Chicken Chilaquiles and King Ranch Chicken

Some common ingredients but some very different and delightful tastes! The easy step is beginning with a Rotisserie Chicken!

One of my previous Hispanic co-workers used to make Chicken Chilaquiles for us at work. Many times we ate them over scrambled eggs for a tasty breakfast. We served in-house Salsa Verde so this is what he used when making them.

Chicken with Chilaquiles and Salsa Verde
1 cup sour cream
3 to 4 tablespoons milk
1 3/4 cups Mexican salsa verde  (sometimes called tomatillo sauce; from a 16-oz jar)
1 3/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth (14 fl oz)
2 1/2 to 3 cups coarsely shredded cooked chicken (from a 2-lb rotisserie chicken, skin removed)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
6 cups coarsely crushed tortilla chips (not low-fat, baked, or flavored; from a 16-oz bag) plus broken chips remaining in bag (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup crumbled feta (2 oz)
1 cup shredded cheddar
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Stir together sour cream and just enough milk to get a thick pourable consistency.
Bring salsa and broth to a boil in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat.
Add chicken, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring, until chicken is heated through, 1 to 2 minutes, then stir in 6 cups tortilla chips and cook until chips are softened (but not mushy), about 1 minute.
Transfer chilaquiles to a large platter.
Sprinkle with feta, cheddar ,cilantro, and 1 cup broken chips and serve immediately, with thinned sour cream on the side.

King Ranch Chicken
1 chicken, cooked and deboned (use a purchased Rotisserie Chicken)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can Rotel tomatoes with chilies, diced
1 large onion, chopped
1 can chopped green chiles
1 can Chipotle Corn, drained
1 package (10-12 count) corn tortillas
1/2 lb. cheddar cheese, grated
Cut tortillas into strips. Dip in chicken broth to soften. Combine chicken, onion, and pepper. Mix soups and Rotel tomatoes,green chiles and Chipotle corn; add chicken mixture. In a 13 x 9 x 2 inch buttered casserole dish, alternately layer the tortillas, chicken soup mixture, and grated cheese. Repeat, ending with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes. May be prepared ahead of time and frozen or refrigerated.

Hope you enjoy these as much as I do!

Chicken-Broccoli Fettucine Alfredo

For years, this has been a family favorite! With a few revisions, we also serve this at the restaurant...a favorite of many customers...one lady told me she could just drink a bowl of sauce! haha There are so many variations that can be used in this combo. Saute chicken pieces or breast strips...blanched broccoli florets...use leftovers of chicken & broccoli...OH, several years ago I was on Sara's Secrets with Sara Moulton's live phone call. We were discussing leftovers and this is the recipe that I was talking about. They aired my picture as Sara was talking with me. I also told her that my family has always called leftovers, "re-runs" and many times they were incorporated to a totally different realm, whether entree, side dish or soup!

Nana's Alfredo Sauce
Paula George

1 stick butter 1/2 cup
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp. salt
1 /s tsp. fresh ground pepper
1 tsp. oregano leaves
2 tsp. parsley flakes
1 tsp. basil leaves
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
2 cups heavy cream
3 cups milk
1 cup shredded Provolone
1 cup shredded Parmesan

Melt butter in saucepan. Add flour and whisk until smooth. Do not brown. Add seasonings, heavy cream & milk. Heat over med heat until hot, reduce heat to low and whisk in cheeses until melted. Adding 1/2 of each at a time makes it easier to melt.Sauteed Chicken Breast strips and blanched broccoli can be added to sauce or plated on fettucine pouring the sauce over last. Garnish with a sprinkling of Shredded Parmesan and Parsley. Serve with a salad and crusty bread!

Serve over fettucine cooked al dente...I normally serve with sauteed chicken breasts and steamed broccoli (or "trees" as my children called them)  florets.

There are so many variations, can be served as a one dish meal, plated meal...vegetarian meal, use other added veggies...but, the richness of the sauce will be a compliment to however you decide to use it! Enjoy!!!

Soup, Sandwich and Salad!!!

