Chicken Enchiladas with Tomato and Green Chilli Sauce

Chicken Enchiladas that you and your family will love. This one is pretty close to authentic as I can get it.

Ingredients: 
8 tortillas
1 cup of shredded cheese
4 chicken breast cooked and shredded
1 cup of sour cream

Sauce:
1 green chilli
1 tbsp of sunflower oil
1 onion finely, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 400g/14oz can chopped tomato
2 tbsp of tomato puree (paste)
salt and pepper

Directions:

To make the sauce, cut the chilli in half length ways and remove the core and seeds. Chop the chilli very finely.

Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the onion and garlic for about 3-4 minutes until soften. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato puree and chilli(es). Simmer, uncovered, for about 12 minutes, stirring frequently.

Pour the sauce into a food processor and blend until smooth. Return to heat and simmer for another 12 mins uncovered. Season to taste.

Preheat oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Butter a ovenproof dish or baking tray. Take one tortilla and sprinkle with cheese, add chicken, 1 tbsp of sauce and 1 tbsp of sour cream, roll and set aside. Make the rest, pour the remaining sauce over and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the top is golden. Serve with remaining sour cream either poured over or on the side in a dish.

Chicken and Brown Rice Chow Mein

A simple, quick and filling dinner to make is this Chicken and Brown Rice Chow Mein. A lot of protein and would be great for after workouts, running etc. Great for leftovers as well.

 Ingredients:

2-3 Chicken Breast
1 Red Onion
2 Tbsp of Tamari Sauce
1 Tbsp of Sunflower Oil
pinch of salt and pepper
2 Cups of Brown Rice
2 pkts of Chow Mein Sauce

Directions:

Put 2 cups of brown rice in a pot, cover with water, bring to a boil then cover and simmer for 20 mins. When there is about 10 mins left on the rices,

slice or dice the chicken, slice the red onion, put 1 tbsp of sunflower oil in a wok or deep frying pan on medium-high heat. Place the red onion in the pan and saute for a min or so, then place the chicken in and mix. Add the Tamari, pepper and salt and stir. Turn the heat down to medium-low. Once the rice is done you can add this to the pan if you choose. Add the chow mein sauce and stir all together. Enjoy.

Serves 6

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas is a great dinner to make. Everyone I think these days loves Mexican food with a bit of an American twist to it. Real Mexican food is just amazing and I should probably start making some authentic Mexican food one day but for now this will do. This recipe can be very filling and you don't even have to use chicken. The black beans and brown rice are a great source of protein and really filling. So here is the recipe everyone has been waiting for.

Ingredients: What I used

3-4 Organic Chicken Breast
Organic Brown Rice
Black Beans (Drained and Rinsed),Optional
Jalapenos
1/2 teaspoon of Cumin
1/2 teaspoon of Paprika
8 Soft Tortillas
2 Cans of Organic Cream of Chicken Soup (you can make your own but let's be honest this is supposed to be a quick recipe, it doesn't have to be though.

Toppings:

Homemade Salsa*
Sour Cream
Mature Cheddar Cheese

Directions: For Crock Pot if you choose.

Place chicken in Crock Pot and completely cover with water and cook on high for 4 hours. When done take the chicken out and shred. If you don't want to use a crock pot, don't have one or don't have time, you can bake chicken in the oven for about 20 mins on 350F or just slice and diced and cook it in a frying pan.

To make the rice place about 1 cup of rice in a pot, cover with about 1 inch of water, bring to a boil, stir once and then cover and simmer for 20 mins.

When both the chicken and rice are cooked put 1 and 1/2 cans of cream of chicken soup (saving half a can) in with the chicken as well as the cumin, paprika, some chopped jalapenos, black beans and brown rice and mix on a medium temp. Turn on the oven and heat to 180C (350F)

Place mix in each tortilla and then roll up the tortilla and place in baking tray. With the 1/2 of can of cream of chicken still left pour a bit over each tortilla then shred cheese on top of each tortilla with some more chopped jalapenos if you wish. Place in oven for 20 mins. Once done, serve with salsa and topped with sour cream. Enjoy

*Salsa Recipe - http://owenshealthouse.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/delicious-simple-salsa.html

Creamy Chicken Pesto

So tonight after I made Pesto and a batch of fresh salsa I decided to make a yummy creamy pasta. What an easy thing to do since I already made the Pesto. Its a quick and easy meal to make in about 20-30 mins. Your family will enjoy it as did mine.
Its not a heavy meal either so you wont feel completely stuffed or heavy after eating it.

