma's Pancakes



My Grandma Jensen makes the greatest pancakes in the world. I'm all about breakfast so I love differend pancake and waffle and casserole recipes. This one is the greatest and I always double it so that I have mix for a couple days. My girls will eat this and now wont eat the box mixes. So yummy, I think that's what I'm making for dinner tonight.



1 c Flour

1/2 c Sugar

1 c. Milk

1 tsp. Baking Powder

1 Egg



Mix together and cook on griddle until bubbles form. Flip. Enjoy

... and last but not least the world's greatest Chocolate Chip Cookies...

Town House Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 c. Shortening

1 c. Sugar

2 c. Brown Sugar

4 Eggs

4 1/2 c. Flour

2 tsp Baking Powder

2 tsp. Vanilla

2 tsp. Salt

1 pkg. Mini Milk Chocolate Chips ( I like mini because then you get just the right amount of chocolate in every bite).

Cream eggs, shortening and sugars. Add in remaining ingredients, except chips. Mix well. Add chocolate chips. Spoon onto greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. No longer. I usually end up cooking mine just over 9 minutes because I don't want them too done.

Yield: about 4 dozen with some cookie dough left over for Handsome.

Well that's it. Next month I'll work on Pictures. For now, enjoy!