Thought I would post another favorite meal...simple, tasty...yet hearty for the end of summer!
Another favorite Comfort Meal of mine! Creamy Tomato Basil Soup...Triple Grilled Cheese...and  a Mandarin/Strawberry Mixed Green Salad!

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
Paula George
4 Tbsp. butter
1 med onion, chopped
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1 tsp. minced garlic
4 Tbsp. flour
28 oz. can diced tomatoes with juice
8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 qt. chicken broth
1/2-1 tsp. crushed red pepper
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
1/3 cup julienned, fine basil leaves
1 cup heavy cream or culinary cream, if available
In stockpot, melt butter. Saute onion, celery, carrots for 5 minutes. Add garlic
and cook 1 more minute. add flour and cook 2 minutes. Add remaining ingredients
except basil and heavy cream, bring to slow boil and simmer for 30 minutes. With
immersion blender. puree. Stir in heavy cream and basil and heat through (about
5 minutes). Do not boil.

Triple Grilled Cheese
Two slices wheatberry bread
softened cream cheese
2 slices Swiss cheese
2 slices Colby or Cheddar cheese
sliced purple onion
sliced tomatoes
salt & pepper
butter
Butter both sides of bread. Place on hot grill pan and brown. Turn and spread softened cream cheese on grilled side of bread. Top with onions, tomatoes, salt & pepper and remaining cheeses. Put sandwich together and grill remaining buttered sides until sandwich is browned and cheeses are melted.
Optional: Can also add ham or bacon to make them heartier!

Mandarin/Strawberry Mixed Green Salad
Ingredients
2 cups torn mixed salad greens
1/2 cup mandarin oranges,drained
1/2 cup sliced fresh strawberries
1/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
CITRUS VINAIGRETTE:
3 tablespoons orange juice
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon minced gingerroot
1 garlic clove, minced
Directions
Place greens on two serving plates; top with oranges, strawberries and walnuts.
In a blender, combine the vinaigrette ingredients; cover and process until blended.
Drizzle over salads.

Know there are those that "have" to have dessert and I have made this one twice this past week. I actually even tasted it! haha

Peach Gallette

1 refrigerated pie crust
8 oz. cream cheese at room temp
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
4 Tbsp. cornstarch, divided
2 tsp. vanilla extract, divided
1 egg, separated
2 cups peeled, sliced peaches or fruit of your choice (Nectarines, Apricots, Berries)
2 Tbsp. sugar for sprinkling (I used Splenda)

Roll pie crust to form 13" circle. Place on baking sheet.
Cream together cream cheese, confectioner's sugar, 2 Tbsp. corn starch, 1 tsp. extract and egg yolk. Spread on crust leaving 2" edge. Toss together fruit, 2 Tbsp. cornstarch and 1 tsp. vanilla extract. Spread over cream cheese mixture. Fold edges of crust up toward center in rustic manner. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes until golden.

Comfort Food!

...comes to mind with all the rain that passed through leaving us with cooler temps! Just LOVE it!!!

That being said...today I opted for a Veg-All Casserole with a Chopped Steak and Sauteed Onions for dinner!

Veg-All Casserole

29 oz. can Veg-All, Drained
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1- 14.75 oz. can Cream of Chicken Soup
2 cups Taco seasoned shredded cheese
1 cup crushed wheat crackers (I used Breton)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour drained veg-all in casserole dish. Add chopped onion and stir lightly. Combine Mayonnaise and Cream of Chicken soup. Spread over veggies. Top with shredded cheese and then crushed crackers. Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes until bubbly.

Another favorite that Jill and I were talking about last night...as if we hadn't already had enough to eat with Momma's Shrimp Creole, Rice, Garlic Toast, Lemon Icebox Cake and Chocolate Cobbler!

Mrs. Ezma's Mexican Corn Casserole
Ezma Whitaker

1 package saffron yellow rice (I have also used Zatarain's yellow rice)
1 stick butter, melted
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
2 cans Mexicorn, drained
1/4 cup diced onion
1 cup cheddar cheese

Cook the package of saffron yellow rice according to directions, omit butter.  Combine in casserole dish with melted butter, soup, drained Mexicorn and diced onion. Top with 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake uncovered for 35-45 minutes until bubbly.

