Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

Yummy!!! Taquitos are one of my favorite Mexican foods!!! And I liked that these were baked, not fried, so I didn't feel as guilty eating them : ) The recipe may seem like it is kinda long, but these really were quite easy to make! And they were delicious! Crunchy on the outside, creamy and flavorful on the inside!!!! Mmmmmmmm!!!!


Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos
submitted by Camille
(from My Sisters Cafe)

1/3 cup (3 oz.) cream cheese
1/4 cup green salsa
1 Tb fresh lime juice (1/2 lime)
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp granulated garlic
3 Tb chopped cilantro
2 Tb sliced green onions

2 cups shredded chicken
1 cup grated pepperjack cheese

fajita size flour tortillas (or small corn tortillas)
cooking spray
kosher salt

Soften cream cheese in microwave for 20-30 seconds. Stir in green salsa, lime juice and spices until well mixed then add cilantro and green onions. Stir in shredded chicken and pepperjack cheese and combine well. **this can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line cookie sheet with tin foil, lightly sprayed with cooking oil.

Working with 3-4 tortillas at a time, briefly heat in microwave so they are more malleable and easier to work with. Any time you want to heat up tortillas, it’s a good idea to place a damp paper towel draped over a small stack of them in the microwave. If you have more than 5, place a damp paper towel in the middle of the stack as well. (To dampen a paper towel just get it wet then squeeze out any water.) When working with corn tortillas you especially need to make sure they are warmed up with the damp paper towel or else they will crack and split as soon as you roll them – very frustrating! Here is a tip from the Sisters Cafe: "When I make this recipe with corn tortillas I warm up a stack of 6 with one damp paper towel in the middle and the other over the top. Put them in the microwave for 40 seconds and they are perfect to work with."

Spoon 2-3 Tb of mixture in a row across the bottom third of tortilla, keeping 1/2 inch away from edge. This makes it possible to roll it up very tightly. Place taquitos seam side down on cookie sheet, making sure they are not touching. Lightly spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with kosher salt. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and edges start to turn golden brown.

Serve with your favorite salsa, guacamole, and sour cream.

Crepes

My husband loves Crepes. One of his favorite breakfast foods of all time. I am not "crazy" about them. I like them, but it isn't on my list of favorites. But, he requested Crepes for his birthday breakfast a few weeks ago, so I hit up some of my favorite recipe blogs for a good Crepe recipe!! I found a really good one on The Sisters Cafe. AND...made a DELICIOUS Coconut Syrup I found on their blog too!!!! The syrup has definitely become my new favorite syrup!!! My kids love to put yogurt in their crepes with chocolate syrup, powdered sugar and whipped cream on top. The husband likes to try everything on his crepes....me, I did nothing but pour some heavenly Coconut Syrup on mine....sigh.



Crepes
submitted by Camille
(from The Sisters Cafe)

1 ½ c. flour
1 Tbsp sugar
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
2 c. warm milk
2 eggs
½ tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp melted butter

Mix all ingredients together. Pour a small amount on a hot skillet and swirl it around to thin it out. Cook until nearly golden and then flip. Serve with Coconut Syrup (recipe to follow) or your favorite toppings/fillings.

Coconut Syrup
(also from (The Sisters Cafe)

7-8 T. butter
¾ c. buttermilk
1 c. sugar
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp coconut extract

Place butter, buttermilk and sugar in a pot. Then turn stove on medium and stir until butter melts and sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil and boil one minute. Remove from heat and add soda and flavoring. It will bubble up; just continue to stir and give it a few minutes for the ‘fizz’ to reduce before serving. So, so delicious!!!!! I can't even truly convey how divine this syrup is!!!! Seriously.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

I found these over on Pinterest, and have been wanting to make them. Fall is all about baking with Apples and Pumpkins!!!! YUM!!! Now, while I found THIS particular recipe over on Pinterest,I have seen it since on other blogs. All the recipes are pretty much the same, but I followed this one, and then tweaked it a little to make it to my liking, and what I had on hand. They were delicious!!!!




Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
submitted by Camille
(adapted from Dreamy Desserts)

3 cups Flour
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cloves

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 - 15 oz. can of pumpkin
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat together brown sugar, white sugar, oil and pumpkin. Add eggs one at time, mixing well after each addition, followed by the vanilla. In a separate bowl, shift together the dry ingredients. Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined. Place by the spoonful on an un-greased cookie sheet. Bake for about 11 minutes, and then cool on wire rack.

Cream Cheese Filling
1 - 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened
1 stick of unsalted butter, room temperature
1 - 16 oz. package of powdered sugar
about a capful of vanilla extract
a pinch of cinnamon (to taste)

Beat together cream cheese and butter. Add powdered sugar, vanilla and cinnamon. Frost flat side of half the pies and top with another piece.

Enjoy right away or chill a few hours or overnight.

Apple Crisp

One of my ALL TIME favorite desserts is Apple Crisp!!!!! Love it. I am so glad fall is here so that I can make yummy fall desserts!!! I can't wait to start making things with pumpkin!! Don't you just love fall? It is my favorite time of year. This Apple Crisp recipe is by far the best one I have ever tried. And since Apple Crisp is one of my favorite desserts...I have tried quite a few of these recipes : ) Oh yeah, and it says that the vanilla ice cream is "optional"...that is never the case with me and Apple Crisp...it is one of the main ingredients in IMHO!!! Happy Fall everyone!!!



Apple Crisp
submitted by Camille
(from Taste of Home)

* 1 cup all-purpose flour
* 3/4 cup rolled oats
* 1 cup packed brown sugar
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 cup butter, softened
* 4 cups chopped peeled apples
* 1 cup sugar
* 2 tablespoons cornstarch
* 1 cup water
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* Vanilla ice cream, optional (not optional to me : )

* In a large bowl, combine first four ingredients. Cut in butter until crumbly. Press half into a greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish or a 9-in. square baking pan. Cover with apples.
* In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, water and vanilla. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thick and clear. Pour over apples. Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture.
* Bake at 350° for about 1 hour or until apples are tender. Serve warm, with ice cream if desired. Yield: 8 servings.

Honey Garlic Chicken

I have been searching and searching for new, and yummy crock-pot recipes. I finally found another one!!!! I am so happy when I find a good crock-pot meal...I love my crock-pot sooo much, but it can be hard to find "good recipes" for the crock-pot. What does a "good crock-pot meal" mean to me? One that not only tastes good, but that my whole family loves!!!! And this was a GOOD one!!!



Honey Garlic Chicken
submitted by Camille
(from Taste and Tell)

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
3 garlic cloves, chopped or grated
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup honey
fresh basil, shredded, for garnish (optional, I didn't do this)

Place the chicken in the bottom of a 4-quart slow cooker. In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic, soy sauce, ketchup and honey. Pour over the chicken and cover.

Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours. Remove chicken, place on a plate and tent with foil to keep warm. Transfer the remaining sauce to a saucepan and reduce down over medium heat until desired consistency is reached. Serve over the chicken and garnish with fresh basil.

Serve over rice.