Quinoa Stuffed Peppers with Enchilada Verde Sauce

FB Source: Ethel Kerckaert

Ingredients:

Stuffed Peppers:

1 cup quinoa (rinsed)
2 cups water or vegetable broth
4 T olive oil
2 medium sweet potatoes peeled and cut into bite sized pieces
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can sweet corn, drained
1 can diced tomatoes (do not drain)
4 red, orange or yellow peppers
1 cup Spicy V-8 juice

Sauce:
1 can enchilada verde sauce
3 T sour cream
2-3 T cilantro

Directions:
Stuffed Peppers:

1. Place quinoa and water (or broth) in sauce pan and heat on medium high. Bring to a boil and stir. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until all liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
2. While quinoa cooks, prepare the rest of the ingredients. Heat a large skillet on medium high heat, drizzle olive oil in skillet and add sweet potatoes. Stir to coat all pieces and saute for 10 minutes until sweet potato starts to soften. Add chopped onion and garlic to pan and reduce heat to medium. Continue cooking until onions start to turn translucent. Add beans, corn and tomatoes and continue to cook for 10 minutes. Add a small amount of vegetable broth to pan if anything is sticking. Add cooked quinoa to pan with vegetables and stir to combine all ingredients.
3. Pour Spicy V-8 in the bottom of a 9 X 13 glass baking dish.
4. Cut peppers in half and remove stems and seeds. Rinse well and pat dry. Divide stuffing between all 8 peppers and stuff pepper cavity. This makes quite a bit, so you may have some stuffing left over.
5. Place peppers in baking dish on top of V-8 juice and cover with foil. Bake at 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

Sauce:

1. Place all sauce ingredients into a blender and blend until well mixed.
2. Plate peppers topped with some of the V-8 sauce in the bottom of baking dish and then drizzle with verde sauce.

Based on 8 servings:

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1/2 pepper, stuffed

Amount Per Serving

Calories  559 Calories from Fat  120

% Daily Value*

Total Fat  13.3g 20%

Saturated Fat  2.8g 14%

Trans Fat  0.0g

Cholesterol  2mg 1%

Sodium  555mg 23%

Total Carbohydrates  114.9g 38%

Dietary Fiber  34.3g 137%

Sugars  6.0g

Protein  20.1g

Vitamin A 20% • Vitamin C 352% Calcium 50% • Iron 177%

Nutrition Grade A

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Nutritional Analysis

• Very low in cholesterol
• Very high in dietary fiber
• Very high in iron
• Very high in manganese
• High in magnesium
• High in potassium
• Very high in vitamin B6
• Very high in vitamin C

Southwestern Chicken Salad in Avocado Bowls

FB Source: Low Carbing Among Friends

ORIGINAL Source: George Stella’s “Real Food Real Easy” Cookbook

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
2⁄3 cup sour cream
3 tablespoons chunky salsa
1 tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon lime juice
2 avocados

Directions:

1. Fold chicken, sour cream, salsa, cilantro, and lime juice together in a large bowl, shredding chicken with a fork until your desired consistency is reached.
2. Cover and refrigerate chicken salad for 30 minutes for the ingredients and flavors to mingle, or skip to the next step to serve immediately.
3. When you are ready to serve, slice the avocados in half lengthwise and remove the pit. Use each half as a serving bowl for 1 person, stuffing chicken salad into the empty pit cavity and then mounding heaping spoonfuls over top of the entire surface of the avocado half. Serve garnished with fresh cilantro.

George’s Tips | When shopping, look for a chunky salsa without any added sugar or corn syrup in the ingredients list. I've found that Pace’s Chunky Salsa does not add sugar and they should be readily available in any grocery store.

Variation | Give the salad more texture by adding 2 tablespoons of diced green bell pepper or a few teaspoons of diced jalapeño pepper, if you like spice. You can also serve topped with shredded Cheddar jack cheese and chopped bacon for even more great flavors!