Enjoy these yummy side dishes with the approaching fall weather! Both of these...spell "C O M F O R T" to me!

Paula...or better known as "mecookin"

Orange Rolls...Yum!

Ahhh, Memories! I worked next door to the Original All Steak Restaurant for 6 years in the early 1980's...

I am not much of a sweet eater, but these orange rolls are to die for!

Three different versions given below, hope you enjoy!

Orange Rolls a la All Steak Restaurant
my kopykat version
Paula George
1 pkg, frozen bread dough, thawed, let rest through first rising
1 stick butter, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 cup orange marmalade
Glaze:
2 cups confectioner's sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tsp. grated orange zest
Roll dough out into thin rectangle. Spread with softened butter. Sprinkle with sugar, and spread with orange mamalade.
Roll jelly roll style. Cut 1" thick and place in large buttered baking pan.
Allow to rise until double. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
Cool slightly, frost with icing. Serve immediately while still slightly warm!
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Elaine's Orange Rolls (Bitty Buns) Recipe courtesy Elaine Hyatt
Show: Calling All Cooks
Episode: Moroccan Couscous/Bitty Buns
All Steak Restaurant
Cullman, AL

Biscuits:
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup shortening
1 cup buttermilk
Filling:
1/4 cup butter, softened (1 teaspoon per biscuit)
1 cup and 2 tablespoons orange marmalade (1 1/2 tablespoons per biscuit)
1/4 cup brown sugar (1 teaspoon brown sugar)
Icing:
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon butter, softened
2 tablespoons cream cheese
Dash salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons orange zest

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
For Biscuits: Combine dry ingredients for biscuit. Cut shortening into dry mixture. Add buttermilk and blend. Roll out biscuit dough on floured waxed paper until about 3/4 of an inch thick. Cut with a round biscuit cutter as if you were making biscuits. You'll get approximately 10 to 12 biscuits. Roll out each individual biscuit until it is 5 inches in diameter and 1/4-inch thick.
On each biscuit, layer butter, marmalade and brown sugar. Roll up each biscuit and slice into 3 pinwheels of equal size. Place rolls in 2 (7 by 7-inch) baking pans. (You can also use other dimensions of pans. The key is to keep the rolls close together). Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes before icing.
For Icing: Mix powdered sugar, orange juice, margarine, cream cheese, salt, vanilla, and orange zest until smooth. Drizzle over rolls.
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These rolls have been served as part of the bread "basket" for as long as I can remember...and that's a looonnnggg time!
Personally, I prefer the yeast dough but the filling/icing that she gave are similar and
I like to intertwine the two recipes and use the icing she gave sometimes...
The "Wallace's", Elaine's grandparents were the original owners of the restaurant.
I worked next door (1980's), prior to their moving to the current location above Wachovia Bank.
These are a "classic"...even my mom remembered having them as a young woman "YEARS" ago circa 1940's!

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http://www.justapinch.com/recipe/0124/all-steak-restaurant-famous-orange-rolls/sweet-bread

I, SO, miss Becky/Decolady...

I miss her posts whether on the boards or on her blog! I'm sure I'm not the only one as so many of us came to know her over the years...whether through the food boards, dish boards or live as a friend or family member.

Becky was a trooper! She shared so much of herself with all of us! Damnit, Girl, I miss you!

As I prepared dinner, I used some of my version of Marcella's Amazing Tomato Sauce with some Linguine, Sauteed a Chicken Breast with Penzey's Greek seasoning in Plugra and sauteed some spinach with Plugra/salt/pepper. Delish!

Thinking of you, I ate it on my Homer Laughlin Gothic plate! ;)

Thank you, Becky, for passing through my life! I will always cherish your friendship!

Love ya!
mecookin

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, Dear Becky...

Gosh, I sure do miss you, Girlfriend...just as so many of your loving family, friends and online friends will continue to miss you...yet, we have the beautiful memories that you left us and know that we are blessed having had you pass this way.

There are so many that can only imagine the opportunity of having you as their mother...I know wholeheartedly that Abbey & Tori cherish the love and guidance that you gave to them.

