Meat

Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Spicy Avocado Cream

By in GF Mains, Main Dish, Poultry 4 Comments Tags: , , , , , ,

chipotle chicken tacos 36

The other night my hubby and I went on a very long awaited date. We drove from our sleepy (or boring, whatever you prefer) little country town to the “big” city of Calgary. We watched The Hobbit (yay!) and then drove downtown to eat at Joey Eau Claire. We’ve eaten there a couple of times and every time the food has been absolutely delicious. I highly recommend it.

I had the Baja Fish Tacos. They were sooo good. In fact, the very next day I was craving them again and decided to create my own version of a “fancy” taco. Since I have a favourite fish taco recipe already, I thought I’d go for a poultry version and put my own spin on it. They’re nothing like the fish tacos I had the night before but I think they are just as crave worthy. With homemade crispy taco shells, smokey chipotle chicken strips, a cooling yet spicy avocado cream, and broccoli slaw, this is no boring taco. But the best part? They hardly take any time to put together, making them a great choice for any old weeknight.

The spicy avocado cream makes a great dip for nachos. So, if you’ve got any leftover don’t throw it out! Save it in the fridge for a tasty game night snack.

Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Spicy Avocado Cream

Spicy Avocado Cream

If your family can’t handle spice you can omit the jalapeño to make it simply a cooling cream, with no added spiciness.

  • 1/2 avocado, peeled and pit removed
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • juice of half a lime
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1/2 jalapeño, seeded if desired (optional)
  • salt and pepper, to taste
Chipotle Chicken
  • 2 chicken breasts, sliced into strips
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, minced
To Serve

Place all ingredients for the avocado cream in a blender or food processor. Blend until completely smooth. Pour into serving bowl.

Preheat a skillet, with a bit of oil, over medium high heat. Add chicken; season with salt, pepper, chili powder and cumin. Cook without stirring until browned on the bottom. Flip and cook until fully cooked through. Add garlic and chipotle pepper. Cook 1 minute more.

To serve: add a couple sliced of chicken to a taco shell, top with avocado cream, cheese, slaw and cilantro.

Makes: 8-10 tacos

Quick Beef Gyros

By in Beef, Lunch, Main Dish 1 Comment Tags: , , , , ,

quick beef gyros

Whew. 2012 flew by in a whirlwind. Just a little over a year ago we moved from Oslo, Norway to New York City and half a year later we moved home to Canada. No wonder I’m so tired! :P This year the holidays felt extra special and the celebrating seemed to go on and on. It was awesome! We even took a road trip to visit my husband’s family. It has all been such a blast and makes it a little harder to get back into a routine. Er, What’s that again?

3 countries. 1 year.

I’ve always been a huge fan of gyros. If we’re ever at a food court for a meal you better believe I’m headed for the gyro place. It’s the only time I ever get them because certain other people in my family are not a fan. Until now.

When I came across this recipe I figured it was worth a shot. It was so simple that I figured the worst that could happen would be that I would get all the more to myself. :) But that was not the case. They were a huge hit. So much so that I can now make gyros as often as I like, and everyone gets excited about it. They may not be the most traditional but they’ve got everything that I love about a gyro – flavour! Here’s to home cooking winning again! :D

I know it’s a little late but, Happy New Year! I hope 2013 is a year full of blessings for all of you.

Quick Beef Gyros

Beef Filling
  • 1/2 pound deli roast beef
  • 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest
  • pinch paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • pepper, to taste (be generous!)
Tzatziki Sauce
  • 1/2 english cucumber, finely diced
  • 1 cup greek yogurt
  • 1/4 cup diced red onion (about 1/8 of an onion)
  • 1/2 teaspoon white wine vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried  dill weed
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
To Serve
  • naan, pita bread or other flatbread, warmed
  • 1 tomato, chopped
  • crumbled feta cheese
  • kalamata olives, sliced if desired
  • remaining half of cucumber, chopped

Mix together Tzatziki ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside until serving.

Heat a bit of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add all ingredients for the beef filling. Stir until beef is warmed through.

To serve, top pita with a generous portion of beef, tzatziki sauce and desired toppings. Serve immediately.

Serves: 4

Adapted from The Stephens Family via Tasty Kitchen.

Slow Cooker Roast Chicken

By in Christmas, GF Mains, Main Dish, Poultry 11 Comments Tags: , , , , ,

slow cooker roast chicken

Roast chicken has been my nemesis for a long time. I’ve always liked the idea of it but no matter how hard I try I can’t ever seem to get the baking time right. Even with a thermometer I always feel like I underbake it and we end up throwing out all the brown meat because I get so nervous about eating raw chicken, and I hate wasting food! One day I will conquer the traditional roasted chicken, but for now I am very happy I found this recipe that uses the slow cooker, it is awesome!

