Air Fryer Chicken Chimichangas

Holy moly! I didn't think I would ever get to eat these again since fired food is off the menu. Air Fryer Chimichangas are the bomb! Super easy to make. Here are some of my mods: 

1. Make double the amount of sauce when cooking the chicken - it tastes amazing poured over top of them when they come out of the air fryer. 

2. It's ok to use cream cheese if you don't have Neufchatel-it's what I did. :)

3. We had a ton of green chilis in our garden this year so I added fresh ones to the mix. Yum! The rest went into my canned tomatillo green chili recipe that I use for chicken enchiladas. [I ended up with 17 quarts!]

4. I added some shredded cheese to the tops while cooking-nice touch!

5. This works best with an upright air fryer with trays that looks like a mini oven. [Also comes with a rotisserie attachment.] Worth the extra dollars.

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/278702/air-fryer-chimichangas/?fbclid=IwAR2CnzKUgy3h1YCrnGLNQZCMvg-xZBJzI5OmquljLhr-TIS4-r-EBuYiR-s

Wild Rice Chicken and Mushroom Soup

Moving forward, my blogs will be based on expiring inventory and the recipes that I find to use up those items. Wild rice and mushrooms were on the list this week. I chose to use a crockpot rather than my InstantPot because wild rice takes so long to cook at 6500 ft elevation. I ended up adding heavy whipping cream instead of the flour roux and some pepper. So, so good. :)

https://pinchofyum.com/instant-pot-wild-rice-soup

Zucchini Crust Pizza

I know I've posted something similar in the past, but this one is definitely a keeper especially with the need to conserve flour lately. It's also Keto friendly, but I ended up using 1/2 cup of regular flour because I didn't have coconut flour (which is said to be the most absorbative to handle the wetness of zucchini). It only takes 2 cups of zucchini, but takes 3 eggs-so make sure you're willing to use up your eggs for this one. It also takes 16oz of shredded mozerella, but we are well supplied with our cheeses (did you know they freeze well?). :)  For the toppings, I actually used 3 cheese spaghetti sauce and chicken, mushroom and onion. For the crust, I also sprinkled semolina on the pan and preheated a stone pizza pan in advance. It take about an hour and 15 minutes if you follow the steps of pre-heat (30min), crust bake (20min)  then the pizza itself (20min). So worth it! Zucchini grows like wildfire here in Colorado, so I have a feeling, I'll hold on to this recipe and keep making it over and over in the next few months. [I've already made it twice in 2 weeks!]

https://www.wholesomeyum.com/zucchini-pizza-crust-recipe-low-carb/

Nourishing Noodle Soup (Forks Over Knives)

There's a chill in the air this week so Chicken Noodle Soup sounded good Saturday night. The hubby doesn't like the traditional Reame's-style noodle or even the spaghetti-style noodle so I usually replace it with rice. This time I decided to try orzo pasta. I also like looking at other recipes for inspiration. Forks Over Knives magazine won the prize. I ended up modifying it with the following: replaced canned jackfruit with chicken (not a fan of canned ingredients); used green onions instead of chives; used orzo instead of linguine; used fresh lemon juice instead of zest. Yummo! This meal is definitely on the comfort food list without all the guilt. Super easy to make, especially if you cook the chicken in the same pot and just keep adding the ingredients over 20 minutes or so then let it cook for an hour. Can't wait for leftovers tonight. :)

https://www.forksoverknives.com/recipes/quick-easy-vegan-noodle-soup/#gs.s2mvim

Moroccan-Style Chicken

The hubby loves chicken, especially now that he doesn't really eat beef or pork. I've been needing some inspiration to avoid making the same old dishes every week, so I decided to go global. He is a big fan of saffron (especially saffron rice), so I started exploring Indian, Thai and Moroccan recipes and am really excited to branch out. Sunday night I used chicken thighs (most common in these types of recipes) and started with a Moroccan-style. The additonal benefit is the use of tumeric in this recipe. I added a side of mushroom wild rice to complete the dish.

