Chicken Taquitos

This is a super yummy appetizer or you can use as a main dish.

Makes 16 taquitos.

3 chicken breasts
1 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
salt and pepper
1/2 c. water
Mexican cheese
flour tortillas

serving suggestions: salsa, sour cream, cilantro dressing

Mix softened cream cheese, chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, and water together. Put half of mixture on bottom of crock pot. Place chicken breasts over then top with remaining mixture. Cook on Low for 6 hrs or High for 3 hrs.

Lay out tortillas, place a small amount of chicken mixture on each one, then Mexican cheese. Roll into tight rolls. You can make ahead and refrigerate or you can bake them now. Grease baking sheet. Place seam end on bottom. Spray taquitos with cooking spray to help with browning. Bake at 400 degrees for about 15-20 minutes until tortilla gets slightly browned. You may need to roll them half way to get them evenly browned. Serve with salsa, sour cream, or cilantro dressing.

Mexican Rice

You can use this in a taco salad, burrito, or just by itself as a side dish.

Rice

chicken broth

1 can of corn

1 can black beans, rinsed

1/2 bunch cilantro, finely chopped

juice of 2 limes

salt

Cook rice according to directions, using chicken broth instead of water. When all broth has absorbed, add rest of ingredients, stir together, and put top on pot again.

Cilantro Dressing

This dressing is AMAZING! Totally changes the taste of a taco salad! Can be used also as dip for chips, taquitos, or anything else Mexican.

1 1/2 c. mayo
1/2 c. plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
1 packet dry Buttermilk Ranch dressing
large bunch of cilantro
juice of 2 limes
4 cloves garlic, rough chop
2 tomatillos, cut off tops, rough chop
2 jalapenos, seeds removed

Put all ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend! Store in a container in refrigerator until ready to use. This gets better over a few days when all the flavors meld together.

Homemade Granola

4 c. oats (not quick-cook kind)
1 c. sliced almonds
1 c. chopped pecans
1 c. sweetened coconut flakes
1/2 c. coconut oil
1/4 c. honey
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
1 c. dried cranberries (Craisins), raisins, or any other dried fruit

Preheat oven to 315 degrees. Mix oats, almonds, pecans, and coconut flakes in bowl. In separate small bowl, heat coconut oil and honey in microwave for about 40 seconds so that oil can liquify and be stirred and poured. Stir vanilla and almond extract in with honey and oil. Pour honey mixture over oat mixture so everything gets evenly coated. Pour granola onto pan and bake for 5 minutes, toss, then bake 5 more minutes. Cool granola then mix in whatever kind of dried fruit you are using. I like to mix mine in yogurt with some fresh fruit to make a yummy parfait in the mornings.