Tex Mex Chicken and Rice with Bacon

Living in a house with picky eaters is really cramping my style.

My oldest son, who is now 19 (yeah, I'm old) loved spicy foods even when he was in diapers! I'll never forget the time we took a day trip up to Flagstaff, Az. when he was 6 years old and the pressure from his stuffy nose/sinuses got the better of him from the quick rise in elevation. My tough little guy was holding back sobs in pain. We pulled over in some little town in between Phoenix and Flagstaff and found a small, rickety Mexican Food joint {the best ones always are}. We sat on the small patio on fold out chairs and planned to order something quick while Britton had a chance to hopefully 'decompress'.

 The waiter/owner couldn't help but notice Britton, then a handsome young boy holding his head in pain (yes we had already tried a decongestant). He say's with a snap of his fingers

"I have just the thing for you mi amigo!"

A moment later, he was back with a very small, carefully held bowl of dark red, thin salsa (picante). Warily, yet somehow smugly, he placed it in front of my then 6 year old son. "This will solve your problem right away, but slowly o.k.!? 

Jim and I exchanged quick, nervous glances while my son, without hesitation, dove right in with a tortilla chip and shoveled a huge scoop of the liquid fire directly into his little mouth. His face just noticeably flinched in pain. He quickly gained his composure and while his eyes still wide in surprise, wiped his now runny nose and went back in for more. 

It couldn't be all that hot then right? My husband and I who are both Natives to Arizona (me by default) are not only used to spicy foods but require it in Mexican food and beyond. We both took a generous taste from the small bowl and immediately we were both teary eyed and gasping for air. That is some serious salsa!

To which the just returned waiter replies, "Well, I don't just put this out for anyone!"  My son, then requested a second bowl. My son.

My younger children on the other hand can't handle the ittiest bit of spice or most flavors other than cheese for that matter. This has created a serious cramp in my cooking style I tell you.
Seriously, serious.

How am I supposed to make Mexican food, a favorite cuisine of ours without loads of spiciness in it?

How am I supposed to make a Tex Mex Chicken Arroz without it having a kick to it?!!!

Initiation on! Someones gotta toughen up these kids. ;)

Oh, did I mention the best part about this meal (besides the stuffing into your face part?) It's a ONE POT meal my friends! Awww yeah!

Ingredients

4-6 boneless chicken thighs, trimmed of most of the fat

4 cups chicken broth

1/2 cup light beer such as Dos Equis Amber (or more broth or water)

1/2 cup of your favorite salsa (I love Safeway's brand, restaurant style Fire Roasted Salsa)

2 cups long grain rice

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 small yellow onion

1 medium red bell pepper

1 can black beans, thoroughly rinsed and drained

1 can sweet kernel corn, drained

1 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled

Avocado and cilantro for garnish

Using  ye old  spatula-tong method, cook bacon in a large, Dutch oven in batches so as not to over crowd. Remove and let drain on paper towels carefully draining the grease into an old can between each batch. Set aside for later. 

In a small food processor, finely chop onion and bell pepper. 

Reserve a tablespoon of the bacon fat and leave it in pan. Add chicken thighs and cook 2-3 minutes on each side to brown. Remove from pan and set aside. Add onion and peppers to the pan and stir. Cook 5 minutes till translucent, stirring only once or twice.  

This is my favorite part, pour either the beer or about 1/2 cup of the broth into the pan while scraping of the browned bits with a spatula (don't use a metal one on a Dutch oven).  Now, add the tomato paste and using a slotted spatula stir it around the pot to combine it with veggies.  

Add the remaining chicken broth, salsa, rice and chicken thighs to the pot. Stirring to combine. Cook over medium-high heat for 10-12 minutes stirring occasionally. Add beans and corn, stir. Cover with a tight fitting lid and reduce heat to low. Cook undisturbed for 20 minutes. Remove from heat let sit for 10-15 minutes if possible. 

Remove lid, fluff with a fork. 

Serve piping hot on plates with crumbled bacon on top. Garnish with avocado slices and cilantro. Serve with an ice cold beer. 

I entered this recipe into the Foodie Blogroll contest: 1,2,3 Cook and Snap on Facebook and it would make my day if you voted for me!!!

