Pin a Day: Crock Pot Creamy Chicken Tacos

Wednesdays are the day Mike typically works in the office, so those are usually crock pot days for us.  That way I can throw something in the crock pot at lunch time and by the time I get home with Mike from Austin's traffic, dinner is ready.  Last Wednesday, I tried these Crock Pot Creamy Chicken Tacos.   This recipe was super easy and delicious.  I put my chicken breasts and a can of Rotel tomatoes in the crock pot for about 6 hours on low.   When I got home, I shredded the chicken and added half a block of cream cheese (I used the low fat version.) on top and let it cook for 30 minutes.  After 30 minutes, I stirred the cream cheese into the chicken.  We served it on flour tortillas with fresh cilantro, cheddar cheese, and lime juice.  It was so yummy!  We like things to be a little spicy so next time I may use the spicy Rotel tomatoes.  Otherwise, this is a perfect addition to our favorite foods.  

Pin a Day: Honey Sriracha Chicken

This week I had been closing a lot at work so I had time to make dinner before I'd leave for work, but it had to be fast.  This recipe seemed like it would fit the bill, but maybe not so much.  I also was trying to cook and finish getting ready at the same time so maybe this wasn't my best option.  This recipe was not really quick, easy, or easy to clean up, so it probably won't be repeated again in my repertoire unless I make some modifications.  I got the sauce started and the rice at the same time.  Next, I cut up the chicken and coated it in cornstarch and pepper.  I noticed my chicken was still slightly frozen so I knew it would take a little bit longer to cook.  The rice and sauce finished and the chicken still wasn't done yet.  I had to have Mike take over so I had time to finish getting ready.  Finally the chicken finished.  We poured the sauce on it and served it over rice with chopped scallions and shredded carrots.  It was decent flavor wise, but caused a lot of frustration in cooking.  In addition, the cornstarch made a huge mess in my pan and took a long time to clean.  This recipe was similar to the cashew chicken from the other day so I could do some modifications to that recipe to include the heat that the Sriracha sauce brought to this recipe.  This recipe may have turned out better if I had more time, but it was not the perfect fit for a busy weeknight. 

Pin a Day: Ranch Pesto Rigatoni Bake

Last Friday, we continued with the Lenten tradition of no meat on Friday.  This time I tried a Ranch Pesto Rigatoni Bake.   It was a very basic recipe, which was perfect if I had to work.  First, I made the pasta.  Next, I added the tomatoes, ranch dressing pesto, and half the cheese to the pasta, and mixed it up.  I added it to a casserole dish, put cheese on top, covered it with foil, and baked it.  Finally, I took the foil off and let the cheese brown a little bit.  I served this with salad.  It is a nice solid Italian meal and was perfect for Lent.  I loved the flavor the ranch dressing and pesto added.  It also made plenty for leftovers.  This will definitely be an idea for my next meatless meal.  It would also be great with ground beef, ground turkey, or sausage added to it.

Pin a Day: Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken

On days where I have to work, typically I end up eat leftovers for dinner.  I am getting tired of that, so I've started making crock pot dishes that I can eat before I leave and will still be warm for Mike when he is ready to eat.  Last week, I made Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken.   I always have most of the ingredients on hand so this is a great last minute choice.  First, I dredged my chicken pieces in a mix of flour and pepper and browned it in a little bit of oil.  I put in in the crock pot and mixed the sauce.  I read the recommendations in the comments section on the recipe and opted to double the sauce.  This was a good choice as I don't think there would have been enough sauce otherwise.  I cooked it for about 3-3.5 hours and then I added some shredded carrots and broccoli for a little bit more veggies.  I also got the rice started.  Once the rice was done, I stirred the cashews into the chicken mixture.  We got rice and served the chicken on top of the rice.  This meal was great and made plenty of leftovers for lunches and for quick dinners on other nights I was working.  We both really enjoyed it and I was glad that I was able to get some veggies in as well.

