Tag Archives: Cheese

Sharon’s Mexican Chicken Casserole

This is nothing short of awesome! And oh, so easy!

3 cups cooked chicken, cubed or shredded
1 12 oz. can chicken broth
1 10 3/4 ounce can cream of chicken soup
1 12 oz. can canned corn, (Mexicorn), drained
1 12 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 8 oz. bottle green taco sauce or Tomatillo Salsa
1/4 cup salsa
9 corn tortillas
3 cups cheddar cheese, shredded – may use the Mexican flavored cheese

In a large bowl, whisk together the soup and half of the broth. Stir in the green taco sauce, salsa, corn, black beans and one cup of the cheese.
Place one layer of corn tortillas over bottom of a 13×9″ baking dish. Top with half of the chicken mixture. Repeat layers ending with a layer of corn tortillas. Top with remaining cheese and pour remaining chicken broth over the casserole.
Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or until bubbly.

8 Servings

Red Pepper Quesadillas

Eight 8-in. flour tortillas
1 cup preshredded Cheddar cheese (4 oz)
1 cup frozen chopped red bell peppers, thawed
1/4 cup sliced scallions
1/4 cup chopped cilantro (optional)
4 tsp vegetable oil

Note: Next time you make bean soup, serve these Mexican “grilled cheese” sandwiches on the side.

Sprinkle 4 tortillas with 1/2 cup of the cheese, the red peppers, scallions and cilantro. Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and tortillas.
Heat 1 tsp oil in each of two nonstick skillets over medium heat. Cook a quesadilla in each about 2 minutes per side, turning once, until tortillas are crisp and cheese is melted; repeat with remaining quesadillas. Cut in wedges.

4 Servings

Poached Salmon with Spinach

1 pound salmon fillets
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup dry white wine or water
2 green onions, sliced
1 bay leaf
1/2 of a 10-ounce package frozen no-salt-added chopped spinach
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Freshly ground black pepper
Lemon slices (optional)

Cut salmon into 4 pieces, rinse, and pat dry. Set aside. In a large skillet, combine water, wine, green onions and bay leaf. Over high heat, bring just to a boil. Carefully add salmon and return to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 8 to 10 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork.
Remove fish and pat it dry with paper towels. Cut each salmon steak in half, removing as much of the bone, cartilage and skin as possible.
Meanwhile, cook spinach according to package directions. Drain well, squeezing out moisture. Stir in nutmeg.
Preheat broiler. Place fish on a broiler-proof serving platter or on the rack of an unheated broiler pan. Top with spinach mixture, sprinkle with cheese and season with pepper. Broil 4 inches from the heat for 1 to 2 minutes, or until cheese melts. Garnish with lemon slices, if desired.

Serves 4

Hashbrown Strata

Nonstick cooking spray

2 cups frozen loose-pack diced hash brown potatoes with onion and peppers
1 cup cut broccoli florets
1/3 cup finely chopped turkey bacon or turkey ham (about 2 ounces)
1/3 cup evaporated fat-free milk
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 8-ounce cartons refrigerated or frozen egg product, thawed
1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
1 tablespoon snipped fresh basil or 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Fresh basil sprigs (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat a 2-quart square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange hash brown potatoes and broccoli in bottom of baking dish; top with turkey bacon or ham. Set aside.
Stir milk gradually into flour in a medium bowl. Stir in egg product, half of the cheese, the snipped or dried basil, and black pepper. Pour egg mixture over vegetables.
Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Let stand for 5 minutes. If desired, garnish with fresh basil sprigs. Makes 6 main-dish servings.

Make-ahead Tip: Assemble as above, but do not bake. Cover and refrigerate for 4 to 24 hours. Before serving, remove cover and bake as directed above.

Serves 8

Chicken Lasagna Florentine

From Southern Living

2 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
1 (6-ounce) jar sliced mushrooms, drained
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup sour cream
6 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 cup to 1 cup chopped pecans

Stir together chicken and next 6 ingredients.
Arrange 3 noodles in a lightly greased 11- x 7-inch baking dish; top with half of chicken mixture. Repeat layers with remaining noodles and chicken mixture. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and pecans.

Bake, covered, at 350° for 45 minutes; uncover, and bake 15 minutes or until bubbly. Let lasagna stand 15 minutes before serving.

To Make Ahead: Cover and chill. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before baking; proceed as directed.

To lighten: Substitute reduced-fat cream of mushroom soup, 2% reduced-fat Cheddar cheese, and reduced-fat sour cream.

Yield: Makes 6 servings