Chicken Guacamole Wraps

As summertime approaches, I'm always excited for lighter, fresher meals. After a winter like we had, it feels good to break away from soups, casseroles and those comfort foods that taste so good when you're cold and it's snowy outside and move to salads, wraps and grilled meals. I made this the other night and it was so good. My kids are guacamole lovers and they gobbled these up. You can add all sorts of veggies to these - whatever you like. Tomatoes, sliced red onion, lettuce, cucumbers, extra slices of avocado. A nice light side would be pasta salad, fruit salad, maybe even some homemade sweet potato chips!

Chicken Guacamole Wraps

3-4 Chicken breasts
Olive Oil
Salt and pepper
2-3 Avocados
Lime
Cilantro, Chopped (about a TBSP)
1 clove Garlic, minced
Romaine lettuce
Spinach Wraps (I found these near the deli section next to the other sandwich wraps)

Preheat oven to 350. Place chicken on cookie sheet and drizzle both sides with olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake for around 30 minutes. Cool for a few minutes and then shred meat.

Prepare guacamole by scooping avocado out of the skin and removing the pit. Place into a bowl with cilantro, garlic, salt and pepper to taste and the juice (and zest if desired) from 1 lime. Use a fork to mash until smooth and ingredients are combined.

Take spinach wrap and spread guacamole on one side, add some shredded chicken, lettuce and other veggies, roll up and serve.

Chicken and Vegetable Risotto

I got this recipe from one of my favorite blogs and have made this several times. I have always wanted to make risotto, but it has seemed like a difficult thing to get right and very time consuming, so I've just stayed away from those recipes. Until I found Emily's chicken and veggie risotto recipe over at One Lovely Life blog. It is so simple to make and is done in about 30-40 minutes. And it's a one pot wonder - your meat, rice and veggies are all in one spot, so you can add a salad, some fruit or crusty bread and you have a filling meal and not a whole lot of work. Check out her blog for more amazing recipes!

Chicken and Vegetable Risotto (One Lovely Life blog)

1 Onion, chopped
1 Bell Pepper, diced (I use red or orange)
3-4 TBSP Olive Oil (plus drizzle for chicken breasts)
2 Cups Arborio Rice
8 Cups Chicken or Beef Broth
1-2 Cups Diced or Shredded Chicken
1/2 Cup Frozen Peas
2-3 Green Onions, sliced
Salt and Pepper to taste

Pat 3-4 chicken breasts dry and drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper on both sides. Place on cookie sheet and bake in oven for 20-30 minutes or until cooked through. Set aside while you start on the risotto.

In a large dutch oven, add olive oil, onion and bell pepper. Cook on medium heat until just translucent. Add rice to pot and coat in oil (adding a little more if needed). Pour in all 8 cups of broth and stir well over medium heat. The first 15 minutes, you can just stir occasionally, but the last 15 minutes of cook time, you will want to stir the pot often and keep the rice moving. During the first 15 minutes of cook time, chop chicken and add to pot. Once broth is absorbed and risotto is creamy, add in the frozen peas and green onions. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.

Lasagna Soup

My friend Holly sent me a picture of this soup last night and I couldn't stop thinking about how good it looked. Then it snowed 10" and really, all that sounded remotely good was a nice warm bowl of soup. So, out Mike and I went in his 4WD and headed to the store to grab up my ingredients. Y'all. It was SO good. Not near as heavy feeling as real lasagna with all it's cheesy layers, but still all the great flavors that I love from the real deal. Even Macie (who claims she doesn't really like lasagna but just eats it because I make her) thought this was so yummy. And yes, if I make it, my kids eat it. I'm not much on whipping up 2 meals around here.