Pin a Day: Cheesy Ground Beef Rice Casserole

With cold weather and a sometimes unpredictable schedule, I've been making meals that are quick and warm.  This cheesy ground beef rice casserole fit those categories.  I got home from work and went straight to work on dinner so I could run a few errands.  First, I cooked some rice.  While the rice was cooking, I gathered my other ingredients and cooked the ground beef.  I used a low fat ground beef, but I would definitely use ground turkey next time to make it even healthier.  I also omitted the onions this time because I forgot to buy them, but would definitely add them in the future. One the initial cooking was done, I added rice, tomato sauce, chicken broth, peas, and cheese to the skillet and simmered for 3 minutes.  I poured this into a casserole dish and cooked for 15 minutes.  Meanwhile, I mixed together sour cream and cheddar to put on top of the casserole, added it, and cooked the casserole for another 15 minutes.  The results were great.  It was quick, easy, and warm.  Mike ate the leftovers with tortillas because it reminded him of burrito insides, but eating it as a casserole was fine.  This recipe could also be modified with different cheeses, proteins, and veggies.  Thank you Pinterest for another recipe! 

Pin a Day: Swiss Cheese Chicken

Last week, I tried a new and delicious recipe that will definitely become a favorite at our house.  It was Swiss Cheese Chicken and it was so easy!   Most of the ingredients are things that I have in my pantry or fridge at all times.  First, I put my chicken breasts in my pan.  Next, I covered them with a mixture of cream of chicken soup and milk.  Then, I placed 6 slices of swiss cheese on top of the soup mixture.  I used swiss cheese, but you could use any sliced cheese, depending on your preference.  Finally, I put the stuffing mix on top and drizzled the butter over it.  I ended up using the whole box of stuffing, but you could use however much you wanted.  The chicken I used was really thick so I cooked it for an hour.  While it was cooking, I made rice to serve with the chicken.  It was well worth the wait.  The chicken was moist, creamy and had a crunchy crust.  It tasted divine and made for great leftovers as well.  This dish was also recommended as a dish you could make ahead and freeze.  Unfortunately, I don't have much freezer space, but that is a great idea.  This was a refreshing change from my favorite chicken and rice casserole, which sometimes I over serve this time of year.

Oscarstravaganza

The Oscars are a special time for us.  For me, they mark a long tradition of watching the stars at the Academy Awards.  For the two of us, it marks our first visit to Austin 4 years ago.  I used to attend Oscar parties on occasion with friends at home, so now Mike and I have our own party with appetizers, cocktails, and the Oscar ballot.  This year we saw the majority of the nominated films so we thought we might have a better chance at predicting winners.  That ended up not being true, with Mike only getting 7/24 correct and me beating him by 1.  Watching the show also gave us movie suggestions for other movies we may want to see. 

Veggie Pizza

Our first dish was The Theory of Everything veggie pizza.  Its a classic recipe, but a favorite of ours.  The ingredients are a package of crescent roll dough, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, cream cheese, 1/2 package of ranch mix, veggies, and cheddar cheese.  First, I spread the dough on the pan and pressed the seams together and baked it according to the directions on the package.  While it was baking, I mixed together the cream cheese, mayonnaise, and ranch dip and chopped up the veggies.  I used broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots.  Once the crust cooled, I spread on the ranch mixture and topped it with veggies and cheese.  I let it cool further in the fridge while I prepped the rest of our feast. 

Bundt Cakes

My next dish was The Grand Budapest Hotel Mini Chocolate Bundt Cakes.  The bundt cake recipe was a new one for me.   As is common for me, I made a few changes to the recipe to make it right for us.  My first substitution was on the yogurt.  I didn't want to buy a whole container of plain yogurt so I used Greek yogurt instead, which cut out some fat too.  The recipe was pretty easy to follow and the consistency seemed fine.  I listened to the directions and poured the batter into 5 mini bundt cake portions.  They were very full and I probably could have done 6.  I also skipped the glaze.  Mike didn't care either way and I was running low on time before the red carpet show started.  When we actually served them, we added a little bit of chocolate syrup.  They were great!  I ended up eating a 1/2 because they were so rich.  This recipe is definitely a keeper and I highly recommend it.

Cheese and Sausage

Mike's contribution to the Oscar feast was Birdman turkey sausage and its a Gouda Boyhood cheese.  Mike got a big selection of meats and cheeses for Valentine's Day so he was happy to share those for the feast.  This was probably Cecil's favorite part of the feast, too, and he watched Mike cut everything up. 

Queso

Its not a Texas event without queso, so I served Imitation Game imitation cheese queso.  I went simple with this recipe, which is comprised of Velveeta and Rotel tomatoes. I cubed the Velveeta and drained the tomatoes.  Then, I mixed them together and microwaved until I got the right consistency.  This batch of queso had a little bit of a kick to it, which made us happy. 

