Taco Rice

According to the site where I found this recipe, Taco Rice is a Japanese dish invented in the 80's to appeal to the large American population stationed there, I didn't realize how big our US presence is located there.  We had this for dinner last night and loved it - Dave said to definitely add it to our regular menu list haha. I used ground chicken and a bag of shredded cheddar cheese instead of grating it myself and adding cornstarch as the recipe is written, don't know how much different it is with those substitutions but the cheese sauce was smooth and creamy, and I don't feel like the chicken changed the taco meat at all. Yum!

For the taco meat:

• 2 T. vegetable or canola oil
• 1 medium white or yellow onion, finely diced (about 1 cup)
• 2 medium cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound ground beef, preferably 80% lean
• 1 T. chile powder
• 2 t. kosher salt; for table salt only use 1 t. 
• 1 1/2 t. ground cumin 
• 1/4 t. ground black pepper
• 1/4 t. smoked paprika
• 1/4 t. dried oregano
• 4 t. ketchup
• 1 cup water

For the cheese sauce:

• 8 oz. extra-sharp cheddar cheese, grated on large holes of a box grater
• 1 t. cornstarch or potato starch
• 1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) evaporated milk
• 1/4 t. kosher salt; for table salt only use half as much
• 1/4 t. ground black pepper
• 1/8 t. smoked paprika

To Serve:

• 4 cups cooked short-grain white rice
• 2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
• 1 large tomato, halved and sliced
• salsa, for serving
• tortilla chips, for serving 

Directions:

for the taco meat:

1. In a large nonstick skillet over medium-high, heat oil until shimmering. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring constantly to avoid browning, until tender and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add ground beef and cook, using a wooden spoon to break up meat into small pieces, until the beef starts to brown, about 5 minutes. 
2. Add chile powder, salt, cumin, pepper, smoked paprika, dried oregano, ketchup, and 1 cup water. Cook, using a wooded spoon to scrape and stir bottom of the skillet. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook until liquid slightly thickens, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat, season to taste, and cover to keep warm; set aside. 

for the cheese sauce:

1. In a medium saucepan, toss grated cheddar with cornstarch to evenly coat. Add 1 1/4 cups evaporated milk, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Cook on low heat, whisking constantly, until melted and smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. 

to serve:

Divide cooked rice equally among 4 plates. Top each with taco meat, followed by the cheese sauce, lettuce, and sliced tomato. Garnish with salsa and crushed tortilla chips. 

recipe and more info found here at seriouseats

6.19.24: polenta caprese stacks

6.19.23: pet mug shot 

6.19.22: 🔥 week 25

6.19.21: charcuterie platter 

6.19.20: pompom bookmarks by Brooke

6.19.19: owl pull-apart cake

6.19.18: your blog comments, and a deer psa 

6/19/17: how to distress jeans

6/19/16: gnocchi with tomatoes and snap peas

Chicken Stuffing Casserole

I'm not a stuffing lover but this is darn delicious. Really, what more can I say? Well there's the fact that it's very easy to make and other than the baking time it comes together quickly and you can't really mess anything up - and even though the ingredient list is short and simple it's darn delicious. 

for the stuffing:

• 1 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 (6 oz) package Stove-Top stuffing mix

for the filling:

• 1 (10.75 oz) can cream of chicken soup
• 1 (10.75) can cream of mushroom soup 
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 whole cooked rotisserie chicken, shredded (about 3 cups)
• 1 (12 oz) bag frozen mixed vegetables, thawed

Instructions:

1. preheat the oven to 375'. Spray a 13x9" baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Add the chicken broth and butter to a medium saucepan, and bring the mixture to a boil. Stif in the stuffing mix, remove from heat, and cover. Let stand for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
3. In a large bowl, mix together the cream of chicken soup, mushroom soup, and sour cream. Add the shredded chicken and mixed vegetables, stir to combine. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly. Top with the stuffing, spreading it in an even layer.
4. Bake for 1 hour uncovered, until the stuffing is lightly browned and the filling is bubbling. 

