How I freeze spinach

I love this baby spinach I buy at Costco.  It is not too expensive and it's so useful!

There's NO WAY I can finish this in a few days though...  maybe until I start making spinach smoothies ;)

Here's what I do with the spinach.   First I spread them on the cookie sheet like the picture below.

Then, put it in the freezer for about 1 hour minimum.  They will be nice and frozen. 



I take out the sheet and quickly put them in the freezer bag.  QUICKLY is the key here since it melts fast.  If it melts, they tend to stick together more and will look soggy.  Doesn't matter much because it will get cooked anyway but when it's not sticking together, it's much easier to get as much as I need.   

I keep a couple bags of these in the freezer.  It comes in handy because I can just add them when I am making soup, quesadilla, omlet, casserole and so on.  Spinach has lots of nutritions.  Gotta love it!

Yo's Chicken Enchiladas

Tonight I decided to make chicken enchiladas with some leftovers I had on hand.  I had a rotisserie chicken that I pulled all the meat off of and I also had a chicken breast in the fridge that had been cooked in lime and cilantro.  I combined those two together in a bowl and added some sweet rice I had made the week before.  I also added some sour cream just to bind it together, a can of green chilies, about a cup of grated cheese, and also a half a can of corn.

I cooked up come flour tortillas then spread this mixture down the middle and rolled them up.  In a baking dish I poured enough red enchilada sauce to cover the bottom then placed the enchiladas on top.  Over the top I poured more enchilada sauce, grated cheese and cut up olives.  This actually made two large baking dishes - one went in the oven at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes and the other went in the freezer for another night.  Delicous and super easy!  Of course you could adjust the ingredients with whatever you have on hand:)

Mandarin Orange Jello

I am translating this recipe I got off of Japanese cooking website.
This is easy and light. My kids love them :)

2can(11oz) mandarin orange
1pk(7g) gelatin
1/3c. water
1 3/4-2TBS sugar

1. Add gelatin to water and mix a little.

2. Drain mandarin orange. Put the syrup in microwavable container and put orange in glass dish.
3. Add sugar to the syrup. Heat in microwave for about 1 1/2 min. until warm but not boil.
*If you boil, it might not set. I have done it before and it was juice, not jello...

4. Add gelatin mixture to the syrup and mix well. Pour into the glass cup that orange is in. Cool. When cool enough, transfer them to the fridge until firm.

If you prefer something more, some cool whip on top will make it creamy and good too!

Tres Leches Cake

This cake is so good and super easy to make!!

Directions:
1 Golden Vanilla box cake mix (you could use a different flavor if you like as long as it is white or yellow).  Mix according to box but substitute milk or buttermilk for the oil.  Cook and once removed from the oven use a fork to poke holes all over the top.

Next mix the following together:
1 cup milk
1 cup half and half
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Pour over cake and place in fridge to soak and to chill.  The longer you let this soak the better.  I usually leave mine in there for a couple of days but at least overnight.

When you are ready to serve I like to cover the top with a layer of raspberry jam and then another layer of whipped cream.

Delicious!!!

Chicken Enchilada Soup

Ingredients:
1 can rotel mild tomatoes with chilies
1 can black beans rinsed and drained
1 can ranch-style beans
1 can diced green chilies
2 cans cream of chicken soup
2 cans water
1 c corn (canned or frozen)
1 lb cooked chicken - boiled, grilled, or pulled of a rotisserie

Fresh cilantro, lime, tortilla chips, and cheese for topping (optional)

1. Combine all ingredients (except cooked chicken) in a pot and cook until boiling.
2. Add the chicken just long enough to warm through.
3. Serve with optional toppings.

Super easy, super fast and delicious!!  If you've ever tasted the enchilada soup at Chili's this reminds me of theirs.

Donut Muffins

Makes 12 muffins
Ingredients:

1/3 cup oil
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 3/4 cups flour

1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon

Mix together oil, sugar, egg and milk. Then add dry ingredients. Mix well. Grease muffin tin, and bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes. While the muffins are baking mix together sugar and cinnamon in one bowl, and melt butter in another. When muffins are done cooking, remove from tin. Coat each muffin in butter and then in cinnamon/sugar mixture.  Enjoy!

These are in the oven right now - I will let you know how I like them!

Okay - here's the review:  very fast and easy to make - better eaten warm than cold.

Darci's Breakfast Casserole

So, my new neighbor Darci shared this wonderful recipe with me after I tasted it at a brunch she had at her house.  I've always wanted to try and make a breakfast casserole but never really had the occasion.  This year I decided to make it for Christmas!

Line a 13X9 pan with 6 slices of bread (I used Grandma Sycamore's which worked great).  Cook a small chub of sausage (I used Jimmy Dean's Sage flavored) in a pan until brown and crumbly.  Drain the fat and pour on top of the bread.  Beat 6 eggs together and then pour over top of the sausage and bread.  Cover with shredded cheese.
At this point you can cover and put in the fridge overnight.
When ready to cook, preheat oven to 375 and place casserole in for about 20-30 mins.  My oven cooks really fast so it only took about 20 mins for it to cook and brown.  You will have to adjust the time based on your oven.  After making it I also thought you could add onion, mushrooms, bell peppers etc to make it healthier or even substitute the sausage for ham or bacon.  The possibilities are endless.  Enjoy!!

This recipe was super easy and very delicious.  It was great for Christmas morning because I prepared it the night before and threw it in the oven while we opened presents!!  Thanks Darci!

Tiffany W's Tortilla Soup

Tortilla Soup

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1-2 cans chicken broth

4 cooked and diced chicken breast

1/2 cup diced celery

1/4 cup chopped green peppers

1 small died onion

1 can corn

garlic to taste

1-2 cups salsa (start from 1cup and add more to taste)

salt ant pepper to taste

cumin to taste

Saute celery, green peppers, onion and garlic in small amount of butter until soft.  Add rest of ingredients and heat until ready to serve.  Top each bowl with tortilla chips, grated cheese, cilantro, avocado, sour cream and green onion.