Flavorful chicken tacos

If you would like a recipe for mouthwatering chicken tacos, you have come to the right place!

Ingredients:
3-4 cups cooked shredded chicken
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. onion powder
2 tbsp. cumin
2 tbsp. paprika
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 diced garlic cloves
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 can diced or crushed tomato

Directions:
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil on medium heat for about 4 minutes. In the last 2 minutes, add the diced garlic cloves.
Add all other ingredients except for the chicken and tomato. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add the chicken and tomato. Stir the chicken so it's evenly coated in the spices. Cook for 2 minutes. If you want to cook for longer than 2 minutes so the chicken has more flavor, turn the heat down to low so you don't burn the chicken.

Lastly, put the chicken in either soft or hard shells and serve with the toppings of your choice. I used lettuce, cheese and sour cream.

Pink chocolate chip shortbread cookies

I found a recipe from tablespoon.com for pink chocolate chip shortbread cookies. Even though the picture and video on the website made the cookies look flawless, most people were commenting their cookies were turning out flat. I decided to give the recipe a try and sure enough, that's how mine turned out. However, even though the cookies were flat, they were still really yummy. The part that's screwing everyone up (including myself) is the "softened" butter. If your butter is too soft, your cookies will be flat. In other words, DO NOT MELT YOUR BUTTER!

Ingredients
2 cups powdered sugar
1 bag Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix
1 cup softened butter
2 cups chocolate chips
Red food coloring

Directions
With your mixer, beat the softened butter until stiff and smooth. This is the part that presents problems. If it's not stiff and smooth your cookies will be flat.

Add desired amount of red food coloring. The more you add, the more pink your cookies will be. Be sure not to add too much unless you want red cookies. I used 7 drops.

Add the powdered sugar and cookie mix. Blend.

Add the two cups of chocolate chips. Mix into batter by hand. The dough should be crumbly not smooth. Thus I reiterate, it all comes down to the texture of your butter.

Just for fun, for my last few cookies I added Andes baking mints. If you would rather use Andes instead of chocolate chips, go for it. Mine turned out delicious.

Drop by rounded tablespoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 325 F for 12-14 minutes.

 That's it! If you decide to try this recipe, please let me know how yours turned out and if you did anything differently.

If you would like to view the original tablespoon recipe, visit the link below.

http://quick-dish.tablespoon.com/2011/10/09/pretty-in-pink/

 

Homemade gifts for your loved ones

Here are two easy and thoughtful Christmas gifts you can make for the special people in your life.

1) Homemade cookies! They show you care and are fun to decorate.

2) Homemade creations in jars. You see the cute ones in the stores, but how many people actually take the time to make them? If you take the time to do it yourself it will really make an impression! Plus, they're easy to put together.

 The first jar is sugar free honey mixed with a little nutmeg and cinnamon. The second jar is a hot cocoa mix that has cocoa, marshmallows, candy cane pieces and andes mint pieces. The third is a mix of cranberries, granola, almonds, trail mix and raisins.

Those are just a couple of my homemade ideas, but there are thousands of other things you can make and give as gifts. For example, you could make a lavender body scrub or cherry pie in a jar. Here is a great website for homemade gifts in jars to get some creative ideas started. Good luck!

48 Homemade Gifts In A Jar

Easy as can be pot roast

For all you pot roast newbies, here's a simple recipe that can be made right in your slow cooker.
Ingredients:
2-5 pound rump roast (depends on how many people you're cooking for)
Cauliflower (cut into small chunks)
2 carrots (cut into thin or chunky pieces)
2 potatoes (cut into cubes)
1 McCormick's savory pot roast seasoning packet
32 ounce 99% fat free chicken broth (I used the great value brand)
1/2 cup of water
1 tbsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. onion powder
Mini corn on the cob
Directions
Place thawed rump roast in the slow cooker. Mix the chicken broth, seasoning, water, garlic powder and onion powder together in a bowl. Pour the mixture on top of the roast.

Spread the corn, potatoes and vegetables around the meat.

Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours. Dinner is completed. Pretty easy huh? Hope you like it! =)

P.S. If you like slow cooker recipes, be sure to check out the crock pot girls. They have lots of amazing slow cooker recipes on their website. Here's the link:

http://crockpotgirls.com/

Tomato Parmesan Inspired Dish

The recipe you are about to read was inspired by this:

Yep, that's right. I was inspired by a box of tomato parmesan pasta salad and the outcome was great!
Ingredients:
A box of Betty Crocker tomato parmesan pasta salad
Mini corn
Tyson chicken breast tenderloins
Basil leaves
Light butter
Olive oil
Directions:
Thaw the desired amount of chicken breast tenderloins in a bowl of cold water.

Once thawed, take two tablespoons of the seasoning from the packet in the pasta salad box and put in a small dish.

Mix the seasoning with a cup of water. Use this mixture to marinate the chicken. Marinate for at least one hour.

Preheat the oven to 375 F. Place the marinated chicken onto a pan that's lightly sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Sprinkle basil leaves on top of the chicken.

Cook the chicken for 15-25 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 170 F. While the chicken is in the oven, cook the corn in a boiling pot of water for about 8 minutes.

Remove the corn and set aside. Take another tablespoon of the seasoning from the packet and put in a small dish. Mix the seasoning with a spoonful of butter and 1/4 a cup of olive oil. Spread the mixture to the bottom of a large frying pan. Once the pan is heated on the stovetop, place the mini corn in the pan. Cook on medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes.

While the corn is absorbing the tomato parmesan flavor, follow the instructions on the box to make the pasta salad. Don't worry that you already used some of the seasoning. The pasta will still have a good amount of flavor.

That's pretty much it. Here is the finished product:

I hope you like my recipe. This dish is perfect for when you need a hearty meal to fill you up. Enjoy!