Tag Archives: cream cheese

Baked Taquitos

Yesterday was another strong blast of heat. Our house has withstood the heatwave until now. This morning when I woke up and the house still sat at 75 degrees- I knew there was a problem. This weather has kicked in full gear and is not backing down. We are supposed to reach 100 degrees today and while Portland typically hasn’t reached this high heat on a regular basis, we are now. It seems the past few years have consistently remained hot, smokin’ hot.

I remember long ago, moving to Portland–okay it was only 11 years ago, but I was utterly shocked that the majority of the city does not support central air. Portland never got that hot where AC was worth the investment. It seemed only the million dollar homes carried central air while now a days– Portland has had to adapt. Our heat wave the past few years has gained quite steadily leaving us with no choice but to have AC. And for all my sorry pregnant friends out there with no AC, my heart goes out to you!

It’s pretty insane how our weather has changed so significantly over the years. My family back up in Washington is experiencing temperatures in the low 100’s on a too regular basis. It’s almost as if it’s becoming the new Arizona state while mimicking the high heat. Nothing else of course resembles Arizona in the slightest.

Anyway, today Cooper and I were outside preparing for our park date tonight with daddy. I tried to quickly bake our dinner and scurry outside to play with my son. (Sometimes I feel he has too many independent play days)

This was his snack of choice:

  • Orange Juice
  • Chow Mien Noodles (4 gms of protein- shocking)
  • Glazed pecans
  • And sour little worms that his Grammy bought him

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He has been having a great time pulling his toys around lately. He typically loves to push and run rampant with everything but, this little helicopter makes him slow down making sure it doesn’t fall sideways off it’s track and lose balance, boy does that cause for some frustartion. He keeps it on track and walks it through the grass, dirt and up the sidewalk by our house stopping for treats along the way.

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While he was playing, I would run back and forth from the kitchen to play with him as I began to make this incredibly quick dinner. This meal allowed me to spend most of the time with him while stepping outside to let the taquitos crisp up in the oven… ooohh ya! I had you at crisp!

Tonight’s menu: Baked Taquitos with cucumber tomato salad

Venue: Hammerle Park

Guests: You, Me and Dupree

Requirements: Please bring a fun attitude, adventurous toys for the kids and chocolate for my love of desserts.

Ingredients:

  • ½ lb chicken, chopped (2-3 breasts)
  • 1 can kidney beans
  • 3 large mushrooms, chopped
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • ½ tsp garlic salt
  • ½ cup blue cheese or ranch
  • 4 ounces cream cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 8 tortillas

Chop cooked chicken and add to saucepan.

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Add blue cheese and kidney beans. Begin to heat through on low heat.

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Add in mushrooms and saute until tender.

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Once the mushrooms are tender, turn the heat off. Add in cream cheese, garlic salt and paprika. Stir until cream cheese is melted.

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Lay one heaping 1/2 cup onto a tortilla and sprinkle with cheese. Roll up leaving the edges open. Repeat until your mixture is gone.

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Place on a foil lined baking sheet.

IMG_5768Bake at 425 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until light golden brown.

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Aren’t they so pretty and ooey-gooey delicious looking?

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I allowed ours to cool a bit and then wrapped them in foil to pack for our picnic. They remained perfectly warm until we enjoyed them on our blanket at the park. We had cucumber tomato salad with our taquitos along with chips and salsa and dark chocolate peanut butter cups for dessert. Yummy!

IMG_5773What will you be serving your taquitos with tonight?

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Cookie Bars

I found this recipe as it’s nearing that time of the month where sweets are anywhere and everywhere in my house. Right now, I currently have peanut butter twix bars, mountain bars, and now these cheesecake bars. I recently just finished the homemade twix bars that I made as well as a chocolate cake. There’s no need to explain why I am craving it all as you as a woman can relate 100%.

It actually is really annoying how much sweets come to my radar and it varies every month. Some months I really could care less and others (like currently) I live my diet by sweets. Okay not literally, but pretty close! :)

Ingredients:

Curst

  • 1 cup flour + 2 tbsp
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • ½ cup coconut oil (softened)

Filling:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 cup powdered sugar

Cookie Dough

  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ cup butter, softened
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • ¾ cup unbleached flour
  • ¾-1 cup mini chocolate chips

Mix together the crust and place in a greased 8×8 baking pan. Use a spactula and smooth in the bottom of the dish.

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Bake at 325 for 8 minutes.

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Meanwhile, mix together the filling. In a stand mixer combine all ingredients and cream well. Spoon on top of warm crust.

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In the same mixer (rinsed) make the cookie dough. Combine brown sugar, sugar, salt, butter and vanilla together. Cream well. Add flour and mix until well incorporated. Add chocolate chips.

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Sprinkle on top of cream cheese and drop until all dough is evenly dispersed.

