Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken Tortilla Soup

8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or 4 chicken breasts
2 - 15oz cans Diced Tomatoes, undrained
1 - 4oz can chopped mild green Chilies
1/2 to 1 cup Chicken Broth
1 med. Onion, diced (I used a sweet Onion)
1/2 tsp. Garlic Salt
1/2 tsp. Cumin
1/2 tsp. Chili Powder
1/2 tsp . Black Pepper

Be sure chicken is fully covered. Slow Cook on low for 6 hours (or until chicken is tender).
1 can Black Beans

(I added about an hour before serving)

Remove Chicken to a plate and shred with 2 forks. Return to slow cooker. Add seasonings if needed or desired. Add more broth if necessary.

Just before serving add:
4 Corn Tortilla's cut into 1/4" strips
2 TBSP Fresh Cilantro, Chopped

Serve into bowls and garnish with desired amount of cheese and alvacodo.


1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese (I used Motzerrella and Pepper Jack)
1 Alvacodo, peeled, diced and tossed with lime juice

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

I made this tonight. Don't know why it's called a "Salad" but who really cares, it's YUMMY and that's all that matters. It's still good even if you forget to add the whipped topping into your cream cheese mixture. :-p I was doing too many things at once!

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Crust:
1 1/2 cups crushed pretzels
4 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
3/4 cup butter, melted

Filling:
1 cup white sugar
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

Topping:
1 (6 ounce) package strawberry flavored gelatin
1 3/4 cups boiling water
1 (16 ounce) package frozen strawberries

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prepare crust by mixing together the pretzels, 4 1/2 tablespoons sugar and melted butter. Press into the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan. Bake for 10 minutes (NO LONGER!!), or lightly toasted. Set aside to cool completely.

2. In a medium bowl, beat the sugar and cream cheese until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Spread evenly over the cooled crust. Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.

3. In a medium bowl, stir together the gelatin mix and boiling water. Mix in frozen strawberries, and stir until thawed. Place in fridge until gelatin starts to set. Pour over cream cheese mixture in pan. Refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 1 hour.

Coconut Pecan Frosting

I LOVE this stuff!!!!  A Betty Crocker German Chocolate cake with this....mmmmmm!!!

Ingredients:
1-12oz can Evaporated Milk
1 1/2 cups Sugar
3/4 cup Butter
4 Egg Yokes, beaten
1/2 tsp Vanilla

Directions:
Mix ingredients in sauce pan. Cook over medium heat until thickened, about 12 minutes.

Add:
7 oz Coconut
1 1/2 cup Chopped Pecans

Let cool and spread onto German Chocolate cake. My favorite is the Betty Crocker German chocolate cake mix. Oh and it's best if the frosting is still a little warm :-) YUM!!!

Rocky Road Candy

Our family loves this and there are a few different ways to make it but this is the only way I prefer to make it.

Ingredients
1 -12oz bag Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 - 14oz can Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 TBSP Butter (Not Margarine)
1 - 10oz bag Mini Marshmallows (abt 5-6 cups)
1 3/4 cup Chopped Pecans (this is where you can also change to salted peanuts or whatever you would prefer.)
1 small bag Shredded Coconut

Directions
In a large bowl toss marshmallows, chopped pecans and 3/4 of the bag of coconut.

In a 9x13 glass pan, line bottom with wax paper (I never do this) I just grease the pan with butter, sprinkle 1/2 of the reserved coconut on the bottom of your pan.

In medium sauce pan combine butter, milk and chocolate chips. Cook over medium/low heat until just melted. Do Not Over Cook!!!
Remove from heat. Pour over marshmallow mixture and mix until combined.

Scoop large spoonfuls into pan and carefully spread until even. Sprinkle remaining coconut on top. Refrigerate 1-2 hours (I rarely do this part either, I usually just dig in to this gooyness!!) Cut into pieces, if you haven't eaten the whole pan yet. Store into air tight container if you have any left. :-) ENJOY!!

Fudge

This has been the only fudge recipe my mom has ever used as far as I can remember. We love it!!

Ingredients:
1 cup Butter
14 1/2 oz Evaporated Milk
4 cups Sugar

1 - 12oz bag Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 - 10oz pkg Mini Marshmallows
1 tsp. Vanilla
Chopped Pecans (optional)

Directions:
Rub sides of pan with butter. Add milk and sugar to butter. Cook over medium heat until soft ball stage (235 degrees F.) Be sure to stir frequently.

Remove from heat and add chocolate chips, marshmallows and vanilla. Stir until smooth. Pour into butter greased 13x9" glass pan. (you can use butter spray but it is so much better if you use the old fashioned stick of butter.)

Let stand until set (About 1 hour) Keep covered in an air tight container. Enjoy!!

Orange Cream Fudge

Per Taya's Request, my Orange Cream Fudge Recipe. :)

Orange Cream Fudge

3 cups Sugar
2/3 cup Heavy Cream
3/4 cup Butter
1-7oz jar Marshmallow Cream
1-11oz pkg White Chips
3 tsp Orange Extract
12 drops yellow food coloring
9 drops red food coloring

Grease a 9x13 pan.

Combine 1st 3 ingredients in a medium sauce pan. Cook over medium heat to softball stage. Remove from heat and add marshmallow cream and white chips. Stir until combined. Reserve 1 cup of Fudge and to it add the food coloring and Orange Extract.

Pour White Fudge (larger portion) into greased pan.

Drizzle Orange Fudge (1 cup portion) over white fudge. Swirl with a knife.

Chill for 2 hours and cut into squares.

OPTION: You can substitute in place of the Orange Extract: Raspberry Extract, Strawberry Extract, or whatever flavor you would like. Don't forget to change the food coloring as well if you would like. :) ENJOY!!

Clean Slate

My blog use to be public, then we took in my nephews and became Foster Parents.  Because of this, I changed my blog to private.

Unfortunately for those who might want to look back at my blog, you can not for I have reverted ALL my posts to drafts so they are not public, but my blog is public again. (This was the quick and easy, less than 5 minute way without creating a "New blog")

I will go back and try to post all my recipes as I still use them and have been horrible at posting to my recipe only blog.

I'm looking forward to all God has planned for our families future and sometimes it is hard not knowing what that is, but I feel this clean slate of sharing with you all the joys and trials we face and that they will be wonderful through Him!!

The wonderful and hardest year so far of my life when we fostered Kaleb & Jeremy. It was one that brought me closer to God and my walk with him.  It amazes me all the grace he has given, continues to give and the peace, oh the amazing and unexplainable peace, especially when the boys left our home!  I feared and had much anxiety of that day, but when it came and the boys left, we missed them dearly and it was hard not getting to see them, but the Peace God gave me and that peace that continues is so Amazing!!!  

I know and believe that the Bible and God's word is the truth and way of life.  I know and believe that Jesus died so that I (we) could live!  I know that I will sin daily, but that God's grace and forgiveness allows me to grow from my sins and mistakes to be more of the Godly woman he designed me to be.   I desire to be that Godly woman through my short journey here on earth and to grow closer and closer to him in all that I do.