Mimosas

No Oscar party is complete without cocktails, so this year, I served Whiplash with a splash of orange juice mimosas.  I used Cupcake moscato d'asti and Minute Maid kids orange juice.  It was a perfect cocktail for a great evening.  We enjoyed our feast and the show.  I look forward to catching up on the rest of the Oscar movies I missed and can't wait to celebrate again next year!

Feast time! 

Dessert

Dessert and the ballot

Better Than Mama

I love that my husband is such a nice guy.  Recently, we had some kids come to the door selling a coupon sheet for local restaurants.  The kids were lucky to have him answer the door because he always wants to help out and he is more likely to have cash.  One of the coupons on the sheet was for Mama Fu's, an Asian restaurant we had been wanting to try.  We went to Wolf Ranch for some shopping and walking on Saturday because it was a nice day and we knew we were headed for a cold snap.  Plus, we knew walking would work up an appetite.  I ordered the orange peel chicken with brown rice and a side of dumplings.  Mike got a spicy chicken with fried rice and a side of wontons.  We apparently did work up an appetite because we forgot to take pictures of our sides.  Our food was decent, I would compare it to a Pei Wei.  It was not spicy at all and we like the spicy.  There was also no spices/seasoning condiments on the table to make it spicier.  Both dishes were good, but I've definitely had better.  For future dining experiences, I wouldn't seek out Mama Fu's, but I wouldn't avoid it either.  

Pin a Day: One Pot Wonder Southwest Pasta

Lenten season is here, which means no meat on Fridays for Mike.  I love cheese pizza and tortellini, but that does get old after a while, so I plan on trying out some new recipes this year.  For the first Friday of Lent, I tried this One Pot Wonder Southwest Pasta recipe.   I had heard about people trying the one pot pastas with great success, so I was eager to give it a shot.  This recipe was really easy, tasted great, and made tons of leftovers.  Mike loved that it only used one pot and he didn't have to clean a ton of dishes!  In my big cast iron pot, I added pasta, frozen corn, rotel tomatoes, chopped onions and peppers, taco seasoning and broth. I brought it to a boil and then let it cook for about 15 minutes.  Once I took it off the burner, I stirred in black beans and cheese and let it sit about 5 minutes.  We dished it up and enjoyed!  It was excellent.  The pasta was creamy and definitely had a kick from the rotel and taco seasoning.  I honestly didn't miss meat in this dish, but you could potentially added some chicken or ground beef as well.  I loved my first experience with a one pot wonder and look forward to trying more!

Pin a Day: Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

Mike and I have been celebrating Valentine's Day for a while now and we have some pretty simple traditions.  I always make a dessert and he cooks me chicken Parmesan.  Often times, I make strawberry cupcakes or a heart shaped 2 layer cake, but it usually makes way more dessert than we need.  This year I made a heart shaped Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake.  This was definitely the best thing I made all week.  Making the dough was very similar to any other cookie dough and then it required refrigeration.  I kept it in the fridge for 30 minutes, but it could be kept in overnight.  I greased the heart pan and added some parchment paper on the bottom to prevent sticking.  I cooked it and removed it.  I let it cool in the pan for a while and then let it cool a bit longer on a plate.  I opted not to make frosting and instead used some leftover chocolate frosting to ice the cake.  After dinner, we enjoyed our cookie cake with some red wine.  It was nice and thick and chewy, much like a cookie cake from a store.  This was a great Valentine's treat and will likely be a treat I try again.

Pin a Day: Cheeseburger Pasta

While the first new recipe I tried last week was a hit, this Cheeseburger Pasta dish was not so great.   it was easy enough and had basic ingredients, so I thought it would be a dinner staple.  Unfortunately, the execution left something to be desired.  It called for a whole box of pasta, but in hindsight, I would maybe only use 1/2 to 3/4 of a box.  While the pasta was boiling, I browned the seasoned ground beef.  Next, I made the cheese sauce.  The recipe called for adding the cheese sauce to the meat and then adding the pasta.  I followed the recipe, but was less than pleased with the results.  The meat sucked up most of the cheese sauce and there was way too much pasta, which resulted in a rather bland dish.  It might work with a few modifications, but there are so many other recipes to try that I think I'll use one of those instead.

