CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

Cheesy chicken enchiladas

Can you say “Yum!”? This is one of those recipes that I cut out of a magazine thinking, "I might be able to serve this someday". Chicken and Tex-Mex makes me happy!  I sometimes prepare chicken too often according to my sweet hubby, but even he never complains when I am ready to serve these for dinner.

  

The original copy

Velveeta used to be so much cheaper, but even at today’s prices, I always use Velveeta brand vs the store brand of cheese. The Philadelphia cream cheese makes these so creamy and delicious. You can use left-over chicken or you can cut some fresh chicken into cubes and have that cooked up PDQ!

Cooked chicken, spices, cream cheese

As you can see, I mix this up in a skillet on the stove instead of using the microwave. It works great in the microwave if you have left over chicken.

½ cup chopped onion

1 garlic clove, minced

1 tablespoon oil

2 cups chopped cooked chicken

1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies

¼ cup chicken broth

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

4 oz cream cheese, cubed

6 flour tortilla (6 or 8 inch)

¼ pound Velveeta, cubed

2 tablespoons milk

½ cup chopped tomato, divided (I use my salsa instead) 

Microwave onion, garlic and oil in 2-quart microwave-safe casserole on High 2 – 3 minutes or until tender, stirring after 2 minutes.  Stir in chicken, chilies, broth and seasonings.  Microwave on high 4 minutes or until thoroughly heated.  Add cream cheese; stir until cream cheese is melted.  Spoon 1/3 cup chicken mixture onto each tortilla; roll up. Place, seam side down, in 8-inch square microwave-safe baking dish.  Microwave Velveeta, and ¼ cup tomato in medium microwave –safe bowl on high 2 to 3 minutes or until Velveeta is melted, stirring after each minute.  Pour sauce over tortillas; top with remaining tomatoes.  Microwave on high 6 to 8 minutes or until thoroughly heated, turning dish after 3 minutes.

Makes 6 servings.

Stir until the cream cheese is melted. Then fill and roll the tortilla shells.

I usually double this recipe. I love to make this for family and friends! One other thing I have discovered, if you prepare these ahead of time, like I have done in the past, it will take a bit longer to heat these since they have been in the refrigerator. I bake them at 325 until heated thoroughly. Be careful not to overcook them – been there and done that! Don’t burn the cheese! But do use a meat thermometer to make sure they are fully heated before you serve them.

Enjoy! 

Pinwheel Biscuits

Sunday morning breakfasts are usually more than just a quick bowl of cereal. These pinwheel biscuits are one of JoPapa's frequent requests.  I've gotten a bit lazy so I use Bisquick instead of making my biscuit dough from scratch. I usually only make a half batch because these are best fresh from the oven.  But I have been known to make extra pinwheels just so we can have a few to nibble on for snacks later in the day too. To make biscuits, follow the mixing directions on the box. Once the dough is kneaded and rolled out, spread some melted butter over the top.

A little butter makes everything better!

Then generously sprinkle cinnamon sugar all over.  I have a sweet tooth and I sprinkle a lot of sugar! There isn't a correct proportion here, you get to make them to taste.  I keep my cinnamon and sugar mixed and ready to go at all times too.  It's handy to have to sprinkle on toast too!

Covered with cinnamon sugar and the melted butter.

Then roll up the dough.  Slice into rolls and place on a cookie sheet to bake.  I use a spatula to carry the rolls to the cookie sheet so my cinnamon sugar won't fall out.  I forgot when I moved the fist one over, so I had some clean up to do!

Rolled up dough.

Here they are ready to bake in a preheated oven according to the directions on the Bisquick box.

Ready for the oven.

It took 10 minutes at 450 and they cooked up beautifully.  Using Bisquick feels like "cheating" but the biscuits are always fluffy and delicious!

Sunday breakfast!

Can't you smell them? These are quick and easy to make so I won't even tease you about mailing them your way.  If you want to come eat breakfast some time, or just have a chat with me, a cup of tea and some pinwheel biscuits let me know! I'd love to see you! Or, I bake lots of things by request so if you aren't hungry for biscuits, I'll cook up something else!

Here's looking forward to 2013. May you have healthy, blessed, HAPPY NEW YEAR!