Veggie & Chickpea Tacos

A couple of weeks ago, I had two of my sisters over for dinner.  They are vegetarian, gluten-free and one doesn't eat sugar, onions or garlic.  To say the least, I had to think carefully about what I served them, especially because I happen to be a meat-eating, sugar-toothed gluten lover.  It was a Tuesday night and naturally I was craving tacos, so I thought... veggie tacos!  For some added protein, I threw chickpeas into the mix.  I used corn tortillas (gluten-free) and resisted the overwhelming urge to add garlic (however did end up making crispy onions to serve on the side).    

I loosely followed this recipe from the lovely Baker Chick for the chickpeas and slaw (using bagged broccoli slaw instead of cabbage).  Then, I roasted some julienned zucchini, sweet potatoes and yellow onions in the oven (olive oil, salt and pepper, 400 degrees, 20 minutes or so) and added those to the tacos.  Finally, I *lightly fried sliced leeks in veggie oil until they got brown and crispy, and I sprinkled those on top of everything.  Queso fresco, avocado, radishes, hot sauce... done.

*I enjoy saying "lightly fried" because it makes it sound healthier when, in fact, there is nothing "light" about it.  I'm frying food, period.

These were SO tasty, and also filling.  I didn't miss the meat or the gluten (but maybe the garlic, because I have a problem).    

Leftover Turkey Enchiladas

Happy Thanksgiving!  Oh, sorry, what was that?  The holidays are over and you don't want to think about them ever again?  Ok, I get that, makes sense.   It is a new year, after all.  How are we all doing with our resolutions?  (Don't throw things at me for bringing this up.)  So far I'm doing ok... I've flossed my teeth (three times), I've meditated (once) and I drank some tea last night instead of wine!  I'm okay with that progress for Day 10.  Baby steps.  

I brought up Thanksgiving because these yummy enchiladas are made with leftover turkey breast... do you get it now?  But if you don't have any of that succulent white meat in your fridge, you can still make this dinner with shredded chicken.  I followed the recipe pretty closely, only substituting Greek yogurt for sour cream.  It's full of flavor, perfectly spicy and a great way to shake up your Taco Tuesday routine.  (For kids who might not like spice, I would omit the chipotle peppers.)  

Recipe HERE.

Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Taco Tuesday used to be such a thing in our house.  When we moved to New York, it seemed we kept the tradition alive for awhile but it has slowly faded and now, it's not a thing.  I want it to be a thing!  I like having "things"... sigh.  I think part of the problem is that we start to get bored of the same old tacos, so in search of something new the other day I made this Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Casserole!  That's a mouthful, in more ways than one (chuckle, chuckle, knee slap).    

I followed this recipe but threw in some butternut squash when I added the chicken (that I first diced into cubes and sautéed with some finely chopped onions in butter for 8-10 minutes).  I will make this again and again and by the way, it's even better the next day.  Make it a THING in your house!

One Pot Mexican Pasta

Everyone always assumes that because I write a food blog and cook a lot, my kids must be fabulous eaters.  EHHHHHH.  (That's the sound of an annoying buzzer.)  WRONG!  I have picky, picky eaters.  Right around 18 months, each of them have rejected all foods that are healthy (I'm exaggerating, but you get the picture).  It's hard!  I've felt everything from frustration, anger, shame and embarrassment over it.  But on my good days, I realize... they are still growing, they won't be like this forever, and so I go about trying and sneaking, sneaking and trying.  Trying new foods, and when that doesn't work, sneaking them into their meals.  (*Ordinarily, that photo above would be much more beautiful with cilantro, green onions or jalapeños sprinkled on top... but, green things, yeah.)   

Cue this cheesy, one-pot Mexican pasta with a whole lot of, wait for it, SQUASH!  I sneak frozen squash into the ground turkey and it sort of melts into the dish, creating a slightly sweet counterbalance to the spicier Mexican flavors.  Obviously, the best part about this dish is you can make it in under 30 minutes in ONE pot.  And another great thing about this recipe?  I used Chickpea Pasta for some added protein and fiber, which also makes it gluten-free!  (Of course, you can use any pasta that you would like).  My son and toddler loved it. The stubborn middle child?  Well, we had a 1950's style showdown.  She sat there, crying, begging for a treat, resisting even ONE bite, and I held firm and drank a bottle of rose by myself.  

