CHICKEN TACO SOUP...CROCKPOT STYLE

Good Morning Loves...
y'all grab a pen and paper because you will want to
jot down this recipe....you are going to LOVE this easy, delicious recipe!
I just adore crockpot recipes where you can just add
all the ingredients at once, turn your slow cooker on Low....
and dinner is ready when you are!

This recipe was just so yummy and filling for a Saturday night dinner....
The recipe was actually entitled White Chicken Chili, but I call
it Chicken Taco Soup which is more descriptive of the recipe.

The SALSA VERDE was the perfect ingredient too!

15 ounce can pinto beans drained

15.5 ounce can great northern beans drained

11 ounce can shoepeg corn drained

10 ounce can Rotel (diced tomatoes and green chilies)

2 cups chicken broth

16 ounce jar salsa verde

1 ½-2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs

1 cup diced yellow onion about 1 medium onion

2 tablespoons taco seasoning

Garnish Options:
 tortilla chips, lime wedges, jalapeno slices,
sour cream, cilantro, avocado slices

Drain the pinto beans, great northern beans, and corn.

To a crockpot, add the drained beans and corn,
 Rotel, broth, salsa verde, chicken, onion, and taco seasoning.

Stir the mixture until combined well.
Cook on low 6-8 hours or high 4-5 hours.

Break the chicken into smaller pieces either inside the crockpot
 or by transferring to a bowl, shredding,
and returning to the crockpot.

Ladle and serve with garnishes as desired.

It's Texas thing....y'all are gonna love this one!

 

OCTOBER HAS ARRIVED...LET'S MAKE IT FABULOUS

 
Good Morning Kindred autumn lovers....
Tis the season of COZY...
The most beautiful month of the year is here
and so we need to get our plans in order....
plans for pumpkins, Halloween and the beautiful
holidays are in our future.....

I wish I could say that the weather has changed,
and it really has...just a tad....
I did notice yesterday, that the leaves are beginning to fall
and what a pleasant feeling that brings to my heart...

I  added a few fall touches to Mother's buffet and it 
looks so warm and cozy....

I love this little Johnson and Brothers pattern

Time to display the turkeys

Comfort food from Estelle's kitchen.....

I tried the Libby's Pumpkin BREAD recipe and it's a winner...

A really loved this recipe....what a beautiful bread for fall....

We recently renewed our membership to Costco
so I was finally able to try the infamous Chicken Pot Pie.....
just look how beautiful and large this decadent pie is....

The cost is around 

$20.00..it is quite large so this can feed a large family...
it is chocked full of vegetables, roasted chicken and gravy...
absolutely delicious....I very much recommend it!!!

    HERE IS OUR ADORABLE LITTLE LUCY....
she's the darling of the family...

Over in Atlanta....

Our Luke the Duke has a full schedule these days....
His junior year in high school, working at Publix,
weekly track training and oh yes...the love of his girlfriend...

Homecoming 2025...an evening to dance the night away...

THE BEST OF FALL COMFORT FOODS

Fall foods are the best....they warm your tummy and warm your soul....
Create the heart of your home in your kitchen...
these are foods I grew up on and that's a good reason
I make these recipes each and every year ...
the creative part is making recipes that others have loved
and shared with others....
there is no better apple cake than Mother's, but this one
proved to be pretty darn delicious...and beautiful too!
And, oh honey....my chicken and dressing 
is homemade goodness...
and of course, please treat yourself to afternoon
tea or coffee, accompanied by a Pumpkin Spice Muffin....
what a beautiful season we have been given....

The fall season is prime time to bake with apples...
I do not peel apples when baking,,
to me, the peel is beautiful and tastes so good....

Can't you just smell the aroma of apples and cinnamon
in this beautiful cake....

PERFECTION

Here is the recipe link.....

FRESH APPLE CAKE

It was a rainy Sunday evening when I served my
homemade chicken and dressing....
Cowboys football, cozy throws and the magnificent aroma
of this comforting aroma coming from the kitchen.....

3 cups crumbled cornbread
2 cups breadcrumbs..use a good french bread
1 tsp each: Creole seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, sage, thyme
1 chicken bouillon packet
3 cups cooked chicken, chopped
1/3 cup butter
3 celery stalks, chopped
3 onions, chopped
3 eggs
5 cups chicken stock

Mix breads, seasonings, bouillon, and chicken in a large bowl.
Sauté celery and onions in butter until tender; add to bowl.
Stir in eggs and stock until mixture is soupy.
Pour into a greased dish and bake at 375°F for ~50 min, until golden brown.
Homemade Chicken Stock
Ingredients
1 whole chicken
6 cups water
3 celery stalks, 3 carrots, 3 garlic cloves (all chopped)
1 tbsp each: Creole seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, Kinders caramelized onion butter, mixed herbs & spices

I use Martha White Cornmeal Self Rising mix'
recipe on the back of the package

I sometimes enjoy using a baking mix rather
than using all the ingredients needed to bake from scratch...
this muffin mix from Bettergoods is a proven winner....

The spice is just the right amount and you can bet
I will serve these at Thanksgiving.....
they smell divine when  baking too

Fill your home with peace and contentment...
Serve good food to your family
Say your prayers at night....
Be grateful for your days....
Enjoy the beauty of Autumn....

Little Lucy

CHICK FIL' A CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

Yes, I agree with you on this....
summer is not really soup weather...
but it is the perfect time of year to use your Slow Cooker
and today, I am serving up this delicious Tortilla Soup!



I so love this Slow Cooker from the Barrymore line......

Yes, Chick fil' A does serve Chicken Tortilla Soup
as a seasonal item...Usually from November through March.
This soup is made from shredded chicken cannellini beans,
black beans and Rotel. It is chocked full of flavor 
using Cumin and Oregano as seasonings!