Huevos Rancheros el Fresco {recipe makeover} #giveaway

My very inquisitive 8 year old son just asked me if I knew who "Texel's" {pet guinea pig} parents were. In true mom of the year form I immediately replied, "Not exactly but I'm guessing maybe a Zebra and a Goldfish." To which 'J' gives me an 'Are you crazy' look. So, of course I guessed again. "Maybe a goat and a butterfly?" 'J' spins on his heels, shaking his head and head out of the room. So I have to yell after him, "I got it! His parents must have been a monkey and an alligator!" My 7 year old 'N' who has been sitting at the table shaking his head "You're weird." 'J' from the end of the hallway, "It's all true, you are!"

I'm o.k. with that. Some might call it 'weird', but I prefer calling it,  thinking outside the box. If you will.





Which is what I did when recreating one of my longest standing favorite meals into a healthier one. Wether it be brunch or dinner, Huevos Rancheros hits the spot every time. Every. Time. In fact, we either have Huevoes Rancheros or Crepes aka 'Skinny Pancakes' every Christmas morning as a tradition. Once or twice a year as a special treat I make these for no special reason whatsoever. Like tonight.


As you might know, if you actually follow along here at Simply Healthy Family, I am a (grandfathered in) Native Arizonan. I grew up with beans and home made tortillas, chile verde and spicy foods galore at the dinner table. My mom used to carry a small bottle of home ground chile/cayenne powder with her at all times to sprinkle on her foods when we ate out. Spagetti, cottage cheese, peanut butter, nothing was safe from a hot kick in the ass.

El Pato, has long been one of my 'go to' chile sauces. I always use it for huevos rancheros and it the the very secret undercover ingredient to my famous shredded chicken tacos. It's how I finagled my husband into marrying me! Shhhhh, our little secret.

As a matter of fact, now that I think of it El Pato may have been the reason why I started this blog. Again, my signature dish to this day (still not on this blog ;) is my shredded chicken tacos. I was asked over and over again by friends, cousins, sisters and my own mom to send them the recipe. As I grew tired of typing the recipe over and over again I decided to start a blog to organize and save my favorite recipes. Aaaaaand here I am today. This has been a place to share my love for healthy, quality foods and also a journal of sorts.

Thank you for listening. My children are being moderately hateful to each other right now so I think I need to wrap this up.. for the sake of the children. The lambs.

These cute little cast iron skillets were perfect for serving individual Huevos Rancheros. They are very sturdy for their size and the craftsmanship was lovely. They come pre-seasoned and are perfect for those of you who love the taste of cast iron cooked foods that can not be replicated but don't need a full size pan to do the job. 

Want a duo? How about one of these square griddles plus a nice oval one for Au Gratins? 

Enter to win below!

Repeat afar me:  I will not use canned beans in this recipe. Slow cooked beans in chile powder, cumin, salt, onions and garlic are a must. Period. The end.

Using a spoon, make a little dent in the beans to cradle the egg.

More queso, of course. While we all like the ooey, gooey-ness of shredded cheese incorporated into the beans and chiles, a good crumbly queso fresco is essential, Essential to topping off an authentic Mexican meal. I like Oaxaca, and Queso Fresca.

Instead of tortillas, I prefer to get my crunch factor from purple cabbage. Contary to popular belief, purple cabbage is actually sweet and pairs perfectly with spicy foods like huevos rancheros. Don't even get me started on it's nutritional content!

Ingredients

2 medium sized poblano peppers (they are mild)
1 cup slow cooked pinto beans in:
1 tablespoon chile powder
1/2 tablespoon cumin
1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup diced white onions
1/2 cup shredded Jack cheese
4 eggs; Organic, free range of course
El Pato salsa de chile fresca, to taste

garnishes:
shredded purple cabbage
chopped cilantro
crumbly queso fresca
sliced avocado



Pre heat oven to 450F

Slice poblano's in half, length wise, remove veins and seeds, discard
Place poblano's in cast iron skillet, open side up and roast for 10-15 minutes.
Remove from oven. Spoon cooked beans into poblano peppers and drizzle El Pato over beans. Sprinkle onions on beans. Top with jack cheese. Using a spoon make a small indent into beans and carefully crack eggs into hole.

Bake at 450F for 12-15 minutes. DO NOT overcook or eggs will be leathery. Eggs may look undone but 12 minutes is plenty time to cook them through.