Based on 4 servings:

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 222 g

Amount Per Serving

Calories  397 Calories from Fat  268

% Daily Value*

Total Fat  29.8g 46%

Saturated Fat  9.8g 49%

Trans Fat  0.0g

Cholesterol  71mg 24%

Sodium  143mg 6%

Total Carbohydrates  11.2g 4%

Dietary Fiber  6.9g 28%

Sugars  0.9g

Protein  23.6g

Vitamin A 9% • Vitamin C 18% Calcium 7% • Iron 7%

Fall-Off-the-Bone Chicken Soup

FB Source: Carl Barbaro

Original Source: Eat Drink Paleo

Ingredients:
1 whole free range chicken
2 celery sticks, washed
2 carrots, washed and peeled
2 spring onion bulbs (go for the green onions with more developed white bulbs) or 1 brown onion, cut into quarters
3-4 bay leaves
A few coriander (cilantro) stems and some leaves
2 garlic cloves, peeled and cut in half
1 tsp whole black peppercorns
2 litres cold water
2 medium white potatoes, peeled and cut into small cubes*
2 tsp Celtic salt or sea salt

1-2 large pots

Directions:

1. Firstly cut your chicken into 4 pieces. Use kitchen scissors to cut through one side of the spine and along the breast bone on the other side. Cut off the thighs from each half and you will have quarters. Place chicken in a large pot and cover with two litres of cold water. Place on the stove and turn the heat to high.
2. While the water is coming to boil you can prepare the rest of ingredients. What I do next is add bay leaves, garlic and peppercorns to the chicken stock. I then cut one of the celery sticks and one of the carrots into 3-4 pieces and add to the stock along with the white onion. I tear coriander leaves off the stems and save those for later; I add the stems as well as a few fresh leaves to the stock. The rest of the vegetables will be added in the second part of cooking. That’s it! Bring it to boil, then bring the heat down to low simmer and cover with a lead. Every now and then you can skim off the foam but we are going to strain the liquid so don’t worry too much about it. Cook for 1 hour 30 minutes. Make sure it doesn’t boil or cook on high heat, low and steady is a secret to super soft chicken.
3. While the stock is cooking you can prepare the rest of the vegetables. Peel and cube the potato, slice the second halves of celery and carrot, and wash the coriander leaves.
4. By this stage the smell of chicken soup would have filled your house and you’re now ready for phase number two. Remove chicken pieces on to a bowl or a chopping board and let them cool down so we can work with the meat. Strain the rest of the liquid into another pot. You can use some of the cooked veggies but I like to discard those and use freshly chopped ones for some crunch.
5. Add salt, potato, celery and carrot to the strained stock. Bring to boil, then turn down to low simmering and cook for 10-15 minutes or until potato is soft to bite. While cooking, remove chicken skin and separate the meat. Tear the meat into thin strips and return to the soup at the end. Turn the heat off, throw in a handful of coriander leaves and some diced green onion and cover with a lid to set for a few minutes before serving.

Crispy Southwest Chicken Wraps

FB Source: Pampered Chef with Cathy Zastoupil

Ingredients:
1 cup cooked rice, warm or at room temperature 
1 cup cooked, shredded chicken (or other leftover meat, like shredded pork or beef)
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 green onion, finely sliced (white and green parts)
1/2 red or green pepper, diced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
juice of 1 lime
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
2 cups shredded cheese (I use a combination of Monterey jack and sharp cheddar)
Sour cream (optional)
6 burrito-sized flour tortillas

Directions:

1. Mix rice together with chili powder, cumin and garlic salt. Add remaining ingredients except for cheese and sour cream. 
2. Sprinkle cheese over tortillas, leaving 1/2-inch border around edges, then arrange chicken and rice mixture down the center of each tortilla. (Optional: I like to dollop little bits of sour cream over the cheese before arranging chicken and rice mixture down the center – it makes the wraps delightfully creamy.)
3. Roll stuffed tortillas, leaving edges open and slightly flatten the wraps with the palm of your hand. 
4. Spray seam-side of the wrap lightly with cooking spray.
5. Heat a large non-stick skillet (or griddle) over medium heat for 1 minute. 
6. Arrange wraps, seam-side down, in pan or griddle and cook until golden brown and crisp, about 2-3 minutes per side. Cooking them seam-side down first helps seal the long edge so they don’t fall apart. 
7. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining wraps. Serve warm.