I love this recipe for many reasons. 1) It takes away the guesswork of knowing the perfect time to take out the bird. 2) It frees up oven space for any sides you may want to bake. 3) It makes your house smell delicious for hours and hours. 4) The drippings left in the crock pot make for some pretty delicious gravy. 5) It seals all the juices in, making the chicken juicy and moist. 6) The rub ensures a deliciously flavourful bird. 7) Just like any roast chicken the leftovers can be used throughout the week and the carcass can be used for chicken broth. It is a win all around!

I know what you’re probably thinking – that the skin must be soggy and gross since there’s so much moisture in the slow cooker. But it’s not at all! The skin turns out crispy and flavourful, thanks to the spice rub. There’s no liquid added to the slow cooker so that keeps it from being overly moist. The only issue I found was that I couldn’t pick up the whole bird and transfer it to the serving platter. It was so tender it fell apart while I was trying to take it out. It really wasn’t a big deal because we were cutting it all up anyways, but if you’re worried about appearances you may need to leave it in the slow cooker or perhaps line your slow cooker with foil for easier removal. Either way it doesn’t affect the delicious flavour of the tenderness.

This is a great recipe to have cooking while you’re away at Christmas festivities and would also be a great main for a small Christmas dinner. It’s stress-free, comforting and no-fuss – a definite must this time of year.

Slow Cooker Roast Chicken

The cooking time depends on the heat of your slow-cooker. Mine runs hot so it only takes 5 hours. Once you get to know your slow cooker it will be easier to gauge if you need the lesser or longer time.

  • 1 whole chicken
  • 1 onion, sliced
Spice Rub
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground pepper

Rinse chicken under cold water; pat dry. Mix together all ingredients for spice rub. Rub the spices on the outside and inside of the chicken. Refrigerate until ready to cook or place in the slow cooker immediately. Stuff cavity with sliced onion. Cook on low 5-7 hours, or until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken to serving platter and let rest for 15 minutes, before serving.

Serves: 6

Adapted from Tasty Kitchen originally from strubleroots recipes.

Crispy Baked Taco Shells & Seasoning

By in Beef, GF Mains, Gluten Free, Main Dish 2 Comments Tags: , , , , ,

crispy baked taco shells

Normally my family eats our tacos burrito-style – rolled up in a soft flour tortilla. But, lately I’ve been craving crispy taco shells. It’s just something about that crunch. But, I don’t really like the ones you get from the store, they’re not the epitome of health and aren’t all that flavourful either. So, I started brainstorming about an easy way to make crispy shells at home without having to deep fry. As I was thinking about how I make my tortilla salad bowls it hit me. If I took tortillas and propped them up in an upside down muffin tin (see picture below) then they should hold their shape as they bake. I’m happy to say it worked! And, we’ll now be enjoying our tacos this way often. The shells are not only tasty and have the desired crunch, but they don’t fall apart as easily as the ones from the store do, which is a big bonus in my book.

I’ve been making homemade taco seasoning for forever. I’m not really sure why I haven’t shared it with you yet. I guess it seemed like too simple of a recipe for an entire blog post. But now that I’ve armed you with a way to make crispy tacos shells I better hand over the goods for a tasty filling too. The first time I tried this recipe I knew I would never have to buy a store-bought packet again – it’s bang on. I suppose you could make it in bulk and store it  in the cupboard, but I find it just as easy to measure out the ingredients as I need them.

Taco night will never be the same again! Yumm.

Crispy Baked Taco Shells

Invert a regular-sized muffin tin. Warm as many 6-inch corn tortillas (or flour, if you wish) as you need, in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, until soft and pliable. Fold gently and prop up between the bottom of 4 muffin cups. Bake at 450ºF for 3-5 minutes or until crisp and lightly browned.

A few of the taco shells may curl over on the top while baking, which makes it a little harder to fill. You could solve this by either propping them open with something oven-proof (such as tinfoil) or by filling them with your meat and cheese before baking, that would also make the cheese nice and melty, which is never a bad thing! I haven’t worried about it because it only happens to one or two, but if you find this happening too much, then you may want to do something about it. :)

1 muffin tin makes 6 tacos shells

Taco Seasoning

  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1.5 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder

Cook 1 pound of ground beef (or desired meat) in a non-stick skillet until cooked through. Sprinkle with seasonings. Add a splash of water to help the seasonings stick to the meat, cook and stir until evenly combined. Season with salt and pepper.

