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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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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Orange Chicken Dinner and Gratitude Fortune Cookies

Looking for an orange chicken dish that you can make yourself, without all the MSG? Your search ends in the freezer section at Trader Joe's. The Mandarin Orange Chicken is a family favorite of ours. I garnish it with green onions before serving and accompany it with fried rice, a recipe made with brown rice (also from Trader Joe's) mixed with mushrooms, onions, and egg.

For dessert, fortune cookies go perfect with this meal. Try this classic recipe but insert messages of gratitude inside as part of the gratitude challenge. Take the pledge and download the 21-day calendar.

Gratitude fortune cookies would make a great girl scout or brownie project.

Fortune Cookie Ingredients (via FoodNetwork.com)

• Nonstick spray
• 2 egg whites
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
• 1/2 cup superfine sugar
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 tablespoons water
• Pinch salt
• Fortunes written on strips of colored paper
• Special equipment: silpat

Directions

Cook's Note: using a silpat makes it easier to remove the cookies from the sheet tray.

Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.

On a half sheet tray, spray a silpat with nonstick spray. In a medium bowl whisk egg whites until foamy. Add the flour, sugar, almond extract, water, and salt to the egg whites and beat until smooth, about 30 seconds. Pour or spoon 1 tablespoon of batter onto prepared silpat and spread with the back of a spoon into a very thin 4-inch circle. Repeat on the other half of the sheet, making only 2 cookies per sheet tray. Bake the cookies on middle rack of oven until golden brown around edges, about 8 minutes. Remove from oven and working very quickly, with an offset spatula, remove cookie from baking sheet and place a fortune in the center of the round. Fold to create a half circle. Bend pointed edges of cookie toward each. This should be done quickly since the cookie will become hard and brittle within 10 seconds. Let cool.

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Crockpot Chili

Crockpot Chili

2 can of Chili Beans

1 large can of Kidney Beans

1 large can of diced tomatoes

2 packets of Lawry's CHILI seasoning (follow directions on packet)

2 pounds of cooked ground beef

1 onion cooked with ground beef (optional)

Add 1 cup of water if needed.

Cook meat with 1 seasoning packet

(and onions if desired.)

Mix all the cooked and canned ingredients together in a crockpot. Add the 2nd seasoning packet.

Cook on high for 1 hour.

SET UP THE GARNISH BAR w/

Cheese Its
Grated cheddar cheese

Green onions, fried onions or diced onions

Jalapeños 

Sour cream

Baked Potatoes or Hot Dogs

Great Charity idea: Every school or church has a can food drive:  Buy an extra can of each and donate with a copy of this recipe.  

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A Champion's Breakfast-Oatmeal Egg Pancakes

As a soccer mom, I want the most nutrition for my player before the game. Unfortunately the early games prevent this from happening - until I found out about Oatmeal Egg Pancakes.

Beat 2 eggs, mix with one pouch of oatmeal (I use Trader Joe's Organic Oats and Flax Instant Oatmeal)

Add a splash of nonfat milk (or water) and stir. Spray your skillet with a light cooking spray then pour mixture into pan just as you would a pancake.

Serve with fruit of choice.

Note: these are great to-go just in case you are running late. Like me =)

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A DING DONG CAKE CONTEST

Inspired by 30daysof...Resolutions #8, we hosted a neighborhood block party this week. Neighbors brought a dish to share and we roasted hot dogs and homemade Crockpot Chili. Neighbors brought a side dish or dessert. While the adults mingled and played TABLE TOPICS, the kids ran a lemonade stand and all proceeds were donated to CHOC.

We got the lemonade stand from Sunkist Lemonade Stands.  (Website features recipes and how-to tips for kids) They also run a program called TAKE A STAND. (join group on Facebook).

The biggest hit of the block party was the DING DONG cake.  I used 83 DING DONGS for the version above.  When making the cake I had the idea to have a contest.  For the next 30 days ending October 17th, upload a picture of your DING DONG cake to the 30daysof fan page we just started.  If your cake is the winner, you will receive a $100 donation to the charity of your choice and the TABLETOPICS conversation game to play with your neighbors.  

Of course all the ding dongs were not eaten (as most cakes aren't).  Our solution, we froze the uneaten ding dongs and now play ding-dong ditch with the neighbors who didn't attend.  We ring the doorbell, leave the dingdong and run!  So fun...and the kids love it.

Send in your pics of your ding dong cake to the 30daysof... Group on Facebook.

 

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Thai Chicken Tortilla Wraps

Mimi's Cafe used to serve Thai Chicken Tortilla Wraps as an appetizer but they were taken off the menu over 6 months ago (2009).  They come back occasionally as a featured item - January 2011.
This recipe is a family favorite and it will remain on our menu, forever.

INGREDIENTS (serves 12)

6 Chicken Breast

1/2 head Finely Chopped Green Cabbage
1/2 head Finely Chopped Red Cabbage

2 cups Chopped Carrots

3 cups White Sticky Rice

1 bunch Cilantro Finely Chopped

1 bunch Green Onions

1 package Wonton Noodles

12 Tomato Basil Tortillas - Burrito Size
Peanut Sauce used at Mimi's Cafe  (pictured below) Bangkok Pandang Peanut Sauce

HOW TO MAKE AND SET UP A BUFFET:

Boil chicken until tender and cooked thoroughly. When it is cool, chop or shred the chicken. Place on platter.  Mix the chopped cabbage, cilantro, green onion, and carrots.  Place on Platter.   Slice wonton sheets in strips and fry until crispy. Place wonton crisps on platter. Steam white rice per package directions.  Can be made ahead of time. 