One Pot Mexican Pasta

Serves 6-8

Printable Recipe

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 lb. ground turkey

1/2 pkg. taco seasoning

12 oz. frozen squash, thawed

8 oz. pasta

2 cups chicken stock

1 8 oz. jar taco sauce

1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend

In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat.  Add the ground turkey, and cook until no longer pink.  Add the taco seasoning and squash, and cook for a few more minutes, until everything is combined.  Add the pasta, chicken stock and taco sauce and bring to a boil.  Stir everything up, cover the pot, lower to a simmer and cook for another 10 minutes.  Uncover, add cheese, and simmer until cheese has melted and sauce has thickened.  I added a little more cheese on the top before serving.  Top with anything you like!  

*This sort of tasted like a delicious, homemade Hamburger Helper!  

Chicken and Sweet Potato Enchiladas

Hello!  Welcome back to me!  We just returned from California where we were for almost two weeks, and I won't lie, I don't mind that my kids are still jet lagged and sleeping in until 8:00 am every morning.  Especially because I know it won't last!  I've missed you guys, I've missed cooking, I've missed my routine... and non-travel-sized toiletries.  I finally got back into the kitchen last night to celebrate Cinco de Mayo and my Mama's birthday!  She wasn't with us (lives in Minnesota), but we toasted to her (tequila, obviously) and enjoyed these delicious Chicken and Sweet Potato Enchiladas.  

I followed this recipe with a few alterations: used an already cooked Rotisserie chicken, added two chopped sweet potatoes with the chicken (that I microwaved for 8 minutes first), and used mini corn tortillas (which fit into one pan - the recipe calls for two).  It was superb!  I would highly recommend adding it to your weeknight meal repertoire.  

For a behind-the-scenes look at my prep, hurry on over to Snapchat (siriouslydelish) and follow me!  I think I'm slowly getting the hang of it... sloooooowly (I'm an old person now).  

Fajitas and Queso on TODAY

Yesterday morning I woke up bright and early and made chicken fajitas and queso dip on the Today Show.  The recipes were based on some dishes from one of my favorite childhood restaurants, Chili's!  Today I woke up bright and early to write this blog post.  Ok that's a lie, my daughters woke me up bright and early... at 1:30 and 4:30 and 5:00 and 5:30.  You know how it goes, right?  PLEASE TELL ME YOU KNOW HOW IT GOES.  Sometimes people ask me, is it hard to wake up so early for the show and I say no, no, no, no, no.  I get to drink my coffee in peace.  Someone blow dries my hair, and I get to wear eyeliner that doesn't make me look like a cat (I've never been able to do my own makeup properly).  It's the mornings when I wake up, milk bottle, vitamins, breakfast, pack lunch, pack snack, get clothes, stop fighting, brush your teeth, wipe the nutella off your face, brush your hair WE'RE GOING TO MISS THE BUS... those are the hard mornings.  Sooooo that said, I better go!      

You can find the recipes and video from yesterday here.  

Stay tuned for some delicious pasta later today!

Sweet Potato "Tacos"

Doesn't that look good?  It's a baked sweet potato topped with taco-seasoned ground turkey, steamed broccoli and a Mexican-blend shredded cheese.  It looks good, right?  Well I had probably five bites of it before my whining 17 month-old (who is currently on a high chair boycott) took over my lap and took over my dinner.  She's only happy these days when she's eating like a big kid, in a regular chair with a giant fork.  This is difficult, because she is teeny tiny.  Therefore, she takes over my lap, and takes over my dinner (a Real Moms Wear Grey moment for sure).    

However, the parts I did enjoy were very enjoyable... this is a nice alternative to your regular Taco Tuesday cuisine.  Inspired by this Weelicious recipe, you basically ditch the taco shells or tortillas and use a potato as your vessel!  You're supposed to dig out half of the flesh so you can easily eat it like a taco, but I was too lazy last night and frankly just wanted to eat the potato.  Top it with whatever you please!  (Click here for baking instructions, and remember these Sweet Potato Skins?!)