Pin a Day: Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken

Last week, I was back to trying out new recipes again.  I started out on Monday with Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken.   This was a great recipe for the beginning of the week because it made plenty of leftovers.  The recipe was pretty easy and gave us lots of options for how to eat it.  I served it over rice, but you could also serve it with tortillas, on lettuce, or as nachos.  Like many crock pot dishes, this was easy to make and also healthy.  

First, I added all the ingredients (minus the chicken) to the crock pot and gave it a good stir.  Next, I seasoned the chicken with salt and pepper and added it to the crock pot.  I cooked it on high for 6 hours.  Right before I cooked the rice, I shredded the chicken and let it cook a little longer.  It was delicious!  I will definitely be making this recipe again soon. 

Elevation

On Wednesdays, Mike goes to work, so making dinner can be a challenge after the lon( commute.  This week, we needed to head to the grocery store as well.  We stopped by a place called Elevation Burgers.  They prided themselves in having grass fed, organic beef and fries cooked in olive oil.  They also had shakes and cookies for dessert.  The basic burger had two parties on it and was quite large.  We commented that next time, we'd be good with single patty burgers.  The cheddar cheese on the burgers was delicious and the burgers were nice and juicy.  The fries were crisp and had great flavor.  Mike got a chocolate malt and it was divine, too.  It was made with real ice cream and was very thick.  It may not have been the most healthy or fancy meal ever, but it definitely hit the spot and prevented us from buying way too many groceries. 

Pin a Day: Chicken Mozzarella Pasta with Sundried Tomatoes

Another recipe I tried during my new recipe period was Chicken Mozzarella Pasta with Sundried Tomatoes.   I liked this recipe because it was fairly simple, used some of my pasta stash, and tasted great.  It also smelled great as I was cooking it and even Cecil had his nose in the air, hoping some was for him.  I started off with cooking the tomatoes and then cooking the chicken.  The chicken took the longest to cook and would have been much easier if I had used chicken tenderloins versus chicken breasts.  Finally, I added all my ingredients and got my whole dish cooking.  I used bow tie pasta because that's what was in my pantry, but you could use any pasta.  It was really yummy and made plenty of leftovers to feed us the rest of the week.

Pin a Day: Cheesy Taco Soup

It seems that I always plan my menu when it's cooler and by the time I make and eat things, it's warmer.  This Cheesy Taco Soup recipe followed that current trend.   What I liked the best about this recipe is that most ingredients are always in my pantry.  The other cool part was that I only used 2 pots.  I browned the meat in my big soup pot.  Next, I made my roux and added in the cheese.  Finally, I combined all the ingredients and waited until they heated up all the way.  We garnished our soup with cheese and crushed tortilla chips.  It was really good.  This was a fast, easy soup that had a little bit of a kick to it.  It would be perfect for a cold day, but it wasn't bad on a warm day either.

Pin a Day: Slow Cooker Pepper Steak Recipe

I was off work for the past 2 weeks, so I had a bit of time on my hands.  In addition to some major cleaning and organizing, I had a chance to try out some new recipes.  The first new recipe I tried was this Slow Cooker Pepper Steak Recipe.   It was really simple to make and delicious to eat as well.  First, I cooked the meat in a skillet with a little bit of seasonings.  Next, I made the liquid portion of the dish.  Finally, I put the onions, peppers, steak, and liquid in the crockpot.  I cooked it for a while (several hours) and then it was ready to eat.  

We decided to serve it like tacos.  I had some fresh tortillas from HEB, shredded cheese, sour cream, and green tomatillo salsa.  It was really yummy and probably the closest thing I've made that compares to my favorite tacos el carbon.  This recipe was so easy and delicious that I know I'll be making it again soon! 

Hop on Pop

On Sunday, we were feeling a little adventurous so we headed out to a new spot for us, Hopdoddy's Burger Bar.  I really wanted a burger and Mike had heard good things about it.  We did have to put on our patient pants because it is a popular place.  We waited in line for a long time before ordering.  It was well organized and you could order drinks while in line, plus they walked around with samples of the fries.  This also gave us plenty of time to decide and redecide what we wanted to eat.  In addition to burgers, fries, and shakes, they also had a fully stocked bar with specialty drinks and craft beers on tap.  While in line, we were also given a table assignment, which guaranteed we'd have a place to sit.  We happened to be there during a Cowboys game so assigned seating came in handy.