The wraps are not good without
this PEANUT SAUCE

TO SERVE:

The only ingredients that should be served warm are the tortillas and the peanut sauce.  Warm your tortillas.  Place the ingredients inside and make a burrito - squeezing tightly. Serve the peanut sauce in a ramekin to dip for each bite.  You will want extra - Trust me...it is fabulous!


I served this meal at a New Years Bowling Bunko Party along with Seagram's Sweet Tea Palmetto Cocktail.  Read about the party details here.


Have you had the Thai Chicken Wraps at Mimi's?  Please comment below if you think they should remain on the menu ALWAYS.

Serve at a NEW YEARS EVE BOWLING BUNKO party - Get details and share with the link below. 

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Tech Kids Review - Sketchfu a Giraffe

I am a huge fan of art and expressing one's individual creativity.  The website Sketchfu is appealing to kids and adults and allows artists to draw and share them online.  I utilize Sketchfu to animate the weekly stories written on @storyexperiment on Twitter.  In addition, participating in projects such as ONE MILLION GIRAFFES, is a great way to get the kids away from the TV.  

Here is a project for you to try with your kids on Sketchfu.  

1. Login to Sketchfu (sign up for a free account)

2. To begin your drawing, Click NEW at the bottom left of the artboard. 

     On your first drawing, draw a giraffe to submit to the 1,000,000 giraffe project.

3. Click on a brush size.

4. Select the color

5. Start to draw. (if you don't like what you drew, you can hit UNDO as many times as you would like.)

6. If you would like to see how the drawing looks animated. Click REPLAY and speed up or slow           down the animation.  (KIDS LOVE THIS!)

7. When you are finished with your drawing, TITLE IT (bottom right) and hit PUBLISH.

8. Once published you can share it various ways.  Email, Facebook, Etc.  

9. Select DOWNLOAD and Right Click the image with your mouse.  

10. SAVE as on your desktop as a jpeg.

11. Upload to the 1,000,000 giraffes and see if yours in one in a million.

Have fun being creative!

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Friendly Traditions - Start a Bunko Group

This year marks a 10-year monthly tradition of playing Bunko together. Our group started with 12 girls just married. A third of us were first time stay-at-home mommies deeply in need of adult conversation. Some wanted to reunite with old work friends and keep in touch better. We all wanted to GET OUT once a month - and spend fun time with friends.
We didn't set any rules except to supply dinner if you are a host and call if you can't make it. Themes were not mandatory but throughout the years, the themes these creative woman come up with is what I look forward to.
The latest party theme was a "Little Black Dress" Bunko by Karri. She set the table with elegant crystal and draped pearls around the napkins and centerpieces. She found initialed pearled ornaments and placed them next to each placesetting along with our personalized score card. For the main course she set up a mash-potatoe bar which was served in martini glasses. A light salad and shishkabobs skewered with tomotoe, mozzarella and basil were great accompaniments to the elegantly served carb. After dinner she read us an excerpt from the book, The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan. It is a moving essay about women's remarkable capacity to support each other, to laugh together, and to endure. And yes, I cried.
We played one round of bunko (which is usually one round too many for me) and afterword enjoyed cake and sugar cookies adorned with a picture of Audrey Hepburn and her signature black dress. The theme was very simple and elegant.
Many bunko groups begin and end within a matter of months. Most don't last becuase women let their busy lives get in the way. If you start a bunko group, make the effort. Show up and don't make excuses. Perfect your entertaining skills. It is in times of difficulty when we need our friends the most. It is a tradition I hope to continue until all of us are rolling our dentures and sharing pictures of our grandkids.

For your bunko group, do you have themes? Share your favorites here. In the meantime, enjoy the following video of a reading from The Middle Place.

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Monkey Bread

Luckily we participate in this tradition once a year because it takes a year to burn off the calories we consume enjoying it.  It's called Monkey Bread and EVERYONE loves it!  In our family, we prepare the monkey bread on Christmas Eve to serve on Christmas morning.  The recipe is so easy, the kids can practically do it all! 

While I make the sugar cookies for Santa. (another tradition)

Monkey Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

2 cans refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons cinnamon 1 1/2 stick of melted butter
1/2 cup raisins and/or pecans (these are optional, it's great with or without them)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350˚ and grease a monkey bread pan (bundt pan or angel food pan works great)

2. Mix all sugar and cinnamon in a large plastic bag. Cut the biscuits into quarters and place in the bag with the sugar.
Shake well as you coat all sides evenly.

3. Arrange pieces in the bottom of the greased pan. Continue layering until all the biscuit pieces are coated with sugar and in the pan. I sprinkle raisins and pecans throughout the layering process as well.

4. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat and pour on top of entire monkey bread evenly.  If you want to ensure an even coat, you can brush the butter atop each layer.

5. Bake for 35 minutes. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a plate.  Top with the icing while warm. 

Icing (pour on top or serve on side)

1 cup cream cheese
1 stick butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions:

1. Allow cream cheese and butter to get to room temperature.

2. Beat butter and cream cheese together in a large bowl with a mixer.

3. Slowly add in the pound of powdered sugar.

4. After all the powdered sugar is added mix for 12 minutes (do not mix less than that).

5. When almost done, add in the extract and lemon juice.

Lately my daughter has been requesting this for her birthday morning treat as well.  

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