Chicken Taco Pie. Enough Said.

I know, I know. I haven't posted in a billion years - but it's mainly because I haven't cooked anything new in a billion years. Between generally being unhappy with my current cooking surroundings, J being out of town on business so much, traveling myself, having strep throat, moving into a new apartment... I just haven't had the desire, the reason or the means to make a fun meal. Until last night!

Now that I am all settled into my new apartment (which I LOVE and ADORE), and have purchased several of my own cooking devices & products (I feel so Martha Stewart!) and J is back in town - we had a reason to cook again! Our first meal together in the new apartment with my new fun cooking things and books and ideas!

But the Pens game was on, and he was distracted with that, so I was pretty much left on my own. He kept joking that it was a test - to see what I had learned over our months of cooking together ;)

And so I present...
Chicken Taco Pie!

Ingredients (which we played with a little)
2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 green pepper, finely chopped
1 red pepper, finely chopped
1 cup (give or take) medium salsa
1 small bag microwaveable Mexican rice (We just found it was easiest)
1 small package of taco seasoning mix
1 8.5 oz box corn muffin mix
Oil or butter
1 cup water
3/4 cup of milk
1 egg
2 cups shredded Mexican 3-or-4 blend cheese

Directions
1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease the bottom and sides of medium-to-large casserole dish. (But I chose to use a medium size dish that was a little bit deeper for more of a "pie-like" quality.)
2) In a large skillet, brown the chicken using oil or butter for 10 minutes.
3) While the chicken is browning, chop up the green & red pepper & microwave the rice.
4) Once chicken has browned, add the green & red peppers, as well as the water & taco mix. Stir.
5) Add the salsa & rice to the skillet & mix everything together.
6) Stir and continue to simmer everything in the skillet on medium heat for 10 minutes. (Be careful, the rice tended to stick!)
7) While the chicken is simmering, in a separate bowl, mix the corn muffin mix, the milk and the egg together until smooth. Set aside.
8) Once the chicken/rice/salsa mixture is done, add to bottom of the casserole dish.
9) Layer the Mexican cheese blend over the top.
10) Spoon the corn bread mixture over the cheese, so that it completely covers the entire top of the dish.
11) Bake in center of oven for 20 minutes, or until top of pie is golden brown.
12) Let sit for 5 minutes, cut and enjoy! Serves four.

Sorry the pictures are not too exciting - I took them with my cell phone. :) But trust me, it turned out rather delicious -- and if I am able to do it, basically anyone can! :) It may sound weird but the corn bread actually worked realllllly, really well with the other flavors. And made it extra filling!

Hope you guys can enjoy!

a MUST try!

Oh my ladies, check out this recipe. It must be tried!!

5-minute choclate mug cake
Serving size: ALL FOR YOU*

5-minute chocolate mug cake

4 tbsp flour

4 tbsp sugar

2 tbsp cocoa

1 egg

3 tbsp milk

3 tbsp oil

3 tbsp chocolate chips (optional, but I don't know why not!)

a small splash of vanilla extract

1 large coffee mug, microsafe.

Directions:

Add dry ingredients to mug and mix well.

Add the egg and mix thoroughly.

Pour in the milk and oil, mix well.

Add the chocolate chips (if using), and vanilla extract, mix again.

Put mug in microwave for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.

The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!

Allow it to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate, if desired (otherwise have at it).

*Technically this can serve too if you feel like being generous ;)

Na's Pasta from Kari

Hey Kari! Wanted to ask you a question about your Na's Pasta recipe you posted a while back. We have about a pound of Italian sausage in our freezer we've been looking for something to make with it. So your Na's Pasta recipe sounds wonderful! However I of course have a few questions :)

Do you cut up the sausage before you saute it? Or leave them whole?

When you saute all the ingredients in the pan... how long? Until the veggies are well cooked or not quite well done if they finish cooking in the oven?