Have you ever set out to make something only to realize that you don’t have the ingredients so you’re scurrying around trying to think of something else to make?  Well, try being in that situation when you’re feeding a cowboy crew.

This recipe would be one of those times and even though it was pretty good overall, some improvements can be made no doubt, in which I’ll leave up to you.  I needed something that would cook within an hour so I wasn’t thinking, at the time, what I should or shouldn’t do.  Clearly, I should have done something because the rice ended up like an oatmeal texture. In fact, my husband said, “Was that oatmeal or rice?”.  UGH.

You can see how I did the recipe below but I would love for you to tell me what I should have done differently or to improve the texture of the rice. I basically threw it all in a casserole pan and baked it and have never baked rice in the oven before.  I could use your expertise here folks!

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cans of cream of chicken (I used cream of mushroom because it’s all I had)
• 1 onion
• 2 cups of rice
• a whole bunch of thighs (chicken of course:)

DIRECTIONS

Cut your onion up, skin your chicken (or not) and throw it and the rest of the ingredients  in a casserole pan, adding water to cover.  Bake for one hour in a 350′ oven.

Okay, so I really don’t know the name of this recipe. It was given to me by a friend of mine years ago. It’s been a cowboy favorite for many years for me. People try to take short cuts like NOT pan frying the patties but you can’t do that! It’s not the same if you don’t pan fry them! Thank you to Johnna for giving me the recipe and many others.

INGREDIENTS:

• Ground beef formed into patties
• Cheddar Cheese
• 2 Cans Cream of chicken or 1 can of cream of chicken & 1 of cream of mushroom
• Green Chilies but I highly recommend Rotel!  I know many of you don’t have Rotel though.
• Flour

DIRECTIONS:

Flour up your patties and start frying them.  While they are cooking, mix up your cream of soups and green chilies and set aside.  When patties are done, place in casserole dish and cover with soup mixture.  Top with cheese and bake in 350′ oven until warm and cheese melts.

Served with my quick bread rolls, green beans and mash taters!

Not the best picture I know but I was having a bad day;)

I’m working with Velveeta at the moment so I thought a Chicken Fajita Burrito Casserole using Velveeta would be a great post!  And don’t forget to cut the cheese with me using Velveeta cheese!

I used red and green bell pepper to give it some color and flavor.  I used store bought tortillas which are fine but next time I will make my homemade flour tortillas for a better taste!  Slighty more work that I usually post here but it’s well worth it!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1pkg flour tortillas
• 1 8oz. Velveeta Mexican Mild Cheese
• 4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken breasts
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 onion, well half really
• 1 can of cream of chicken
• 1/4 milk
• 1 can of black beans

You will also need the ingredients to make the Easy Spanish Rice! This consists of brown rice, salsa,  and butter.

DIRECTIONS:

Start boiling your chicken.  While chicken is boiling, chop up your onion and bell peppers; adding them to the chicken and boil until chicken is done.  In a saucepan, melt your Velveeta cheese with the cream of chicken and about 1/4 of milk over low heat. (saving and shredding some to add to the fajita burritos.) This will be the cheese sauce. While that is melting, take your chicken and peppers out of the boiling stock and let cool.  Add the brown rice & it’s ingredients to the stock that you boiled the chicken in.  Once your rice is done, spread it in a 9×13 casserole dish.  Pour the can of black beans on top. Or you can just mix the beans up with the rice!

Shred your chicken up and starting making your fajita burritos adding a little of the shredded velveeta or some of the cheese sauce inside.  Fold up and lay on top of the rice and beans.  Now pour the Velveeta Cheese sauce all on top of the burritos making sure to get it all covered.  Bake in oven for about  15-20 minutes at 350′.

This should serve 8 depending on your crew’s appetite!