Lasagna Soup

1 lb. Ground Beef
1/2 Onion, diced
2-3 Cloves Garlic, minced
3 Cups Beef Broth
1 Can Diced Tomatoes (28 oz.)
1 Can Tomato Paste (6 oz.)
1 Cup V8 or Vegetable Juice Drink
1 TBSP Dried Parsley
1 TBSP Dried Basil
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Pepper
2 Cups Uncooked Shell Pasta
1 Cup Water

Brown ground beef with onion and garlic. Drain. Add broth, tomatoes, tomato paste, V8, parsley, basil and S&P to stockpot. Simmer on low for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add water and uncooked pasta to pot, stir well, cover and simmer another 30 minutes or until noodles are cooked to your preference. Serve topped with shredded mozzarella cheese or grated parmesan.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

I've been making this bread for years now and it turns out perfect every time. If you have bananas sitting on your counter that are about to make their way to the trash can - STOP! Grab these other ingredients (that you will likely have on hand) and make this. Then eat it for breakfast, a snack, slice it and take it to your small group on Sunday morning or keep a loaf for yourself and give the other to a neighbor. But whatever you do, don't throw away those bananas! :)

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

3 1/2 Cups Flour
3 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Baking Soda
2 Cups Mashed Ripe Bananas (around 4 bananas)
2 TBSP Lemon Juice
3/4 Cup Oil
1 1/2 Cup Sugar
3 Eggs
3/4 Cup Milk
6 oz. Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (I use mini chips)

Combine flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a bowl. Set aside.

With mixer, blend bananas and lemon juice until pureed. Then mix in the sugar, oil, eggs and beat until light and fluffy. Add milk until just mixed in. Add dry ingredients in a few batches, blending well each time before adding more. Stir in chocolate chips.

Grease 2 loaf pans and bake at 350 for 50 min-1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes and then remove from pan. If not eating these immediately, cool completely before storing. I usually wrap well in plastic wrap and then cover in foil.

Copycat Chipotle Grill Burrito Bowls

Since moving to Indiana, I've discovered a yummy spot to eat called Chipotle Grill. If you've never been to one, think Tex-mex version of Subway. Just with MUCH fresher and better ingredients. So, their burrito bowls are just amazing. They are a bowl full of burrito ingredients like cilantro lime rice, black beans, seasoned chicken (or steak), cheese, lettuce, guacamole, etc. - just without the tortilla shell. And let me just say - the cilantro lime rice is divine. Totally makes the dish. I just love them and I told Mike that I was pretty sure that I could recreate that same meal at home. And tonight, I did just that. I wish I had a picture to share with you - but we all ate it so fast, that I didn't think about a picture until I was cleaning up the kitchen. Oh well - you'll get the idea. It's a bowl full of the following things - and before you dismiss the recipe because it seems like a lot of different steps, just trust me, they are all easy to do and it comes together quickly!

Cilantro Lime Rice

1 Cup Basmati Rice
2 Cups Water
1 tsp. Salt
1 Lime, zest included
3 tsp. Vegetable Oil, divided
3 TBSP Fresh, Chopped Cilantro

Add rice, water, salt and 1 tsp. oil to pan. Bring to boil, stir and then cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Once liquid is absorbed, fluff rice with a fork, add remaining 2 tsp. oil, lime juice and zest and cilantro and stir well.


Seasoned Black Beans

1 TBSP Olive Oil
1 Small Onion, chopped
1 Clove Garlic, minced
2 Cans Black Beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 Cup Water
1/2 tsp. Chili Powder
Dash Cayenne Pepper
Salt to taste
Juice of 1/2 a lime

In a pan, add oil, onion and garlic. Cook on medium heat for 5 minutes or until onion has become translucent. Add water, black beans and seasonings to pan, bring to a boil and then simmer for 10 minutes or until liquid is almost gone. Stir in lime juice.


For my chicken, I took 3 chicken breasts and put them on a cookie sheet. Pour a small amount of olive oil on both sides of each breast (enough to lightly coat) and sprinkle with the following spice mix: 1 tsp. cumin, 1/2 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp. chili powder and 1/2 tsp. salt. Bake breasts at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Shred meat and set aside to assemble burrito bowls.

To assemble bowls, add rice to bottom. Next add seasoned black beans, chicken and then top with any (or all) of the following items:

Guacamole
Cheese
Sour Cream
Pico
Shredded Lettuce
Salsa

ENJOY!!!!