Notes:

• to make ahead of time - assemble the casserole the day before, cover it, and keep it in the fridge. Due to the extra chill from the fridge you will need to add about 10 minutes to the baking time.
• to freeze - cover the pan with plastic wrap and again with foil. Freeze for 3-4 months. Thaw and bake, adding extra time to account for the chill of the freezer.
• to store - put leftovers in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month. 

Recipe found here at lil luna 

6.18.24: TT using vinegar in the laundry

6.18.23: 🔥 week 25

6.18.22: stacked finger sandwiches

6.18.21: mint chip brownie ice cream squares 

6.18.20: patriotic fruit pizza

6.18.19: tip-sy tuesday: balsamic reduction

6.18.18: halibut stacked with potatoes and spinach

6.18.17: meatloaf

6.18.16: garage sale

Tip-sy Tuesday: pallet photo holder

This is the last post from Cathy's granddaughters open house - I thought this was a fun idea and wanted to share. They stood pallets up around her yard (against a tree, against a rock...) and clipped the photos to twine with mini clothespins and attached to the pallets. I only took one picture but you get the gist...

6.17.24: crockpot broccoli cheese casserole

6.17.23: words

6.17.22: selfie light

6.17.21: pierogi

6.17.20: peas with rosemary and pine nuts 

6.17.19: paper tropical flowers

6.17.18: coincidentally it's a different paper flower.

6.17.17: for real, it's another paper flower! I honestly had no idea and did not do this on purpose!

6.17.16: rock photo stand. whew, 4 years of paper flowers woulda been super weird timing.

Paper Flower Arch

Last of my paper flower posts from helping Cathy with the open house - in addition to making the flowers for the table arrangement, she also made this arch to go over a set of lockers for a photo backdrop area. They attached crepe paper streamers which looked really nice, unfortunately it was quite windy and the streamers flew around - so she taped a few of them at the bottom and let the rest fly. Still pretty!

She made this from cardboard that she spray painted pink, hot glued the flowers and greenery in place, and stenciled on the words. Turned out great!

Click here and here for a couple other posts for paper flower making. 

6.16.24: 🔥 week 24

6.16.23: MSTI: pineapple corer and slicer

6.16.22: chicken cheeseburger shepherds pie

6.16.21: minty dream cookies 

6.16.20: tip-sy tuesday: toasting pine nuts

6.16.19: 🔥week 24

6.16.18: camping shower lanyard

6.16.17: outfit idea - distressed jeans

6.16.16: scottie topiary

🔥 Around the Campfire (week 24)

Dear Campers ~ 

Here's a quick recap in case you missed anything at camp last week:

Posts ~

6/8: 🔥 week 23 

6/9: paper flowers with centers 

6/10: TT plastic bottle plant irrigation 

6/11: gnocchi with sautéed vegetables 

6/12: paper flower arrangements 

6/13: friday the 13th funny 

6/14: words (unconditional love)

That's it for this week! See you next week for more projects, crafts, recipes, whatever we can think of to make at camp - bye :)

Sincerely ~

Jill

camp counselor

6.15.24: words (loud and quiet)

6.15.23: california chicken by Macey

6.15.22: greenery wall by Jenny

6.15.21: TT slicing tomatoes hack and fail 

6.15.20: painted sticks

6.15.19: Jen's new 'mantra' 

6.15.18: diy duvet cover

6.15.17: chopping herbs 

6.15.16: mini fruit pies

  

6/14 ~ Words

 

6.14.24: pf chang inspired lettuce wrap salad

6.14.23: welcome to the jungle vegetable soup

6.14.22: TT butter substitutes 

6.14.21: sweet and simple gift box 

6.14.20: 🔥week 24

6.14.19: diy: ice packs

6.14.18: rv headboard wall

6.14.17: mini hand pies

6.14.16: scented bath salts

Friday the 13th Funny

 

6.13.24: thru the years

6.13.23: TT chopped veggie containers

6.13.22: photo centerpiece 

6.13.21: 🔥 week 24

6.13.20: crispy salt and vinegar potatoes

6.13.19: MSIH: mini calzones

6.13.18: 1,000 posts! (it's now 3543!)