Ingredients for Pesto: If its not made already 

3 Cups of Basil (Fresh)

4 Garlic Cloves (Minced)
1/2 Cup of Olive Oil
1/3 Cup of Pine Nuts or Walnuts if you want.
1/2 Cup of Parmesan Cheese
Salt
Pepper

Marinade for Chicken:

3 Chicken Breast (sliced)
3 tbsp of Olive Oil
1 tbsp of Basil
2 tsp of Oregano
Pepper
Salt

Creamy Pesto Sauce: 

4-5 tbsp of Olive Oil
1 Cup of Heavy Cream
Sundried Tomatoes (as many as you want)
3-4 tbsp of pesto
Pepper

Pasta Ingredients:

Thin Linguine or Angle Hair Pasta (whatever you would like really)

Directions:

If you haven't already made the pesto (if you have continue on)..Combine the basil in with the pine nuts, pulse a few times in a food processor. (If you are using walnuts instead of pine nuts and they are not already chopped, pulse them a few times first, before adding the basil.) Add the garlic, pulse a few times more.
Slowly add the olive oil in a constant stream while the food processor is on. Stop to scrape down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula. Add a little more olive oil if you want it a bit more smooth. Add the grated cheese and pulse again until blended. Add a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

If you have made the pesto already or are using a jarred one..Prepare your chicken. Turn the oven on to 180C (350F). While the oven is warming, slice the chicken breast or however you want it. Combine the marinade in a bowl or container, place your chicken slices in the marinade. If using a container put the lid on and shake to mix all the ingredients. If you are using a bowl use your hand to mix it. Let sit till the oven is warm. While the oven is warming and your marinade is mixed with the chicken, fill a pot of water adding some olive oil and a few pinches of salt, begin bringing to a boil. By the time you have done that the oven should be warm enough for the chicken to go in. Place chicken in oven for about 20 mins.

While your chicken is cooking and your pasta water is being brought to a boil, ready your cream and slice your sundried tomatoes. Ready your pan with the olive oil for the sauce, add your sundried tomatoes. When the oven reaches 10 mins left for the chicken the water for the pasta should be boiling. Add your pasta, stiring occasionly for about 10 mins. While your pasta is cooking and there is about 5 mins left, begin warming the pan with the olive oil and sudried tomatoes, add the cream and some pepper, bring to a semi boil. Add the tbsp's of pesto and stir till it all mixes well. All should be done at the same time. Pull out the chicken, drain the pasta (put the pasta back into the pot once drained, add some olive oil so it doesn't stick), then serve how you would like it.

What I did was put some pasta on a plate, placed a couple of chicken slices on top, then added a couple of spoonfuls of the creamy pesto sauce on top of the chicken. Enjoy :)

Serves about 6

Organic Brown Rice, Black beans, Homemade Salsa and Grilled Chicken

Looking for something healthy and yummy for dinner tonight? This will fill you up plus give you great energy and the protein you need. This is a very simple recipe to do and I'm pretty sure your kids will like it as well. My son loves it.

Ingredients:

1 Can of Black Beans
1-2 Cups of Organic Brown Rice
2 Chicken Breasts (Fillet in half to make four fillets)
1/2 tsp Paprika
1/2 tsp Oregano
1/4 tsp Cumin
4 Jalapenos slices
1 Lime (juiced)
Salsa
Pepper
Salt

Try my Homemade Salsa which can be found here:

http://owenshealthouse.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/delicious-simple-salsa.html

Directions:

In a bowl add the Paprika, Oregano, Cumin, Pepper and Salt and mix. Pour the lime juice over the chicken breasts. Then coat the chicken with your spices. Warm oven to 350F (180C). Place chicken in oven and cook for 20-25mins.
Add your rice to a pan, cover rice with an inch of water over the top. Bring to a boil then simmer for 25mins. While this and the chicken are cooking. Place the black beans in a pan (DO NOT drain and rinse) add your chopped jalapenos. On a low heat stir occasionally.

Everything will then be done at the same time. Serve and Enjoy :)

Serves 6 depending on how much rice you do.

Creamy Chicken Pasta

Here is one of my favorite recipes. I really enjoy a good creamy chicken pasta. I have had only a couple of great ones in my life so I decided to create one. Its a really simple recipe and I know you will enjoy it as well.

