Green Sauce Enchiladas - Lasagna Style

At a holiday party I hosted, these Green Sauce Enchiladas I created were the first to be completely devoured.  Make them for yourself and I guarantee, you will receive rave reviews from all the guests.

INGREDIENTS

8 boneless skinless chicken breast

1 container of sour cream

2 cups of jack cheese

1 bunch of cilantro

Remaining ingredients are from the

El Tapatio Markets

1 pack of freshly made flour tortillas 

2 containers of green chili sauce 

1 container of salsa fresca  (or make your own with diced tomatoes, cilantro and onion) and let sit overnight.

TO PREPARE

Boil chicken breast.  When cool, Shred the chicken and add the sour cream, Salsa Fresca, and 1 cup of Jack cheese and 1/2 container of the green chili sauce. Mix well.

Get a 9x12 baking pan and pour a thin layer of the green chili sauce to coat.  Cover the bottom of the pan with the flour toritillas as you would layer a lasagna.  Spread the chicken mixture over the layer, then cover with tortillas.  Cover with remaining chicken and layer again with tortillas (top)  Pour the remaining green chili sauce over entire dish. Cover with the remaining jack cheese.  Back at 400˚ for 35 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbling.  Garnish with fresh cilantro and green onions.  

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Holiday Treats Platter

These cookie recipes are great to share and take only minutes to prepare!

Package them up in a holiday tin from Aaron Brothers or on a festive plate covered in cellaphane. Attach your favorite cookie cutter (cookie cutters from Sur La Table) and handwritten recipe card to personalize it even more.

Giant Snowflake Sugar Cookie

• 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
• 2 cups white sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I USE Pure Madagascar Vanilla Bean Paste from SurLaTable)
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

For the Icing. 1 cup of powdered sugar, two tsp. corn syrup, 2 T. Milk. I have a still paint brush and I paint them on from the middle out.

Mexican Wedding Cookie (from allrecipes.com)

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (I USE Pure Madagascar Vanilla Bean Paste from SurLaTable)
• 2 teaspoons water
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup chopped almonds
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Stir in vanilla and water. Add the flour and almonds, mix until blended. Cover and chill for 3 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
3. Shape dough into balls or crescents. Place on an unprepared cookie sheet and bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from pan to cool on wire racks. When cookies are cool, roll in confectioners' sugar. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.

Haystacks with Cashews

What you will need:

3 cups Chinese noodles (chow mein)

1 cup Cashews halves

1 bag dark Chocolate chips

1/2 bag Butterscotch chips

To Prepare:

Melt Chocolate and Butterscotch chips in Microwave at medium or low 3 to 4 minutes until melted. Stir chocolate smooth; add noodles and cashews. Toss to coat well. On strips of foil or wax paper, form into 1 1/2 inch clusters. Cool to set. Makes about 24 (1 1/2 inch) "haystacks."

To Serve: Serve on a chilled plate at dessert time.

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Flameless Menorah

Hanukkah is approaching. Here is a great holiday craft for the first night. Hanukkah Crafts
Parents.tv shows you a fun way to get in the Hanukkah spirit by making a menorah.
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30 days of...Gift Giving Ideas

"I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver."  - Maya Angelou

So this holiday season begin to free your soul by giving thoughtful gifts to the ones you love. Print this out and use it as a list.  Be sure to check it twice for those who are naughty - or nice!

You can never have too much of these items!

Purses

Exercise

Jewelry - A Mother's Bracelet

Hats

Survival Supplies

Moleskin Journals

Reservations

Massage

Nature and Nuture

Pajamas

Beauty

Unique Toys and Books

Thoughtful and Homemade

Calendar

Piggies and Paws Artwork

Posters of their favorite icon

DNA Art

Personalized Stationary

Your Favorite Recipes

Music

Blankets

Lessons

Last Minute Stocking Stuffers Gifts

Kitchen Items

Coffee

A Movie Experience

Tickets

Ornaments

Hostess Gifts

Cocktail Set with Homemade Martini Glasses

Candles

Games

Breaking Bread

What is your favorite gift to give?  And receive?

