Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

Ingredients:

1/3 c. (3 oz) cream cheese

1/4 c. green salsa

1 T. fresh lime juice

1/2 t. cumin

1 t. chili powder

1/2 t. onion powder

1/4 t. granulated garlic, or garlic powder

3 T. chopped cilantro

2 T. sliced green onions

2 c. shredded cooked chicken

1 c. grated pepperjack cheese

small corn tortillas

kosher salt

Recipe:

1. Heat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.

2. Heat cream cheese in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds so it's soft and easy to stir. Add green salsa, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder and granulated garlic. Stir to combine and then add cilantro and green onions. Add chicken and cheese and combine well.

3. Work with a few tortillas at a time and heat in the microwave until they are soft enough to roll without cracking. (It helps to place them between damp paper towels. Usually 20-30 seconds will do it. If you find yours are cracking when you roll them or are coming unrolled right away, just try heating them longer and try the paper towel thing.) *

4. Place 2-3 T of chicken mixture on the lower third of a tortilla, keeping it about 1/2 inch from the edges. **

5. Roll the tortilla up as tight as you can. Place seam side down on the baking sheet. Lay all of the taquitos on the baking sheet and make sure they are not touching each other. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray or an oil mister and sprinkle some kosher salt of top.

6. Place pan in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to get golden brown.

* I, honestly, don't care if the tortillas cracked. I would roll some that were practically ripped in half.

** Rather than spreading the mixture on just the lower third, I spread it all around and really didn't pay much attention to this step. We like out taquitos thick and less corn torilla-y.

Rating: 4.5 of 5

We loved these! I don't really know what to say about them other than they are absolutely delicious! But, let's be honest, everything that comes from Our Best Bites is absolutely delicious. Really, though, I love the crunchy tortilla you get from baking them. The creamy chicken filling is a nice flavorful blend of everything American-Mexican. Unworthy review of the amazing-ness of these taquitos.

Source: Our Best Bites, Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops

Ingredients:

2 large eggs

1 c. dried Italian-style bread crumbs

3/4 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

4 (1/2 to 3/4 inch thick) center-cut pork loin chops

salt and freshly ground black pepper

6 T. olive oil

lemon wedges, for serving

Recipe:

1. Whisk the eggs in a pie plate to blend.

2. Place the bread crumbs in another pie plate.

3. Place the cheese in a third pie plate.

4. Sprinkle the pork chops generously with salt and pepper. Coat the chops completely with the cheese, patting to adhere.

5. Dip the chops into the eggs, then coat completely with the bread crumbs, patting to adhere.

6. Heat 3 T. of oil in a very large skillet over medium heat. Add pork chops, in batching if necessary, and cook until golden brown and the center reaches 150 degrees, about 6 minutes per side.

7. Transfer the chops to plates and serve with lemon wedges.

Rating: 3.5 of 5

This recipe really wasn't bad, the meat was just really dry. LaDon liked it more than I did, but I am really critical of some of the new recipes that I cook. I did like the crispiness of the outsides of the pork. I actually threw the pork into the oven for a little bit to make sure the inside was done (I am a WAY paranoid cook when it come to meat). I think if I hadn't put the pork in the oven then it wouldn't have been as dry which means it would have been awesome. I will try this recipe again.

Source: Foodnetwork.com, Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops

Steak Rub

Ingredients:

4 1/2 t. kosher salt

2 T. black pepper

2 T. paprika

1 T. onion powder

1 T. garlic powder

1 T. dried oregano

2 t. cumin

Recipe:

1. In a bowl, combine all ingredients and stir until well blended.

2. Rub the seasoning blend on steak and grill.

Rating: 3 of 5

I liked this seasoning better than the Outback Steakhouse Seasoning, but LaDon likes the other seasoning better. In all honesty, they are really similar. I halved the recipe (except for the salt, I forgot) and I think if I hadn't forgotten to cut the salt in half it would have tasted so similar that you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

Source: Food.com, http://www.food.com/recipe/steak-rub-39184

Oven Roasted Asparagus

Ingredients:

1 bunch thing asparagus spears, trimmed

3 T. olive oil

1 1/2 T. Parmesan cheese

1 clove garlic, minced

1 t. sea salt *

1/2 t. ground black pepper

* I didn't have sea salt so I used kosher salt

Recipe:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Place the asparagus in a mixing bowl, and drizzle with olive oil. Toss to coat the spears, then sprinkle with the remaining ingredients. Arrange the asparagus on a baking sheet in a single layer.

3. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until tender. If desired, sprinkle with lemon juice just before serving.

Rating: 3 of 5

I actually thought this was a pretty good recipe. The only downer is that I wasn't paying attention to how the "tenderness" was coming along and over cooked. Rather than nice tender asparagus we enjoyed asparagus french fries. Pretty good still. I'd probably choose this recipe over the Garlicky Roasted Asparagus recipe.

