Chicken Tortilla Soup

This soup is a great week night meal. Make a "Toppings Bar" with your garnishes so your family can create there own masterpiece.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 medium jalapeno pepper, chopped [include seeds]
4 cups cooked chicken

2 cups fresh or frozen corn
3-4 cups of chicken broth
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 can black beans [frijoles negros]

1 cup of hominey
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
1 15 oz can tomato sauce

 Garnish Options

Corn Tortilla strips or crumbled Tortillas

Sour Cream

Chipotle Sour Cream (Adds a delicious smokey flavor. Chop 1-2 chipotle peppers in adobo until finely chopped add to 1/2 C. of Sour Cream stir till well combined.)

Chopped cilantro

Sliced Jalapeno

Monterey Jack or Queso Fresco

Sliced Avocado

Green Onion

Saute the onion, garlic and pepper in the oil and butter until soft. Add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes.

Shrimp Pad Thai

 

This dish is super easy to make and is a healthier way to take care of your takeout cravings!



Ingredients

8 ounces uncooked flat rice noodles (pad Thai noodles)

2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

2 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce

1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce

1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon Sriracha or chili garlic sauce

3 tablespoons canola oil

1 cup (2-inch) green onion pieces

8 ounces peeled and deveined large shrimp

5 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup fresh bean sprouts

1/4 cup chopped unsalted dry-roasted peanuts

3 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil
1 lime cut in wedges

1. Cook noodles according to package directions; drain.
2. While water comes to a boil, combine sugar and next 4 ingredients (through Sriracha) in a small bowl.

3. Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add onion pieces, shrimp, and garlic; stir-fry 2 minutes or until shrimp is almost done. Add cooked noodles; toss to combine. Stir in sauce; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly to combine. Arrange about 1 cup noodle mixture on each of 4 plates; top each serving with 1/4 cup bean sprouts, 1 tablespoon peanuts, and 2 teaspoons basil and serve with a wedge of lime.

World's Greatest Apple Pie

I have had a LOT of pie in my life and I can honestly say this is the best apple pie out there. Tart and sweet with a crunchy topping. In a word it is perfect.

Ingredients :
1 frozen prepared 9 inch pie crust thawed
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
6 cups thinly sliced peeled apples




Crumb Topping
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1/2 cup butter




Final Topping
1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt.Add apple slices and gently toss until they are coated well. Transfer mixture to prepared pie crust.


FOR CRUMB TOPPING: Stir together brown sugar, flour, and oats.Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until topping resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over apple mixture in pie. (If you don't have a pastry cutter place butter, flour and sugar in your cuisinart and pulse till it resembles crumbs then stir in the oats.)


To prevent over-browning the crust while baking, cover edge of pie with foil.
Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.


Remove foil and bake 25 to 30 minutes more, or until top is golden. Remove from oven.


Optional Final Topping :Drizzle top with caramel topping; sprinkle with pecans.

Cool on wire rack and serve with Dulce de leche ice cream!

Millie's Pumpkin Bars

Don't let the ease of this recipe fool you. These pumpkin bars may be short on ingredients and steps but I guarantee they are BIG in flavor.


Millie's should be famous Pumpkin Bars.

Ingredients
4 eggs
1 2/3 cups sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup melted butter
1 (15 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

ICING:
1(8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice

Directions
1.In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, sugar, oil, melted butter and pumpkin. Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually add to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Pour into an ungreased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. non stick baking pan or cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes. Cool completely.

2.For icing, beat cream cheese, sugar, butter, vanilla and pumpkin pie spice in a mixing bowl or stand mixer till creamy. Spread over cooled bars.

Keep covered and refrigerated. Makes 24 bars.

Divine Apple Butter

Not too tart not too sweet this apple butter is smply delicious.

Ingredients
1 (12 ounce) can frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed
1/2 cup apple cider
4 pounds Macintosh apples - peeled, cored and chopped about 15 apples
2 cups dark brown sugar
1 cup apple brandy
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Directions
1.In a large saucepan, bring apple juice concentrate, apple cider, and Macintosh apples to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Stirring occasionally, simmer uncovered about 1 hour, until apples are easily mashed.
2.Mix dark brown sugar, apple brandy, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves into the apple mixture. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Transfer to sterile containers and seal, and cool at least 1 hour before serving. Makes enough for 3 12 oz Jelly Jars.