Homemade Chicken Enchiladas

Homemade Chicken Enchiladas

I adapted this recipe from one I had at my sister-in-law's house about 11 years ago! It is always a family favorite and my husband's been askin for it!

You need:

3 cooked and shredded boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 cup cooked brown rice

2 small cans sliced olives

2 small cans sliced mushrooms

1 small can green chilis (or jalepenos if you like spicy)

4 cups monterey jack cheese

1 (15 oz) can green chili enchilada sauce

10 flour tortillas

To make:

Preheat oven to 350 and spray a large casserole pan 9x13 or larger with cooking spray. In a large bowl, mix chicken, rice, olives, mushrooms, chilis, half of sauce, and 2 cups of cheese thoroughly. Fill tortillas to desired fullness. Transfer to pan. Pour remaining sauce over the tops of the enchiladas. Cover with remaining cheese. Bake until hot and bubbly for about 30 minutes.

Charity You CAN Do!

With the Holidays just a few weeks away, money gets tight in most households around this time of the year, but there are still opportunities available for you and your family that can enrich someone else's life. And they don't even cost anything! To teach your children the value of giving and not receiving, choose activities that they can help with too.
Here are some wonderful ways to show your love of humanity:
These websites have lots of ideas for giving - www.dosomething.org/ and unitedway.org
Check out Give2thetroops.org for several ways to donate gifts, care packages, and more!
Find your local pet shelter at aspca.org and donate your time, pet food, treats, etc.
Some other ways to donate your time and talents:
Fill stockings, tins, or baskets with homemade cookies and candy, then visit an elderly neighbor or nursing home to bring joy to someone!
Collect all of those blankets you never use and donate them to a local shelter.
Volunteer your time in a soup kitchen. Lots of churches in small towns need help making meals.
Volunteer your time in your local food shelter. Find one here: secondharvest.org
When women leave an abusive home, they often leave with nothing but the clothes on their back. They are often jobless, because of their previous situation too, so donations of professional clothing for job-hunting is needed. Often, their children too, don't have any clothing to wear either. Find a local women's shelter in your community and donate your gently used clothing, appliances, decor, cell phones, and furniture.
Really, the possibilities are endless! Use some of that brain power and a little creativity, and your family will  find that there is a lot of fun to be had from these experiences!
Post your genius ideas here and share how your family has helped out in your community for the holidays!

Baking Bagels!!

While Amber napped, I baked bagels for the first time! I was browsing through my cookbook earlier in the week and saw a recipe for them and for the first time, I realized that I could make my own instead of paying for them! There are a few steps involved in the baking process, which includes broiling, simmering in sugar water, and then baking. They were pretty simple to make though, and I didn't have to let them rest or rise as long as bread needs. Kneading the dough takes less time as well. I ended up burning the tops of them a little during the broiling process (got a little distracted - big no no when broiling), but they are a hit in this house with my 3 year old bread lover and by my 11 year old son. Here's the recipe I used in a nutshell, retrieved from Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book:


4 1/2 Cups all-purpose flour
1 package of active dry yeast
1 1/2 Cups warm water
1/4 Cup sugar
1 TBSP salt

1) Combine 2 cups of flour and the yeast in a large bowl, then add warm water, 3 tbsp sugar, and salt. Beat with a mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, then 3 minutes on high, scraping bowl the entire time. Stir in as much of remaining flour as you can.

2) On lightly floured surface, knead dough and remaining flour until it moderately stiff and elastic (about 6-8 minutes). Cover and let rest 10 minutes.

3) Quickly divide dough into 12 portions. Shape portions into balls and with a floured finger, poke a hole through each one to make a 2 inch hole. Place on a greased baking sheet, cover, let rise for 20 minutes (begin timing with shaping of first bagel).

4) Broil bagels about 3 minutes, turning halfway through. The tops should NOT be browned. Boil 6 cups of water and the rest of the sugar in a dutch oven. Reduce heat to simmer. Place bagels, about 4-5 at a time in the water for about 7 minutes and simmer. Drain on paper towels then place on greased baking sheet. Bake for about 25-30 minutes in oven preheated to 375. Makes 12 bagels.