calli's "burrito" chicken enchiladas...

this recipe comes from my friend Calli's kitchen. i am so glad that my friend tyson married her, cause i love her. i am friends with all of her in-laws, but wish i got to see her more:( love ya Cal! & you are going to love here too... as soon as you make these!

they are called "burrito" enchiladas cause they are stuffed with everything you would put in a burrito, but they are rolled, smothered & baked like enchiladas:) & they are perfectly delish!!!! i am eating leftovers of them as i type:) give them a try asap, you'll be so glad you did!

{Calli's "burrito" chicken enchiladas}

{Santa Fe lime rice}

1 cup rice, either long grain or basmati

2 cups chicken broth

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp garlic powder

juice of 1/2 lime

2 TBSP butter

1/4 tsp cumin

1/3 cup cilantro

melt butter in a pot & add all seasonings & cilantro. add rice & cook over medium heat for 2 minutes stirring constantly. add stock & lime juice return to simmer, turn to heat to low. cover & cook about 30 minutes.

set aside.

{chicken}

1 pound chicken, cooked & shredded

you can cook the chicken any way you want. My favorite way is to boil it on the stove, it takes about 25 minutes. I have also cooked it in the crockpot for about 3 hours on high, or just cut up one of the already made chickens from Costco.

{sauce}

1 cup salsa verde

1 package buttermilk ranch

1/3 cup cilantro

1/3 cup sour cream

1/3 cup mayo

1 tsp minced garlic

1/2 tsp coarse salt

1 Tbls fresh lime juice

1/4 tsp cumin

1/4 cup sugar

Put in a blender and blend away

( I usually do one and a half of this for the six burritos. I love the sauce so I like more of it then the recipe calls for.)

{Burritos}

6 burrito size tortillas

shredded cheese

1- 15 oz can black beans, drained

rice, recipe above

I put the chicken, rice, beans and cheese in the tortillas. wrap them up cover them with sauce and then put them in the oven on 350 for 40 min covered with tin foil, then I take the tin foil off sprinkle more cheese on top and then cook them for another 10 minutes:)

** i like them topped with pico, avocado & sour cream:)

a little more cpk yum...

while on my long vacation from blogging, i did actually go on vacation. one of my purchases- the last of the cpk cookbook trilogy:)

i bought my first cookbook from california pizza kitchen in 1997, my senior year of high school, while on vacation with my friends. i was a food nerd even way back then:) since then i have made lots of food from it & the other i bought a few years later. now, they have a new family cookbook & it included one of mine & my kids favorites... yep, there mac & cheese. super easy, super tasty & oh so not healthy! so if any of you are trying to be better this year with your eating, maybe stop reading now. still with me??? make this, as easy as box mix, mac & cheese today!

{cpk's mac & cheese}

1 large bag- fussili pasta

2 lbs. velveta cheese, cubed

1 quart heavy cream

2 tsp. salt

cook pasta in salted until el dente. drain & set aside. in the same pot combine cream, velveta & salt. stir continually until cheese is melted & smooth. add cooked pasta & mix. serve immediately.

**for leftovers- reheat one bowl at a time in microwave. add 1-3 tsp. of water per bowl. cook 30 seconds, stir & cook another 30 seconds or until heated through.

last minute neighbor & friend gifts... from your kitchen~

here are some recipes that i got from some of my fellow members of THE HIVE. all of them look delicious, so i though i would feature all of them & there great blogs! in no particular order...

{caramel marshmallow rice crispy treats}

these are a little labor intensive, but just look at them! you can find this recipe here @ City Home/Country Home.

next up...

{reindeer corn cookie bark}

this is so fun & different! it is also a great way to get the kids in to kitchen for some cooking fun. over at the Home Based Mom, you can grab this recipe & lots of other fun holiday bark recipes!

drum roll please...

{mindika's white chocolate & peppermint fudge}

what is Christmas without fudge??? & this is such a great mix of flavors! head on over to Mindika's Moments to find this & lots of other great recipes for the holiday!

just wait...

