Chicken and Mexican Rice

I have made this rice for a few of you but our family loves it so much so I thought I would share with everyone.

Mexican Rice

2 cups uncooked rice

1-2 large tomatoes

1 white onion

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 cup chicken stock

2-3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 Tbsp tomato paste

1-2 jalapeños, chopped

Rinse rice in strainer until water runs clear, makes the rice fluffy. Put oil in a frying pan with high straight sides. Chop tomato and puree in blender. Add onion and puree. When oil is hot, cook rice for 6 minutes or until golden. Add stock, pureed tomato and onion, jalapeño, garlic, and tomato paste. Bring to a simmer and cover. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, stirring after 15 minutes.

If I don't have any jalapeños I substitute it with crushed red pepper flakes.

For the chicken I buy a marinade at the store, usually Lawry's.

Meatballs with tomato-basil cream sauce

I made this tonight and it was really good, if you get the Kraft magazine it is in the most recent issue. I'll post the recipe for those you don't get the magazine.

2 lb ground beef (I used turkey and it was probably only 1 lb or 1 1/2 lb)

1 pkg Stove Top stuffing Mix for chx

1 1/4 cups water

2 eggs

Preheat oven 400 degrees. Mix it all together and make 1 1/2 inch balls. I have a scooper I use for muffins and I just used that. Bake for 16-20 minutes. I froze half of them because it made a ton.

Sauce

1 jar (14 oz) spaghetti sauce

2 oz cream cheese

2 tbsp chopped basil

Heat it up in a pan.

Put it all on top of spaghetti, we all like it quite a bit.

My Version of French Dip (Minus the Dip)

I have never liked French Dip because of the soggy bread so I came up with something that I like instead.

Hoagie Buns

Roast Beef (I go to the Deli for it)

Cheese (any kind you like)

Peppers

Onions

Sour Cream

Onion Soup Mix

Pu the roast beef, peppers, onions, and cheese on the hoagie bun. Then broil it until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted. Mix sour cream and onion soup mix together, spread on the bread. I don't have measurements, just do what looks good. It is yummy, easy, and fast. Ella doesn't like the peppers and onions, so I just do meat and cheese for her.

Scotcharoos

Turning on my oven when the temperature reaches triple digits is not something I look forward to. It’s days like these I am thankful I have a BBQ and yummy no bake desserts. For the Allen family these are an old family favorite and rightfully so! Anything with peanut butter and chocolate is a winner in my book.

Scotcharoos
1 c. Sugar
1 c. Light Corn Syrup
1 c. Peanut Butter
6 c. Rice Krispies
1 c. Chocolate Chips
1 c. Butterscotch Chips

Combine sugar and syrup in a small pan and heat until the mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat and add peanut butter. Pour over Rice Krispies and stir to coat. Press mixture into a 9x13 inch pan. Melt the chips together and spread over the top of your Rice Krispie mixture. Let cool and cut into bars. Yum!

Cinnamon Flavored Popcorn

I learned how to make this at enrichment. She had many different flavors. You just have to have different flavored oils to do it. The options are endless. I have tried raspberry, cranberry, tutti fruitti, cherry and I have liked them all. I just haven't found the flavored oils to buy yet so cinnamon is what I tried out. It was also fabulous. I hope that no one notices that all I post are breads, cookies and desserts but here is the recipe and enjoy!

2 bags low fat microwave popcorn
1 cup melted almond bark
1/4 - 1/3 tsp. cinnamon oil

Pop your popcorn. Remove all your old maids. Melt your almond bark and then add your flavoring. It has to be oil flavoring. It can't be extract. Pour over your popcorn and mix and then pour out on parchment paper or wax paper and let dry. Enjoy! Your can store it in a zip lock bag.