Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

I have not been shy about my love for the Our Best Bites cooking blog.  Recently the girls who run the blog came out with a cookbook.  I was browsing through it at my friend Brittany's house and she recommended these wonderful taquitos.  So I went right home and found the recipe on their website.

We had it for dinner last night and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Andy loves 'mexican' type food and says he could eat it almost any night of the week.  These were certainly easy to make, and easy to eat...because they tasted so good.  The best part is, you can eat them with a fork OR your hand.  Seriously, isn't food you can eat with your hands just wonderful?  I agree.

 Picture from ourbestbites.com  {don't report me for using it!}

from Our Best Bites {click to see original post}

1/3 C (3 oz) cream cheese
1/4 C green salsa
1T fresh lime juice
1/2 t cumin
1 t chili powder
1/2 t onion powder
1/4 t granulated garlic, or garlic powder
3 T chopped cilantro
2 T sliced green onions
2 C shredded cooked chicken {I cook mine in this micro cooker from Pampered chef, super quick and easy!}

1 C grated pepperjack cheese  {I used Monterrey jack}

Small corn tortillas  {I used flour tortillas and they were awesome}
Salt and Cooking Spray



Heat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.
Heat cream cheese in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds so it’s soft and easy to stir. Add green salsa, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder and granulated garlic. Stir to combine and then add cilantro and green onions. Add chicken and cheese and combine well.
You can prepare up to this step ahead of time. Just keep the mixture in the fridge.
Work with a few tortillas at a time and heat in the microwave until they are soft enough to roll without cracking. It helps to place them between damp paper towels. Usually 20-30 seconds will do it. If you find yours are cracking when you roll them or are coming unrolled right away, just try heating them longer and try the paper towel thing.
Place 2-3 T of chicken mixture on the lower third of a tortilla, keeping it about 1/2 inch from the edges.  Then roll it up as tight as you can.
Place seam side down on the baking sheet. Lay all of the taquitos on the baking sheet and make sure they are not touching each other. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray or an oil mister and sprinkle some kosher salt on top.

Place pan in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to get golden brown.

***

Can you say DELISH?!?!  Yum...in fact I am having leftovers for lunch today, and I am certainly not regretting it! 
We enjoyed these taquitos with black beans and rice (both recipes I got from my friend Brittany as well).  Find them below or pair taquitos with your favorite side dishes! 
Black Beans {Refried Style}
1 Can of black beans, drained (but not rinsed)  
1 tea Onion powder
1 tea Cumin
1/2 tea dried Oregano
1/2 tea Chili powder
1 clove Garlic, minced
1/2 Cup chicken stock/broth


Place all ingredients in a small pot and bring to a boil,  mash slightly with potato masher and set aside to cool.  Beans will thicken as they cool.


Chili Rice {Made simple with Minute Rice}


2 cups Chicken stock/broth
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tea Cumin
1 tea Chili powder


Add all ingredients into pot and bring to a boil, once boiling add 2 cups MINUTE rice.  Stir and set aside for 5 minutes or until water is absorbed.  

***

Add a little green salad with your favorite dressing and you have a complete (and tastey) meal!  Enjoy! 

Day Six

Day Six:Create a list of your top 5 previous blog posts. 
Let's be honest...in the beginning my posts were mostly about me.  Surveys (oh the surveys), music I liked, people who visited us, my favorite television shows and so on.  You get the idea.  As I have continued to blog, I think I have found my 'blog personality' and have really enjoyed blogging about different things.  Silly random things, recipes, my sweet Noah and, of course, things of the heart.  I enjoy blogging...and here are my top five favorites...plus a few others I love to go back and read (ps.  This was REALLY difficult!). 


1)  June 28, 2008: He Passed!! 
This is a short post, but one I remember well.  I don't know if I have ever seen Andy so excited as the moment he opened this letter...and I was so happy for him at that moment.  It is still a very fond memory.  


2)  February 9, 2009: Noah the Ark
Of course I would put this one.  The story of Noah's birth...I mean really, I am just glad that Andy took the liberty to tell the story.  Not only is Andy a wonderful story teller, but he remembered things that I didn't.  I love reading this, and hopefully one day Noah will enjoy reading it as well. 


3) May 5, 2009: I'm Leavin on A Jet Plane
It may seem odd that I put a post about Andy leaving for Afghanistan...but the memory is still as real to me as it was that day.  Not only does the post share some of the things we did together as a family, just before Andy left...but it also reminds me how grateful I am to have  Andy home. 


4)  June 30, 2009:  Happy Anniversary from Afghanistan
Oh I love this post.  It is one of the sweetest things Andy has ever done for me and I was the happiest I had ever been since he had left.  It was a very special Anniversary for me.  


5) May 25, 2010:  Andy's Home and Lesson's Learned
I am sure you aren't surprised I picked this post either.  Most of mine are sentimental (obviously)...and this was one of the best days of my life!  Seeing Andy walk through those doors, home for good, was one of the greatest feelings ever. 


Other blog posts I love to read: 
One Month Old and A Blessing
Andy Quoted in the Church News
Happiness is a Habit
JAMBA!
The Great Cake-tastrophe
Story of a Storm Chaser
Family Photos