Ingredients:


3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
1pkt of linguine or spaghetti, cooked al dente (I used whole spaghetti)
1-2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup of chopped sun-dried tomatoes
1/2 cup of chopped mushrooms (not to small)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 paprika
4 garlic cloves (minced)
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

First bake or grill the chicken in the oven on 180C (350F) for about 20 mins. While you are waiting for the oven to warm fill a pot of water, add a pinch of salt and bring to a boil. Once the oven is heated up place your chicken in the oven. About 10 mins left with the chicken your water should be boiling enough to add the pasta. 10 mins for the pasta should be sufficient.

During the last 10 mins of the pasta and chicken cooking mix all your ingredients for the sauce. In a large saucepan add the heavy cream, tomatoes, mushrooms, basil, salt, minced garlic, black pepper, paprika and heat through. Set aside till chicken is finished cooking. 

Once the chicken is done, take out of the oven and slice. Add to the sauce. Drain the pasta and mix the sauce in the pasta. Finish

Serves 5-7

Grilled Chicken and Bacon Sandwich

Ok, so I know this isn't the norm of my blog but I decided to make it anyways. It will add to a selection of already great recipes/foods. This is for someone that is wanting to make a great sandwich for lunch or someone that is looking for something else to eat besides whats on here already.

Don't judge to much as I haven't had bacon in like over 6 months haha. I believe if you eat those types of food sparingly its alright to do. You shouldn't really eat it at all of course but if you do, sparingly is the key.

I made a great tasting sandwich though for you to read about and of course try.

Chicken and Bacon Sandwich...pretty simple

Ingredients:

2 pieces of wholewheat bread
2 or 3 slices of tomato
Applewood smoked cheddar cheese (I used)
Organic or Free Range Chicken breast strips (grilled)
3 Strips of bacon (cooked)
Spicy Mayo or Plain Mayo
Spicy Mustard
Lettuce (not iceburg, its like 90% water) I found out I had no lettuce left haha

Make the way you want and Enjoy :) Its really great. Remember when using a cheese look for a really mature or sharp cheddar. That will give it a great kick/taste.

Chicken Soft Taco's

Tonight I was craving some Mexican food so I decided to make Chicken Soft Tacos. I think it had to do with the weather getting warmer, I'm not sure. Tonight instead of using packet taco seasoning I would create my own. This is pretty easy to do if you know the basic Mexican ingredients. There are a lot of different ways to do this of course. I came up with this one and I like it.

If you want to make some taco seasoning and jar it you can because its only spices. If you want to make some fresh stuff to use right now like I did tonight then it will be a mix of spice and veg.

I didn't have any oregano left so I couldn't add that in which is a bummer because its a main ingredient in my opinion esp for Mexican food.

So here is what I came up with.

For dried taco seasoning that you can store use the following.

Ingredients for seasoning:

• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon of dried cilantro or corriander (UK)
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

Direction:

In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper. Store in an airtight container.

For making fresh and using now use the following (which I did tonight)

Ingredients For Seasoning:

• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 4 crushed garlic cloves
• 1/2 white onion (diced or chopped)
• Small bunch of cilantro or corriander (UK)
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

2-3 Chicken Breast (cut into small chunks)

Directions:

Same as above except you will be using it with chicken or beef. What I did was use chicken. 2-3 Chicken breast, diced. Warm a deep frying pan with about a tablespoon of sunflower or veg oil. Put in the chicken, cook for about 2-3 mins of medium-high heat. Then add your spice mix and mix. Cook for about another 10 mins on a low heat. You don't want to cook to long on a high heat because you will burn the spice and garlic. 

Serves 3-4

Once done garnish with Diced Tomatoes, Cheese, Sour Cream, Cilantro, Lettuce and my Homemade Salsa (which you can find the recipe for in this blog) 

Enjoy :)

Smooth Spice Curry

Tonight for dinner I made some curry. Really easy recipe that I have come up with. Simple ingredients and easy to make. I love curry and actually could eat it quite a bit. There are so many curry recipes. How you make them and what you can add is endless. Mine is really simple and you will enjoy it.

Ingredients:

2-3 Chicken Breast (can substitute chicken with veg of your choosing. My preferred is Lentils)

1 Can of Coconut Milk (Can use two if you want to make more)

1 Medium Red Onion

4-5 Garlic Cloves

Salt

Pepper

2-3 tbsp Curry Powder (Medium) for one can of Coconut Milk

1 Tomato

Small bunch of Cilantro (Coriander UK)

The Curry Powder I use is Schwartz Curry Powder (Medium). Its a very good one and taste great.

