Cream of Whatever (dry)

I LOVE homemade cream of whatever! But have found it difficult to do the whole freeze/ use in time thing going on with the wet stuff. This is a great option I found on pinterest via 1orangegiraffe.blogspot.com. You can play with any of the flavor/ spices and it is REALLY good! I'm thinking of subbing cornstarch for flour next time. :)

Cream of "something" soup recipe

1 cup non-fat dried milk

3/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 cup bouillon (if you have cubes you have to smash them up)
  You can use whatever kind you like (ie, beef, veggie)

4 Tablespoons freeze dried minced onions (I used the minced onions from Sam's Club)

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried thyme (I couldn't find the thyme so I used dried parsley instead)

1 teaspoon pepper

(For the equivalent of one can of condensed cream soup, mix 1/3 cup dry mix with 1 1/4 cup water. Cook until thick)

Taco Seasoning

• 2 TBSP chilli powder 
• 2 tsp. corn starch
• 2 teaspoons Mexican oregano
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt or 1/2 teaspoon fine/table salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes, optional.
• 
  
• 
  
• Combine all the seasonings together in a jar and shake until well mixed.
• Use 1 - 2 tablespoons seasoning mix for every pound of ground beef plus 1/2 - 2/3 cup water.
• You can tweak the seasoning to suit your own tastes. I went easy on the salt so you can salt and pepper to taste.

Lighter Chicken Pot Pie

Lighter Chicken Potpie

Ingredients

• 2 bone-in, skin-on chicken breast halves (12 to 14 ounces each) or leftover chicken
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 carrots, sliced 
• 2 stalks celery sliced
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 1 cup frozen mixed veggies
• 2 red potatoes diced small
• 1/2 frozen peas
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 cups low-fat (1%) milk
• 6 phyllo sheets (each 12 by 17 inches), thawed

Instructions

1. Cook chicken and cut up into small pieces or cut it and then cook it. Whatever floats your boat.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large saucepan over medium. Add carrots, onion, celery, potatoes and thyme; season with salt and pepper, and cook until crisp/ tender, add frozen veggies and cook 5-10 minutes. Add flour, and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Gradually add milk, stirring until smooth. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a simmer and thickens.
3. Remove from heat; stir in chicken, and season with salt and pepper. Pour filling into a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate.
4. Stack phyllo on a work surface. Using a paring knife, cut out an 11-inch circle from the stack; discard trimmings. Stack 2 circles on work surface, and brush gently with 1 teaspoon oil; repeat with remaining circles and oil. Place phyllo stack over filling, and press down about 1/2 inch from the edge so phyllo fits inside rim of pie plate. Bake until golden and bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes. Let potpie cool 15 minutes before serving.

Honey Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry

A yummy sweet/ mildly spicy stir-fry. Easy. Add veggies as desired. Mix it up!

Via: Cooking Light

• 1 cup rice
• 1-2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts or chicken thighs cut into 1 inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 1 cup frozen shelled edamame (green soybeans)
• 1 cup snap peas or snow peas
• 1-2 carrots chopped
• 1 stalk celery chopped
• 1 can sliced water chestnuts
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped 
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced 
• 1/2 cup dry-roasted cashews, unsalted 
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon Sriracha (hot chile sauce, such as Huy Fong)

Preparation

1. 1. Cook rice.
2. 2. Combine chicken and next 3 ingredients in a bowl; toss to coat.
3. 3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add canola and sesame oils. Add chicken mixture, and sauté for 4 minutes or until lightly browned. Increase heat to high, and add broccoli and the next veggies (through red bell pepper). Cook 5 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender and chicken is done, stirring frequently. Stir in cashews.
4. 4. Combine vinegar and remaining ingredients in a small bowl; stir with a whisk. Add vinegar mixture to chicken mixture; toss to coat. Serve with rice.