Taco Pie with Winter Squash

After making this insanely delicious Spaghetti Pie the other day (as seen on my Instagram page), I started imagining what other dinners I could make in a pie pan, and because it was Tuesday my mind instantly went to tacos!  Taco Pie!  But not just any taco pie, no, no... this particular dish is only disguising as comfort food (which is what it tasted like, oh man).  This hearty but healthy casserole has lean meat, the protein and fiber from beans and the nutrients from a whole lot of squash you won't even know you're eating.  By the way do beans have fiber?  I don't know, it just sounded right to say.

At the last minute I decided to add a frozen package of cooked squash into the meat (the pureed kind).  It melted beautifully, and balanced out the spice of the meat in a sweet and subtle way.  My kids loved it (well, two of them did, not the middle one who would live off of Skittles if she could), and had NO idea I had tricked them into eating something healthy.  And by the way, I ate two slices topped with avocado.  IT WAS SO GOOD.  

Taco Pie with Winter Squash

(Serves 8)

Printable Recipe

1 T olive oil

1 small onion, diced

1 lb. ground turkey

1 pkg. taco seasoning

1/2 cup water

1 12 oz. pkg cooked squash, thawed

1 8oz. bottle taco sauce

3 flour tortillas

1 can refried beans (you probably won't use it all)

2-3 cups Mexican blend grated cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.  Add onions and sauté for a few minutes, until onions begin to soften.  Add ground turkey and sauté until no longer pink.  Add taco seasoning and water and stir to combine.  Bring to a boil, and then lower heat and simmer until sauce begins to thicken.  Add thawed squash, and stir to make sure everything is well incorporated.  Remove from heat.  Spray a 10-inch cake or pie pan with cooking spray.  Add a small amount of the taco sauce and spread with a spatula.  Place a tortilla in the pan, and then spread a layer of refried beans on top with a spatula.  Top with a third of the meat, then a third of the cheese and finally a third of the taco sauce.  Place another tortilla down, and repeat with the beans, meat, cheese and sauce.  Place your last tortilla down, top with beans, the rest of the meat, the rest of the sauce and ending with the rest of your cheese.  Bake for 30-35 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and golden.    

The squash disappears!

Meaty Quesadilla

We almost always acknowledge Taco Tuesday's, because what else are Tuesday's for?  They aren't for humps, no no no, or for posting old, adorable photos of ourselves on Instagram.  They are for binge eating tacos and nothing else.  But sometimes I get into a taco rut, producing the same old recipe week after week.  That was until my neighbor made these Meaty Quesadillas one SATURDAY (I know, she be crazy), and I lost track of how many I ate.  They are simple, and delicious.  The spices and flavorings lend so much to the meat which is then paired with creamy Monterey Jack cheese, sandwiched in a crisp tortilla and topped with avocado, sour cream and salsa.  It's perfect.  And definitely not too spicy for the kiddos!  My children didn't even notice the green onions.  Success.

Try shaking up your next Tuesday!  I'm a commercial.       

Perfect Fish Tacos

A friend recently sent me this How To Make Fish Tacos article and I found it very educational.  Wow, what a boring way to start a post, I sound like a robot teacher.  I LOVE ME SOME FISH TACOS!  There, is that better?  No but really, click on the article and learn things.  For instance, did you know authentic fish tacos are fried, not grilled (thank god) and that using rice flour lightens the batter?  See?  Education!  My friends and I tackled these over the weekend, using red snapper, and accompanied them with a Cabbage Slaw (recipes below).  Our modifications: red cabbage instead of green, no jicama (because we couldn't find it), and we added avocado to our tacos because it makes everything better.  I also used flour tortillas instead (don't yell at me) because I like them.  Just like Matthew McConaughey likes his Lincoln cars.  Make those commercials stop.

