Chimichangas

1 lb cooked beef or cooked pork or cooked chicken (3 cups)
1 (16 ounce) jar salsa
1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chili peppers
1 (1 1/4 ounce) envelope burrito seasoning mix or taco seasoning mix
16 flour tortillas (7- or 8-inch)
16 ounces monterey jack cheese or cheddar cheese, cut into sixteen 5 x 1/2 inch sticks
salsa (optional)
sour cream (optional)
Using two forks, shred cooked meat or chicken (should have about 3 cups).  In a large skillet combine meat or chicken, salsa, beans, undrained chili peppers, and seasoning mix.    Cook and stir over medium heat until heated through.    In another skillet heat tortillas, one at a time, over medium-low heat about 30 seconds per side.   For each chimichanga, place 1/3cup meat mixture atop a tortilla, near one edge.   Top with a cheese stick.    Fold in sides; roll up, starting with cheese side.   Bake, covered, in 350 degree F oven for 30 minutes.   Uncover and bake 10 minutes more or until heated through.  Serve with salsa, dairy sour cream.    
To prepare, wrap frozen chimichangas individually in foil.   Bake in a 350 degree F oven about 50 minutes or until heated through.  (Or, thaw chimichangas in refrigerator overnight. Bake about 30 minutes.) Unwrap.  Bake 10 minutes more or until tortilla is crisp and brown.  Or, heat about 1/4-inch depth of oil in a skillet.   Cook desired number of frozen chimichangas, uncovered, in hot oil about 25 minutes (about 18 minutes if thawed) over medium-low heat or until golden, turning often.   Make-Ahead Tip: To freeze, place chimichangas in freezercontainers.   Seal, label, and freeze for up to 6 months.
 8  Servings

Chili’s Southwest “Eggrolls”

3 flour tortillas, not large (LaTortilla Factory Brand Originals LowFat LowCarb)
1 ounce chicken, cooked and shredded
2 tablespoons black beans, canned
2 tablespoons corn, canned
1 ounce fat free cheese, shredded (your choice of kind)
1 tablespoon red chili pepper, diced
3/4 cup frozen spinach, thawed and drained Dip
2 tablespoons avocados
2 tablespoons nonfat sour cream 
1/2 teaspoon Hidden Valley Ranch dip, dry
1 tablespoon tomato, diced
 pepper
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Combine chicken, corn, cheese, chili pepper, and spinach in a microwaveable bowl.  Heat for 30 seconds in micro.   Warm tortillas in micro for 15 seconds.   On a clean, flat surface, lay out tortillas side-by-side.   Put 1/3 of chicken mix in the center of each tortilla.   To assemble each roll, fold the left and right sides in so no filling escapes during cooking, and roll up.   Place all 3 rolls seam side down on a baking pan that has been sprayed.    Bake 12 minutes, flipping 1/2 way through cooking.
While eggrolls are in the oven prepare dip.   
Sauce:.   
Combine sour cream, avocado, and dry dip mix in a small bowl until smooth.  Season to taste with pepper.   Top dip sauce with tomatoes before serving.   When eggrolls are done, allow to cool for a few minutes, then cup diagonally.
 2  Servings

Chicken Stroganoff – Slow cooker

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – cubed
1/8 cup margarine
1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 can mushroom

Put chicken, margarine and dressing mix in slow cooker; mix together and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours.
Add cream cheese, soup and mushrooms, mix together and cook on high for another 1/2 hour or until heated through and warm.

Chicken Stroganoff

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 onions, medium, thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
8 ounces button mushrooms, thinly sliced
4 boneless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
1 cup dry white wine
1 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1/2 cup sour cream

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until soft, about 8 minutes. Add the bell pepper, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper, and the mushrooms. Continue cooking until the mushrooms give up their liquid, about 6 minutes, and are tender. Place the vegetables in a colander, reserving both vegetables and liquid. You should have about 1/2 cup of liquid. Return pan to heat and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Season the chicken with the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Cook the chicken in batches until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add it to the vegetables. Pour the wine, broth, and vegetable liquid into the pan and bring to a boil. With a wooden spoon, loosen any brown bits stuck to the pan and let cook in the sauce. Add the barbecue sauce, Worcestershire, mustard, and hot sauce. Whisk until smooth. Boil until the liquid has reduced by half, to about 11/4 cups. The liquid should thicken slightly. Reduce heat and whisk in the sour cream. Do not let the sauce boil. Return the vegetables and chicken to pan and simmer until heated through. Serve over rice, pasta, or toast. 6  Servings

Chicken Sonora

One of my favorite and fastest dinners. A copy-cat of Ruby Tuesday’s dish.

1 pound chicken breasts, cooked and chopped
1/2 package penne or ziti
1 12 oz. jar Alfredo sauce with sun dried tomatoes
1 16 oz. can black beans
1 10 3/4 ounce can Rotel Tomatoes

Grill or broil chicken and cut into bite-sized pieces. Boil pasta according to pkg. directions. Drain Rotel Tomatoes and black beans – rinse beans. Combine all in a pan and warm through. Serve with garlic bread and a salad.

8 Servings