6.13.17: mason jar graduation gift

6.13.16: painted flag mason jars

Paper Flower Arrangements

I finished helping Cathy make paper flowers for her granddaughters open house - but then she overthunk it and made them even prettier! She reworked the pedals on most of them, cutting and changing them into different shapes and textures...I said overthunk but really she was right haha, and it really made a difference! They turned out beautiful and I can't even take any credit for helping LOL. 

All of them (other than the rose) started as traditional accordion flowers, once she was done changing the pedals tho they all look like different techniques. Click here and here for 2 other posts about making paper flowers with her. 

6.12.24: chipotle-lime cauliflower bowls or tacos

6.12.23: combining dog tricks

6.12.22: 🔥 week 24

6.12.21: cauliflower pizza casserole 

6.12.20: Al and Cathy change their kitchen island 

6.12.19: potato, squash, goat cheese gratin

6.12.18: phone case hack

6.12.17: DIY clutch (placemat) purse

6.12.16: asparagus strawberry salad

Gnocchi with Sautéed Vegetables

Last week I shared a recipe for tomato goat cheese gnocchi, here's another gnocchi idea that is super easy and you can change the veggies using whatever you want or have on hand. I sautéed mushrooms, halved cherry tomatoes, asparagus, and frozen peas in olive oil. Boil gnocchi according to package directions in another pan, when done (they cook really fast) drain and add to the veggie skillet. Drizzle with a little more olive oil if needed and season with salt and pepper. Simple, quick, and delish!

6.11.24: TT microwave poached eggs

6.11.23: 🔥 week 24

6.11.22: open house party favors

6.11.21: prosciutto, cheese and fig crackers

6.11.20: veggie stuffed peppers by Jen

6.11.19: tip-sy tuesday: organizing spare buttons and extra threads

6.11.18: road trip survival kit

6.11.17: perfect grilled chicken marinade

6.11.16: how to make glitter balloons 

Tip-sy Tuesday: plastic bottle water irrigator for plants

Today's 'Tip-sy Tuesday' is a fail. Just putting that out there before you get excited about making one of these. 

I planted to big flower pots at the campsite and googled how to make one of those plastic bottle irrigators that you stick in a plant when you won't be around to water it frequently - I've seen pictures of them but didn't know exactly how to make one. 

I don't remember where I found these instructions to poke holes in the bottom of an empty plastic bottle and then bury it up to its neck in the plant. Then add water to the bottle and it'll slowly release into the soil. Made sense to me so that's what I did. 

I must have done something wrong because the water immediately drained out of the bottle into the dirt! What? I used a nail to poke the holes, maybe the holes were too big or I made too many? Has anyone made one successfully and can tell me where I went wrong? I'll try again with smaller holes and less of them and let you know the outcome!

6.10.24: welcome-ish sign 

6.10.23: Words

6.10.22: June 10th thru the years 

6.10.21: air fryer frozen salmon 

6.10.20: hidden painted rocks

6.10.19: wine cork flower wreath

6.10.18: mini-sample hoarder

6.10.17: planting tomatoes 

6.10.16: paper circle garland

Paper Flowers with Centers

I'm helping Cathy with decorations for her granddaughters open house this weekend and we are making a ton of paper flowers. Last week I showed you the pretty ones made from dyed coffee filters, today check out these tissue and crepe paper flowers with a center. I've made lots of tissue paper flowers before (click here for one post) but never with this addition of a center. 