Recipes: Fish Tacos + Cabbage Slaw

Photos by Katy at Chasing You Photo

SD on TODAY

Thanks for the nice comments on my SECOND (what?!) Today Show appearance.  It's such a fun, surreal experience to be a tiny part of a show I've watched since I was a kid.  For your informations, I wasn't trying to scold Mr. Roker for touching the bacon.  Would I ever scold anyone for touching bacon???  No, I was yelling at Carson who was touching the hot pan with his fingers, and they just happened to zoom in on Al at the same moment.  Oh, the silly magic of television.  

In case you missed the segment, you can view it here (and my first appearance here).

We are back from NY, we are back from DC, and I will try to cook something ASAP.  

Fresh Tortillas

Whoa, where have I been?  I'll tell you where I've been.  Up to my eyeballs in kitchen remodel stuff.  But it's been nice staring at those corn cupcakes while you wonder where the hell I am, right?  Alas, it's time we move on.  Have you ever seen these uncooked tortillas before?  You can buy them at Whole Foods.  A friend turned me onto them, and I'm obsessed.  Fresh, raw tortillas - already shaped for you - that you throw in a hot pan for a minute and voila... freshly cooked tortillas!  You can taste the difference.  I love them.  This morning I made scrambled eggs with pancetta, topped it with avocado and chipotle hot sauce, and rolled it all up in a fresh tortilla.  Perfect breakfast.       

Fiesta Food

It appears I have made a lot of Mexican dishes over the years.  Mucho, if you por favor.  

Sorry, I took French.  But here are some ideas for your weekend fiesta...

Albondigas

Soup Azteca

Arroz con Pollo

Roasted Chicken Tacos

Ground Beef Tacos

Baked Tostada

Spanish Beans

Guacamole

Margarita Cupcakes

Mexican Chocolate Brownies

Baked Tostada

We partake in Taco Tuesday pretty much every week, either at our local Mexican restaurant or at home.  Last night we stayed in, but to shake things up a bit I decided to turn my taco into a baked tostada.  That's the beauty of tacos, they're sort of made to order.  Carson often turns his into a taco salad, Jack prefers a quesadilla, and after last night, I think frequent the tostada route.
I just said "frequent the tostada route."  

I followed Martha's easy directions here.  A corn tortilla, drizzled with olive oil, topped with your favorite stuff (here: ground turkey and cotija cheese) and then baked.  After the cheese melted and the tortilla got crispy, I removed it from the oven and added avocado, cilantro, sea salt and hot sauce.     

Stay tuned either later today or this week for a GIGANTIC ANNOUNCEMENT.

Drama...

Roasted Chicken Tacos

I'm going to tell you something about myself, are you ready?  I make this meal probably once a week.  Oh, you think that was a really boring piece of information?  Fine, I will tell you something else about myself.  The other day I ordered two "sodos" at Subway and found that accidental made-up word so funny and embarrassing that I proceeded to laugh hysterically at myself and could barely pay the guy.  Now THAT was some information. 

As I was saying, I make this once a week.  Because it combines two of my favorite things: the absurdly easy and tasty Susie's French Chicken with tacos.  And I don't like to brag (or I do), but I make a mean taco.  It's all about the proper toppings.  Try the following out the next time you make a taco and tell me it isn't magic in your mouth: tomatoes, avocados, roasted garlic, lettuce, queso fresco and a drizzle of Chipotle Cholula.  And don't forget to lightly grill your tortillas (I flip mine using tongs over the gas stove until grill marks form) because it makes a WORLD of difference.   

As for the poultry, follow the recipe for Susie's French Chicken and once it's done and has rested for 15 minutes, shred and toss in the bubbling juice at the bottom of the pot. 

Cinco de Mayo

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, my Mama's birthday!!!


I wish I were in Minnesota to go eat yummy Mexican food with her. Wait, strike that, reverse. I wish SHE were in CALIFORNIA where the real yummy Mexican food exists (no offense, Minnesota, you have Bruegger's). Thank you for making me love food more than exercise, Mom. (I really mean that, exercise is boring.)

No matter what state you live in, I hope you all have a fiesta tonight! Here are some siriously good ideas...

Albondigas
Soup Azteca
Chipotle Roast Chicken Tacos
Arroz Con Pollo