This is one of my favorite kinds of meals! I pulled the bag out of the freezer this morning. After it was thawed, I pour the chicken and sauce into a baking dish, popped in the oven and our main dish was ready! And it was DELISH!
I'm not a fan of the term "dump chicken" - just sounds bad. So from here on, I will refer to this as chicken in a bag! Several weeks ago, I had purchased several packages of skinless, boneless chicken breast. Some were baked at that time for dinner, others went into chicken pies or soups. And 3 of them were made into this great recipe - Sweet Salsa Chicken. Of course, I didn't have all of the exact ingredients on hand so I improvised - and it worked!
The basic recipe is chicken breasts, apricot jam, and salsa. Throw all those ingredients in a bag and freeze. Thaw and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. How easy is that!
My version:
3 or 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts - cut in half (easier portion size for my family)
1/3 cup apple butter
1 1/2 salsa (I used medium and it had some kick - would use mild next time)
Toss all of the above ingredients into a large ziploc bag. Freeze.
Another option is to marinate it overnight or at least 8 hours.
If frozen, thaw completely. Bake at 350 degree for 30-35 minutes. Enjoy!
We enjoyed this dish with a side of black beans, salads, and tortilla strips!
Come into my kitchen for good food, recipes,and ideas! Pull up a chair and stay awhile!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Beef and Barley Soup - bring on Fall!
Waking up to a dreary sky, drizzling rain just screams SOUP to me! Deciding which soup to make was the harder decision. I could eat soup for 7 days and be happy! (My family probably wouldn't agree - so we haven't taken that challenge!) And the winner for today was -Beef and Barley, in the crockpot - bonus for a Saturday!
I pulled up the recipe I used for Beef Barley Stew and Easy Hamburger Soup and switch them up a bit. Soups to me are honestly an easy entree to make - kind of like a quiche or an omelet. A great vegetable soup is essentially emptying out the crisper in the refrigerator!
So here is what I came up with for my Beef and Barley Soup - and it was DELICIOUS! Kids all ate TWO bowls, full of veggies and goodness!
Beef and Barley Soup
1lb ground beef
1 small onion, diced
2 celery stalks, chopped
3 carrots, chopped into small pieces
3 Beef Bouillon cubes
1 can diced tomatoes - juice and all
1 can corn - don't drain
3 tablespoons oregano
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 Tablespoons tomato paste
3 cups water (may need to add another as it cooks)
3/4 cup barley (uncooked)
Brown hamburger in skillet with onions. Add everything BUT barley into crockpot. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Add Barley 3 hours prior to serving to allow for it to cook. If it becomes too thick while cooking, add another cup of water.
Enjoy!