Chipotle Chicken Skewers with Creamy Cilantro Dipping Sauce

yum!  I loved these. The sauce is delish too.  I served with rice (I would recommend Cafe Rio lime rice) but the chicken and sauce would be really good in a taco too.

chicken skewer ingredients

• 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts ( about 5 medium breasts)
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves, minced
• 1 chipotle chiles in adobo, minced
• 2 teaspoons adobo sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• nonstick cooking spray

dipping sauce ingredients

• 3/4 cup low-fat sour cream
• 1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup lime juice, from 2 to 3 limes
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons cilantro leaves, minced
• 2 scallions, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
  

  Directions

  1. FOR THE CHICKEN: Slice the chicken breasts across the grain into 1/2-inch-thick strips (you should have about 30 strips). In a large bowl, toss the chicken with the brown sugar, cilantro, chipotle, adobo sauce, salt, chili powder, garlic powder, and pepper. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the flavors meld, about 30 minutes. (The chicken, covered, can be refrigerated for up to 1 day before cooking.).
  2. FOR THE DIPPING SAUCE: In a bowl, stir all the ingredients together. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature until the flavors meld, about 30 minutes. (The dipping sauce can be covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Season with additional lime juice, salt, and pepper to taste before serving.).
  3. Meanwhile, adjust an oven rack to the top position and heat the broiler. Line a broiler pan bottom with foil and top with a slotted broiler pan top; spray the broiler pan top with nonstick cooking spray. Weave each piece of chicken onto individual bamboo skewers; lay half of the skewers on the broiler pan top and cover the skewer ends with foil, making sure not to cover the chicken. Broil until the meat is lightly browned and cooked through, 5 to 8 minutes, flipping the skewers over halfway through. Transfer the skewers to a serving platter and serve immediately with half the dipping sauce. Repeat, broiling the remaining skewers and serving with the remaining dipping sauce.

Mini Pumpkin Pies

I have been trying a few recipes off of pinterest lately.  Some have been major fails, but some have been great, like this one:

I made these for Hannah's preschool Thanksgiving Party.  They needed bite sized samples of Thanksgiving food.  These are so cute and they are surprisingly easy and delicious too.

2 refrigerated ready-to roll pie crusts

8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Use cookie cutter to cut 12 pumpkin shapes from each pie crust. You will need to roll the dough thinner than it comes out of the box.
Press dough shapes into a 24 cup mini muffin tray. (Make 12 at a time, alternating cups to make sure pie crusts don’t overlap each other.)
Apply egg whites from one egg to the top edges of each pie.
Mix cream cheese, sugar, canned pumpkin, remaining 2 eggs, vanilla and pumpkin pie spice together until thoroughly combined.
Spoon mixture into each pumpkin-shaped pie crust.
Bake for 12-15 minutes.
Remove pies to cool and repeat with second pie crust. Place the muffin tray in the freezer to cool it quickly for re-use.

Makes 24 pies. Keep refrigerated.

To decorate, melt chocolate in a heat-proof bowl in the microwave on medium. Heat in 30 second intervals, stirring in between until melted. Add a little vegetable oil to make the chocolate more fluid. Transfer to a re-sealable plastic bag and cut the corner off. Drizzle or draw faces on pies.

Note: The cutter I used was 3 3/4 inches wide, but if you don’t have one, don’t worry. Just use a round cutter around that size or slightly smaller to cut circle shapes out of the dough. Then make stems with the scraps. Press each stem over the edge and down the side of the dough before filling.

Pumpkin pie spice is a mixture of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice.

Enjoy!

Great Pumpkin Dessert

Serving Size:
12
Prep Time:
10 min
Cook Time:
55-60 min

Ingredients:

• 1 29 oz  can Pumpkin Puree
• 1/2 12 ounce can Evaporated milk
• 3 eggs
• 1 Cup White Sugar
• 4 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
• 1 Yellow Cake Mix
• 3/4 Cup Butter, chilled

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.  Lightly grease 9x13 baking dish.
In large bowl combine pumpkin puree, milk, eggs, sugar, and spice.  Mix well and pour into 9x13 baking dish.
Sprinkle dry cake mix over the top of the pumpkin mix.  Slice butter in very thin slices and space evenly over the top of the cake mix.
Bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes or until knife inserted comes out clean and top is golden brown.
Serve with whip cream.