Sign inside

Finally, it was time to order.  We started off with milkshakes- Caramel and Sea Salt for me and Nutella and Pretzel for Mike.  Next, were the burgers with the Primetime for me and the Good Korma lamb burger for Mike.  We finished up with an order of Parmesan Garlic fries with truffle aioli.  After ordering, we grabbed our table and our food was brought out to us.

Milkshakes

Everything was awesome!  The shakes were an amazing combination of perfect consistency and fabulous flavor.  They were a great combination of sweet and salty.  Next our fries arrived.  They were crispy and flavorful.  I loved the truffle aioli and would probably eat it without fries.  😄  Last, but not least, our burgers came out.  I ordered the Primetime, which was a beef burger with truffle aioli, steak sauce, caramelized onions, cheese, tomato, and arugula.  It was delicious, but messy.  I went through several napkins eating it, but it was worth it.  Mike ordered the specialty burger, the Good Korma.  He selected a lamb burger and it was covered with Indian Korma (veggies and spices).  He really enjoyed it and I had a bite, finding it interesting and a bit spicy.  This was a fabulous meal that was totally worth the wait.  It was also very filling, so much that we skipped dinner!  We will definitely head back here because there were so many menu items we can't wait to try.

Truffle Fries

Primetime Burger

Good Korma Lamb Burger

Pretty Dang Quick

A couple of weeks ago, I had a Sunday off and we slept in before running errands.  We decided to try out a new chicken place by Lakeline Mall.  PDQ or People Dedicated to Quality had just opened so it was a little bit crowded.  We took a quick glance at the menu and I picked chicken tenders and fries, while Mike selected a buffalo chicken sandwich and fries.  Mike grabbed a table and I got drinks.  The food was so fast that it beat me to the table.  We were really impressed with the entire experience.  The customer service was fabulous with everyone being incredibly polite and helpful.  The cook even stopped by to ask how the food was.  The food was flavorful and filling.  Yummy chicken and well seasoned fries goes far in my book!  There were also tons of dipping sauce options- I tried a creamy garlic and ranch this time.  Both were great!  When it came to drinks, they had delicious ice tea and one of the fancy soda machines with tons of choices.  The atmosphere was also great.  It was very clean and the staff was walking around picking up trays to keep it clean.  We will definitely head back here, especially as we've heard they are building a new one right by our house.

The Mouton Clan

Deep in the heart of Leander, TX, lies one of the best kept brunch secrets around.  Mike and I were in the mood to try something new without having to drive too far.  We drove up to a cute little building with a large porch.  We opted for indoor dining, despite the gorgeous weather.  We simply prefer eating without nature's friends.  It was approximately 1 pm and we had brunch and breakfast options to choose from on the menu.  I didn't want to feel stuffed so I ordered a half order of French toast and a side of jalapeño cheese grits. Mike ordered the Lagniappe (lan-yap) so he could sample a bit of everything.  Our food was delicious!  I love my French toast that was made with French bread and cinnamon.  The grits were excellent too.  The jalapeño added a great kick to a dish that can be bland.  Mike got soooooo much food, but it was all amazing.  His meal included bacon, handmade sausage patties, a ham steak, grits, hash browns, eggs, and a biscuit with gravy.  His favorite part was the sausage patty, which was super yummy.  I tried some of the biscuit and gravy and loved it.  His plate definitely conquered him, but he did get to try a bit of everything.  We were very satisfied with our meals and we be back to try more items on the menu.

French Toast

Jalapeño Cheese Grits

The Lagniappe

Biscuit with gravy

Pin a Day: Lemon Pesto Chicken

I worked on Halloween and had a little bit of time before the trick or treaters started visiting.  I found this recipe for Crockpot Lemon Pesto Chicken.  I decided to modify it a bit to make it a quicker meal.  First, I cooked my chicken in a little bit of chicken broth while I boiled my pasta.  When the chicken was completely cooked, I squeezed the juice from a lemon on it and added a small jar of pesto sauce.  We served the chicken and sauce on pasta and were able to eat quickly.  This meal was quick and easy, but honestly it wasn't anything special.  I'd make it again if I needed something on the fly, but I won't be making plans for this meal anytime soon.