It will certainly make your kitchen smell amazing
while this concoction slow cooks all day.....

We serve ours with fresh avocado, cheese and jalapeno peppers!

CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

And, a good tortilla soup calls for your best cornbread recipe..
my favorite is Firehouse Cornbread!
This was a good summer supper.....

"With summer came the sense that all of life slowed

to smell the deep green grass,

to watch fireflies dance on an evening breeze,

or to hear the gentle lap of lake water against the sandy shore."

~ Karen Kingsbury 

POTLUCK POT PIE and SIMPLE BREAD PUDDING..THE ULTIMATE COMFORT FOOD

What comes to mind when you hear the words,"COMFORT FOOD?"
How about a chicken pot pie and bread pudding for a few....

Here is how Paris Ritchie described the Potluck Pot Pie..
"This is the only pot pie I have ever eaten, and it is the only
pot pie I will ever eat!
This is how I grew up eating pot pie and so to me, it's the best!
I do not like pot pie with a piecrust and after trying this
recipe, you probably won't either.
This pot pie has a creamy filling and a buttery-biscuit like
topping that is amazing!"

POTLUCK POT PIE
3 cups shredded chicken, cooked
3 cups mixed vegetables, frozen or canned
1 can Cream of Celery Soup
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 cup chicken stock
Black pepper
1 1/2 cup Pioneer Baking Mix, or Bisquick
1 1/2 cups milk
1 stick of butter

I made my own batch of homemade Cream of Celery Soup
as I did not have the canned variety in the pantry...
delicious....

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
In a large bowl, mix chicken, vegetables, both soups
and the chicken stock. Sprinkle with black pepper.
Pour this mixture into the baking dish.
In a separate bowl, mix baking mix and milk until smooth.
Pour over the chicken mixture,
Slice the butter into pats and place all over the top of the pot pie.
Bake for 1 hour uncovered until hot and bubbly
and the top is a golden brown.

Oh it's sooo good y'all.....

Classic recipes will bring people together....
now for dessert...

I can always tell a good bread pudding....
and this recipe is perfection!

Today's featured recipe is a classic!
It comes from one of my all time favorite cookbooks,
THE VINTAGE CHURCH COOKBOOK!
AND THE DESCRIPTION IS AS FOLLOWS....
"This is my grandma's bread pudding recipe and it is my favorite!
It's a simple pudding just the way I like it...
no raisins or brioche, just white sandwich bread.....
There is a hint of cinnamon and a whisper of lemon....."



6 eggs
4 T. melted butter
3 cups milk
3/4 cup sugar
2 t. vanilla
1 t. lemon juice
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 tt. salt
12 sliced white sandwich bread, cut into cubes

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, butter, milk, sugar,
vanilla, lemon, cinnamon and salt.
Add the bread cubes to the egg mixture and use a spoon
to squish all the bread into the egg mixture.
Let this sit for 6 minutes.
Pour into the baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes!

This is a recipe to savor and share!

'If baking is any labor at all, it’s a labor of love.

A love that gets passed from generation to generation.

 ~ Regina Brett

IT'S ITALIAN DINNER TONIGHT AT ESTELLE'S

Hello Loves....
how in the world are y'all doing today?
I don't know about you, but I love
finding delicious recipes, that have few ingredients
and are worthy of serving to the Queen herself!!!
Most everyone loves Italian cuisine and I have
added two recipes to my collection that
you will definitely want to try!
With today's high grocery prices,
these are easy on the budget!

...welcome back to Estelle's!
I have got two fabulous recipes to share with you today...
if you are like me, you could eat pasta everyday.....and this
recipe is so easy to prepare with few ingredients....
I chose to use Angel Hair pasta in this recipe and it was just about perfect.....

You can use chicken breasts or thighs in this recipe...
I prefer using chicken thighs in most recipes because
they are most always tender and flavorful.....

Recipe link is provided below

Oh that glorious dollop of Ricotta and Marinara sauce....divine....

LASAGNA CHICKEN BAKE

ITALIAN RICOTTA CHOCOLATE CHIP CAKE

This cake is company worthy....
it can be served for breakfast, a snack or a light dessert.....

Recipe link is provided here

ITALIAN CHOCOLATE CHIP RICOTTA CAKE

IT'S A START TO SUMMER

It's been just beautiful weather here in Texas....
perfect sunny days to relax on the patio....

The Lilac bush is coming back strong, from last year...

I have planted a variety of seeds in the other containers....
it's exciting to see what I will have in the next few months....

I requested smoked chicken for this weekend....
he grills, and I will make the sides....

We began with my most requested potato salad.....

And, just to amuse myself...I put together
the dinner table using all Pioneer Woman favorites....

This makes a colorful, yet casual summer vibe tablescape,
especially for this menu....



Smoked Chicken
Potato Salad
Macaroni and Cheese
Green Beans

A perfectly delicious Saturday night dinner.....

The Atlanta family enjoyed Spring Break down in Florida
visiting Miss Irma..AKA...Ohio Grandma....

I can see how much they needed rest and relaxation on
this sunset sailing cruise....

Isn't this so beautiful?

We also celebrated our son's birthday with a house full of family and friends....
his request was Strawberry White Chocolate Pie....

Not a crumb was left....

If you are looking for a delicious crockpot appetizer, then
this is one you will love.....

Hawaiian BBQ Meatballs....
one package frozen meatballs
2 cans pineapple tidbits, with juice
1 jar of Hickory and Brown Sugar BBQ sauce...
One green pepper and One red pepper
Cook on LOW for 6 hours....

I'm ready for Summer....let's go........