Remove from oven. Garnish. Enjoy.

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South Western Style Stuffed Spaghetti Squash with Chorizo and Peppers

It's really amazing how fast it takes to fall out of shape. It takes hours and hours week after week of exercising for me to see positive results in my body and then Bam! 3 weeks of basically being a sloth during the Holidays to feel like a big, fat, hot mess. Back to sporting my "yoga" pants 24/7 for a while. The good news is that I jumped back on the wagon and am already feeling much better after a couple of weeks of exercising and being even more diligent in regards as to how I fuel my body.

I've found that when I don't plan ahead I end up making something like burritos or nachos for dinner instead of something healthier and more satisfying. My days are usually pretty hectic with work and 4 kids (does the 19 year old still count?) so sitting down on the weekend for a couple of hours, well maybe 5 or 6 hours if I jump on Pinterest helps me make healthier dinners during the week.


So instead of throwing together a big plate of Nachos on Friday night we can have this healthified version thanks to spaghetti squash. While I have a hard time convincing some of my children to eat plain spaghetti squash when it involves chorizo, cheese and beans we have a winner.

I can't get enough of the flavors of the South West and namely of Mexico that are incorporated in this dish.  Typically, Mexican food is associated with fried foods and fatty cheeses but it's of my opinion that this is the American version of the cuisine. This south western stuffed squash brings out all of the flavors of my beloved home town without all of the fat and grease we Americans so love.

Post Script: This was one of the best meals I've ever had. Ever. If you make one recipe from this blog, please make this! If you have small children or you don't like the spice in your food omit the jalapeño and fire roasted tomatoes. Maybe add a teaspoon of cumin and chile powder to the mix if you do for flavor. 

TIME   90 MINUTES        SERVES   4 

Ingredients 

1 medium sized spaghetti squash
2 cans or 2 cups cooked black beans
1 can whole kernel sweet corn, drained
10 oz beef chorizo (omit for vegetarian)
1 large red or green bell pepper, diced
1 can fire roasted tomatoes (if not using chorizo and you like heat)
OR 4 Roma tomatoes, chopped
1 cup shredded Jack cheese (Queso Oxaca is a good, low fat sub)
1 small yellow onion, diced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup green onion, chopped
1 large handful fresh cilantro, chopped plus more for garnish
1 jalapeño, diced


Preheat oven to 400F 

Poke several holes in the skin of the squash to allow steam to escape while cooking. {I had a hot squash explode on me once when I tried to cut in without having poked holes in it first, ouch} Place whole squash on a roasting pan and roast for 60 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 30 minutes before attempting to cut. 

Meanwhile, cook chorizo in a large, non-stick or cast iron skillet till browned. Using a slotted spoon, remove from pan into a large bowl, set aside. Pour out all but 1 teaspoon of grease. Brown onion 4-5 minutes. Add onion to chorizo. Combine the beans, corn, red bell pepper, tomatoes, jalepeno, cilantro and the salt into the chorizo mixture. 

Cut the squash in half, lengthwise. Using a large fork scrape out the flesh of the squash to make 'spagetthi' making sure to leave at least 1/2" on bottom and sides to create a "boat".  Toss the spaghetti squash flesh in with the chorizo mixture to combine. Scoop mixture into the spaghetti 'boats'. Cover with cheese and place back in oven and roast for 10-15 until cheese melts. 

Garnish with cilantro, green onion and avocado slices.

South Western Chickpea Burgers on Portobellos with Creamy Adobe Sauce

A spicy twist to chickpea burgers. These aren't for sissy's. Sweet, spicy and smokey Chipotle peppers in Adobe sauce give these some serious personality


Let me just start by saying that this was the best meal I have ever had. Do I say that a lot? Well, this time I mean it. I've had chickpea burgers and falafel several times in the past and I love them. Usually however, it's all about the toppings or garnishes since chickpea burgers/falafel are very mild and usually slightly dry in texture. Like in Greek falafel pitas, the cucumber, tomatoes and tahini sauce are what makes them so yummy IMHO. Well, I suppose that the garnishes in this dish are exceptionally amazing but the burgers themselves were so flavorful and perfect I have been up the last several nights in anticipation of sharing them with you.

I hope someone out there actually tries these babies and loves them as much as we did. Let me know! Mamma knows South West flavors!

