Recipe: Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

Last night I made my first batch of enchiladas, ever. I try to make a Mexican dish at least once a week. Why? Because Jim and I both love Mexican food and there really aren’t many good Mexican restaurants in Korea, except Taco Bell.

I usually make: taco pie, crock pot chicken tacos, beef tacos, or turkey tacos. Jim never complains, but I figured I would think outside of the box and try something new.

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Serves 3-4 depending on if you make rice to go along with it or not

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of large tortillas

• 6-7 chicken tenders (cooked, shredded)

• 3 tablespoons of butter

• 3 tablespoons of flour

• 1 bag of frozen corn (thawed)

• 1 bag of shredded Mexican cheese

• 5 oz (half of can) of reduced fat chicken broth

• 5 oz (half of can) of cream of chicken soup (98% fat-free)

• 1/2 cup of reduced fat sour cream

• 5 oz (half of can) diced tomatoes and green chiles

• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

• Cook chicken in pot of boiling water

• Shred chicken (after it cools) with two forks

• Place a hefty amount of chicken and as much corn and cheese, as you desire, into each tortilla

• Wrap up tortilla and place, seam side down, in a 9 X 13, lightly coated in cooking spray, baking dish (should make 5-6 enchiladas)

• Melt butter in a medium pot

• Whisk in flour until it turns into a thick paste, mine was chunky

• Add chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and tomatoes/chiles, salt, and pepper

• Heat on stove until everything is mixed together and smooth

• Pour creamy mixture over top of enchiladas

• Sprinkle as much cheese as you want on top of creamy mixture

• Bake  for 25-30 minutes (or until creamy mixture starts to bubble)

I didn’t love this dish. I thought it was good, but not great. Jim liked it a lot, he is pretty easy-going and enjoys mostly everything I make. I think the chicken needed a little extra something. Jim suggested adding some of the creamy mixture inside of the tortillas, as well as, on top. I think I will try that next time.

Original recipe from Food Family & Finds

What’s your favorite Mexican recipe?

“Starbucks represents something beyond a cup of coffee.” – Howard Schultz

My love for Starbucks continues to thrive, but that doesn’t mean I can’t disagree with choices Howie (Howard Shultz) makes. For instance, I threw a FIT when I found out we were going to start serving smoothies. “What are we Jamba Juice?” I screamed throughout my store when I walked in. I also stomped my feet when I was told I needed to start making oatmeal during the morning rush, “Because making coffee and warming sandwiches doesn’t take up enough of my time, lets add in some oatmeal.” I must say though, I love Vivanno’s (not that they are called that anymore) and I love Starbucks oatmeal (I have yet to try the new blueberry kind.) I just have a problem with change, this is a fact.

Kindle Deal – Rutgers Pride

As a Rutgers Alumni, I felt it was my duty to advertise this Kindle Deal, A Friend of the Family by Lauren Grodstein. I am not sure when the deal ends, so get it before it’s too late!

I gave this book to my mother-in-law when it first came out in 2009, but I have not had the opportunity to read it. Ms. Grodstein is an English Professor at Rutgers Camden. She was teaching while I was there, but I did not have the opportunity to take one of her classes.

Chef Chen American Chinese Restaurant

walk out the walk-through gate and make your first left in the ville

Last week, I was finally able to try Chef Chen American Chinese Restaurant.  I have been dying to go since the summer but somehow never made it until now. I have heard mixed reviews about Chef Chen’s, but I am happy to report that I thought it was amazing. As weird as it is to say, eating Chinese food made me feel like I was eating in the USA. The atmosphere reminded me of Chinese restaurants back home and the food was delicious.

Kindle Deal

Check out The Pact by Jodi Picoult on sale for the Kindle for $2.99, originally $7.99.

Not sure how long the sale will last, so get it now before the price goes back up! It’s one of my favorite Jodi Picoult books. It’s very fast paced and very emotional, you won’t want to put it down.

 

Book Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

“I have a feeling once you live through something like this, you become a little bit invincible.”

This week I purchased If I Stay, by Gayle Forman, on my Kindle. It was only $2.99 and I figured I could spare a few dollars to check it out. Heck, I can always spare money for a  book with an interesting synopsis and this why one day I will be on Hoarders, in my house full of books.

I was planning on reading another book on my Kindle before reading this one, but I couldn’t really get into it and If I Stay was just waiting to be read. I can’t just ignore a potential good book. This is my problem, I feel like I am always finding more and more books I want to read and my pile keeps getting higher and higher. I sometimes find myself rushing through one book just so I can get to the next.

“There are many things that we would throw away if we were not afraid that others might pick them up.” -Oscar Wilde

I really do amaze myself by the fact that I am able to make a simple pillow on my new sewing machine. I’m amazed because I have absolutely no patience for most hobbies. I start things and never, ever, finish them. I am determined to become a decent sewer. I get bored with pillows and other house decor very easily. If I can sew somewhat proficiently I can solve this problem without breaking the bank, or going to Target more than I usually do, which is never because I live in Korea.

“The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it.” -C.C. Scott

1st Infantry Division Public Affairs

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder is real and it is treatable. If you or anyone else you know is fighting it, please get help. Here are the most common symptoms, according to Web MD.  Thank you 1st Infantry Division for sharing this campaign with us.

I recently read the book Home Front, by Kristin Hannah. PTSD was a main theme in the novel and I learned more than I knew before about the disorder. If you would like to check out my book review head over to Army Wife 101, and check it out.

Also, check out this Kristin Hannah interview with one of my favorite radio voices, Delilah. Home Front is the first book in Delilah’s new book club!

“You don’t want to peak in high school. If you do, the rest of your life is a disaster.” ― Candace Bushnell, The Carrie Diaries

Spotted: a certain Army Wives hunk playing the rich father of a high school boy on the brand new show, The Carrie Diaries. And I’m allowed to say hunk because I think he kind of looks like an older version of Jim. Can you guess who it is?

Frank Sherwood (known in real life as Terry Serpico) is playing the father of Sebastion, high school hottie, Austin Butler (I’m also allowed to say he’s a hottie because he is over 18 and not actually in high school.) Frank Sherwood kind of looks like he could be his father, if you squint and forget the fact the he belongs on Army Wives, not The Carrie Diaries.

Kindle Deal 1-20/21-13

If you live in America, it’s still the 20th, and if you live in Korea, like me, you have moved on to the 21st, and the 20th is old news. With that being said, check out this Kindle Daily Deal.

If I Stay, by Gayle Forman, is on sale today for only $2.99, originally $8.99.  Almost every day, I check out this site for the Kindle Daily Deals. I think this is actually the first time I purchased one of the books.

How can I say no to a decent sounding book for only $2.99?…that’s right, I can’t.

The quick synopsis reminds me of The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold (also mentioned in the Publisher’s Weekly review,) one of my favorite books, but not one of my favorite movies. Did you know Alice Sebold is also a former Pennsylvania high school graduate, just like Sara Shepard author of Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game? Ms. Sebold graduated from Great Valley High School in 1980.