Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup

Combine 2 can undrained diced tomatoes and 3 cups chicken broth. Boil, add 1 1/2 lb diced, cooked chicken (seasoned with 2 tsp. chili powder). Reduce heat, cook 7 minutes.

Add in prepared Mahatma brand red beans and rice; heat through. Spoon into bowls and top with tortilla strips and cheese.

*We used to make this a lot. It's so simple and tasty. You can also saute up some veggies, like onion and peppers, to add to it.

Gold Medal Sizzling Fajitas

Gold Medal Sizzling Fajitas
Recipe courtesy Paula Deen, 2007

8 servings

Ingredients
1/4 cup vegetable oil, divided
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
Dash hot sauce
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 pounds meat (boneless, skinless chicken breast, skirt steak or peeled and deveined shrimp)
1 medium onion, halved and sliced lengthwise
1 green bell pepper, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
8 (8-inch) flour tortillas
1 lime, juiced, for topping
Sour cream, for topping
Salsa, for topping
Guacamole, for topping
Cheddar cheese, shredded, for topping

Directions
In a heavy duty resealable plastic bag, combine 2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, hot sauce, salt, pepper and your choice of meat. Seal and toss the bag around to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator. *Cook's Note: 15 minutes for shrimp, 20 minutes for chicken and 1 hour for skirt steak.

Heat the outside grill or a large indoor grill pan to medium-high heat. Remove the meat from the marinade and place it on the hot grill, discard the marinade. Cook chicken until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side, skirt steak about 3 minutes per side for medium-rare and about 2 minutes for shrimp. Slice the chicken and steak into strips if you are using.

In a large skillet heat up the remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil and fry the onions and bell peppers until crisp-tender with some salt and pepper.

Wrap the tortillas in foil and warm them in the oven with the servers for 15 minutes.
Serve sizzling immediately with the warm tortillas and other accompaniments.

*I have another similar Alton Brown recipe for fajitas that we've also used, but just with steak. I'll post it in the future. Both recipes are delicious!

Mexican Casserole

From Fix-It and Forget-It Lightly

1 lb ground beef

1 onion, chopped

1-2 green peppers, chopped

16 oz. can kidney beans, drained (you can add at least one more can of beans...I added 1/2 a can of black beans above.)

14 1/2 oz. can of diced tomatoes

8 oz. can tomato sauce

1/4 cup water

1 envelope taco seasoning

1 Tbsp (or less if you like it less spicy) chili powder

1 1/3 cups instant brown rice

1 cup shredded cheddar

1. Brown ground beef and onion.

2. Combine all ingredients in a 4 or 5 quart slow cooker and cook on low for 8-9 hours.

3. Stir in rice and cheese and cook until tender. (about 10 minutes)

4. Top with more cheese, if you please.

*I like this one because it reminds me of stuffed green peppers. You could also put the mixture into tortillas and eat like a burrito. Yum.

Beef and Bean Chimichangas

1 lb ground beef
1 green pepper chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 cup frozen corn (optional - I leave it out b/c Alex hates it)
10 oz. can Rotel with diced chilis
salt and pepper
Cumin, taco seasoning, or any other kind you like, to taste
1 can black beans, drained and rinse
10 tortillas
Shredded cheese

Brown ground beef with green pepper, onion and corn. Drain. Stir in Rotel, seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook 5 minutes. Load up the tortillas with the meat mixture and cheese. Roll up and place seam side down (I divide 5 into two 8 x 8 pans) and freeze.

Thaw and brush tortillas with melted butter (or nothing works too, which is what we normally do). Bake for 30 - 35 minutes in 375 degree oven until tortillas are nice and crispy. Add more cheese, sour cream and lettuce if you wish.