You still make the flower the same way - stack squares of tissue paper, accordion them, tie a wire or pipe cleaner around the center, trim the edges, carefully pull each layer up until you have a flower shape. To add a center, cut a smaller square of a different color tissue paper and cut both ends into a fringe. Lay it on top of your stack of tissue paper and accordion it together. When you pull up the first layer of tissue paper gently pull the fringed piece up and crinkle it a bit. That's it, but it really adds a lot to a plain ol' paper flower. Fun idea!

6.9.24: 🔥 week 23

6.9.23: MSTI: coffee foamer 

6.9.22: TT stuffed mushrooms 

6.9.21: champagne cupcakes

6.9.20: tip-sy tuesday: multiple ways to make pesto

6.9.19: 🔥week 23

6.9.18: packing tip - pillbox jewelry holder

6.9.17: outfit idea - cuffed jeans and t-shirt

6.9.16: garden update 

🔥 Around the Campfire (week 23)

Dear Campers ~ 

Here's a quick recap in case you missed anything at camp last week:

Posts ~

6/1: 🔥 week 22

6/2: Paring Down (but keeping your things!)

6/3: June challenge (6-6-6)

6/4: tomato goat cheese gnocchi

6/5: MSIH chicken piccata meatballs

6/6: coffee filter flowers

6/7: words (drink wine)

That's it for this week! See you next week for more projects, crafts, recipes, whatever we can think of to make at camp - bye :)

Sincerely ~

Jill

camp counselor

6.8.24: words (add a little sunshine)

6.8.23: Macey's enchiladas

6.8.22: crabby mushrooms

6.8.21: tip-sy tuesday saving the bees

6.8.20: Tip-sy Tuesday: stovetop toasted garbanzo beans 

6.8.19: ice cream sandwich cake

6.8.18: travel blog: Germany to Sweden

6.8.17: Cathy painted over a painting

6.8.16: mini cheesecakes 

   

6/7 ~ Words

 

6.7.24: cauliflower cheese soup

6.7.23: GF trifle with lemon curd

6.7.22: open house neighbor gift 

6.7.21: card with belly band

6.7.20: 🔥week 23 

6.7.19: macrame shell holder

6.7.18: travel blog: Norway to Denmark

6.7.17: brownie strawberry skewers

6.7.16: roasted garbanzo beans

Coffee Filter Flowers

I'm helping Cathy make paper flowers for her granddaughter's open house next weekend, I've never seen flowers made from dyed coffee filters - they're so pretty!! And really easy. She has a couple others I'll show you after we work on them some more today, in the meantime check out these...

She flattened and stacked 8 filters together, folded in half, in half again, and in half again creating a cone shape. Dip one end in a cup of water dyed with food coloring, then dip the other end into a different cup with another color (she did pink and peach). Open the filters back up and lay on a plate to dry. 

Once they are dry (you can speed up the drying time with a hair dryer) fold the whole stack in half and staple in the middle close to the fold to hold them together. Starting with the top layer, pull a filter up and fluff it into a flower shape, continue with all the layers until you have a pretty, full, ruffly flower.

the underside 

6.6.24: chocolate chip cookie cupcakes

6.6.23: TT poison ivy 

6.6.22: oops, I missed one!

6.6.21: 🔥 week 23

6.6.20: crock pot pork roast (from frozen)

6.6.19: MSIH: honey chipotle pasta salad

6.6.18: aunt volunteer

6.6.17: kid friendly chop sticks

6.6.16: pet portrait - canvas painting

MSIH: Chicken Piccata Meatballs

I haven't been doing 'my sister is hungry' posts lately - the other day at the store buying ingredients to make these chicken piccata meatballs I had the thought that I haven't made her meals to review in a long time so I bought extra supplies and delivered this meal to them the other day. I followed the recipe as written other than I doubled the sauce, so am just copy and pasting the recipe found at the mediterranean dish. Here's what she had to say:

When my sister asked if I was interested in “my sister is hungry” it was an emphatic YOU BETTTTTTTT!!! What a coincidence- her sister IS actually hungry!!