It was a huge hit with the hubby and it was so easy, I could make this one over and over. Yay!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/moroccanstylechicken_92582

Quick Chicken Pho (Slow Cooker)

We love going out for Pho when it's a chilly day. It's a very warming soup. I came across this recipe on the BBC.co.uk/food site as a modernized "quick" version (not requiring the days of cooking OxTail). The Chinese 5 Spice was key to capturing the flavor of Pho. Unlike in the restaurant, I was unable to find Vietnamese fresh Coriander, so I had to settle with Cilantro. I also use chicken tenderloins (rather than a whole chicken to speed up the process) and Maggi brand "soy"(which I buy by the case on Amazon). The hubby likes Hoisin and Sriracha added to his for an extra kick! I also forgot the fish sauce this round, but it didn't affect our recollection of how Pho should taste. At some point, I'd love to cook genuine pho using OxTail, but for a quick imitation, this one is great!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/chicken_pho_97726

Garlic Chive Chicken (modified for Instant Pot)

Chives are in full bloom this week, so kudos to the hubby for finding this recipe. We left home for the afternoon Saturday, so I decided to throw some frozen chicken breasts in the InstantPot with added all the ingredients with the exception of the flour and noodles and a little extra chicken broth to turn it into a small-based soup and served over rice (from the rice cooker). I would consider this one a comfort food--so delicious. Can't wait to try more chives recipes!!

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/69005/garlic-chive-chicken/

Thai Chicken and Coconut Soup

I saw this Magazine at Sprouts recently and had to check it out. Normally I peruse the internet for recipes related to what I have on-hand but lately the hubby has been needing some healthier options. What I love about this book is that it’s Soups and Stews for 2. In the past, I would make a normal-sized pot and we would end up eating only half and get burned out. Now I can cook small and try meals from around the world...I think Morocco is next :)

Southwest Chicken Salad

The night before I made this dish, we had chicken fajitas. I had quite a bit of shredded chicken left over and was craving chicken salad. This was the perfect daytime snack plain or as a wrap. I ended up doubling the recipe and used a 1/2 yogurt to mayo ratio. I also added extra garlic powder; added the cooked fajita veggies (onion/mushroom/red pepper) instead of green pepper; omitted the tomatoes (for the hubby) and served with fresh avocado. This would have been really yummy with black beans as well but our home is bean-free. :)

https://www.plainchicken.com/2013/09/southwestern-chicken-salad-football.html

Rotisserie Chicken

The hubby bought a whole chicken today, so I decided to finally use the Rotisserie option on my Countertop Convection Oven with Rotisserie. Some things turn out to be super simple and easy if you just try. In this episode, I learned how to truss and prepare a chicken for the rotisserie. Not sure why I haven't already been doing this for years. It will take about 2 hours and I think will pair nicely with broccoli/cheese/rice and sweet potatoes. I particularly liked this recipe because it uses avocado oil. I love this oven overall because it takes less energy and heat for just 2 people like us; perfect for a small cabin in the mountains too (which I'm hoping we opt for in the near future). ;)

https://everydaygoodthinking.com/2013/09/17/the-ultimate-guide-to-trussing-a-chicken-and-a-rotisserie-chicken-recipe/

https://www.wholefoodbellies.com/homemade-rotisserie-style-chicken/

Slow Cooker Gumbo

We had just enough okra from our garden to make a nice big pot of gumbo. I added some tiny potatoes and tomatoes from the garden as well as chicken broth, salt and rotel. Now I don't have to cook for the week. lol

https://fitslowcookerqueen.com/slow-cooker-gumbo/

Chicken Avocado Lime Soup

The hubby bought a bag of limes last week, so I've had to figure out what to do with them. Although margaritas come to mind, I decided to first (re-)make Salsa Verde (Green Chili), then made Green Chili Breakfast Burrito Casserole and tonight Chicken Avocado Lime Soup. I added black beans, corn, and green chili.  I served it with tortillas, sour cream and shredded cheese. Definitely a good one for a cold night. :)

https://www.cookingclassy.com/chicken-avocado-lime-soup/?utm_source=feedly&utm_reader=feedly&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=chicken-avocado-lime-soup