http://img4-2.myrecipes.timeinc.net/i/recipes/ck/12/06/honey-cashew-chicken-rice-ck-l.jpg

Hawaiian Haystacks

Love to make homemade Haystack sauce. SO much better than the crud out of a can I live the full flavor of this recipe. Very good! 10/10

Hawaiian Haystacks: Chicken Sauce Reinvented

YIELD: MAKES ABOUT 4 CUPS CHICKEN SAUCE 

INGREDIENTS

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size chunks (or leftover cooked chicken, cubed)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• ½ onion (about ½ cup), finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic; finely minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• ¼ cup flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1 cup water
• 1/2- 1 tsp. chicken bouillon 

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large skillet melt the butter over medium heat and add the onion and raw chicken (if using leftover cooked chicken, don’t add it to the skillet now, you’ll add it later). Saute the onion and chicken, if using, until the onions are soft and translucent and the chicken is cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for about one minute, stirring, until fragrant.
2. Sprinkle the flour over the onions and chicken and stir to combine. Cook over medium heat for one minute – this helps get rid of the starchy, flour taste. Slowly whisk in the milk and chicken broth. Cook, stirring constantly with a whisk, and bring the sauce to a simmer over medium to medium-high heat. Add the salt and pepper. If you are using leftover cooked chicken, add it now. Continue simmering, stirring the sauce frequently, until the sauce has thickened, about 5-8 minutes..
3. Serve the chicken sauce over rice with your toppings of choice, such as olives, tomatoes, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, green onions, pinneapple, kool-whip, cashews and chow mein noodles.

Via: http://www.melskitchencafe.com/hawaiian-haystacks-chicken-sauce-reinvented/ 

Chipotle Chicken Corn Chowder

May be a bit off season in posting this but we LOVE this soup! It's got a little kick to it and it's creamy and delicious. Warms the soul 10/10

From The Brown Eyed Baker

INGREDIENTS:

1 can chipotle chiles in adobo sauce (don't use the whole can!)
2 tablespoons butter
1 poblano pepper, seeded and finely chopped (I don't usually have this)
1 red bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1/2-1 teaspoon ground cumin (depends on what you like)
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried thyme (optional)
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
2 cups chicken stock
6 small red potatoes, peeled and diced small (or any type of potato)
4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
4 ounces Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
2 cups diced, cooked chicken
1 (30-ounce) can sweet corn, drained
1 (15-ounce) can cream-style corn
1 cup crushed tortilla chips
Juice from 1 lime (about 2 tablespoons)
Chopped cilantro, to garnish (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Remove one chile from the can of chiles and mince it. Remove 1 teaspoon of the adobo sauce and set it aside to be used later. You can save the remaining chiles and sauce for another use.
2. Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven or stock pot over medium heat. Add the poblano pepper, red bell pepper, the chile from the can, cumin, thyme and oregano, and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the peppers become soft. Add the garlic, stir and cook for an additional 30 seconds, or until fragrant.
3. Stir in the flour with a wooden spoon and cook for 1 minute, or until there is no longer any visible raw flour. Slowly stir in the milk and chicken broth, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pan as you stir.
4. Add the potatoes, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and can be easily pierced with a knife.
5. Add the shredded cheeses a handful at a time, stirring after each addition until the cheese is completely melted.
6. Finally, stir in the chicken, both cans of corn, lime juice and the reserved 1 teaspoon of adobo sauce. Cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes, or until the soup is completely heated through. Serve immediately.
Note: If you have leftovers that have been refrigerated and reheated, you may need to thin out the soup with some extra chicken stock, as it may thicken up in the refrigerator.

Restaurant Style Refried Beans

1 can Refried beans

1/3 cup sour cream

1 Tbsp. Hot sauce

1/2 cup cheese

Mix beans, sour cream and hot sauce. Heat till warm. Place in glass baking dish 8x8 and heat in 400 degree oven till bubbly. SO good! Excellent with Mexican rice and chips!