Mexican Skillet

I've been making this Mexican skillet for a few years now. This week when I made it and my husband commented that it is actually one of his favorites. Its just a filling stick to your ribs no fuss meal. Classic Mexican flavors that come together in a cinch, easy to feed a crowd with. 

Ingredients: 

1 lb lean ground beef

1 small onion, diced

1 packet taco seasoning

2 tsp olive oil

2 cups cooked brown rice

1 tsp butter

1 can black beans

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup diced tomatoes

1 avocado, sliced 

2 tsp chopped cilantro

Directions: Cook your rice with 1 tsp butter and a pinch of salt. While that cooks, in a large pan heat some oil, cook your onions until they begin to brown. Add your ground beef and crumble and cook until golden brown. Mix in your taco seasoning, and beans. In a large dish, layer your cooked rice on the bottom, meat mixture on the top, then cheese, tomatoes, avocado, and cilantro. 

Enjoy!

Southwestern Hay Stack

My husband decided to call this dish a Southwestern Hay Stack. He said even though the name doesn't sound very gourmet, its a pretty descriptive way for you to picture what this meal is about. I had to remind him; "Hey we aint no gourmet family, aight?"  Its basically like a Hawaiian hay stack, but with more of a Mexican flair. 

This meal is something that is deeply satisfying and healthy at the same time. I love win win dishes like that. Its easy to whip up and a meal where you can do lots of the prep ahead of time. Again, a win win. Normally when I make this dish, I add shredded cheddar cheese to it. I forgot to do that today and guess what? It was just as good. So I'm leaving the cheese out of the recipe because if it doesn't need it, why add the expense or calories? Right? 

Ingredients: 

2 cups uncooked white rice 
2 chicken breasts
1//2 cup salsa + extra for garnish
2 tsp fajita seasoning 
2 ripe avacados
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp cumin
1 can black beans
1 can corn
2 tsp dried cilantro 
1 tsp lemon juice
Salt & Pepper

Place your chicken breasts, 1/2 cup of salsa, and fajita seasoning in a slow cooker. Turn the slow cooker to high and cook for 3-4 hours or until your chicken breaks apart when cut. 

While your chicken is cooking, you can also cook your white rice in your rice cooker. 

When your chicken is almost ready, you can begin to cook your beans. Add your olive oil to a warm pan. Then add your onions, salt and pepper them. Let them sauté until they are translucent. Add your garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. Then add your beans, corn, cumin, and cilantro. Let those mix on low heat while you make your guacamole. 

Cut and mash your avocado in a small bowl. Add salt, pepper, and lime juice, stir together. 
Take your chicken out of the slow cooker and chop it into small pieces. 

Assemble your "haystacks" part by part. Rice, beans, chicken, guacamole, then add salsa on top as your garnish. 

My husband said I could make this meal once a week and he would be a happy man. He loves fresh tasting healthy recipes, but that also leave you feeling satisfied. Hopefully this will satisfy your family as well. 

Enjoy!

Mushroom Risotto

I make a mean mushroom risotto. (I don't mean mean as in will punch you in the face and shove you in a locker mean, but this certainly will knock your socks off.)

It's creamy and filling and surprisingly low fat. I posted it on this blog awhile back and it's one of the recipes I come back to most. But the photo and directions were so terrible on my previous post, I need to redo it. Hopefully this one is clearer. Either way it's delicious. 

1 cup arborio rice

1 pkg mushrooms

2 cans chicken stock

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 

1 cup white wine

Tyme 

Salt and pepper 

1/2 onion chopped 

Dice 1/2 of an onion. 

Put a large skillet over medium heat and melt 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in the pan. 

Add your onion and sauté for a couple of minutes. 

Then add 1 cup arborio rice to the pan and sauté a couple more minutes. As you do this start your timer for 22 minutes. 

Add 1 cup white wine and cook on high until the liquid is absorbed. Stir frequently. 

While this cooks chop up 1 pkg of portobello mushrooms. (Or whatever type of mushroom you like.) In a separate pan cook your mushrooms in some olive oil, salt, and pepper. Cook the mushrooms down until nice and tender. Set aside. 

Back to the rice. You will now add 2 cans of WARM chicken broth in 1/2 cup increments. (I pop mine in the microwave to heat it up.) Keep stirring the risotto frequently and only add the next 1/2 cup when the previous liquid has been absorbed. Your goal is to get all of the stock absorbed by the time the timer says 22 minutes. You may need to turn up or down the heat based on how much time is left. I usually keep mine on high the whole time and just stir it constantly. 

Then stir in 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese. 

Add 6 or 7 sprigs of Tyme. 

Add in your mushrooms and salt and pepper to taste. 

This should give you a very creamy and rich tasting dish! 

Mexican Skillet

This was a relatively easy weeknight meal. The only ahead prep is cooking the brown rice because brown rice always takes forEVER to cook. 

Sorry my photos aren't beautiful. Maybe someday I'll whip out my big camera, but today is not that day. 

Prep 2 cups dry brown rice (add a 1/2 cup extra water on top of what your rice cooker says to keep it moist)

While that cooks shred 1 cup cheddar cheese. Set aside. 

Then dice 1 large avacado. Dice 1 large tomato. Mince 1 bunch cilantro. Mix avacado, tomato, and cilantro. Season with salt and cover in the juice of one lime. Set aside. 

Cut up 1 small onion (I used a red one)

Add oil in LARGE skillet and brown onion with a little salt. 

Add 1lb lean ground turkey to skillet and brown it up. Add 1/2 pkg taco seasoning. Add salt and pepper as needed. 

Add 1 ear fresh cut corn kernels sliced off of the husk. 

Add 1 can drain and rinsed black beans to skillet. 

Once rice is cooked, add that to the skillet with the meat. 

Bring skillet, cheese, and tomato/avacado mix to table and let your guests mix their own skillet bowls to taste.