Mexican Stuffed Jumbo Pasta Shells

Happy Sunday everyone, I hope you're rested and ready for a short work week.  I am also looking forward to Thanksgiving and seeing our family.  I'm making appetizers for this Thanksgiving and have been creating some great appetizer boards on Pinterest. Here is what Bill and I had for dinner tonight..I didn't feel like going to the store and had a lot of things on hand so here is what I came up with.  I had bought the pasta shells awhile back to make an Italian dish but I had more of the ingredients for a Mexican theme. We loved them and you will too with the countless variations you can create. They are a repeat meal! (And a freezer meal)

Mexican Stuffed Jumbo Pasta Shells 

Mexican Stuffed Jumbo Pasta Shells

Source: The Girl Who Ate Everything

preheat oven to 375
boil 1 large pot of water
Serves 8 

Ingredients:
1 Box Jumbo Pasta Shells
1 lb cooked lean ground beef or turkey
1 package taco seasoning
4 oz cream cheese
1 1/2 cups red salsa
1 cup taco sauce (or enchilada sauce works too)
1 chopped chipotle pepper in sauce (optional)
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese
9X13 greased baking dish

Garnish:
Woodall's Secret Sauce ( 1/2 c salsa, 1/2 c mayo, 1/2 sour cream)
Chopped Cilantro
Chopped Avocado
Limes


Directions: 
1.  Boil a large pot of water and cook jumbo shells according to package directions.

2. Drain pasta and place on a non-stick surface so shells wont stick together. 

3. While pasta is cooking start cooking your ground meat, drain fat, add taco seasoning and cook according 

to instructions on package, then add cream cheese and blend into meat. Add chipotle pepper if using at this time too.   

4. Pam your baking dish, Dump 1-2 cups of salsa into the bottom of the dish and begin to stuff 1-2 tablespoons mixture into each shell arranging standing up in the dish.

**Total 30 pasta shells  20 fit in the baking dish. I used an extra baking dish 8X8 for the extra 10 shells and froze them**

5. Finally add cheese:

6. Bake for 30-40 mins until cheese is melted and browning

7. Garnish on individual plate and enjoy!

 

Curry Coconut Lime Chicken with Rice

I found this recipe on Pinterest about two months ago - Chaos In The Kitchen . We have made this dish twice since "pinning" it.  It's easy, the first time we used the grill and the second time I used my "inside grill"..... I planned tonight to grill the chicken on the grill. It's sunny and gorgeous outside, Bill went to fire up the grill and poof, we are out of gas.  Realizing this last minute and not wanting my house to smell like curry you'll enjoy the "inside grill" Bill rigged up. 

Curry Coconut Lime Chicken with Rice 

Adapted from:  Chaos In the Kitchen. 
Serves 4, Prep time 10 mins - at least 2 hr marinating chicken, Cook time 20 mins 

Ingredients List: 

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts - each breast butterflied and pounded thin 
• 3 tbsp oil
• zest and juice of 2 limes  
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp ground coriander
• 4 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 4 tbsp sugar
• 4 tsp curry powder
• I can cup coconut milk
• pinch cayenne 
• 2 small fresh hot chili, such as Thai or Serrano, minced (optional)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• Fresh limes, cut into wedges
• cooked rice 

How To: 

1. Trim fat from chicken breasts.  Starting on thick side, slice the breasts almost in half, then open each like a book.

Place each open breast between two pieces of plastic wrap or wax paper.  Using a small heavy pan, bottle or smooth meat mallet lightly pound out each breast into even thickness.

2. Mix all remaining ingredients except fresh cilantro and limes.

3. Add chicken and marinade to a large bowl and chill in the refrigerator for up to two hours.

Once you are ready to cook the chicken, remove each breast from the marinade.

4. Pour the marinade into a small saucepan and bring to a rolling boil.  Boil continuously for at least 2 minutes, stirring occasionally so it doesn't burn.

5. Warm up your grill here - Chicken will cook quickly! - I hope you love my rigged up grill method to keep the curry smell out of the house.  

Cook the chicken in batches to prevent over crowding the pan.

Chicken will cook about 4-5 mins tops 

6. Place cooked breasts on a plate in a warm oven or under foil while cooking the remaining chicken.

Looks who also thinks Chicken Curry is for them! 

7. Sprinkle with fresh lime juice and cilantro. Serve with sauce on the side or on top.  Plate and serve hot! 

If you typically have these ingredients on hand this is a quick, cheap main dish to throw together.  It would be delicious on the grill or as kabobs and whole pieces of chicken. P.S. Use the Trader Joe's Coconut milk that is only .99 cents! 

