Chicken Taquitos

It all started with a trip to Albertsons where boneless skinless chicken breasts were $1.79 per pound. I bought one large pack and thus began a chain of events that can only be described as delicious. THESE ARE SO CRUNCHY AND DELICIOUS! Words can't describe, if I could mail all my readers a taquito I sure would. The pack of chicken made 80 taquitos. We ate some for dinner, some for a snack, some for lunch the next day and rest are sitting pretty in my freezer. These are good with shredded beef, pork carnitas and chicken. You could slip in cheese, grilled onions or jalepenos, but just plain chicken is diiiivine. If you have a fryer that's the easiest route. I have also made them in a skillet with oil. You can bake them for a lower fat version.

Husband Rating: 5 billion stars
(he would eat these for every meal, this is the recipe he loves to take to work for lunch and brag about. love those recipes!)

You will need:
5 boneless skinless chicken breasts
80 white corn tortillas
1 lime
Dash of salt
Oil for frying


I put the chicken straight into a pot and covered with enough water to just reach the top of the chicken. I put the heat on medium low or a '4' on my stove.

Put the lid on and let your chicken boil. Check your chicken after 20 minutes, cut into each piece to see if it's still pink. Mine took 35 minutes, but they were fat pieces. Frozen chicken would take a little bit longer.

Remove chicken to a plate to cool. Trim off any fat or veins.


Shred chicken. I use my fingers, but a fork would be easy too. Cut your lime in half and squeeze one half over the chicken. Give it a dash of salt.

Thank you hubby's hands for demonstrating the next step. Warm your tortillas in the microwave or on a skillet so they are soft. Place a handful of chicken on one side and roll up tightly.

Use a toothpick to secure your taquito. It's a pain to try and hold them together while frying, just use a toothpick and take it out after. Fry each taquito in oil until golden and crispy. In a deep fat fryer they need 1 1/2 minutes total, where in a pan with oil they need about 2 minutes on each side. You want a nice crunch on the outside.


Throw together some pico de gallo with equal parts diced red onion, cilantro and diced tomato. Squeeze your other lime half over the pico de gallo and give it a dash of salt.

Remove toothpicks and serve taquitos with pico de gallo and sour cream. Enjoy!
To reheat taquitos from the fridge, microwave for 15 seconds per taquito on the plate.
To reheat frozen taquitos microwave for 30 seconds per taquito on the plate.


Don't forget to check out the blog carnival at BlessedwithGrace. Yummy recipes!

BTS Mini Cupcakes

I'm not a fan of the name "better than sex" cake. Perhaps the person who named the cake was horribly lonely or a had a lame love life because frankly -- it's not. I've also heard it referred to as "better than baseball cake" which fits the bill better, but most food is better than baseball. I will just use the initals BTS and you can fill in the blank. Better than sushi? Better than sunshine? Better than Seattle? Better than Sandra Bullock? Better than Sunday? Anywho, I brought these cupcakes to a party and the platter was scarfed down. They are just so adorable kids AND adults can't resist them. I love my mini muffin tin, and you can buy mini wrappers now -- too fun! I prefer whipped frostings for this recipe, they squeeze out easier.

Husband Rating: 5 stars

1 milk chocolate cake mix
(ingredients called for in cake mix)
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 tub whipped milk chocolate frosting
2 Heath bars, broken into pieces

48 mini muffin cups
1 ziploc bag

Combine cake mix ingredients according to package directions. Pour 1 TB of cake batter into each mini muffin cup. Press one chocolate chip down into the center of each muffin cup. Bake for 6-7 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool. Place frosting in a ziploc bag and cut a small hole in the corner. Swirl frosting on the top of each cupcake. Sprinkle with Heath cany pieces.

Smothered Brownie Ring

I created this for a goodbye party for some of our friends who moved to Virginia. I didn't realize until I got it on the plate how very holiday it looks. It got rave reviews, so I'll be making it again for holidays this time. I used my fluted pan and turned the brownie ring upside down. The brownie only filled half the pan, so for a fuller look I might use 2 brownie mixes next time. Betty Crocker products are coupon heaven, so be on the lookout. My favorite are when Albertsons has their massive Betty Crocker sale and the bettycrocker.com website has coupons for each item. I stock up once a year and enjoy Betty Crocker goodness all year long. Yaay!

Husband Rating: 4 stars

1 Betty Crocker Supreme Brownie Mix, Triple Chunk flavor
(eggs and oil called for in mix)
1 cup milk chocolate frosting (about half of a jar)
2 Reeses peanut butter cups

Make brownie mix as directed and pour into greased fluted baking pan. Bake according to package directions. Remove pan from oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Turn upside down and remove brownie ring onto plate. Microwave frosting for 10-15 seconds or until smooth and slightly runny. Drizzle over brownie ring. Chop peanut butter cups into wedges and sprinkle over the top of brownie ring. Best when served warm. Enjoy!