Makes enough for 1 pound of ground meat.

Taco Seasoning adapted from allrecipes.

Baked Chicken Taquitos

By in Main Dish, Poultry 2 Comments Tags: , , , ,

I”ve tried a couple different recipes for taquitos in the past, but none of them were ever quite right for me, it always seemed that there was a lack of flavour or something was just missing. Then I remembered making an appetizer a long time ago, when we were first married, that was basically like a taquito but it was baked in a puff pastry shell. I remembered them being so delicious, so I decided to take that filling, adapt it a bit and then wrap it in flour tortillas instead. They were perfect. I wish I could find the original recipe so I could site it, but it was so long ago I don”t remember where I found it.

These are so tasty and crave-worthy, with so many flavours that I love. And, it”s a great quick, weeknight meal – basically just assembling and then a quick 10 minute bake. We served ours with a version of Quick Mexican Rice, based on what I had on hand at the time, and I ate mine with a little bit of leftover Avocado Salsa. This will definitely be a go-to meal for this mexican food loving family.

Baked Chicken Taquitos

  • 4 small chicken breasts (or 2 large), chopped small

  • 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese

  • 1 (4 0z.) can chopped green chilies

  • 1/2 cup chopped green onions

  • 2 garlic cloves, minced

  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika

  • 12-14 6-inch flour tortillas

  • sour cream and salsa, to serve

Pre-heat a pan over medium heat. Add a bit of oil and the chicken, season with salt and pepper, to taste, and cook until chicken is cooked through. Place in a medium-sized bowl along with cheese, chilies, onions, garlic, pepper, cumin, and paprika. Mix well. Place 3 tablespoons of chicken mixture into the centre of each tortilla and roll up tightly. Place seam-side down on a lightly greased baking sheet. Spray taquitos lightly with oil. Bake at 425ºF for 10 minutes, until cheese is melted and tortillas are crispy. Serve warm with sour cream and salsa.

Makes: 12-14

Grilled Fish Tacos with Avocado Salsa

By in Main Dish, Seafood 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , ,

fish tacos

Sometimes when I suggest a meal to my hubby I get a raised eyebrow and I know, it’s a no go. But, sometimes I know that the aversion is all in his head, so I go ahead and make it anyways, sure that he’ll love it. Sometimes it just end up putting a nail in the coffin, other times he’s pleasantly surprised and we add another delicious meal to our repertoire. The latter is the case with these fish tacos – none of us could get enough.

This is the type of meal that I end up thinking about all evening after we’ve had it for dinner. Even after eating it, I still crave it because it’s just so good. And it’s pretty darn healthy too, which just makes it that much more crave worthy. I had never had red snapper before having this dish. We’re not major seafood people, we don’t like things too fishy tasting. To my delight red snapper isn’t fishy at all, especially when marinated in tex mex herbs and spices. And the avocado salsa. Oh my, I could eat it with a spoon. It’s not your typical chunky salsa, it’s smooth and silky and lends a nice spicy kick and cooling factor all at once.

Please give this recipe a try, even if you’re unsure about fish tacos or fish in general. I’m pretty sure it will be a win.

Fish Tacos with Avocado Salsa

Grilled Fish
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 pounds of red snapper fillets
Avocado Salsa
  • 1-2 jalapeño peppers (depending on heat preference)
  • 1/2 avocado, pitted
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  • 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
  • juice of 1 small lime
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons water
Serve with
  • tortillas
  • leftover avocado, chopped
  • cilantro
  • chopped tomato
  • chopped green onions

For the fish: Mix together cumin, oregano, chili powder, salt, cilantro and olive oil until it is a paste. Spread it over both sides of the fish fillets, making sure it is evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and no longer than 2 hours.

To make the salsa: Lightly oil grill grates with an oil soaked paper towel and preheat to high heat. Grill jalapeno peppers until blackened all over. Place jalapeño in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare remaining salsa ingredients and put them into the bowl of a food processor.

Place the fish on the hot, greased, grill. Cook on one side for 3-5 minutes, or until opaque. Flip fish and cook until the fish flakes easily and is opaque throughout.

Peel the blackened skin off the grilled jalapeños, cut in half and remove seeds. Place peppers in the bowl of the food processor along with the other salsa ingredients. Process until smooth.

Flake fish with a fork and serve on tortillas along with avocado salsa, chopped tomatoes, chopped avocado, cilantro and green onions.

Makes: 12 small tacos

Grilled Fish adapted from Martha Stewart. Avocado Salsa adapted from The Martha Stewart Show.

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