Directions:

Use a wok or a deep frying pay and put in about 1tbsp of veg oil. You want to peel the onion and slice, peel the garlic and crush. Dice the chicken. Turn the pan on medium-high heat. Once warm put in the sliced onion and crushed garlic (for about 2-3 mins you dont want to burn the garlic). Then add the chicken. Sprinkle salt over chicken and some pepper. Once the chicken is semi cooked add the curry powder. Stir, then add the coconut milk, bring to a boil, stir and simmer.

Once the curry sauce is cooking put about 2 cups of rice of your choosing in a pan covered with about a 1inch of water. Bring to a boil then cover and simmer for 20mins.









When the rice is almost done, you want to get your tomato, de-core it and chop your cilantro. Add to curry sauce for the last 2-3 mins. Stir. Rice and curry sauce will be done together.

Serve with fruit or sides of your choosing. I serve with sliced banana, apple and some peanuts.

Serves 3-4

Let me know what you guys think if you try this. We all love it in my family.

Enjoy :)

Owen's Chicken Katsu Curry

Cooking not only is something I really enjoy its a great mind relaxer for me. Its my place of enjoyment that helps me forget everything that is stressful and helps me to revamp myself in a way. Who says cooking needs to be a chore. If you make it interesting and fun it can be really calming and can be something great for the family to do.

Its been a couple of days since I have written on here about much. Tonight I did an awesome meal for my family and I. My son loves it. He has being eaten katsu curry since he was able to eat normal food which has been for awhile now.

So this will bring back so memories of Japan for you guys. I decided to go with a Japanese meal tonight for dinner.

Really simple meal again for those quick and easy meals if you don't have a lot of time. It only took literally 20 mins to make. With about 5-10 mins prep time. If you have children get them involved and not only will it cut the prep time in half but its a great teaching point and a great way to spend time with your family.

I didn't make the sauce myself this time around but I will make it at some point and get back to you. I would like to see how long it actually would take making the sauce myself.

If you would like to make it yourself here is a website to check out.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/chicken_katsu_curry_48890

Im sure there are other websites and if you find a better one let me know. I tried Food Network and some others but couldn't find it.

Also if you dont want to use chicken you can substitute with carrots, sweet potato and zucchini or whatever you prefer.

Ok, So here is basically what I did.

First I took a pot of water and put it on high heat to bring it to boil while I was preparing everything else (For the sticky rice)

I then took two fat chicken boneless, skinless chicken breast and fillet in half.

Next I took some bread crumbs put them in a pie dish. Two eggs lightly beaten in a container. Flour on the side.

Sprinkle chicken with flour and season with pepper and salt.

Then once you have done that. Put each slice in the egg batter and then the panko bread crumbs, preparing for cooking. At this point your water for the rice should be boiling and in goes the rice for 20 mins.

Also put oil in your deep frying pan on high heat for the chicken.

Next what you do is take the chicken breast dip them in the egg and then place in the panko bread crumbs covering the chicken.

After you have floured, egg dipped and put into the bread crumbs plus prepared your pan of hot oil your rice should have about 15 mins left on it. This is perfect because what I did was cook the chicken on each side for about 7 mins. So when the chicken was done the rice was too.

Something I forgot to mention was the curry sauce. I had a jar of katsu curry sauce and where there was about 5 mins left for everything I heated that in a pan. This made everything ready at the same time.

So with everything ready at same time this made it a lot better to eat instead of waiting on one or the other to finish. Now I know this isnt such a "healthy" meal but I had a craving and I wanted some Japanese. If you cant afford to go out all the time and get it this is a great replacement. It only cost me about £10, $15 and will feed a family of four.

The End Result

Serves 4

I hope you guys give it a try and enjoy it as much as my family and I did.

Let me know if you have any thoughts or ideas for this.

Chicken Salad

So I should have posted this last night but I forgot to. Here I have a simple chicken and green salad. Its really simple to make and healthy. All it is is some lettuce, spinach (but you cant see it haha), carrots, apples, one boiled egg cut in half and glazed chicken breast topped with olive oil and balsamic. You can add whatever else you would like to it of course and make it your own.

Sometimes in my family we just go a few nights eating salad. It can fill you up and its just a great healthy meal. I think more of this needs to be eaten by people today.

What are your thoughts and are you eating enough salad.