Cheezy Chicken Tortilla Soup

   

      A co-worker recently brought in this amazing smelling soup for her lunch. I requested the recipe because it smelled SO good. I was excited to give the recipe a try. You know me though...I just can't make a recipe "as is". I have to make it my own. ha So I added more cheese, and spices, and tomato, and black beans......well you get the idea. I changed it! It is super yummy! I hope you like it too.

Cheezy Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 32 oz. Box of Chicken Stock.
1 14 oz. Can Petite Diced Tomatoes
1 10 oz. Can Rotel (mild)
1 8oz. Can Rotel Tomato Sauce (mild)
3/4 tsp. Coumin
1/8 tsp. Black Pepper
2 T. Minced Onion
1/4 tsp. Chili Powder
1 package (2-3) Chicken Breasts cooked and diced
1 can Black Beans, drained and rinsed.
8 oz. Velveeta
1/2 C. Shredded Cheese

Combine all of the ingredients (except velveeta, beans, and shredded cheese) and simmer for 1-2 hours. Add Velveeta, beans, and shredded cheese stir until melted completely and simmer for another 30-40 min.  Serve over tortilla chips.

This soup is SO good and would also be great for putting in the crock pot! I can't wait to take my leftovers for lunch tomorrow!! YUMMERS!

-Jessica

Walking Taco Casserole....cheesy melty goodness!

     So the other day I pinned a picture on Pinterest of "Walking Taco Casserole". HOWEVER, it was just a user uploaded picture. UGH!  There wasn't a link to follow to grab a recipe. So I decided to create this and it fits the bill. It is so yummy!
     I served my casserole over lettuce and topped it with some salsa. You could also do sour cream, guacamole, or whatever your favorite taco toppings happen to be.

Walking Taco Casserole

1 lb Ground chicken, beef or turkey
1 small onion sliced
1/2 Can of Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chillies)
1 Packet of Taco seasoning
1 Bag of Frito Corn Chips
1 Can Black Beans, drained and rinsed
1 Can Enchilada Sauce (10 oz)
2 oz. Cream Cheese
2 C. Shredded Cheese

In a skillet brown the meat and onion. Add the Rotel and taco seasoning. Simmer until any liquid is evaporated. Add black beans and cream cheese. Turn off the heat and stir in the cream cheese until melted and combined. Stir in the enchilada sauce.

Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Dump 1/2 of the bag of Fritos into the bottom of the pan. Top with 1/2 of the meat mixture and 1/2 of the shredded cheese. Repeat the layer Chips, meat, cheese.

Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and casserole is heated through.

Brown the meat and onions. I used ground chicken.

When it is time....shut off the heat before adding the cream cheese. Once it is melted into the meat mixture, add the enchilada sauce.

Layer 1: 1/2 the bag of fritos (get the skinny kind, NOT the scoops)

Layer 2 :Meat Mixture

Layer 3: 1/2 of the cheese

Repeat the Layers

Layer 4: Chips

Layer 5: Meat

Layer 6: Cheese

Bake at 325 for 20 minutes

This recipe is so yummy. It is one of my new favorites!

-Jessica

Vintage Pop Crate Turned Cute Spice Rack

  
    I have had this little idea in my head to turn a old wooden pop crate into a spice rack. HOWEVER, all of the pop crates I have found were a little more than I had wanted to spend for my project.....UNTIL Friday!! I was driving down the street and passed a yard sale. Right out front was an adorable Pepsi crate. It was begging me to come and check it out. However I decided it would probably be expensive and I didn't have time. I went on about my errands. I took the same route home and the adorable crate was still sitting out there calling my name. So, I circled the block and stopped at the sale. It was meant to be.....the crate was only marked $3. So I bought it and came home to start my project.
     The crate was a little dusty and had a couple of old mud dauber nests built into the slats. So I took some time to get it all cleaned up. I didn't want a dirty crate to be holding my spices. The rest was easy peasy and I think the end result was pretty great.

I was super lucky and found this crate with the bottle slats still in it for only $3! Just had to clean the dustiness off of it.

Next I just hammered some sawtooth picture hangers onto the back of the crate.

One hanger on each side of the crate. 

And it was ready for hanging and filling with spices. It went great under the Pepsi sign that I got for my birthday last year.

So that was how I made an easy peasy cute spice rack for my kitchen. Once the crate was clean it took about 5 minutes to make! And here is the breakdown of the cost...

Pop Crate: $3

Picture Hangers:$0.38

Total: $3.38     not too shabby :) 

Maybe my idea can inspire you to create something fun for your home. Enjoy!

-Jessica