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30 days of Christmas Tree Ideas

Decorating for the holidays is a tradition in our home.  My favorite part is opening the box of ornaments I've collected over the years. Every ornament has sentimental value to us, otherwise it doesn't get hung on our tree.  My favorites are the pictures of family members I make every year through Kodak Gallery and the original "crafty" school projects I usually have to mend.   Hanging the vacation ornaments of places we've been always get us reminiscing about the good (and bad) times we've experienced.  The collection of angels and crosses gets bigger every year as does the addition of a bible verse or quote I like to focus on.  The tree is complete when the burgundy and gold-trimmed hydrangeas are placed throughout and edible See's Candy Climber Canes get hung on the branches.  

Our tree is a reflection of our family and a story is told with every step around and glance down. Although I would never change my style it doesn't stop me from enjoying the various themes of Christmas Trees available.  So for the next 30 days, we will be having a Christmas Tree decorating contest.  All you have to do is upload a picture of your tree to the NEW! 30daysof page on Facebook and you can win a $100 gift certificate to the TaiPan Trading Company. 

Here are 30 styles of trees to choose from:

Country Tree

Gingerbread Tree

Morning Frost Tree

Natural Tree

Peasant Tree

Peppermint Tree

Purple and Gold Tree

Red Tree

RGB Tree

Santa Tree

SIlver Bells Tree

Wine and Cheese Tree

Gumdrop Candy Tree

Sports Tree

Disney Tree

Edible Tree

Bird House Tree

Flower Tree

Angel Tree

Pretty Presents Tree

Village Tree

Religious Tree 

Fruit Tree

Star-Spangled Tree

Silver and Blue Tree - Hanakkah - Tree Topper

12 days of Christmas Tree

Animal Tree

Snowman Tree

Toy Tree

Family Picture Tree

What does your tree look like?  What tradition do you follow every holiday?  Send a picture to the facebook Fan page or comment below.  You will be entered to win a gift certificate to the greatest decor store in California.  

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30daysof...Trader Joes Favs!

So many friends and family of mine have not discovered the many hidden secrets and treasures you can find at Trader Joe's. In fact, most of them think it's only gourmet food that no one really eats. Showcased here are 30 of the best things that Traders Joe's has to offer.

Holiday Favorites

Peppermint JoeJoe Cookies

Maple Cookies

Pumpkin Tart

Pumpkin Butter

Pumpkin Pancakes

Corn Bread Stuffing

Hostess Gifts

Dark Chocolate Bar w/Bottle of Port or Red Wine

Unique Beers

Organic Soaps

Cheese and Salami Baskets

Secret Sauces

Peanut Sauce Vinaigrette

Enchilada Sauce

Alfredo Sauce

Vanilla Organic Yogurt

Chipotle Salsa

Almond Peanut Butter

Pizza Sauce (goes with Pizza Dough)

Easy 1-step Meals

Orange Chicken

Quiche

Chocolate Croissants

Pecan Tarts

No Pudge Brownies

Oatmeal/Egg Pancakes

For Kids

The Apple walks into a Bar

Make your own Trail Mix

Cinammon Applesauce

Carrot w/ranch packs

Celery w/peanut butter packs

Jack Cheese Packets

Pizza Dough (best with Pizza Sauce)

Fabulously Frozen

Garlic French Fries

Brown Rice Packets

Each of these will have links eventually for the best use. Until then become a fan of Trader Joes on Facebook.

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The Easiest and Gooeyist Brownies, EVER!

These really are the easiest and gooeyist brownies, EVER! Easy, because they only require TWO items to make.

1. a box of No Pudge Fudge Brownie Mix

2. 2/3 cups of Trader Joe's Vanilla Organic Lowfat Yogurt.