Spinach and Black Bean Pasta

I got this recipe from my mother-in-law, Ruth.  She is a very healthy eater, and recommended this healthy recipe.

Serving Size:
8

Cook Time:
30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 (16 ounce) package whole wheat rotini pasta
• 1.5 cups chicken broth
• 2.5 cups chopped fresh spinach
• 1/2 cup chopped red onion
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup frozen chopped broccoli
• 1 cup diced tomatoes
• 2 oz freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tsp. oregano

Preparation:

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.  Add rotini, and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until al dente; drain.

In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring the vegetable broth to a boil.  Reduce heat, and mix in spinach, onion, garlic, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper.  Stir in the black beans and broccoli.  Continue to cook and stir 5-10 minutes.

Stir the tomatoes into the saucepan, and continue cooking 10 minutes, or until all vegetables are tender.

Serve over cooked pasta, and garnish with parmesan cheese.

Suggestions: try adding some oregano and upping the cayenne pepper for extra flavor.

One serving: 231 calories, 3 g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 42.4 g carbohydrates.

Image Via: AllRecipes.com

Spicy Shredded Chicken - Cafe Rio Style

Cook Time:
5 minutes to put together,
All Day to Cook

Ingredients:
7 (more or less) Chicken Breasts (Thawed or Frozen)
2 Cans rotel Brand Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies
1 tsp. Pepper
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Chili Powder
1 tsp. Garlic Salt
1 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
1 dash Tobasco sauce
Lime Juice to Taste

Preparation:
Place all ingredients (except lime juice in crock pot.  Cook on low all day, or if you don't have all day, cook on high for a few hours then turn down to low until done.

Shred Chicken with forks and place back in crock-pot to absorb juice throughout the meat.

Squeeze lime juice over meat and serve in burritos, tacos, or on a salad, etc...

Image via

Pumpkin Sheetcake

My friend made this for me and it was SO good.
Pumpkin Sheet Cake

Yield 2 sheet cakes (can easily cut recipe in half)

3 cups white sugar
1 cup margarine
2 teas vanilla
2 cans of pumpkin (the regular size cans)
4 eggs
3 cups flour
4 1/2 teas baking powder
1 Tab baking soda
1/4 teas salt
4 teas cinnamon

I dump all the ingredients into my mixer and turn it on until it looks good and mixed.  (I am not a very precise person in the kitchen)

Bake at 350 degrees in a greased cooking sheet for 20-25 min.

It is tasty plain or with a light glaze on the top.

Crispy Chicken W Creamy Italian Sauce and Bowtie Pasta

My kids LOVE this.
Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 6 servings

3 large chicken breasts
5 C corn flakes
3/4 C flour
1/2 t salt
1/2 C milk
6 T olive oil  
1   12 oz package bowtie noodles (farfalle)

Sauce: 
1   10 oz container Philadelphia Cooking Cream (Italian Cheese and Herb Flavor)
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 C chicken broth
1/2 C milk 
fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
  
1. In a small food processor crush the corn flakes into crumbs. 
2. Add the 1/2 t salt to the 3/4 C flour. Stir to combine. 
3. Place the flour, milk and crushed cornflakes each into their own separate pan. Loaf pans work well for this. If you don't have three loaf pans, do not dismay. You could use pie tins, or round cake pans...what ever works for you. 
4. Place your chicken breasts in a gallon sized Ziploc bag and seal the top. 
Pound the chicken flat with a meat mallet. You will really be thankful for the Ziploc bag in this step. Who wants a bunch of chicken guts flying around their kitchen? Not me...that's who. 
5. Take a pair of sharp kitchen scissors and cut each breast in half. 
6. Dredge the chicken in the flour. Be sure it gets covered on both sides. 
Lay the floured chicken onto a small cookie sheet and slide the sheet into the freezer. Let it hang out there for about 5 minutes. 
7. Start cooking your pasta. 
8. Remove the chicken from the freezer and dredge each piece in the milkand then immediately into the corn flake crumbs. Again, be sure both sides are covered well. 
9. Add the olive oil to a hot skillet. 
10. Carefully lay each chicken piece into the hot oil. Sprinkle with a little bit of salt and pepper. Cook over medium high heat for about 5 minutes....
or until the underside of each piece is nice and golden brown. Turn the pieces over. If the bottom of the pan is dry add just a bit more olive oil to the side of the pan. Swirl the pan around a bit to let the oil flow to all sides. 
11. Cover the pan and reduce the heat to medium.  Let the chicken cook for about 7 more minutes, being careful not to burn the bottoms. Burned bottoms are not advised. In any shape or form. Thank you. 
12. When your chicken has been cooked through remove it from the pan and place it on a plate. Cover with tin foil.  
13. Into the same pan pour your broth. Philly Cooking Creme, Cream of Chicken, and milk. Whisk the sauce around and let it get all warm and bubbly. Should only take about 3 minutes. 
14. Slice your chicken into strips and serve over your cooked pasta and sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley if you choose. 
Enjoy

Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing (Aka Cafe Rio Dressing)

Everyone already has this recipe, but thought I'd post it here to make it easy to find:

1 pack (1oz) Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix
ignore directions on the packet
1C mayo
1/2 C milk
1 lime
2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1/2 C roughly chopped cilantro
1/4 C green salsa*
hot sauce

This is tough folks. Place milk, mayo, and ranch mix in a blender. Juice the lime in there too, you should get about 2T juice. Toss in the garlic, cilantro and green salsa. Blend ‘er up. Sample it and add hot sauce to taste. Make it several hours ahead of time to allow it to thicken.

San Diego Style Fish Tacos - AKA BEST FISH TACOS EVER

So I made these last night and Jack and I both thought they were the BEST fish tacos we've ever had.  Normally I don't fry things beacause a) it is unhealthy and b) I always get burned and make a mess.  But this really didn't make a mess OR burn me, it was really easy.  Ok maybe it is still unhealthy, but every once in awhile it is WORTH it.  I skipped the queso fresco cause it was so darn expensive at Dan's.  I also used halibut instead of cod because it was cheaper.

San Diego-Style Fish Tacos

1 c. all-purpose flour

2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg
1 c. beer (non-alcoholic beer works great)
1 lb. cod fillets, rinsed, patted dry, and cut into 1-2 oz. strips
Corn tortillas (as many as you have pieces of fish)
Pico de Gallo (and/or Mango Pico de Gallo) (just use your favorite recipe)
Shredded cabbage (packaged coleslaw mix works great)
Creamy Lime-Cilantro Dressing (aka Cafe Rio Dressing)
Crumbled Cotija cheese or Queso Fresco
Fresh lime wedges and sea salt for serving

Preheat oven to 170 (or lowest setting on your oven).
Combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk an egg and then whisk in the beer. Add the beer mixture to the flour mixture.
Heat about 1 quart (3-4 inches) of canola oil to 375 degrees (use a candy or frying thermometer) in a heavy cooking pot. Lightly dredge each piece of fish in flour and then dip in beer batter. Gently drop into the hot oil and cook for about 7-8 minutes or until the coating is dark golden-brown and a test piece flakes easily with a fork. Remove from oil and drain on a paper towel-lined plate; stick the plate in the preheated oven to keep warm while you cook your tortillas.
Place tortillas, 1-2 at a time, in the hot oil and cook 1-2 minutes or until they start to get crispy but are still bendable. Remove from oil and drain on a paper towel. Assemble each taco with a piece of fish, shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, crumbled Cotija cheese (or Queso Fresco), and a drizzling of Lime-Cilantro Ranch.

Creamy Avocado Pasta

Serving Size: 2

Prep Time: 10-15 min
Cook Time: See pasta package

I found this recipe online and it is so easy to make and yummy if you like avacados.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium sized ripe Avocado, pitted
• 1/2 lemon, juiced + lemon zest to garnish
• 1/2 - 1 garlic cloves, to taste
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt, or to taste
• 1/4 cup or less Fresh Basil, (probably optional)
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 servings/6 oz of your choice of pasta
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:
1. Bring several cups of water to a boil in a medium sized pot. Add in your pasta, reduce heat to medium, and cook until Al Dente, about 8-10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, make the sauce by placing the garlic cloves, lemon juice, and olive oil into a food processor. Process until smooth. Now add in the pitted avocado, basil, and salt. Process until smooth and creamy.
3. When pasta is done cooking, drain and rinse in a strainer and place pasta into a large bowl. Pour on sauce and toss until fully combined. Garnish with lemon zest and black pepper. Serve immediately. Makes 2 servings.

*Please note: This dish does not reheat well due to the avocado in the sauce. Please serve immediately.

You may have to mess around with this recipe until you get it right to your tasting, but I really liked it!

Picture via: OhSheGlows.com