Chicken Fajita Casserole

Perfect for football weekends!

This is a simple and easy meal to make that lasts for about 3 meals between Matt and I.  We love to eat this on football game days.  As a blogger, I found this recipe on another blog and knew we had to try it.  Tonight is our second time making it and I have to admit, it's still yummy!!

Here is what you need:

• 1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 3 bell peppers (red, yellow, orange or green), sliced
• 1 16-ounce bag tortilla chips
• 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
• 2 12-ounce jars salsa verde or tomatillo salsa
• 3/4 cup sour cream (low fat or regular)
• 4 cups cooked chicken, shredded
• 9X13 cooking dish/pan
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• We prepared everything a head of time.  
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• Cut up and sauté the onion and peppers (we used red, yellow, and green bell peppers).
• Boil 2-3 chicken breasts.  Shred and season it (we used salt, pepper, and all season salt).
• Mix together 24 ounces of salsa and 3/4 cup of sour cream.
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• Once everything has been prepared, you start to layer!!
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• First Layer:

Sorry, I didn't take a picture when it was full!  But you get the picture.  Layer this on the bottom of the cooking dish/pan

Second Layer:

Add half of the onion and pepper on top of the tortilla chips.

Third Layer:

Add shredded chicken on top of that.  This was 1 chicken breast shredded.  I shredded the other chicken breast for when we repeat this step again.

Fourth Layer:

OOPS!  I forgot to take a picture :)  Shredded cheddar cheese is the next layer.  

Fifth Layer:

Add half of your salsa mix.

Repeat those steps and use up the rest of your ingredients.  After you add your "second" fifth layer of salsa mix, add more cheese!

Cover with aluminum foil and bake in oven for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.  Uncover and cook for another 20 minutes or until it looks golden brown.

Delicious!  Enjoy! :)

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• XOXO
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Blind Faith

I just recently got back in contact with an old friend and it has been amazing.  The most amazing part to it is how we are strengthening each other's faith.  She asked if we could be study buddies and ever since we started studying the Bible together, I've come to understand my faith more.

How crazy is that?

I sat down to read the next passage that was chosen last night.  We first started off with Luke 17:1-19:27 which was an overall message of having a child-like faith.  Children trust parents/adults without hesitation, but do we trust God like that?

Not nearly enough.

After we came to understand this passage, my friend asked me what we should read next.  This is where I feel my "blind faith" came into play.  I had a strong feeling that we should start reading Revelation.  (Note: I really don't know the Bible well enough, but when you allow God to talk to you, you become to understand it more.)

Oddly enough, Revelation almost fed off of the passage we read from Luke, and my "unsure thoughts" with Luke were answered in Revelation!  I became excited as I realized that I was beginning to understand God's Word.  So excited that I had to share with my husband as he was watching his TV show.  

He was excited for me and to see this passion burning within me.  I could barely sleep last night with all the overwhelming thoughts of His word flooding my mind and heart.

I came to realize my faith is much stronger when I understand it better.  That's life in general, right?  Just like in school, you study to understand something more.

After understanding my faith, I started understanding what was wrong with me and what I needed to change.  I have a lot of pride and have a hard time acknowledging my faults, but expect other's to acknowledge theirs.

That's not fair at all.

I feel like I've started over again and I'm getting that seventh or eighth "second" chance to be a better person, a better friend, and a better wife.

What an amazing feeling.  I haven't been able to stop smiling since last night.

I love God and I love understanding Him and my faith even more!

"We love each other, because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19)

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

XOXO

Cheesy Vegetable Chowder

This weekend, we got a true feel for fall...it's not going to last though.  It'll be back up to the 80's by Wednesday!  Anyway, when trying to figure out what to cook for dinner on a 50 degree night, it hit me!

Soup!  Something warm and yummy!

Cheesy Vegetable Chowder is the ONLY type of soup I like, especially with vegetables, so I thought I would share the recipe.  My mom made this quite a bit while I lived at home and before I got married, I made a copy of the recipe!   

What you'll need:

1/2 cup chopped onion (we used half of a large white onion)

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 cup celery (we couldn't find any so we left it out, doesn't make a difference!)

3/4 cup carrots, sliced

1 cup cubed potatoes

3 1/2 cup chicken broth (we used 3 cups water and 3 beef bullion cubes)

17 oz canned corn, drained

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup flour

2 cups milk

1 tablespoon mustard

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/8 teaspoon paprika 

2 cups (8oz) shredded cheddar cheese

Process:

Combine the first 6 ingredients in a large pot, bring to a boil.  Then cover and simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.  

While the veggies are simmering, you can make the cheesy mix!

Melt butter in small pot over low heat.  Stir in flour and cook about 1 minute.  Gradually add milk and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thick and bubbly.

This is what it looks like shortly after adding the milk.

Now it's thick and bubbly, ready to add other ingredients.

Stir in the remainder ingredients (mustard, pepper, paprika, cheese).  Cook until cheese melts and then remove from heat.

It should look similar to this!

Once the potatoes in the vegetable mix are tender, stir in the corn and then add and stir in the cheesy mix until thoroughly heated, but don't boil!

Serve and enjoy!!

We made some cornbread muffins to eat along with the chowder!

Delicious!!!

If I had a dying wish and wanted one thing to eat, this would be it!  Sooo good!!

Enjoy!

Have a great week!

XOXO