Simply mix together and bake. To make them even gooeyier, I melted 1/3 cup of Duncan Hines dark chocolate frosting and poured on top.

ENJOY!

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Almond Joy Cupcakes - Cuz I feel like a nut!

My daughter's favorite candy bar is the ALMOND JOY! So for her 10th birthday, I felt like a nut and made Almond Joy cupcakes. Some I made with coconut on the top, some had a coconut filling inside, and others were only chocolate with a ganache frosting. They were gobbled up! Here's how I made them.

To start, reserve 1/2 cup of coconut for the frosting mix. Then toast the remaining coconut in the oven at 375 for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Prepare the cupcakes while the coconut is being toasted.

CUPCAKE INGREDIENTS

1 box of Devil's Food Cake Mix

1 box of chocolate instant pudding mix

-Prepare cupcakes per package directions but add the instant pudding mix as well. While baking, make the following frostings.

COCONUT FROSTING OR COCONUT FILLING

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut

FOR CHOCOLATE GANACHE TOPPING or FILLING
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup milk chocolate chips
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream

Garnish with an almond for the cupcakes filled with the coconut filled.

To make cream cheese frosting—
Beat the cream cheese and butter in a mixer bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar, one cup at a time, alternating with heavy cream. Beat in the salt, coconut flavoring, and vanilla extract. Continue beating until mixture is smooth and spreadable. Add additional confectioners’ sugar if necessary to thicken the frosting, or more cream to thin. Fold in the shredded coconut.

To make chocolate ganache—
In saucepan bring whipping cream to boil over high heat. Pour hot whipping cream over chocolate and stir until chocolate melted. You can add more cream if your ganache is too thick to spread.

NOTE: reserve some chocolate only as some people do not like coconut.

This has inspired me to make other cupcakes out of my friends favorite candy bars. I'm thinking Reese's Cupcakes. What would you make?

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Enchiladas Casserole - Trader Joes Style

Here is a favorite dish of our family. Enchiladas Casserole. I make it a casserole because I have never had much luck or desire to roll the tortilla around the ingredients. It is too messy and they never stay together. So I layer my ingredients, similar to making lasagna.

Trader Joe's enchilada sauce has the perfect blend of spices that kids and adults love.

INGREDIENTS

5 - 6 boneless skinless chicken breast

1 package corn tortillas

1 can of refried beans
3 bottles TJ's Enchilada Sauce (shown)

1 bunch Green Onions

1 jalapeño (optional)
2 cans of diced chilies (optional)

1 package mexican blend cheese

Diced Olives, Cilantro, green onions - Optional for garnish

TO PREPARE

Boil Chicken. Dice or shred and mix with 2 cups green onions, jalapeño, chilies, beans, and 2 jars of TJ enchilada sauce. Thinly coat bottom of a large casserole dish with sauce (from 3rd bottle) then cover with 1 layer of corn tortillas. Layer chicken mixture then tortillas, then chicken, then tortillas.  Cover the top layer of tortillas with the rest of the sauce. Top with cheese and bake (covered with foil) at 375˚ for 45 minutes.

Garnish with Olives, Cilantro or Chives.
Serve with avocados and tortilla chips.

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Asian Appetizers

At our last ladies poker night, the only thing I left with was a few extra calories from these fabulous vegetable wontons. Here's how they were made. (For best results - prepare the filling and sauce and chill overnight.)

INGREDIENTS

1/2 green cabbage finely shredded

1/3 cup carrots, finely shredded

3 minced green onions

1 bunch of cilantro chopped

3 minced garlic cloves

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper

1 TBS soy sauce

1 TBS sesame oil

25 Wonton Wrappers (once filled with a tsp. of filling, wet the edges of the wontons 4 sides, fold into a triangle, then pinch the corners together) Fry in vegetable oil until golden brown.

