Chalupas

1 average size can fat free refried beans
1 packet taco seasoning
1/4 cup water
Shredded cheddar cheese
Chopped lettuce (optional)
Diced tomatoes (optional)
Diced Avocado (optional)
Sour Cream (optional)
5-10 corn tortillas

Pre heat oven to 475.

Place corn tortillas on pizza pan. Bake for 5 minutes then take out and flip tortillas. Place back in the oven for 5 minutes. Watch closely so you don't over cook these. They should be crispy but not burnt ;)

Take out of oven after 5 minutes and set aside.

In a small mixing bowl mix taco seasoning, water and beans. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Spread mixture evenly over tostada, place on pizza pan and sprinkle each tortilla with shredded cheddar. Place in the oven at 350 until cheese is melted and bean mixture is heated through. (usually 5 minutes)

Take out of oven and top with desired toppings. SO YUMMY!!!

1 can of beans will easily make 10-12 chalupas. Usually I 1/2 this recipe and just save the bean mixture for another day. Very kid friendly too!

These bad boys minus the sour cream and avocado are only 100 calories EACH =) Just use reduced fat cheese =)

Crockpot Sweet and Sour Meatballs

3 lb. bag frozen meatballs(Farm Rich Frozen Meatballs are GF)
1/4-1/3 cup yellow onion, chopped
1/4 cup bell pepper, chopped
1 jar (7-10 oz) sweet and sour sauce (La Choy is GF)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 can (20 oz.) all natural pineapple chunks, drained
3 TBL. soy sauce (La Choy is GF)

Cook on high for 1 hour then turn down to low for 2 hours. Stir once every hour or so.

Serve over rice. This is a super duper yummy dish! =)

Chicken Capri

5 TBL. low fat ricotta cheese
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried parsley flakes
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 1/2 TBL. grated parmesan cheese
garlic powder
2 TBL. EVOO
2 large tomatoes, chopped (lightly toss with salt)
4 slices mozzarella cheese
4 boneless skinless chicken breast

Pre heat oven to 350.

In a small bowl mix together first 6 ingredients, set aside.

In a skillet brown your chicken breasts 5 minutes per side and lightly sprinkle with, salt, pepper and garlic powder (each side)

When done place in a shallow, lightly greased casserole dish. Put a layer of ricotta mixture on each chicken, cover chicken in tomatoes then a slice of mozzarella on each chicken.

Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
Yummy and healthy!

Real Spanish Rice =)

1 cup uncooked white rice
3 TBL olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
3 TBL onion, chopped
2 TBL bell pepper, chopped
1 tsp. salt
1/3 cup tomato sauce
2 1/4 cups water
1/4 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 really small tomatoes, chopped or 1 large tomato chopped

In a pot heat up oil and brown your rice for about 5-10 minutes.

Combine all remaining ingredients, bring to a rolling boil. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Turn off heat and allow the steam to cook the rice the rest of the way.

*A Huerta Family Recipe =)

Sausage And Bow Ties

It may seem like I say all the recipes I post are yummy but that's because I only post yummy recipes!!! This was sooooooo good my husband wouldn't stop raving about it. He loves that I love to cook =) Of course that's because he likes to eat =) So here it is. Just to let you know this is a 15 minute recipe, SO QUICK but very FRESH tasting and delicious!!

3/4 bag of pasta (Tinkyada Rice Pasta cooked al dente-so yummy!)
1 kielbasa ring (Hillshire Farms is GF)
2 average size cans of all natural diced tomatoes
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup bell pepper chopped
1/2 cup onion chopped
2 garlic cloves minced
1 TBL fresh chopped oregano
2 TBL EVOO

shredded mozzarella for topping

In a skillet on high brown sausage; Drain if necessary.

Reduce heat to medium and add oil, garlic, onion, green pepper, tomatoes and oregano to skillet with sausage and saute and stir for about 5 minutes. Add parmesan cheese

Drain pasta and place in a serving bowl. Add sausage mixture to pasta and fold in. Serve and top with mozzarella.

*This is from Parsley on recipezaar. Thank You for a yummy recipe!

FOR GLUTEN/CASEIN FREE:  Omit the Parmesan cheese =)

Breakfast Torta (Mexican Sandwich)

So this is called a breakfast torta but you can eat it for any meal! It may not look yummy, but I PROMISE you it is SUPER YUMMY!!!

4 eggs
1/3 cup plain mild salsa
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella
salt and pepper to taste
1 can of black beans, drained.
1 avocado
2 ciabatta buns (you can get them at walmart)


Spray a skillet with non-stick spray.

Pour the salsa in and heat up for a minute.

In a bowl, whisk the eggs, then pour into the skillet.

Mix in the eggs with the salsa. When eggs are almost done add salt and pepper and shredded mozzarella.

In a separate skillet pour BLACK beans and smash with potato smasher. (Add a couple TBL. spoons of water to loosen it up and add salt and pepper to taste)

Heat up oven to 350 (you can throw the bread in while the oven is preheating). Place Ciobatta bread in oven for 2 minutes to gt a little toasty and warm.

Spread a thin layer of beans on the bread, then layer with egg mixture, then avocado... tah-dah!!!

DIETERS: Just skip the bread and the avocado

Pizza "Muffins"

(Made these tonight for dinner and they came out wonderful!)

1 package of 8 FLAKY biscuits (use more depending on your family size)
spaghetti sauce
shredded mozzarella cheese
shredded cheddar cheese
toppings of your choice (I used ham, bell pepper, red pepper and onions)

Preheat oven to 350.

Grease a 12 muffin pan.

Pat down a biscuit into each muffin "spot"

Spoon sauce, toppings of choice then cheese on top.

Bake in the oven the amount of time the biscuit package requires (mine said 17 minutes.)

SUPER QUICK, EASY, KID FRIENDLY (my 15 month old loved these!) and VERY DELICIOUS!!! (not to mention very in expensive to make)

Lemon Roasted Chicken

This is a SUPER YUMMY, HEALTHY and QUICK recipe from Martha Stewart. Enjoy!

Bone in chicken OR 5 boneless skinless chicken breast (I used about 5 or 6 legs)
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
2 lemons, quartered
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. olive oil

Preheat oven to 450.

In a large bowl, toss together oil, garlic, lemons (squeeze a little of the juice into bowl and put the actual lemon in as well), and oregano. Stir together and add chicken. Mix together until chicken is evenly covered.

In a 9x13 dish place chicken skin side up and lemons evenly apart. Pour any remaining juice from the bowl over chicken.

Cook for 40 minutes.

The Perfect Biscuit

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 Tbl. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup milk

Preheat oven to 425

Combine dry ingredients and sift together well. Add shortening and milk. Knead together to form dough. Keeping kneading until all lumps are out. Roll into 1 inch thick. Cut off into biscuit shapes and bake on an un greased cookie sheet for 15 mnts OR until SLIGHTLY golden brown on edges.

Usage for these Biscuits: These biscuits are super yummy but should be eaten with a topping like Country Gravy for Biscuits and Gravy and or (Strawberry sauce from Couer a la Creme recipe-see previous post for Couer a la creme) and a heaping spoon full of cool whip.

A Huerta Family Recipe =)