Chicken and Black Bean Green Enchilada Rice Bake

from Picky-Palate

2 cups white long grain rice

2 1/2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast

One 15-ounce can mild green enchilada sauce

One 4-ounce can sliced black olives

One 15-ounce can diced tomatoes

1/2 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Roasted Ground Cumin

One 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

2. Cook rice according to package directions.

3. Place chicken, enchilada sauce, olives, tomatoes, sour cream, salt, pepper and cumin into a large bowl, mixing to combine. Pour cooked rice into prepared baking dish and layer beans on top of rice. Pour chicken mixture over rice and top evenly with cheddar cheese. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until cheese is melted and rice is hot.

Makes 6 to 8 servings

Cowboy Quesadillas

Recipe by Our Best Bites

1/2 C white rice
1/3 C black beans
1 cup diced cooked chicken
1/3 C fresh frozen corn kernels (no need to thaw)
2/3 C diced tomato
3 Tbs sliced green onion
1 1/2 C shredded cheese (any type or combo you like)
1/4 C bbq sauce
6 small tortillas (fajita size, about 6")

Dipping Sauce
equal parts bbq sauce and ranch dressing (here's our favorite)

Combine rice, beans, chicken, corn, tomato, green onion and shredded cheese. Add bbq sauce and stir to combine. Place about 1/3 C of mixture on half of each tortilla and fold over to close.

Heat a skillet to medium heat on the stove top. When hot, spray lightly with cooking spray, or drizzle with canola or olive oil. Place quesadillas in pan and cook for 2-4 minutes or until golden brown and slightly crisp. Flip and repeat on opposite side. Cool for a few minutes and then serve with BBQ-Ranch dipping sauce.

Mexican Dinner Dip - by Mags

This is from Freezer Friendz (link on my side bar)

This works well as a dinner or as an appetizer for a party!

Ingredients:

• Deep square aluminum pan OR deep round Corning Wear dish OR shallow 9x13 pan.
  
• 1 lb. of ground beef
• 1 pkg. taco seasoning
• 1 bag shredded cheddar
• 1 can refried beans
• 8-10 oz. of your favorite salsa
  
• sour cream
• large bag of your favorite taco chips (I like "Scoops!")
  
• Optional: chopped tomatoes and shredded lettuce
• Optional: substitute taco shells for the taco chips

Procedure:

1. I used a deep square pan for a thicker dip. You can also use a 9x13" pan for a shallow dip -- either works fine!
2. Grease your pan!
3. Spread out the refried beans to be the bottom layer.
4. Brown and drain the ground beef. Add in taco seasoning and water according to taco pkg. directions.
5. Spread out the ground beef on top of your refried beans.
6. Spread the salsa out on top of the ground beef.
   
7. Spread out whole bag of cheddar cheese on top of beef.

To Bake Immediately: Bake at 350 for 10 minutes covered with aluminum foil. Then bake for 10 minutes uncovered until cheese is melted.

To Freeze for later: Cover with a couple layers of plastic wrap and foil, and freeze. On cooking day, thaw first, (remove any plastic wrap!), then bake at 350: 10 minutes covered with foil and 10 minutes uncovered until cheese is melted.

Add globs of sour cream on top of dip - or you can have people add this to their own plates. Scoop out big spoonfuls of the meal (be sure to get all of the layers!), and use your taco chips to dip!

You can also add chopped tomatoes, onions, or shredded lettuce to make taco salads. You could scoop up the mixture into taco shells for a fancy taco as well!

This is one of my favorites from growing up - my younger brother was in to cooking in junior high - this was his recipe! Enjoy!

Baked Beans with Ham

2 tsp canola oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 12oz. slab smoked virginia ham, cut into 1/4 in cubes
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 15oz. cans navy beans, drained and rinsed
1/2- 28oz. can no salt added crushed tomatoes (1 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup unsulphured molasses
1 TBS dijon mustard
1TBS cider vinegar

Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion. Cook 5 minutes or until softened and translucent. Add the ham and garlic. Cook 3 minutes more. Stir in beans, crushed tomatoes, water, molasses, mustard, vinegar, and 1/2 tsp pepper. Bring to boiling. Reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook 15 minutes or until about half of the liquid is absorbed.

*from 1/10 Better Homes and Gardens mag.

Ham and Bean Soup

4 cups water
2 cups mixed beans (previously soaked)
approx 1lb ham (ham bone works great too)
16 oz. can tomato sauce or stewed tomatoes
1/8 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp onion salt
1/2 tsp. garlic powder or 1 clove minced garlic
1/2 tsp. chili powder.

Place beans and seasoning in crock pot. Place ham on top cover and cook on high for 10 hours.