Cheesy Chicken Zucchini Casserole

It's the month of Zucchini and I always get excited to see what Pinterest has for me each year. I literally started with the first and have been working my way down. Per the hubby's request, I added chicken as well as little bit of kale for more color/vitamins. This was definitely a keeper "comfort food". :)

https://natashaskitchen.com/2017/07/25/cheesy-zucchini-casserole/

Balsalmic Chicken with Mushrooms and Thyme

Tonight was a simple but flavor-packed recipe. I actually used chicken thighs, Balsamic-Soy, dried parsley and thyme from the garden and cooked some rice in the rice cooker. It was a delicious "just right" healthy meal.

http://www.slenderkitchen.com/recipe/balsamic-chicken-with-mushrooms-and-thyme

Lemon Basil Chicken

I was so excited to make this recipe. We harvested lemon basil from the garden for the first time. I used this recipe, added kale instead of spinach and ended up using chicken thighs instead of breasts. I paired it with cheesy broccoli rice (at the hubby's request). This was one of the most flavorful pan recipes we've had in a while. Definitely keeping lemon basil in the repertoire.

http://www.wellplated.com/lemon-basil-chicken/

Honey Garlic Chicken Stir Fry (Pressure Cooker)

I very loosely followed this recipe. I forgot the ketchup and sesame oil, opted for black pepper rather than red pepper flakes, added orange juice, used arrowroot instead of cornstarch, and added orange cauliflower, carrots, green beans, celery, green onions after browning the chicken. I also added a little bit of chicken broth. I used a rice cooker for the rice. The flavor was incredible! And the sauce thickened up nicely under pressure in 12 minutes. Again, a practically effortless, thumbs up meal!

http://thriftyjinxy.com/easy-pressure-cooker-recipes-honey-sesame-chicken/

Chicken Broccoli Shells and Cheese

This was definitely as good as it looked. The teenager coined the term "gravy cheese"--I mean, who doesn't love cheesy gravy?! We had some friends over for dinner, so I ended up doubling the recipe. I also accidentally pulled out chicken thighs instead of breasts, and unsure if they would like the combo, I cooked the chicken seperately. Served with salad and corn-on-the-cob, it was a big hit. Definitely an easy one to prepare and worth the effort.

http://diethood.com/chicken-broccoli-shells-cheese/

Honey Garlic Chicken Stir Fry

I had leftover chicken that was seasoned with McCormick "Smokehouse Maple" and wanted a quick and easy recipe that also used the broccoli I had in the fridge. I recently upgraded my Wok, so I decided it was time to break it in. :) I ended up adding red pepper, celery, sesame oil and extra soy sauce. The honey was the perfect ingredient for this wonderful stir fry. I also used the rice cooker for Jasmine rice. This one had very little leftover--gobbled up with seconds and thirds. ;)

http://www.dinneratthezoo.com/honey-garlic-chicken-stir-fry/

Creamy Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti

Tonight I put on my lunch lady hat and "re-purposed" last night's spaghetti dinner. I ended up with WAY too many noodles and needed to come up with a solution. I also had cooked a whole chicken a couple of days ago (in the crockpot and give the broth to the dogs). So tonight I'm using half of the spaghetti as a mexican bake and tomorrow will be a cold spaghetti salad. I was able to get this one together in less than 10 minutes and bake for 30. Easy peesy. :)

http://www.thecountrycook.net/creamy-cheesy-chicken-spaghetti/

Creamy Tuscan Garlic Chicken

This has been a great week of entrees. I tried a new recipe almost every night. Tonight was the "creme-de-la-creme" so to speak. ;) This was a melt-in-your-mouth delight. The only thing I would have changed is to add mushrooms. I also doubled the recipe for our hungry teenager guests. This recipe is a must try!

http://therecipecritic.com/2016/05/creamy-tuscan-garlic-chicken/