Yield: 6 wraps

Grilled Corn, Avocado and Tomato Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

FB Source: Sherry Kirkpatrick Patterson

Ingredients:

Salad:

1 pint grape tomatoes
1 ripe avocado
2 ears of fresh sweet corn
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

Honey Lime Dressing:
Juice of 1 lime
3 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp honey
Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste
1 clove garlic, minced
Dash of cayenne pepper

Directions:

Salad:

1. Remove husks from corn and grill over medium heat for 10 minutes. The corn should have some brown spots and be tender and not mushy.
2. Cut the corn off the cob then scrape the cob with the back of your knife to get the juices. Set aside and let cool.
3. Slice the tomatoes in half.
4. Dice the avocado and chop the cilantro.

Honey Lime Dressing:

1. Add all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.
2. Combine the sliced tomatoes, avocado, cilantro and grilled corn and honey lime dressing and mix gently so everything is evenly coated. Be careful not to mash the avocados.
3. Let the salad sit for 10-15 minutes to let flavors mingle.

Enjoy.

Chicken Enchilada Dip Roll-Ups

Sherri Butler to Hillbilly Recipes.

Ingredients:
2 - 8 oz. packages cream cheese, softened
1⅓ cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
1 teaspoon garlic, finely minced (I used my garlic press) 
1½ Tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
Cayenne pepper to taste
Salt to taste
1 Rotisserie chicken, skinned and shredded - If you can find a southwest flavored chicken, that would be even better.
½ bunch cilantro, chopped
4 green onions, chopped
10 oz. can Rotel tomatoes
1 package jalapeno cheddar tortillas

Directions:

1. Mix cheeses together until well blended.
2. Add all remaining ingredients and mix well. 
   Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.
3. Place one heaping spoonful onto tortilla. Spread to edges using a metal spatula.
4. Roll and cut into slices.

Avocado Chicken Salad

Health is Wealth

Ingredients:
2 or 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 avocado
1/4 chopped onion
juice of 1/2 a lime
2 Tbsp cilantro
salt and pepper to taste.

Directions:

1. Cook chicken breast until done, shred, and then allow to cool.
2. Mix with all other ingredients.

Enjoy!

Chicken Tortilla Slow Cooker Soup

Sherry Kirkpatrick Patterson

Ingredients:
1 pound shredded, cooked chicken
15 oz can whole peeled tomatoes, mashed
10 oz can enchilada sauce
1 medium onion, chopped
4 oz can chopped green chile peppers
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups water
14.5 oz can chicken broth
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 bay leaf
10 oz package frozen corn
1 Tbps chopped cilantro
7 corn tortillas
vegetable oil

Directions:

1. Place chicken, tomatoes, enchilada sauce, onion, green chiles, and garlic into a slow cooker. Pour in water and chicken broth, and season with cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Stir in corn and cilantro. 
2. Cover, and cook on Low setting for 6 to 8 hours or on High setting for 3 to 4 hours.
3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
4. Lightly brush both sides of tortillas with oil. Cut tortillas into strips, then spread on a baking sheet.
5. Bake in preheated oven until crisp, about 10 to 15 minutes. To serve, sprinkle tortilla strips over soup.

Grilled Chicken Sandwiches with Cilantro Jalapeno Pesto

Sunnye KnipeHillbilly Recipes.

Ingredients:
Chicken
1 bunch Cilantro
2 Jalapenos
1/2 White Onion
2 cloves Garlic
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
French Bread
Cheese

Directions:

1. Grill up some chicken with whatever seasonings you like. 
2. In food processor combine a whole bunch of cilantro, 2 jalapenos, 1/2 white onion, 2 cloves garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper until it makes a paste like sauce.
3. Toast some French bread smeared with the sauce, top with cheese and grilled chicken.

Avocado Chicken Enchiladas

Fit-tabulous

These are THE BEST Avocado Chicken Enchiladas EVER!!!