P.S. I had leftover homemade peanut butter cups I used for the top. Reeses is just as good.

Sammy Burgers

One adventurous day at the grocery store I purchased a can of pink salmon. I know right? Crazy!! On the back it had a list of ways to use it, and thus became my Sammy Burger. First, if you are pregnant or have a light stomach don't open the can! I had to slime through the entire thing to pull out chunks of bone and something brown and slimy. Yes, the burgers were quite delicious, husband ate two, but the process of cleaning out the can was a little ewww. Once I had the bones and clumps out, the salmon was very easy to flake, stir and shape. I just have to warn you, it's not like tuna where you drain and it's ready. I had planned on making these outside on the grill, but I added 2 eggs which made them too delicate they would have fallen through. I used a grill pan on the stove, but once they cooked they got a delicious crispy outer layer. Have fun with fish!!

Husband Rating: 4 1/2 stars

1 can Pink Salmon
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup mayo
1 egg, beaten
1/8 tsp of garlic salt, pepper, ground mustard
1 tsp. parsley flakes
1/4 cup. finely chopped onion
1 tsp. lemon juice

Flake and debone salmon. Stir in bread crumbs, mayo, beaten egg and onion. Add lemon juice, garlic salt, pepper and ground mustard. Shape into 4 large patties and grill until the crispy. Serve on a bun.


I served up the burger with mayo on the bun (tarter sauce would have been good now that I'm thinking about it, or ranch even) lettuce and tomato. I sliced up some divine farmer's market cucumber on the side.


This brand was on sale, that's why I looked at it. It is kind of a little pricey, so watch for deals!

Embarrassing Lunch

We were visiting friends from high school last night and somehow the topic of lunches in elementary school came up. Whenever we went on a field trip they would tell all the children to bring a lunch from home. They would announce that if for some reason you couldn't bring your own lunch, the lunch ladies could make you one.

Troy (who was the only Latin kid) asked his mom one evening to pack him a lunch. The next day on the field trip all the white kids pull out their sandwiches, drinks and treats and he opens his to find tacos and a tamale wrapped in foil. He was SO mortified. He said he never ever told his mom about a field trip again, he just told the lunch ladies he was too poor to bring a lunch. They would pack him a sandwich and a green apple. TOO FUNNY!

On these same field trips my mom used to pack me a bag of homemade granola, a tuna sandwich on homemade wheat bread and some carrot sticks. I was always jealous of other kids who got to open their little wrappers filled with twinkies, hohos, dingdongs, fruit rollups, and capri suns. It was so embarrassing to be eating homemade brown food when everyone else had brightly colored lunchables.

We were just laughing hysterically about how embarrassing our mom's lunches were. Not realizing, of course, that they were packed with love and we were lucky to have moms who cared. But really, when you're 9 and on a bus trip you just think your mom is clueless.

I remember a friend in middle school saying how embarrassed she was that her mom put twinkies in her lunch, she wanted healthier food like mine so people wouldn't think she was getting fat. What I would've given for that twinkie:) So, in 8 or 9 years my own son will be sitting on a bus being embarrassed at what I packed right? Is that how it works? Do any moms get it right?

Let's hear your EMBARRASSING MOM LUNCH story

Flavored Lemonade

My absolute favorite drink ever is lemonade. I love ordering flavored lemonades at restaurants. Strawberry and raspberry are always good, I've tried peach, blackberry and blueberry too. This is an easy way to flavor up ordinary lemonade. Kool-aid comes in every flavor and there are always coupons and deals to be had. I bought 20 packets last time they were on sale at walmart (combined with a coupon) and we've been enjoying them all summer. I like my lemonade to have that zing, but if you want a sweeter version add the sugar. Add frozen strawberries, limes, lemons or just ice cubes. The flavor in the picture is tropical punch- delicious.

Husband Rating: 4 1/2 stars
(his favorite flavor is grape, no joke, try it)


2 cans (12 fl oz.) frozen lemonade concentrate
1 packet (.14 oz.) unsweetened Kool-aid (any flavor)
1 TB sugar (optional)

In a large pitcher stir together lemonade and water called for. When smooth, stir in one packet of Kool-aid until completely dissolved. If desired, stir in sugar. Garnish and serve.

What's Cookin' Good Lookin'?

It's time to put that disgusting, food splattered apron (yes mom, I'm talking to you) away and upgrade to a . . .

designer
sassy
adorable

new apron designed and made by me!

I make them in sizes from baby doll, little girls, in-between, woman's petite to woman's tall. Just admire until I make purchasing available on my website.