Baked Chicken and Spinach Flautas

Baked Chicken and Spinach Flautas

Yields 10 flautas
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes

Baked flautas stuffed with seasoned, shredded chicken, spinach, and cheese are crispy, but don’t have the greasiness of fried versions. 

To shred poached chicken easily, put it into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on medium for 45 seconds. Store-bought rotisserie chicken can be substituted for the poached chicken to save time. 

Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless, skinless Chicken Thighs (about 4)
• 16 ounces Beer
• 2 cups Water
• 1 teaspoon Paprika
• 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
• 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1 teaspoon ground Cumin
• 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
• 1 Jalapeno Pepper, minced
• 3 cups Baby Spinach, chopped
• 5 burrito-size Flour Tortillas (9 inches)
• 6 ounces Queso Quesadilla or other melting cheese, shredded
• 1 tablespoon Olive Oil, or cooking spray
• Salsa, for serving

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 450*F.
2. Put the chicken thighs in a deep sided saute pan and cover with the beer and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the chicken from the liquid and shred it. Mix together the chicken and seasonings.
3. Pour out all but 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid. Add the jalapeno and spinach and cook over low heat until for 2-3 minutes, or until the spinach is wilted.
4. Cut the tortillas in half. Spoon 1/10th of the chicken (about 1 tablespoon) along the long edge of a tortilla. Repeat with the spinach and cheese. Roll the tortilla up, starting with the straight edge. Place seam-side down on an oiled baking sheet. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
5. Brush the flautas with olive oil or spray with cooking spray. Bake for 10 minutes, then turn them over and bake for until 10 minutes, or until crispy. Serve with salsa.

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Watermelon Fire and Ice Salsa

Watermelon Fire and Ice Salsa

Ingredients

• 3 cups chopped watermelon
• 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 tablespoon chopped green onions
• 1 tablespoon chopped jalapeno pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the watermelon, green bell pepper, lime juice, cilantro, green onions, jalapeno and garlic salt. Mix well and serve.

(Source)

Restaurant Style Salsa

Restaurant Style Salsa Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1- 14 oz can diced tomatoes
• 1- 10 oz can orginal Rotel
• 1/2 small onion, roughly chopped
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and smashed
• 1/2-1 jalapeno, seeded or not (depends on how spicy you like it)
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• small to medium size handful of cilantro, washed
• juice of 1 lime

Directions:

Put all the ingredients in the base of a food processor or good blender and pulse to combine for 30 seconds or so until all the ingredients are finely chopped and salsa is desired consistency. Taste for seasoning and adjust to taste. Serve with chips or over tacos.

Baked Avocado Salsa

Baked Avocado Salsa

1 ripe Avocado
¼ cup bread crumbs*
1 garlic clove, minced
1 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp. basil, chopped
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
¼ cups Roasted Garlic Tomato Salsa

Preheat oven to 450°F.

In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, garlic, cheese, basil, lemon juice, salt and pepper; set aside.

Cut the avocado in half and remove pit. Divide the salsa between the two avocado halves.  Top with bread crumb mixture. Place on a small baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes. Serve immediately.  Servings 2.

Summer Corn Cakes with Chopped Tomato

I've been trying to cut down on my meat intake lately, mostly for my health, and I've been searching through and trying many "meatless" recipes. I found this one last week for Summer Corn Cakes and it definitely does not disappoint!

Summer Corn Cakes with Chopped Tomato and Avocado Salsa

Makes about 12 large cakes; serves 6 to 8

• 3 EARS CORN, SHUCKED
• 1 CUP ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR
• 1/2 CUP CORNMEAL (IF YOU CAN ONLY FIND CORNMEAL MIX, SKIP THE BAKING POWDER.)
• 1/4 CUP DICED RED ONION
• 1/4 CUP THINLY SLICED FRESH BASIL
• 1 TEASPOON BAKING POWDER
• 1/2 TEASPOON BAKING SODA
• SEA SALT AND FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER
• 2 LARGE EGGS, LIGHTLY BEATEN
• 2 TABLESPOONS WELL-SHAKEN BUTTERMILK
• 2 TABLESPOONS UNSALTED BUTTER, MELTED
• CANOLA OIL, FOR FRYING
• CHOPPED TOMATO AND AVOCADO SALSA (RECIPE FOLLOWS)

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a brown paper bag.
2. Cut the corn from the cobs into a large bowl, and scrape the stripped cobs with the back of the knife (or a spoon) to release the juices into the bowl.
3. Place 2 cups of the corn kernels into a food processor, and pulse several times, until the corn is slightly pureed but still chunky. Scrape into the bowl with the remaining corn kernels.
4. Add flour, cornmeal, onion, basil, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pepper to the corn. Stir to mix.
5. Add the eggs, buttermilk and butter, and stir just to combine. (Do not overmix.)
6. Place a large skillet over medium heat. Add just enough canola oil to barely cover the bottom, and heat until sizzling hot.
7. One heaping tablespoon at a time, scoop the batter into the skillet. Cooking in batches of 4 to 5 to avoid overcrowding, fry the cakes 1 to 2 minutes per side, until golden brown.
8. Drain on the lined baking sheet, and place in the oven to keep warm while cooking the remaining corn cakes. Serve warm topped with a heap of Chopped Tomato and Avocado Salsa.

Makes about 2 cups

• 1 LARGE TOMATO, CORED AND CHOPPED
• 1 SCALLION, TRIMMED AND MINCED
• 1/2 JALAPENO PEPPER, CORED, SEEDED AND DICED
• 1 TABLESPOON CHOPPED FRESH BASIL
• 1 TABLESPOON CHOPPED FRESH CILANTRO
• 1 GARLIC CLOVE, MINCED
• JUICE OF 1/2 LIME
• 1 1/2 TEASPOONS EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
• 1 1/2 TEASPOONS WHITE WINE VINEGAR
• SEA SALT AND FRESHLY GROUND PEPPER
• 1 AVOCADO, PEELED, PITTED AND DICED

1. Place all of the ingredients (except the avocado) in a bowl, and stir to mix. Refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to serve, for up to 2 days.
2. Just before serving, add the avocado, and mix gently.