Chicken Fajita Dinner

Tonight I am making everything from scratch (sorta, the tortillas were already made).

First of all, I made the Guacamole...it needed to sit in the fridge for a bit so the spices could marry with the avocado.

2 medium avocados, peeled and pitted
4 Tblsp. chopped red onion
4 Tblsp. chopped fresh cilantro
2 Tblsp. lime juice
1/2 tsp. hot pepper sauce (I used Texas Pete....luv the stuff)
1/2 tsp. salt

Put the avocados in a medium bowl and mash with a fork until almost smooth.
Add remaining ingredients and stir until combined.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 1 day.

Now for the Pico de gallo.

I don't have any measurements here for this....I just make it to taste with these ingredients:

1 chopped onion
2 - 3 chopped jalapenos, seeded and devained
chopped tomatoes
chopped cilantro
a sprinkle of lime juice
a sprinkle of salt

Mix all together and taste.  Let sit in the fridge next to your guacamole to let all the flavors get together.  Add more of whatever taste the best for you.

For the beans, I just cooked a pot of dried pinto beans in water to cover...brought to a boil....then covered and simmered for two hours (without lifting the lid...unless to peek to see if you need to add more water and to see if it is just at a simmer).
After the two hours, I added pinto bean seasoning and a little salt and pepper.  Mash it up a little bit so it is a bit creamy.

For the rice:

1 can (10 1/2 oz) chicken broth
1/2 c. water
1/2 c. Thick and chunky salsa (I used PACE ;o))
2 cups of uncooked minute rice

In saucepan mix broth, water and salsa.  Bring to a boil.
Stir in rice.  Cover and remove from heat.  Let stand 5 minutes then fluff with a fork.

Now for the fajitas.
I took chicken breasts and seasoned them with fajita seasoning.  Let them sit for a bit in the fridge while I sliced up onions and bell peppers.  Then take out the chicken breasts and slice them up.
Grilled them both on the George Foreman grill till done.  In a pan on the stove or under the broiler or on the pit works just as good.

Warm up your flour tortillas on a non-greased hot pan or in the microwave, wrap them up and enjoy.
This was so good.  Next time will have to try beef instead of chicken. (or maybe both).  I hope y'all enjoy this.  Please let me know if y'all have any different suggestions and how it comes out for you.  Have a great day :o)

Grilled Salmon and Rice Pilaf

Pulled out the George Foreman grill for this one.  This was so good....hardly had enough for next days lunch!

Grilled Salmon

1 1/2 pounds salmon fillets
lemon pepper to taste
garlic powder to taste
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Season salmon fillets with lemon pepper and garlic powder.

In a small bowl, stir together soy sauce, brown sugar, water and vegetable oil until sugar is dissolved.  Place fish in a large resealable plastic bag with the soy sauce mixture, seal and turn to coat.  Refrigerate for at least two hours.

Heat up grill and lightly oil the grate.  Put salmon on the preheated grill and discard marinade.  Cook salmon for 6 to 8 minutes per side, or until the fish fakes easily with a fork.

Now for the

Rice Pilaf

2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup orzo pasta
1/2 cup diced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup uncooked rice
2 cups chicken broth

Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-low heat.  Cook and stir orzo pasta until golden brown.  Stir in onion and cook until onion is translucent.  Add garlic and cook for one more minute.  Mix in the rice and chicken broth.  Turn up heat and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes (until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed).  Remove from heat and let stand stand for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.

Add your favorite veggies and there you have an awesome dinner.

Apple coffee cake

We love this coffee cake so much, that we have had it for dessert and even cold the next day!

Apple Coffee Cake

DOUGH
Mix together:
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup margarine
1 egg

Stir in:
12 cup milk

Then add:
1 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

STREUSEL MIXTURE
Mix together:
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 Tblsp. flour
2 Tblsp. melted butter
2 tsp. cinnamon
chopped nuts
1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Mix well and spread half of dough in 9 x 9 inch pan.  cover with chopped (or thinly sliced) apples and streusel mixture, top with other half of dough, and bake at 375 degrees for 25 to 35 minutes.

Enjoy ya'll with your favorite coffee or even heated up with ice cream.....yummy!!!

P.S. Still working on a better camera....thanks for putting up with these pics ;o)

Nuwave Air Fried Chicken

Not too long ago, I got one of these Nuwave ovens.  (of course on a night when I couldn't sleep....so what is there to watch on tv but infomercials)  I had to get one of these ovens and I love it.  I have been using it alot for burgers and bacon and baked potatoes, but I am trying to learn how to make other meals in it, especially this air-fried chicken.  My hubby doesn't really like mustard, but he loved this chicken, two days in a row.  I even ate some of the leftovers the next day cold!!

