Salsa baked chicken.. .. oh yes.. .it is as good as it sounds. . .

Tonight is one of my favorites, not only because it is tasty but because it is soo dang easy!!  Salsa baked chicken.   I actually hard about this recipe from my sister in law after we both joined this website called Sparks People, its a fitness type of website where you can track your meals, track your work outs and watch your progress.  SO anyways, here it is. . . Oh, and some of you may want to have some Tums ready . . .

Ingredients
Chicken Breast
1/2 cup salsa (for each breast, also I use 1 cup)
jalapeno slices
olives
Optional
Mozzarella cheese
cilantro

Directions,

On a square of aluminum foil (big enough to fold over the chicken)  place 1 chicken breast, the salsa, jalapenos and olives

Fold all the ingredients up in the foil

place in the oven at 400 degrees for 1 hour.

remove the chicken, sprinkle with cilantro and cheese. . . enjoy with your favorite sides. .

TIP FROM READER: this evening I received a message that someone tried this and added some cream cheese. .  said it was soo good!!  So if you are a cream cheese fan, there is something else to tweak and make this your own!!  Thanks for the tip!!
Easy right?!?!  This one is really good with mexican/spanish rice.

I am really curious if any of you have tried any of these recipes . .so please let me know!

Meat loaf, with a twist. . .

This one is for those of you who like meat loaf, but sometimes want to change it up a bit. . this also happens to be a favorite of my two boys.   Serve with mashed potatos or on bread as a sort of meat loaf sandwhich. . .they are called Cheddar Loaves.  They are ridiculously easy to make, and also one that is fun to make with kids! I should also tell you, this recipe was given to me by my mother in law Margie when I married Brandon. . . she knew I would need it. :D Thanks for the tip!

Ingredients

3/4 lb hamburger ( I use 1 pound)
1/2 cup oats
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup grated cheese (I use a little over 1/2 cup)
1/3 cup chopped onion ( I use 1/2 cup)
1 egg
1/2 cup milk

Sauce
1/2 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tbsp mustard
1/4 cup Ketchup
I double the sauce recipe as my hubby likes them saucy!!

Okay so you notice that I have shown what the recipe says and what I use, this is because over the years my hubby has given me tips on how he likes it . . . thats the great thing about recipes, you can make them your own.

Ready for the oven

So now with the directions

Mix all the "loaf" ingredients together and shape them. 

Place them in an ungreased pan

make the sauce and spoon it over the individual loaves.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes ( I cook them for 45).




Then enjoy!!   Like I said, mashed potatoes, as a sandwhich, rice veggies, the possibilities are endless :D

Freshly baked and ready to eat!

EASY RIBS!

Once in a while you just want some fall of the bone ribs! These are easy and delicious. . . my hubby requests them quite often. . . which is alright by me.   A side note: Maddie is a big fan of the bones so she can chew on them :D Hey, any kid with "Wells" blood in them, teeths on rib bones, thats just how its done.  HaHa

So, for these Ribs, all you need is a

rack of ribs (we use pork spare ribs)
1 clove garlic
garlic powder (To taste)
1/2 onion (cut , also we use a red onion)
Seasoning Salt
BBQ Sauce (pick your fave!!)

The steps are super easy!
Fill a pot a little less than half full with water.

Add the minced garlic, the cut onion and the garlic powder.  One the water is boiling add the ribs. (You may have to section the ribs to make them all fit)

Once there is a good boil, turn the heat down to medium, cover and let boil for 45 minutes.


Just added the ribs, waiting for the boil.

After 45 minutes remove from the water, season with seasoning salt and grill 5 minutes on each side, adding the bbq sauce for the last few minutes to get good and melty. 

Remove from the grill and serve. . . with napkins :D


maddie is serious



Took a while, but here they are...Avacado Egg Rolls

So mommies, you know how sometimes life gets in the way?? That is what took me soo long to post thise recipe!!  First my son was sick for about  a week, he was really not happy.  Then I ended up in the Emergency Room... I had bronchitis... just the inflamation/virus part, not the hacking hit by a truck please kill me bronchitis like I normally get.  So that sucked.. THEN Madison got a fever that lasted about 2.5 days! Are you serious!    On top of all this Brandon and his boss have become partners and started their own timing company, Gemini Timing.  It is a dream come true for Brandon but it has been a lot of work.  So, yes the Walters have been busy... today though has a been a lounging going to the gym in an hour whew...somewhat back to normal.

So a quick story about the egg rolls.. I was making the sauce and was on a roll... until I pulled out my food processor.  I got this thing for my wedding almost five years ago.. have never used it, so of course when i pulled it out and put it all together, the dang thing was like, NO SIR I HAVE BEEN WAITING IN THE DARK FOR FIVE YEARS AND NNOOWWW YOU PULL ME OUT...TAKE THIS, and broke... so I was trying ot use my blender, and it wouldnt puree the sauce enough..so mine was a little thick..but if you have a food processor, be nice to it...it may get an attitude if you dont :D

Anyways, I know I posted that I made these a while ago, but here finally for your viewing and tasting pleasure...

Avacado Egg Rolls
INGREDIENTS
Dipping Sauce

4 teaspoons white vinegar
1teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon tamarind concentrate
pinch of ground tumeric
1/2 cup chopped cashews
2/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 cloves garlic
2 green onions
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/3 cup olive oil

Egg Rolls
1 large avacado, pitted, peeled, and diced
2 tablespoons chopped dry packed sun dried tomatoes
1 tablespoon finely chopped red onion
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro
pinch of salt
4 egg roll wrappers
1 egg beaten
oil, for frying

Directions

1. To make the dipping sauce, combine the vinegars, honey, and tamarind in a microwave safe bowl.  Stir until the tamarind is dissolved.

2. Microwave for one minute

3. Using a food processor, puree the tamarind mixture, turmeric, cashews, cilantro, garlic, green onions, sugar, pepper and cumin.

4. Pour the mixture into a bowl and stir in the oil.

5. Cover and refrigerate until needed

6. To make the egg rolls, stir together the avacado, sun dried tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, and salt

7.  Place some of the filling in teh center of one of the egg roll wrappers

8.  Fold up one corner of the way over the filling.  Brush the remaining edges with the beaten egg, fold over teh left and right sides, then fold the top corner over all and press to seal.

9.  Repeat with remaining wrappers

10.  Deep fry the egg roll sin 375 degree oil for 3 to 4 minutes until browned.

11. Serve with chilled sauce

Tip: You can bake these to make them a healthier snack!