I have to admit that the portobello mushrooms and adobe sauce were what made this completely over the top fantastic for me. If you don't like mushrooms *sighhh then of course you could use a whole grain bun or pita, or just wrap it in lettuce and stuff it with veggies. If you've never had Chipotle peppers in Adobe sauce, now's your chance! They are super spicy and smokey and freaking amazing! Just don't dip your finger into the sauce like I did and stick it in your mouth, Ouch! I thought I was going to start throwing flames from my throat! I couldn't help it, they smell so dang good.




First, using home made bread crumbs is mucho importante. The boxed variety are old and dry and tasteless.
It's so simple to make your own. Just leave a few pieces of your favorite bread out on the counter for a few hours or overnight. Throw into your food processor and pulse a few times. I make a small batch and keep it in a mason jar in my freezer. If your making just enough for a recipe, you could always use your coffee grinder for quick bread crumbs.


I have to tell you, I know everyone says you can't use a blender as a food processor, but my Ninja blender kicks butt! I use it for everything. It has 3 blades so foods are always blended super smooth and perfect consistency. Also, it has 3 speeds and a pulse button for stuff like bread crumbs, nuts and dried fruit. Just thought I'd get the word out in case your in the neighborhood for a new blender.

Oh sweet smokey Chipotle Peppers in Adobe sauce, how I love you so.

Mix with sour cream to cool them off.

Chipotle peppers are actually smoked jalapeno peppers. Adobe sauce typically is
a tomato puree, paprika, salt, onions, oil, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves and oregano.
Not for sissy's! These babies pack a punch. I L.O.V.E. them.
Mix with sour cream to cool them off.

Mix 2-14oz. cans of Garbanzo Beans (chick peas), 1-4 oz. can diced green chiles, small handful of chopped cilantro or parsley, 1 Organic, Free-Range egg, 1 cup bread crumbs, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Mix with a spoon to combine. Add more bread crumbs if needed.

 Heat a grill pan over medium high heat. Spray lightly with oil. Form small patties with your hand and place on pan. Let me tell you a little trick I've learned. Don't smash the patties while they are like this-soft side up. Wait until you flip them, then lightly press with a spatula. These 'burgers' are moist and will stick to your spatula and fall apart if you try to press them before they've been flipped. Also, when flipping them over, go against the grill 'bumps'. They flip much easier this way. Sensitive little guys aren't they?

Using a grill pan makes these cook up much better I think. It allows the moisture to escape a little
so they don't fall apart and finish crisp with pretty grill lines. ;)

Serve on a grilled Portobello mushroom if you please and garnish with avocado, lettuce, green onion and of course Chipotle Peppers in  Adobe Sauce blended with sour cream.

Don't like the heat? Got kids?
These burgers are just as good on a whole grain bun with fork smashed Avacado.

Yeilds  10-12 Patties      TIME  20 MINUTES

You Will Need:

For the Burgers:


2- 14 oz. cans garbanzo beans (chick peas), drained
1- 4 oz. can diced green chiles
1 cup home made bread crumbs plus more if needed
1 Organic, Free-Range egg
1 small handful cilantro or parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
If your not going to use Chipotle peppers, add 1 teaspoon chile powder + 1 teaspoon cumin




Garnishes:


Portobello Mushroom caps, wipe clean with wet towell
Avacado, sliced or smashed
Green Onions, sliced
sour cream
6 oz. can of Chipotle peppers in adobe sauce, blended with 1 cup of light sour cream








Putting them together:




In a food processor or blender, combine chick peas, 1/2 of the green chiles, lime juice, cilantro, salt and spices if using. Pulse just a few times till blended but not pureed. You want them slightly chunky.
Transfer to a bowl and add egg and bread crumbs. Mix with a spoon till combined.

Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Spray lightly with oil. Brush a little bit of oil over both sides of Portobello and ssprinkle with salt. Grill for 3-4 minutes on each side. Remove from pan and set aside.


Meanwhile, put Chipotle peppers and 1 cup sour cream into blender. Blend until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl.


Using your hands, make small patties with the bean mixture and place them on the pan. Let cook for 4 minutes until browned. Using a spatula and going against the grill bumps, gently flip them over. Cook another 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and place on mushroom or bun. Top with garnishes and sauce.