I took:
2 boneless/skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup mustard
salt and pepper
crushed corn flakes

Mixed the mayonnaise, mustard and any favorite seasonings (salt and pepper)  Coated the chicken pieces in the mayo mix then rolled in the cornflake crumbs.  I put it in my nuwave oven for 9 minutes on each side. 
I am sure this would work in the oven for about 30 minutes (without turning over) at 350 degrees.  I will try it that way soon and let you know, unless you try it that way before me and let me know.
This chicken comes out so tender and you don't really taste the mustard.
The rest of the dinner is just potatoes I cubed up and browned in a sauce pan with a bit of butter and pan spray, then seasoned with salt and pepper.  Then of course a bag of frozen beans I just heated up in the micro.
Hope ya'll try this and let me know!  Wishing ya'll an awesome day :o)

“What did the baby corn say to the mama corn?   Where’s popcorn?”

Lasagna Dinner

I have been making this same lasagna dish for years.  Everyone that I have fed it to loves it.  No cooking of the noodles involved!

First of all you will need:
1 lb. ground beef
3 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce (I make my own....will have to share soon)
1 1/2 cups water
2 cups (15 oz) small curd cottage cheese
3 cups (12 ozs) mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
2 eggs
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
8 ozs. uncooked lasagna noodles

Brown the beef in a saucepan, then drain

Add spaghetti sauce and water and simmer for 10 minutes.

Combine remaining ingredients, except lasagna noodles, for filling.

Pour 1 cup sauce on bottom 0f 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan.  Layer 3 pieces of uncooked lasagna noodles over sauce.  Cover with 1 1/2 cups sauce.  Spread 1/2 of the cheese filling over the sauce.  Repeat layering of the lasagna noodles, sauce and cheese.  Top with layer of lasagna noodles and remaining sauce.

Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.  Then remove foil and bake for another 10 minutes.

This is really yummy!!!  Sorry for the sad looking pic.  We ate it up before taking another pic. 

Anyway, I just need to get a better camera.  If anybody has any suggestions on a camera I should get for these kind of pics (that won't cost me an arm and a leg ;o)) PLEASE let me know!!!!!

Galveston Island

My hubby and I just love going to the beach.  Not sure if it is the sound of the waves, the smell of the salty air or just looking out over the ocean and see the end of nowhere or all the above!!!  Oh....the sunrises and sunsets are awesome too :o)
We mainly spent one day on the beach and riding the ferry to Bolivar and back. 
Another day of sightseeing on the island.....shopping....sunning...etc....!!!!
There is so much history here.....more than I really knew.  My head is so filled up with info and sights of this wonderful island that I don't know how I can put all of it on here. (will have to work on that soon)!
We stayed at a place called Gaido's Seaside Inn with an oceanfront view.  That place has been there for a long time and the people that run the place are so kind and friendly.....especially an awesome lady named Wanda!  She makes the greatest coffee there and makes sure you get a good breakfast there at the Inn. 

On our second day there, we were searching for the trees that were destroyed during the hurricane and were carved into awesome sculpture's on the island. 

Just had to add that last pic!!  That dog was carved out of one of the broken trees and the awesome people that live there dressed him up.  GO TEXANS!!!

This is a pic of the Pleasure Pier that has taken the place of the Flagship Hotel that was destroyed in the hurricane.
I know....I need a better camera!  Saving up for one so I can put up better pics!

 These are just a few of the pics we took, but just wanted to share a little with ya'll.
Wishing ya'll a beautiful day!!

Hummingbirds in the morning

Good Morning ya'll!! 

Out on the deck this morning with a mug of coffee in one hand and a camera in the other, trying to capture these little cuties that are buzzing over me and my cat Missy, while fighting (or playing) with each other getting to the full feaders I put out!

I am talking about these awesome hummingbirds.
It makes me think the birds and the bees got together ;o)



I hope you can see them in the last two pictures ( I need a better camera) !

I didn't know that these awesome birds can fly up to 15 mph.  No wonder why I can't get a good pic of them.

Hummingbirds are typically very territorial when it comes to food; once a hummingbird finds a consistent source of food such as an artificial feeder, it will fight off other hummingbirds to maintain complete dominance over the food source.

Anyway...they are great entertainment (they buzz around my cat and I bet she is thinking...how can I catch one of you guys)



Wishing ya'll a beautiful day! 

Ellen aka the southern elliekat ♥