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Bake at 325 degrees for roughly 30-40 minutes. (every oven varies in accuracy of heat, if the dough is fully cooked and golden brown you are “golden”)

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Blueberry Coffee Cake

I still have 3-gallon size freezer bags full of our fresh blueberries from last summer. I’m quite surprised how many we still have left with how much I have used them for smoothies and baking. Needless to say, I will continue to use them the next couple months until we get fresh ones again So glad I haven’t had to use them sparingly as we literally had a small blueberry farm.

Cooper loves blueberries so much so that I keep checking the price at the store and refusing to buy a small pint for $3.99. I can’t seem to justify it when we have our own blueberries for free. About a month ago I bought a large container for a great deal, it seemed it was almost a steal as I haven’t seen that good of a deal since.

Anyway, I made coffee cake as I have been into my pastries lately that I probably have developed a permanent food baby; or shall I say 5 lbs that I wish I could blame on something other than simple carbs and coffee. I always crave carbs but lately it’s been almost my entire diet! (I need to refocus my health again)

Oh well! This is a great recipe! Enjoy!

Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup + 2 tbsp flour, divided
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 cup frozen bluenerries
  • 3 oz cream cheese

Topping:

  • 3 tbsp flour
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tbsp cold butter

For batter: in a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg.
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Mix well. Cream until well incorporated!

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Combine 1 cup flour, baking powder and salt in creamed mixture.
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Add milk, mix well.

Toss blueberries with remaining flour.

Add cream cheese and blueberries. Batter will be thick.
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Transfer to a greased 8in square baking dish.
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For topping: In a small bowl combine flour and sugar. Cut in butter until crumbly.

Sprinkle over batter.
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Bake at 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Serve warm with a good cup of coffee for all you coffee lovers. :)

Enjoy!

Simple White Sauce

Simple White Sauce is an easy recipe for any pasta dish you make that deserves a good white creaminess.
I made this tonight and Michael acted as if I’ve never made it before. :) Even after our sweets for the night he couldn’t stop talking about the sauce.
Tonight I made Seafood Alfredo with ceaser salad. It was quite tasty and even Cooper who hasn’t been eating partook in this meal as well. Made my soul happy.

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp minced garlic
  • 3 cups milk
  • 2 tsp garlic salt
  • 1-2 tsp Paprika
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

 

In a large saucepan add cream cheese and butter and begin to melt on low heat. image

Once half melted, add minced garlic.
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When fully melted add milk and simmer on low heat, whisking to get any remaining lumps.
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Add garlic salt, paprika, salt and pepper.
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Mix with any pasta dish and enjoy!
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Creamy Enchiladas

While I was baking this afternoon I decided to make ahead my enchiladas as they are a great freezer meal or make-ahead-meal. Since we will be headed out to my mother-in-laws tomorrow I wanted to get it done and ready to go.

These enchiladas are simple and very tasty! Although I prefer green sauce I wanted to switch it up as my husband prefers red sauce.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 1 lb spicy sausage
  • 1 cup onion, chopped
  • 2 can olives, chopped
  • 1 large can diced chilies
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 1 tsp Garlic salt
  • 1 tbsp prasley
  • 1 large can red enchilada sauce
  • 6 cups shredded cheese
  • Tortillas

In a large saucepan cook the meat and onions until full cooked.

Add olives, tomatoes, chilies, cream cheese, garlic, and parsley. Mix well.
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Add 1/2 can of enchilada sauce with 2 cups cheese.
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Place mixture into tortillas.
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Top with remaining sauce and remaining cheese.
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Freeze, refrigerate or cook immediately.

Bake at 375 for 20 minutes or until bubbly.

Serve with homemade chips and salsa!

 

 

Creamy Chicken and Corn

Crockpot meals tend to never look pretty but give your tastebuds complete fulfillment. In my perspective they actually are beautiful disasters; beautifully ugly! This meal was unbelievably easy and a great change in chicken. I got this meal from my sweet sister Kristen who prefers tasty yet simple meals. This one was a keeper.

I have been on a salad kick since Christmas. My mom made a killer salad bar multiple times during Christmas as a side dish. It was so amazing I continued to do this since we’ve been home and have yet to become sick of it. Basically the salad consists of:

Salad:

  • Mixed Greens
  • Diced red, yellow and orange peppers
  • Sliced mushrooms
  • Candied Walnuts
  • Chow Mein noodles
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Dried cranberries
  • Croutons
  • Lite House Chunky Blu Cheese

Seriously amazing and filling.

Creamy Chicken and Corn:

  • 4-5 chicken thighs
  • 1 can corn
  • 1 can black means
  • 1-2 cups salsa (I add more for the spice)
  • 1 8oz package of cream cheese
  • Rice

Combine chicken, corn, beans and salsa in the crockpot and cook for 4-6 hours on med-low heat.

30 minutes before serving add the cream cheese and allow it to melt and mix thoroughly.

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Remember crockpot meals are never pretty but the beautiful taste is what makes them glorious and always a return meal.

Prepare rice and serve over rice.

Enjoy this tasteful menu with a beautiful taste and a not so beautiful look. :)