Source: AllRecipes, http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/oven-roasted-asparagus/detail.aspx

Buttery Soft Pretzels

Ingredients:

4 t. active dry yeast

1 t. white sugar

1 1/4 c. warm water

5 c. all-purpose flour

1/2 c. white sugar

1 1/2 t. salt

2 T. vegetable oil

1/2 c. baking soda

4 c. hot water

1/4 c. kosher salt

Recipe:

1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 t. sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.

2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, 1/2 c. sugar, and salt. Make a well in the center; add yeast mixture and oil. Mix and form into a dough. If the mixture is dry, add 1 or 2 T. water. Knead until smooth, about 7-8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl; place the dough in the bowl and trun to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

3. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a large bowl, dissolve baking soda in hot water. Lightly grease a baking sheet.

4. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope and twist into a pretzel shape. Dip each pretzel into the baking soda solution and place on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with kosher salt.

5. Bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes or until browned.

Rating: 2.5 of 5

This really isn't a bad recipe, I just didn't like how dense the bread turned out to be. A little bit of a disappointment after I thought I was going to be getting soft, fluffy pretzels.

Source: AllRecipes, pg. 292

Pork Barbacoa Quesadillas

Ingredients:

Tortillas

cheddar cheese, shredded

Pork Barbacoa ~ Cafe Rio Style

Recipe:

1. If you're using Costco's uncooked tortillas, then cook them first.

2. Between 2 tortillas, sprinkle cheese and pork.

3. Cook in a pan on medium heat until cheese is melted.

Rating: 4.5 of 5

Seriously, best quesadillas behind Eduardo's steak quesadilla. The sweet juices from the pork are perfect with the cheese. Pretty good with sour cream, but even better with Cafe Rio's house dressing. The only problem with this recipe is that I have to wait until the next time I make the pork :(

Roast Beef and Gravy

Ingredients:

1 3-lb boneless beef chuck roast

2 10.75-oz cans condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted *

1/3 c. sherry, wine, or beef broth **

1 envelope onion soup mix

* I don't like cream of mushroom so I used cream of chicken.

** Seeing as I don't drink alcohol, I usually don't cook with it either. I used beef broth.

Recipe:

1. Cut roast in half; place in a slow cooker. In a bowl, combine the remaining ingredients; pour over roast. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until meat in tender.

Rating: 3.5 of 5

I actually really liked this recipe. Talk about easy. You get the main dish plus gravy at once. Love it! Definitely will be making this again. I liked the flavoring of this recipe too. It wasn't so powerful that I couldn't taste the meat, but not so weak that I felt like it wasn't doing anything. Did that makes sense? I dunno. I liked it!

Source: AllRecipes, iPhone app

Alienated Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients:

2 c. fresh blueberries

1/4 c. all-purpose flour

2 c. all-purpose flour

4 t. baking powder

1 t. salt

1/4 c. margarine

1 1/2 c. white sugar

2 eggs

1 t. vanilla extract

1 c. milk

Recipe:

1. Preheat over to 375 degrees. Grease muffin tins, or line cups with paper liners.

2. Sprinkle 1/4 c. flour over blueberries, and stir to coat berries thoroughly. (This step helps prevent the fruit from sinking with baking)

3. In a small bowl, whisk together 2 c. flour, baking powder, and salt.

4. In a large bowl, cream margarine, and gradually mix in sugar. Beat eggs, and stir into creamed mixture along with vanilla. Stir in milk alternately with flour mixture, mixing well after each addition. Fold in berries. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full with batter.

5. Bake for 25 minutes.

Rating: 2 of 5

Honestly, I think these muffins should be called blueberry cupcakes. The batter bakes into a really fluffy moist bread. More like cupcakes rather than muffins. Also, these don't freeze well at all. I really like the Breakfast Muffin recipe much better.

Source: AllRecipes iPad app

Breakfast Muffins

Ingredients:

1 3/4 c. all-purpose flour

1/3 c. white sugar

2 1/2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

3/4 c. milk

1 egg

1/3 c. butter, melted

1-2 t. vanilla *

1 c. fresh blueberries or other fruit, or chocolate chips (rinse and coat with flour to prevent sinking while cooking) **

*I added the vanilla to this recipe and I think it makes a subtle, but important difference.

** I really like loaded muffins so I add 2 c. of blueberries or whatever other fruit.

Recipe:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

2. Add milk, egg, butter, and vanilla; mix until ingredients are moistened, do not overbeat.

3. Stir in fresh fruit. Spoon batter into 12 greased muffin cups.

4. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until tops spring back when lightly touched.

Rating: 4 of 5

This is my favorite muffin recipe so far. Quick and easy. Little mess and tasty. And they freeze great! Daniel loves blueberry muffins so this is the perfect breakfast and snack for him!

Source: AllRecipes.com