For the revival of me getting free (usually) delicious dinners my sis brought over chicken meatballs (not the official name I’m sure) and some sauce.  The directions were VERY complicated- aka heat the sauce and put the meatballs in them until cooked. HAHAHA.  She was even gracious enough to brown these meatballs first.  LOVE THAT FOR ME!  Haha..

So .. these meatballs were GREAT.  So so good.  My husband was not as enamored with the sauce but that isn’t fair because he doesn’t like lemon.  I however do like lemon so found this sauce delicious.  Only negatives are I couldn’t get it to “stick” to the noodles so might have liked it a little thicker because I really liked the taste of it so wanted more of it.  I’m sure that isn’t the point of the sauce tho so that is probably not a very smart comment. LOL.

The meatballs were shockingly light.  Not like a beef meatball at all.  And what I loved was that they were also not greasy in any way like a beef meatball.  I’ve never had a chicken meatball before so maybe that’s how they all are but it was delicious.  Side note, whatever coating she had on them was also fantastic.

 

Thanks sister for the dinner! 

The husband gave it a 7 for the simple fact it had lemon.  For me it was a solid 8 ½.  I’m guessing this isn’t in my skill set so can’t probably commit to making it again. 😉

Jill here ~ Dave and I loved these meatballs! I also served them with pasta and she's right that there's not a lot of sauce as written. The recipe is meant for the sauce over the meat, and even tho I doubled the amounts I still would like more! It's delicious. 

CHICKEN PICCATA MEATBALLS

• ▢ 1 pound ground chicken
• ▢ 1 egg
• ▢ 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• ▢ 5 garlic cloves (divided)
• ▢ 3/4 bunch parsley, leaves chopped
• ▢ 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (divided)
• ▢ Kosher salt and black pepper
• ▢ Extra virgin olive oil (about 1/2 cup)
• ▢ 2 tablespoons butter or ghee
• ▢ 2 large lemons, 1 zested, both juiced
• ▢ 1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken broth,
• ▢ 1/4 cup capers, drained and rinsed

Instructions

 

• Season the chicken: In a medium bowl, add the chicken, egg, Italian seasoning, paprika, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1/2 of the chopped parsley leaves, and 1/4 cup of the breadcrumbs. Add a big pinch of kosher salt and black pepper (about 1/2 teaspoon each) and a drizzle of olive oil. Mix to combine.
• Bread the meatballs: Onto a large plate, spread the remaining 1/4 cup breadcrumbs.
• Shape the meatballs: Form the chicken mixture into small balls (about 1 heaping tablespoon each). Roll them in the breadcrumbs to coat.
• Sear the meatballs: Into a large nonstick pan set over medium heat, add enough olive oil to coat (about 3 tablespoons). Once the oil begins to shimmer, arrange the meatballs in a layer without touching. Sear, turning until each side is golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. (You do not need to fully cook the chicken meatballs at this point, they will finish cooking in the sauce.) Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.
• Make the sauce: Leaving any leftover chicken fat in the pan, add 3 tablespoons of olive oil and the ghee or butter. Stir over medium-high heat until melted, then add the garlic. Stir until fragrant, then add the lemon juice, white wine, and capers. Season with salt to taste, then ring the sauce to a boil.
• Finish the meatballs: Turn the heat to low and nestle the meatballs back in the pan. Toss or spoon a bit of the sauce on top. Cover and simmer until the meatballs are cooked through and are no longer pink in the center, about 5 minutes.
  Serve: Sprinkle on the lemon zest and remaining chopped parsley (about 2 tablespoons). Serve hot, with plenty of piccata sauce spooned over top.

• ▢ 

6.5.24: sheet pan pork tenderloin with potatoes and spinach 

6.5.23: pet memorial album 

6.5.22: 🔥 week 23

6.5.21: wedge salad dip

6.5.20: family recipe book

6.5.19: skinny chunky monkey cookies

6.5.18: how to pack for an ocean cruise

6.5.17: college 'survival' kit

6.5.16: greek salad