Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

These are really good. They are pretty easy to put together and baked not deep fried. They are a very popular item off of the Our Best Bites food blog. They make a frequent appearance on our dinner table. I like to dip them in sour cream or Cafe Rio's Cilantro Lime-Ranch Dressing.

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

by Chelsey W.

1/3 c (3oz) cream cheese

1/4 c green salsa

1 Tbsp fresh lime juice

1/2 tsp cumin

1 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp garlic powder

3 Tbsp chopped cilantro

2 c cooked chicken, shredded

1 c pepper jack cheese, shredded

6 inch corn or flour tortillas, fresh so they don't crack

2 Tbsp vegetable oil, optional

Nonstick cooking spray

Kosher salt

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray. Heat cream cheese in microwave for 20-30 seconds so it's soft. Then add green salsa, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder. Stir then add cilantro, cooked chicken, and cheese. Wrap 3-4 tortillas at a time in damp paper towels and microwave for 20-30 seconds so they are soft and pliable. Place 2-3 Tbsp of chicken mixture in tortilla keeping about 1/2 inch from the edges and then roll it up. Place seam side down on baking sheet in a single layer. Spray tops lightly with cooking spray or brush with oil. Sprinkle with a pinch of kosher salt on top. Place pan in oven and bake for 15-20 min. until crisp and ends start to turn golden brown. Cool for 5-10 min and serve with sour cream, guacamole, salsa, or Cafe Rio's Cilantro-Lime Ranch Dressing.

Makes about 16 taquitos

Taco Chip Dip

This chip dip can be eaten as an appetizer or we usually make it for a simple supper. I don't have exact measurements for you because you can just make the layers as thick as you want. Customize the size according to your family.

Taco Chip Dip
by Chelsey W.

1 lb ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning (I like McCormick Original)
1 can refried beans
1 jar salsa
2 c shredded cheddar cheese
sour cream
tortilla chips

Brown the ground beef. Drain excess fat. Add taco seasoning packet to hamburger. In a 9x13 baking pan spread out the refried beans as the bottom layer. Add the seasoned hamburger as the second layer. Pour a layer of salsa over the hamburger, then top with the shredded cheese. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees until cheese is melted and dip is bubbling. Serve hot with sour cream and tortilla chips.

Layered Bean Dip

This is always a crowd pleasing appetizer. It's a layered dip that is eaten with tortilla chips. It is made differently from person to person but this is how I like to make it.

Layered Bean Dip
by Chelsey W.

30 oz refried beans
about 2 c guacamole or
3 or 4 avocados mashed with some sour cream
16 oz container sour cream
1 packet taco seasoning
jar of salsa
shredded cheese
sliced olives

I don't have exact measurement for this. Just layer ingredients according to how much you want. In a 9x13 pan layer refried beans on the bottom. Then prepared guacamole, or mash up the avocados with sour cream and layer on the beans. Then mix sour cream with about 3/4 packet of taco seasoning. Layer the sour cream mixture on the guacamole. Then layer the jar of salsa. Sprinkle shredded cheese all over the top and then sliced olives. Keep refrigerated until serving. Serve with tortilla chips.

Yogurt Berry Pie

This pie makes a cool, refreshing treat for the summertime. It is also quick and simple to make. I got the recipe from my friend Katie. It was served at her bridal shower and everyone loved it. If you want to make one really quick just use a boughten graham cracker crust or I have included a recipe for making a homemade one. I like to freeze the pie and serve it after it thaws a few minutes, then it's like a frozen yogurt treat. You can mix and match different flavors, you just use the same flavor of Jello and yogurt. I made mine strawberry. FYI: I made the filling and used it for a fruit dip too and it was great.

Recipe:

1 8 oz container of Cool Whip, thawed

2 6 oz containers of yogurt (same flavor as Jello)

4 Tbsp Jello

Mix together and pour into a graham cracker pie crust. Put in the fridge at least a few hours before serving or freeze.

Graham cracker pie crust:

16 graham crackers, crushed finely

(you'll need 1 1/2 c of crumbs per 9" pie crust)

6 Tbsp butter, melted

1/4 c sugar

Put the graham crackers in a sealed plastic bag. Then crush them finely with a rolling pin. Add melted butter and sugar, mix together. Press into a pie plate and bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 min.