Scrumptious Chicken Broccoli Divan with Bacon

A couple of nights ago, I was clueless about what to make for dinner.  I had 2 thawed skinless boneless chicken breasts, but no plan!  I could not think of anything so I started going through some old recipes I used to use and found this "oldie but goodie".  Fortunately, I had all of the ingredients on hand (hardly ever happens!).  Finally, a plan for dinner ~ YAY!


The original recipe from Campbell's Kitchen does not include bacon or the seasonings I used for the chicken, but one of my sons requested bacon to be added so I did.  The bacon and seasonings added some really great flavor to the casserole!


The recipe is below.  I hope you and yours enjoy it!

Scrumptious Chicken Broccoli Divan with Bacon


*** I seasoned the chicken breasts with coarsely-ground garlic powder, Lawry's Seasoned Salt, black pepper, and a little Himalayan pink salt (any kid of salt is fine) before sauteing them in olive oil.  The casserole was served with steamed brown rice (simmered in chicken broth for more flavor) and steamed butternut squash . . . it was a very yummy dinner which my kids really liked! ***


Serves:  4 to 6


4 cups cooked broccoli florets (cook/steam until tender, yet firm)
11/2 cups cubed cooked chicken (can also use rotisserie chicken)
1 can (103/4 oz.) cream of chicken soup (reduced sodium or fat free soup will work fine in this recipe)
1/3 cup milk
3 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled (optional)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp. dry bread crumbs (I used French's fried onion rings instead!)
1 Tbsp. butter, melted (omit if using French's friend onion rings)


Preheat oven to 450 degrees.


Spray 2-quart shallow baking dish with cooking spray.  Place cooked broccoli and chicken in baking dish.


In a small bowl, mix soup and milk; pour over the broccoli and chicken.  If adding bacon to the casserole, sprinkle the bacon crumbles on top of the soup mixture.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Mix bread crumbs with melted butter and sprinkle on top.  (If using French's fried onion rings instead of bread crumbs, omit the butter and sprinkle the onion rings on top of the bacon and cheese.)

Can't Get Enough Guacamole!

I absolutely LOVE Tex-Mex (a.k.a. Mexican food) and have been eating it since I was a toddler, from what my mother has told me.  In the 70's and 80's, we used to eat at the El Fenix Restaurant (a Dallas institution since 1918; http://elfenix.com/ ) on Northwest Highway, near NorthPark Center, in Dallas several times a month.  My mother would always offer me the guacamole-donned tostada that came with her meal, as one did not come with the children's meal.  Of course, I always gladly accepted her tostada and devoured it and the creamy guacamole in short time!  :-)

Below is a terrific guacamole recipe I have been using for awhile.  I am not sure where the recipe originated from, but it's really fresh, easy, and yummy!  Each time I make this for a gathering, it's one of the first things to get eaten up!  (Will post a pic the next time I make it!)

The recipe follows!

Can't Get Enough Guacamole

5-6 large ripe avocados

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded & chopped

1/2 medium sized red onion, finely chopped

3-4 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, finely chopped

1/2 lime, juiced

1/2 tsp. salt

Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and mash together until smooth.  Add additional lime juice or salt to taste.

Serve with tortilla or corn chips!

Not My Mama's Enchilada Casserole

Sorry, not the best photo!  But rest assured, this is quite yummy!

As long as I can remember, my family has been making Enchilada Casserole.  We eat a lot of Mexican food here in Texas (a.k.a. "Tex-Mex") and this casserole is great when you feel like eating Tex-Mex at home instead of visiting your local cantina!  It's also a great dish to take to a church potluck or any type of social gathering.  I have made it for many friends and it is always well liked by everyone!

The recipe my mother has always used is a bit different from the one I now make for my own family.  For instance, my mother's recipe uses ground beef and mine uses lean ground turkey.  I also add cilantro to my recipe, which her recipe does not include.  No worries ~ whether you make it with beef, turkey, or even ground chicken it will taste GREAT!  Just remember to add a bit of olive oil or vegetable oil to the pan when you use turkey or chicken, as they are quite a bit leaner than ground beef.

My version of the recipe is below ~ enjoy!!!

PENNY'S ENCHILADA CASSEROLE

1 lb. ground turkey

1 can cream of chicken soup (I use the fat-free kind)

1 can mild enchilada sauce (the red kind, not the green stuff)
1 can chopped green chiles (do not drain)

1 pkg. corn tortillas, quartered

1 small onion, chopped

2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped

2 cups Mexican blend shredded cheese or cheddar cheese

11/2  Tbsp. olive oil

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt (I prefer sea salt or kosher salt)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray large casserole dish with cooking spray (will make clean-up much easier!).

Take a large stack of corn tortillas and slice in half.  Take those halves and slice in two.  After slicing, you should have a bunch of little tortilla triangles.

In a large skillet, sautee the chopped onion in oil for several minutes.  Add ground turkey and season it with the garlic powder, black pepper, and salt.  Cook the turkey until no longer pink.

While the turkey is cooking, place a single layer of the tortilla triangles on the bottom of the casserole dish.  (It's okay if they overlap some!)


When the turkey is cooked through, add the chopped green chiles and the chopped fresh cilantro to the skillet and cook for a couple of more minutes.  Then stir in the cream of chicken soup and enchilada sauce.  Continue to cook the mixture for a couple of minutes so the flavors meld.  Turn off the heat.


As is you were making lasagna, you will layer the enchilada casserole in the following manner . . . layer of tortillas on bottom, place 2 or 3 large spoonfuls of turkey/soup mixture over the tortillas, then sprinkle shredded cheese on top on the turkey/soup mixture. Repeat layers.  The top of the casserole should be topped with any remaining cheese.


Bake the casserole uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes until bubbly.  Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

MY FIRST POST!

I am so excited to begin writing my first post!  I have never blogged before, so bear with me!!!  :-)  I am writing tonight just to tell you a little about myself so you can get to know me a bit and also to let you know what this blog will be about.


ABOUT ME . . .
I am a lucky Texas mother of 3 wonderful children (2 boys & a girl) ~ these kids bring such joy to my life!  After almost 15 years of marriage, I am currently going through the divorce process but we won't focus on that (staying positive and forging ahead!).  I have been a stay-at-home mom for the past 12 years and enjoy volunteering at my kids' schools.  In my 20's, I worked in the corporate arena as a Personal/Executive Assistant to several high profile executives and busy families in the Dallas area and had to leave my career behind, unfortunately, due to health issues in 2000.  I am self-employed now and work part-time from home supporting several busy female sales directors.  In addition to my administrative work, I have a side business ~ please feel free to visit my cool new website at http://www.marykay.com/pennys!

Below is a picture of two of my sweet kiddos and me, taken at Christmas.  My son is 13 and my daughter is 9.  I also have another son, not pictured, who is 22.

ABOUT MY BLOG . . . 
I have decided to start a blog because I enjoy baking, cooking, entertaining, decorating, and even crafting on occasion.  I am admittedly better at the cooking, baking, and entertaining however!  :-)  I feel this blog will be a great form of expression for me and perhaps may even be helpful to others as they search for recipes, cooking tips, entertaining ideas, inspiration, etc.!


Please come back and visit my blog often!  I am not the best writer, but will certainly give it a try and attempt to post regularly.


Before I end this post, I would like to share a really great quote my sister emailed to me earlier today.  I have no idea who wrote it, but it really moved me so I thought I would share it with you.  I hope it touches you, too!  :-)

"May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.  It is there for each and every one of us."

Thanks so much for visiting!!!