Salsa Chicken and "Spanish" rice

I needed a quick and effortless meal tonight, and this popped into my head, though I've never had it. It was seriously the easiest thing I've ever made. And it tops the chart for the one of the tastiest, too. I made up the rice recipe, and that makes the dish as well. Here it is:

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 4 teaspoons taco seasoning mix
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 2 tablespoons sour cream (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)
2. Place chicken breasts in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle taco seasoning on both sides of chicken breasts, and pour salsa over all.
3. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 25 to 35 minutes, or until chicken is tender and juicy and its juices run clear.
4. Sprinkle chicken evenly with cheese, and continue baking for an additional 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Top with sour cream if desired, and serve.

I didn't have any spanish rice on hand, so I just did this:

-cooked plain white rice, 

-added a can of chopped green chilies, 

-a can of yellow corn, 

-quite a few dashes of garlic salt, 

-about 2 spoonfuls of sour cream. (This was all for just 4 servings of rice, so add more of each if needed .)

Mix it all around and mmm.... its the best rice of your life!

Lucy loved the rice so much she pretty much inhaled it. Enjoy!

Grandma Betty's Oatmeal Cookies

This is a recipe that we all should have because it is awesome.  and delicious.  :)

1c. shortening
1c. brown sugar
1c. sugar (granulated)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
3 cups rolled oats

combine all ingredients well, spoon onto waxed paper and form about 2" in diameter logs of cookie dough.  roll up in waxed paper.  Place rolls in freezer until ready to bake.
when ready to bake, preheat oven to 350, slice roll in 1/4 to 1/2 (or however thick you want your cookies) inches and place on cookie sheet.   Bake for 11-14 minutes.  Do not let get too brown, the darker the cookie, the crispier it will be.

These remind me of our old house - mom used to make them all the time!  We would sit under the sink in our 'cave' and eat these with milk.  
I've made them with cinnamon and nutmeg, raisins or chocolate chips too, but the original recipe is the best.

Spinach Quiche

This is seriously the BEST quiche you will ever taste. You can leave out the mushrooms, but I like the added texture. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
• 1 (4.5 ounce) can mushrooms, drained
• 1 (6 ounce) package feta cheese, crumbled (I used a 3 oz package and it still tasted great)
• 1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 (9 inch) unbaked deep dish pie crust
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup milk
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. In a medium skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Saute garlic and onion in butter until lightly browned, about 7 minutes. Stir in spinach, mushrooms, feta and 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon mixture into pie crust.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs and milk. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into the pastry shell, allowing egg mixture to thoroughly combine with spinach mixture.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Sprinkle top with remaining Cheddar cheese, and bake an additional 35 to 40 minutes, until set in center. Allow to stand 10 minutes before serving.

Cheese Ball

Here is the recipe for the much requested party cheese ball!

You will need: 

2 8oz. packages of cream cheese (softened)

1 pkg ranch dip mix (1oz)

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 cups chopped pecans or bacon bits.

Directions:

Mix cream cheese, ranch dip mix, and cheddar cheese. Once mixed, form into a ball shape (or any shape!) and roll in either chopped pecans or bacon bits. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until firm.  Here is the one from my graduation party! We have also made football shaped cheese balls for super bowl parties.

Enjoy!

Next to come- Strawberry Pretzel Salad!

Home made Bisquick mix

The previous recipe calls for 1 cup bisquick mix.   Here is a quick cup of home made biscuit mix recipe.

1 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 T crisco (or butter)

Mix dry ingredients together, then using a pastry knife cut the Crisco into the mix. Makes 1 cup Bisquick equivalent.




Use this in the quiche recipe - it calls for ONE cup of biscuit mix.


:)

Zucchini Quiche

Nella made a really good spinach quiche the other day and I hope she posts the recipe here...  (hint hint hint)    A neighbor gave me a bunch of zucchini, so I made some bread and one of these.   The recipe is from Terry Heasley.

Here goes!

3-4 cups shredded zucchini
2 cups shredded italian cheese
1 1/2 tsp Basil (dried) if fresh is used, add a little extra
2 tbsp Parsley flakes (same thing if fresh is used)
4 large eggs
1/2 cup olive oil
1 medium vidalia onion chopped
1 cup bisquick mix
salt and pepper to taste

mix all ingredients.  Pour into large pie pan.  Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese on top.  Bake at 350 degrees (i think its 170 or 175 Celsius for Joanna)  Bake for about 45-50 minutes until brown on top.

for this recipe, i always use 3 cups of zucchini and sometimes cut back on the cheese and biscuit mix a bit.  it is very good as is though.

home made Graham Cracker crust

1 package of graham crackers - crushed
small amount of sugar
6 tablespoons of butter

Mix all ingredients well and press into a 8 or 9 inch pie pan. Bake at 375 for 7 minutes.   Let cool and fill with anything your heart desires.   I like chocolate pudding pie, or yogurt pie, or anything.

I've also made this with cinnamon grahams and chocolate grahams.  both really really good!