{confessions of a bake-aholic's chocolate mint cookies}

i love everything over at Confessions of a bake-aholic! she does such a great job!!! & this recipe is no exception. cookies are a must have during the holidays! & this is a great choice.

& last but definitely not least...

{mel's perfect almond roca}

almond roca is one of my favorite candies! & this is a great recipe for a great toffee! she does different nut toppings for different variations. of course my favorite is her almond roca, but i wouldn't turn down any of them:) head over to mel's kitchen cafe to get this and many other great recipes!

hopefully these yummy treats will make it to from your kitchen to your friends & neighbors home! i wish all of you a happy holiday season, covered in sprinkles, glitter & of course- flour:)!

amy's pumpkin cookies with a twist...

i love this recipe! it's easy, delicious & different:) give it a try for an easy after school treat for your kids... you'll look like the best mom ever without too much effort.

{amy's white chip & macadamia pumpkin cookies}

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

2 cup all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

1 TBSP warm milk

1 tsp baking soda

1 TBSP vanilla

2 cups white chocolate

1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts

Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, egg.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg.

Dissolve baking soda in milk and stir in.

Add flour mixture to pumpkin and mix well.

Add vanilla, chocolate chips, nuts.

Spoon onto greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10 min or until slightly brown.

Give and Get is Here!

I know this isn't food, but who doesn't love a deal just as much???
plus, you can make your non-profit feeding america:)

Give and Get is Here!: "Enjoy 30% off from November 11-14 at Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy plus we'll make a 5% donation to a non-profit."

sticking with the apple theme:)

this is one of my favorite fall dessert recipes! it is light, satisfying, but not too sweet! a zeppole is like an Italian doughnut. fried & crispy on the outside, light & fluffy inside. i prefer mine with some whipped cream, maybe even cinnamon whipped cream! give them a try this weekend!

{sweet apple zeppole's}

1 large apple, peeled & grated- about 1 1/2 cups

1/4 cups sugar

1 stick butter

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup water

1 cup flour

4 eggs

Vegetable oil for frying

Cinnamon Whipped Cream

1 cup whipping cream

2 TBSP powder sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. vanilla

In a medium sauce pan combine the butter, salt, sugar & water over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat & stir in flour. Return pan to medium heat & stir constantly until mixture forms a ball. About 3-5 minutes. Transfer mixture to a medium bowl. Using an electric hand mixer on medium speed, add eggs one at a time. Incorporating each egg completely. Beat until smooth. Add grated apple & stir to combine. Cover with plastic wrap & refrigerate while mixing whipped cream.

Combine all cream, sugar & cinnamon. Beat until thick & fluffy. Add vanilla & stir until combined.

Meanwhile pour enough oil into a large frying pan to reach a depth of 2 inches. Heat oil over medium heat until oil is ready... *check tip.

Carefully drop a rounded TBSP of dough, 4-5 at a time, into hot oil. Cook until golden & puffed up, turning once or twice. About 2 minutes each side. With a slotted spoon, remove from oil, drain on paper towels, toss with cinnamon sugar. Transfer to serving dish. Serve cinnamon whipped cream on side for dipping.

* press bottom tip of a wooden spoon onto the bottom of the pan. if bubbles come from the bottom of the pan around the spoon handle, the oil is ready:)

more fall flavors...

with the perfect apple crisp! the tart apples with the sugar & spices. don't forget the crunchy topping! i promise that it is fall heaven!!! make this for your halloween parties this week!

{perfect apple crisp}

• 10 cups granny smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 2 cup quick-cooking oats
• 2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 1 egg white

1/4 tsp salt

in a small bowl, mix together white sugar, 1 TBSP flour, cinnamon & nutmeg. toss with apples. Place apples in an ungreased 11x17 glass or ceramic baking dish. set aside

in a large bowl, mix oats, 2 cups flour, brown sugar, baking powder & soda, butter, egg white & salt. mix until all combined. spread evenly on top of apples.

bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes, or until bubbly with a golden topping. let cook 5-10 minutes. serve with good vanilla ice cream.