SAUCE INGREDIENTS (whisk all ingredients together and chill overnight)

1/3 cup rice vinegar

1/3 cup Soy Sauce

1/3 cup water

2 TBS sesame oil

1 tsp red pepper (or chili oil)

This is a perfect appetizer to make with the CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD we served at the spa party since many of the ingredients are the same. For dessert, we made our own fortune cookies with poker predictions, such as YOU WILL NOT BE SO LUCKY TONIGHT.

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Shop till you drop! - Not Anymore with these iphone apps!

If I could hug the developers of these delicious apps and websites for on-the-go moms, I don't think I would ever let go! The only way you could pry me away would be to take me to one of the restaurants I was led to by URBAN SPOON.  This app helps pick a restaurant in your nearby area. All you have to do is shake your phone and it will give you a choice for any cuisine you desire.

If you need a gift certificate for one of these restaurants, check out Restaurant.com.  Simply register for free, enter the restaurant and receive a $25 gift certificate for $4.  I am not kidding. The only catch is, not all your favorite restaurants are involved.  So why not be adventurous and try new places.  For $4, you can't miss.

If these great finds haven't made you shout YOWZA, then this next app will.  It is called YOWZA! Simply enter your location and this app will give you mobile coupons to the existing stores, restaurants and services in your area.  The merchant simply scans the barcode on your iphone, so no need to forget the coupons at home.  And for you non-coupon users - duh!  It is free money. Why are you willing to pay more for something than you need to? 

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iPhone apps for Creators, Authors, Designers, and Moms

There are over 50,000 apps to choose from. This does not make your life simple. So for the next thirty days, I have chosen the best apps for creators, authors, designers, and moms. Do you have any favorites I missed? Let me know in the comment section below. 

Creators

Type Drawing - with just one word or sentence, a new artform is created. 

MyStarbucks - to get your creative juices flowing, get your java fix.

Oxford Dictionary of Law - Protect your creation.  Know the law.

Patent Finder - Has anyone else invented your idea?  Look it up first.

ColorSnap - See a color you like and want to use it for a project?  Now you can. 

iSwap Faces - Create funny pictures of your family by swapping their face with another.

HoloSnaps - select 3 of your photos to make a holographic card.  

Juxtaposer - combines multiple pictures into fun photomontages quickly.

Shazam - What is that song you hear playing in the store.  Find it with Shazam!

Skype - a great communication tool to collaborate all over the world - FREE.

Authors

Blog with iBlogger - real mobile blogging and compatible with nearly any blog.

Tweetie - keep up to date with your followers and the people you follow.  (Don't forget to follow @storyexperiment and @30daysof) 

Evernote - remember and recall your ideas with this multiple-award winning app.

Wikipanion Plus - You don't have all the facts, but this app does.  Begin your research here.

AP Stylebook - provides fundamental guidelines on spelling, grammar, punctuation, usage and journalistic style.

Designers

MyPantone - Get your inspiration from the complete Pantone Libraries.

PS Tips + - Get photoshop tips for Windows and MacIntosh

Colorsplash - gives photos a dramatic look by converting them to black and white, while keeping your chosen details in color.

CameraZoom2 - Need to zoom in while taking a picture of your latest inspiration.

The Typography Manual - looking for a font?  This is the app for you.

WhattheFont - take a picture of a font and have it identified.  

Moms

Gratitude Stream - learn to enjoy the simple things in life.

Bill Pal - Organizes your bills so you are never late.

iHandy Carpenter - includes all the tools you need to measure for home or school projects.

iXpenseIt - simplifies daily expense tracking and monthly budgeting.

ShoZu - connects you with all your social networks from one application

Grocery iQ - build your shopping list and never leave home without it!

Lose it!  - the best app to track your calories and your daily exercises.

Epicurious Recipes & shopping list - over 25,000 recipes from major magazines, cookbooks and chefs.

Numberline - help your kids understand fractions, decimals and percents.

ABC Pocketphonics: letter sounds & writing + first words - Great for Kids!!!

What are your favorite apps? Thanks for sharing.

 

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