I've never really done this before, but seems like it's only
fair to share some of our favorite meals....
Tortilla Soup comes in many different forms, but
I love this meal and it couldn't be easier!
Put 3 largish chicken breasts in a crock-pot with Taco Seasoning
(I use a packet of Lawrys Chicken Taco Seasoning), cook 4 hours on high
then shred the chicken. Add 2 cans of corn, black beans, diced tomatoes,
and chicken broth. 1 can (4oz) diced green chilies
cook 4 hours (or more) on high
Serve over crushed tortilla chips, top with cheese, avocados, and sour cream
You won't be sorry you made it!
Again, there are a lot of ways to make mac and cheese,
but I haven't found one I like more than this
Old-Fashioned Mac & Cheese
1 pound of macaroni, slightly undercooked and drained
4-5 cups of béchamel sauce (white sauce) – see below
8 cups of shredded cheddar cheese (I use sharp)
dehydrated onion
salt and pepper to tasted
buttered breadcrumbs – see below
In a 13x9 pan add about half the cooked macaroni; top with half the béchamel sauce, sprinkle about 1-2 tsp of the dried onion over the sauce, then spread a couple of big handfuls of cheese, making a nice thick layer. Repeat. Top with buttered breadcrumbs and bake until bubbly around the edges, the cheese is melted, and the breadcrumbs are toasty, about 30-45 minutes.
Note: it may seem like a lot of sauce, but the macaroni soaks it up quite a bit. The dried onion is key.
Béchamel Sauce
4 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
4-5 cups whole milk, or half and half
salt and pepper to taste
Melt the butter in a medium sized saucepan over medium high heat. Add the flour all at once and whisk until smooth and bubbly. Add salt and pepper, I use 1 teaspoon of salt and ½ a tsp of pepper. Slowly whisk in the milk until all the lumps are gone. Stir until sauce thickens slightly and boils, be careful not to scorch the bottom. The sauce should be kind of loose. If it’s too thick, add more milk to thin it out. Add a couple of cups of cheese or to taste and stir until blended in.
Buttered Breadcrumb topping
Whir 2 pieces of bread in the food processor or blender
Melt 2 tablespoons butter and pour through the spout onto the crumbs while the processor is running. Spread over the top of the prepared mac and cheese.
ENJOY!