Abbey & Tori, I know you always know...

Your Mother's Love...
From the moment I learned of the life I carried within me...I already knew I'd love you,
Even before I knew if a little boy or little girl is coming into my life.
Before I even met you, my heart was stirred; you had your Mother's love...
Knowing I had been blessed to carry and give birth to a little one.
From the moment you were born, you stole my heart, you'd always know your Mother's love.
There may have been some long nights, as you were unsure about this place!
Yet, there were many moments...a smile, a coo...even that sparkle in your eyes...
And I knew, even in those earlier days, you'd always know your Mother's love.
Childhood, adolesence, young adult, even becoming a wife...I knew there would be
Trying times, times of training and discipline; yet all were given with your Mother's love.
I'm sure as the years have passed, and, now that you're a young adult, these things are seen more clearly.
Wherever life made lead you...although sometimes, not easy, nothing will change!
And should the path we're given take one of us from this earthly walk...
You'll Always Have My Love, from the moment you were conceived, You've had Your Mother's Love!
Paula
August 2011

I first met Becky online through the Food Network Boards...then onto various Food Boards that formed at their closing. I think it was 2003, when I met Becky in person. She, Bev (gatorbites) and I met in Huntsville for lunch and shopping. We wheeled around Huntsville in Sebring Convertible. We planned to make a stop at Garden Cove (Seventh Day Adventist store)...Becky said they had a farm near them in Coldwater and began describing their farm. As she spoke of a Pioneer Days they held for one of the girl's classes, I knew that I had been there! Small world! My DH at the time, had participated in the Pioneer Days with another friend. Doug and Al set up with a covered wagon and demonstrated flintnapping. I told Becky that he had driven me by the farm and shown it to me.

There were several other times that Becky and I met for lunch in Huntsville. As many have said, she was always the same...so vibrant, so full of life and love for her family!

Earlier, I posted the recipe that Becky and I deciphered at Romano's Macaroni Grill for their Mushroom Ravioli. Such a fun day at lunch!

I think everyone that knew Becky looked forward to her culinary expertise and advice! Whether it was a special  dinner, a party, decorating or just time with her family...maybe just her & the "guy"!

Although I got in late today, I do have plans for dinner! I am having Marcella's Amazing Tomato Sauce with Linguine...also, like Becky, I will make a bit of a change. As Becky said, she sauteed the onions in the butter and didn't remove them...I also plan to add a bit of garlic and then garnish with fresh basil and Parmagiana Reggiano. This will be a side dish for me!

Marcella Hazan's Tomato Sauce with Onion and Butterfrom Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking

2 cups canned Italian plum tomatoes, cut up with their juice
5 Tbsp butter
1 medium onion, peeled and cut in half
Salt

Put canned tomatoes in saucepan, add butter, onion and salt and cook uncovered at a slow and steady simmer for 45 minutes or until fat floats from tomato. Stir from time to time, mashing any large piece of tomato in pan with a wooden spoon. Taste and correct for salt. Discard onion and serve sauce with pasta.

Serves 6
I plan on serving this with a Crabcake stuffed Tilapia and Spinach Salad with Artichoke Hearts & Grape Tomatoes drizzled with Balsamic Vinegar & EVOO. Maybe some Reggiano Curls! :)

Another new recipe that I plan to try is an Old Bay Mayo to serve with the Tilapia.

3/4 cup Mayo
zest & juice of one lemon
1 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
1 minced scallion and a few drops of hot sauce
salt & pepper to taste

I started to edit this picture, but decided to leave it, as is! I'm sure, Becky, the photographer would find it amusing that I can't even edit a picture!!!

Again, Happy Birthday, Becky! Thank you for being a part of my life and our paths having crossed. God's Speed, decolady! You will always have a special place in my heart! Love & Hugs!!! mecookin

Continued thoughts & prayers to Mike, Abbey, Tori, Donnie, your Mom, Sally and your many family and friends! You left them a wealth of love and happiness in your lifetime here on earth!

Had to come back and add the finished product...thanks, Becky, fantastic! :)