Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

I’ve never been one to shy away from a complicated recipe. Most of the time I don’t mind spending a couple of hours in the kitchen for the reward of a delicious meal. But sometimes I need something I can get on the table fast. Something without a lot of fuss, but still tastes great. And if it could be healthy too, well, that would just be amazing.

Enter cheesy enchiladas.

If you’ve got 30 minutes, you have time to cook dinner. And if your chicken is already cooked, it goes even faster! In fact, this is one of my favorite ways to use leftover roasted chicken… I find it imparts a more authentic flavor to the enchiladas. Plus this a fairly economical recipe, since it only takes one chicken breast to make 12 enchiladas. Pretty awesome, right?

Plus these enchiladas are guilt-free. Choosing low-fat (but not fat free) ingredients keeps the calorie count low without sacrificing flavor. So you can enjoy three mouthwatering enchiladas without changing into your sweatpants. How’s that for a little bang for your buck?

Happy eating friends.

Keepin’ it random.

The last week has been pretty random. I say let’s roll with it.

I saw these tulips at the grocery store the other day and couldn’t resist. Tulips have always been a favorite of mine… I love their simple clean shape and happy colors. Plus they’re a sure sign that spring is on its way! Now if we could just get the darn cold wind to stop blowing all the time…

Speaking of wind, we had a huge storm a couple of weeks ago that blew down part of our fence. When we finally got around to fixing it this weekend we realized that we needed a circular saw. It was my first power tool purchase ever… can you believe that? I feel like a real homeowner now! Now we’re one step closer to completing all those home improvement projects looming in the future. The list is disturbingly long.

I am completely and totally obsessed with this show right now. I’d seen it hanging out on the Netflix for a while but finally decided to watch an episode the other day… and promptly proceeded to watch all 12 episodes in 2 sittings. I have so much respect for our military and the things they go through, and this documentary series just cemented that even further for me. It makes me want to think twice before I complain about anything airsoft-related ever again.

I was hanging out with my parents yesterday when my grandmother stopped by with a little gift for me. It’s my great-grandmother’s recipe box! There are some seriously interesting recipes in there, including one for oatmeal cake that my mom and grandma both claim is to-die for. I can’t wait to try some of these!

The week is off to a nice start over here. I hope it is for you too!

Keep it real friends.

Nutty Granola

I’m probably the last person in the world to jump on the homemade granola bandwagon. I don’t know why I waited so long. Part of it might be that I’m usually not a big granola-eater anyway, since I basically have to force myself to eat yogurt. Maybe I thought it was too hard. Maybe I thought store-bought granola was good enough.

Well let’s just say I was wrong on all accounts.

Store-bought granola doesn’t even hold a candle to this epic homemade stuff.

This granola is super crunchy, especially with all those nuts in it.

This granola is just the right amount of sweet. Maple syrup + ground cinnamon = breakfast/snack time/anytime heaven.

This granola is Flat Belly Diet-approved. MUFA, anyone?

This granola is great with milk. This granola is great with yogurt. This granola is great all by itself when eaten by the handful.

This granola also only takes a grand total of 30 minutes to make. You literally mix all the ingredients together in one bowl, pour it all onto a baking sheet, and throw the thing in the oven. That’s it. 30 minutes of work for a week(+)’s worth of crunchy, nutty, mapley deliciousness.

Make it now, thank me later.

10 Things I’m Grateful for Right Now

Things have been really stressful lately, both at work and at home. And while it would be really easy to curl up in bed and wallow in my negative feelings, I’m going to choose to look instead at the great things around me. I’m going to count my blessings.

1. Right now I’m grateful for makeup, to cover the ugly welt that’s still hanging out on my forehead after getting shot by a sniper at our last airsoft game. It’s kinda hard to explain to people that it’s a war wound, not an acne scar.

2. I’m grateful that it was warm enough to sit outside and read at my favorite coffee shop the other day. Is spring finally on its way?

3. I’m grateful for my amazingly comfy oversized couch. We splurged a few months ago and bought this beauty, and it was one of our best purchases ever. Afternoon naps on this thing are the best.

4. I’m grateful that I gave up coffee, because it’s opened my eyes to a whole new world of teas. My current fave: orange blossom oolong, from Java downtown.

5. I’m grateful for hilarious videos like this one, to keep me laughing even when it seems like there’s nothing to laugh at.

6. I’m grateful for this sign that hangs in our hallway. It’s just the kind of constant reminder I really need.

7. I’m grateful for this epic nail polish that goes on so dark it makes me feel like a pretty lady and a total badass at the same time.

8. I’m grateful that Dane and I have the kind of relationship that lets us sing Journey songs to each other in the middle of the mall. We are the perfect kind of goofy together.

9. I’m grateful for spicy black bean burgers with avocado. For all those times I want something healthy for lunch, but leftovers from yesterday simply won’t do.

10. I’m grateful, most of all, that all of my problems are first-world problems. That basic needs like food and shelter and the ability to pay my bills are not on my list of complaints. And also, of course, for my amazing friends and family. Couldn’t forget you guys if I wanted to. 🙂

What are you grateful for this week?

How-To: Homemade Chicken Stock

After you’ve made a stellar roasted chicken and eaten all the delicious meat you can pick from its bones, it might be tempting to simply throw the carcass away. Don’t! Trust me friends… there is still so much potential left in that bird. 

Now, I’ve never been one to make something from scratch simply to be able to say that I did. There are a lot of pre-made chicken stocks you can buy that are quite good and will be more than sufficient if you don’t have anything homemade on hand for whatever you’re making. In fact, when I’m making something that requires less than say, two cups of stock, I usually use store-bought stuff myself. But when I’m making soups or recipes that are heavily broth-based, I always prefer homemade stock. If you’ve never made your own before you might not believe me, but seriously… there’s a BIG difference.

And it’s so easy to make, I can’t let a lack of knowledge keep you from enjoying the amazingness of homemade chicken stock. Which is why I’m back with another how-to!