Happy Cinco De Mayo: Easy Shrimp Tacos with Homemade Chips and Guacamole

Easy Shrimp Tacos with Homemade Chips and Guacamole

I made this post on Saturday and forgot to post it!  Here is to Cinco De Mayo - A few days late. 
If you're still looking for something quick to make for dinner tonight or to celebrate Mexican Independence these easy little tacos will hit the spot. Today is the best excuse to eat Mexican food.  ( Not that I even need an excuse to cook/eat and talk about Mexican food)

There are 3 recipes in this quick little meal so let me know if you have any questions.

Ingredient List:
preheat oven to 400 
Serves 4 

Shrimp Tacos:
1 Box Gordon's Popcorn Shrimp
1 bag of shredded Mexican cheese
1 bag shredded cabbage ( i used a coleslaw mix)
1/4 C house ranch sauce
1/4 C sour cream
2 jalapenos chopped and seeded ( optional)
4 tbls white vinegar
1 package small - hand made corn tortillas ( I used Pace Corn/Wheat blend)
2 chopped tomatoes
1 red onion ( 1/2 chopped 1/2 sliced)
Cilantro
Salt

Guacamole:
2 avocados - smashed
1 tsp salt
1 chopped jalapeno
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tbls chopped cilantro
1 lime


Homemade Tortillas:
3-4 10 or 12 inch soft tortillas ( you can use anything you have on hand)
2 tbls canola oil
1/2 juice of a limes
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cayenne powder
salt


Directions and Picture Tutorial:

1.  Preheat oven to 400 and put full box of frozen shrimp into the oven.  ( 25-30 mins until crisp)

 2. meanwhile start to make your taco fixings.
Bowl 1: Mix ranch, sour cream and 2 tbls of white vinegar and one jalapenos together in a small bowl set aside. ( add more vinegar if you're looking to thin out the taco sauce) 


Bowl 2: In another bowl mix chopped tomatoes, chopped onions, chopped cilantro, 1 chopped jalapeno, 2 tbls white vinegar, salt to taste and set aside. 


3. Now prepare your guacamole.
Mix avocados, salt, jalapeno, cilantro, garlic powder, juice of one lime. 

4. Now you have your sauces made make we are going to make tortilla chips. Cut your soft tortillas into 6 pieces or 8.  

Then mix oil, lime juice, chili powder, salt, cayenne ( together) 

Spread out on cookie sheet :  Bake in 400 degree oven for 10 mins - flip 1/2 way through.  

finished tortillas 

5. Put your tortillas and guacamole together on a plate. 

6. Pull your cooked shrimp out of the oven - check to make sure 

add cheese to the shrimps on tortillas  and broil for 3-4 mins 

7. Plate and sever - Dress with cabbage and red onion - serve hot and enjoy!

 

Baked Chicken Taquitos

I am pretty excited about this post.  Taquitos have always been something I seek out on a menu regardless if it's a Mexican restaurant or a bar appetizer. I will also admit when I'm shopping at Costco and hungry, I sneak in a box of frozen taquitos into the cart.  I love taquitos! When I saw this recipe on The Girl Who Ate Everything's blog I thought about it for a week before I made it.  ( I am still thinking about them)  This recipe was fun, versatile and not fried! Delicious results, creamy, flavorful and easy! I made these with 20 flour tortillas and a few of  corn ( gluten free option, but the flour was better :) 

Baked Chicken Taquitos 

Recipe and Tutorial 
Make 20 Taquitos 
Prep time 30 mins 
bake time 
1 package cream cheese ( I used reduced fat) 
1 cup salsa ( green or red)  
1  fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon cumin
2 teaspoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 cup Tablespoons sliced green onions
3 cups shredded cooked chicken ( about 3 cooked chicken breast or 1 rotisserie chicken) 
2 cup grated pepperjack cheese ( or cheddar) 
1 small can fire roasted jalapenos peppers 
about 24 small corn or flour tortillas (we liked flour better)
kosher salt
cooking spray

1. Preheat oven to 425. Line baking dishes or cookie sheets with Pam or a silpat. Start by mixing cream cheese, salsa, lime, cumin, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder together in your mixer. 

** I used red salsa**

2. Add in cilantro, onions, chicken and cheese - until mixed 

** Do not over-mix**

3.  Next put tortillas in microwave for 20 sections with a wet paper-towel over them to make them easy to work with ( Work in batches of 5-6). Spray Pam on one side of tortilla then place 4 tbls mixture on one side and tightly roll. 

Roll then place in baking dish ( Do not let them touch) Place seam side down.   Pam side will be on the outside. 

4. Bake in oven until golden brown at 425 for about 25 - 30 mins ( check after 20mins) Some mixture will fall out but you can easily stuff back in. 

let cool on cooling rack. 

5. Plate and serve!  Or store in fridge and warm for 10 mins in oven to reheat. These also freeze beautifully too! 

Serve with salsa, sour cream and guacamole!  Enjoy. 

Love Lydia