Huevos Rancheros

Mom sent me to a cooking class to learn some different breakfast foods. She told me that Huevos Rancheros is one of my dad's favorite things. Not that I can cook authentic mexican food... but these were pretty good anyway! I made them for my family and they all had seconds. So I take that to mean they were decent.

{ingredients}
6 eggs
6 corn tortillas
2 cups black beans- drained
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 small can (4 oz) chili peppers- chopped
1 large can chili verde sauce
2 c. salsa
1 1/2 c. queso fresco (found in the normal cheese isle)
salt and pepper

{directions}
In a skillet, lightly brushed with oil, toast corn tortillas. In a small saucepan, combine the beans, cumin, chili powder, and chopped chili peppers and heat (simmer) until bubbles.
In another saucepan, combine the salsa and the verde together and bring to a bubble. In the same skillet, spray with nonstick spray and cook each egg until sunny side up until the yolk is semi firm- salt and pepper the eggs.
Place the tortilla on a plate, spread 1/2 c. of beans over it. Next add the egg and smother with the verde salsa. Finally, sprinkle generously with queso.

*Tip #1: keep the oven at a low temperature to keep tortillas warm. 
*Tip #2: when cooking in bulk, cook the eggs until they are almost done. Let them finish cooking in the warming oven while you prepare the rest and are ready to serve. Nothing is worse than cold breakfast foods...

Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup

Was introduced to this dish at a family gathering and fell in love with it. Easy and delicious . . . what more could you ask?

Puree in blender:
1/2 jar marinara sauce (24-26 oz.)
1 can white beans, drained
1 jar roasted red peppers (7 oz.)
2 T. olive oil
1 clove garlic

Heat:
1 can chicken broth
Remaining 1/2 jar marinara sauce.

Add blended red sauce and 1/4 c. basil. Top with Parmesan cheese.

(I found my roasted red peppers at a dollar store. Great price!)

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

This recipe came from Studio 5. I saw it and have been craving it ever since. Turns out, it is delicious. The only problem I ran into was what to serve it with... I decided on some broccoli for some greenery... yum.

{ingredients}
3 c. chicken- cooked and cubed
2 c. cubed ham
1 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/2 c. (12 oz) half and half
1/2 c. chopped onion
2 T. butter
3 T. flour

Topping: (mix together following)
1/2 c. dried bread crumbs
1 tsp melt butter
1/2 c. grated Swiss cheese

{directions}
1. Saute onions in butter, add flour. Stir half and half and bring to a boil until thick, stirring constantly. In a separate bowl, mix together chicken, ham and cheese. Pour sauce over and mix well.
2. Pour into a 9X13 pan.
3. Sprinkle with topping. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

**If freezing:
Step 2: place in a disposable pan, sprinkle with topping. Cover with foil and freeze.