Ingredients for the Enchilada Sauce
1 tablespoon butter
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp flour
1 cup chicken stock - (you could use vegetable stock)
2 teaspoons of cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1 cup mild or medium salsa verde
1/2 cup fat free sour cream

Ingredients for the Enchiladas
3-4 cups cooked chicken breasts, chopped or shredded
2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
3 avocados, peeled and chopped
8 flour tortillas

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In medium sauce pan, saute garlic in butter for about 1 minute on Medium – High Heat. Stir in flour let it cook for about 2 more minutes.
2. Next stir in the chicken broth, cumin, salt, pepper and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and stir in the sour cream, salsa verde and cilantro until smooth (or at least as smooth as you can get.)
3. Prepare a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Add about 1/2 cup sauce to the bottom of the pan. and spread out until bottom of the baking dish is evenly coated.
4. Lay out a tortilla and add chicken, shredded cheese, and avocado to the end of the tortilla and roll. Then place the rolled tortilla seam-side down and repeat until the pan is full.
5. Pour the remaining sauce over the enchiladas. Cover with 1 cup of cheese and bake for about 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbling.

Really Really Good Homemade Salsa

ReBlinged

REALLY, REALLY GOOD SALSA And easy! NO COOKING!
(Once you taste this recipe, you'll never buy salsa again)!

3 cups chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 cup onion, diced
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
4 teaspoons chopped fresh jalapeno pepper (including seeds)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Stir all ingredients together. Refrigerate. Best to let marinate overnight. But several hours will suffice, if you can't wait to dig in! Serve chilled.

Recipe by ReBlinged

Grilled Corn Avocado and Tomato

Le Cookery of Charlotte

Recipe of the day from Le Cookery of Charlotte:

•1 pint grape tomatoes
•1 ripe avocado
•2 ears of fresh sweet corn
•2 tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped

HONEY LIME DRESSING
•Juice of 1 lime
•3 tbsp. vegetable oil
•1 tbsp. honey
•Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste
•1 clove garlic, minced
• Dash of cayenne pepper

DIRECTIONS
Remove husks from corn and grill over medium heat for 10 minutes. The corn should have some brown spots and be tender and not mushy. Cut the corn off the cob then scrape the cob with the back of your knife to get the juices. Set aside and let cool. Slice the tomatoes in half. Dice the avocado and chop the cilantro.

•1 Add all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.

•2 Combine the sliced tomatoes, avocado, cilantro and grilled corn and honey lime dressing and mix gently so everything is evenly coated. Be careful not to mash the avocados. Let the salad sit for 10-15 minutes to let flavors mingle. Enjoy.

Avocado and Tomato Salad

Tina Charlene

Avocado and Tomato Salad

4 cups avocados, diced medium
2 cups grape tomatoes or 2 cups cherry tomatoes
2 cups cucumbers, peeled and diced medium
1 cup red onion, diced small
4 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
2 teaspoons fresh garlic, minced
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/4 cup olive oil
salt
fresh black pepper
Lettuce (if you want)

Toss all ingredients in a bowl and top on a bed of lettuce (if desired)
Makes 8 servings
Calories 201.9 Total Fat 17.9 g Sodium 10.2 mg Total Carbohydrate 11.6 g Dietary Fiber 5.8 g Sugars 1.8 g

Crisp Cucumber Salsa

Mary Hendrickson

Crisp Cucumber Salsa:
Note: 1/4 cup is only 16 calories!

2 cups finely chopped seeded peeled cucumber
1/2 cup finely chopped seeded tomato
... 1/4 cup chopped red onion
2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley
1 jalepeno pepper, seeded and chopped
4-1/2 tsp minced fresh cilantro
1 garlic clove, minced or pressed
1/4 c reduced-fat sour cream
1-1/2 tsp lemon juice
1-1/2 tsp lime juice
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp seasoned salt
Tortilla chips

In a small bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. In another bowl, combine the sour cream, lemon juice, lime juice, cumin and seasoned salt. Pour over cucumber mixture and toss gently to coat. Serve immediately.