Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole

This is a casserole that has been around forever, it's yummy, easy, and kids like it.  I can never remember it or find the recipe when I am looking for it. So...I'm adding it to the blog. :)

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 1/3 c. water (or chicken broth)
3/4 c. uncooked rice
2 c. veggies (your choice)
4 pieces of whatever raw chicken you have. (Breasts, drumsticks, thighs, etc) Thawed.
1/2 c. shredded cheese

Stir the soup, water, rice, and vegetables in a 13x9 baking dish. Top with chicken. Season chicken as desired. Cover with foil. Bake at 375*F for 45 mins or until chicken is done. Top with cheese.

*I usually add a lot more spices to the rice mix than this recipe calls for. Examples: dried parsley, salt, pepper, etc. (It depends on what you like.)

Michele's Lime Rice

Lime Rice

2 cups rice
2 cans chicken broth (plus some water)
cilantro, to taste
Juice from 1 lime
1 small onion chopped

Saute the onion in some olive oil. Add rice. Stir constantly until rice becomes opaque (3-5 minutes). Add broth and water. Bring to boil, reduce heat and cook on low for 15 minutes. Add cilantro, and lime juice. Stir. Continue to cook for about 5 minutes, or until rice is done.

Chicken Tikka Masala

This recipe was so YUMMY!! Daniel and I really enjoyed it. We stole it off of my Sister (in-law)'s recipe blog. We will definately be making this again!

Chicken Tikka Masala
1 cup plain yogurt

1 T lemon juice

1 t ground cumin

1 t garam masala

1 t ground cinnamon

2 t paprika (if you want it spicy use cayenne pepper)

2 t black pepper

1 T ground ginger

1 t salt

2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Combine all ingredients except chicken. Pour sauce over chicken and refrigerate for at least one hour (I ended up marinading for a day and a half and it was great!). Grill or cook chicken in frying pan. Discard marinade.

1 T butter

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 jalapeno pepper finely chopped (make sure to take out the seeds if you don't want it too spicy)

2 t ground cumin

2 t paprika

1/2 t salt

1 8-oz can tomato sauce
1 cup cream

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic and jalapeno for one minute. Season with cumin, paprika and salt. Stir in tomato sauce and cream. Simmer on low heat until sauce thickens, about 20 minutes. Add grilled chicken to sauce to coat. Garnish with fresh cilantro. Serve over hot rice or couscous.

Thai-Style Coconut Chicken

This has become one of our very favorite meals. I like to add some lime juice, as well as some coconut, in addition to what it calls for in the recipe. YUMMY!

1 Tbls. Vegetable oil (I didn't use any)
1 lb. chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces
1 tsp. grated lime peel
1 tsp. grated gingerroot
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 fresh serrano chilies or 1 jalapeno chili, seeded and finely chopped
1/4 c. fresh cilantro
1 can (14oz) coconut milk (not cream of coconut)
1 tsp. packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 c. sugar snap peas (I sometimes use a stir fry mix or regular peas if I don't have these on hand)
1 med. bell pepper, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 med. tomato, chopped (abt. 3/4 c)
1 Tbls. chopped fresh basil leaves
Hot cooked Jasmine (I just used regular white) rice

In nonstick wok or 12 inch skillet, heat oil over high heat. Add chicken, stir-fry 2-3 mins, until chicken is no longer pink in the center. Add lime, ginger, garlic, chilies, and cilantro. Stir-fry 1 min.
Pour coconut milk over chicken. Stir in brown sugar, salt, soy sauce, pea pods and bell pepper. Reduce heat to med. Simmer uncovered 3-5 mins, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are crisp-tender. Stir in tomato (out of personal preference I omitted this step and used the tomatoes as a garnish).
Spoon into shallow serving bowls, top with basil. Serve with rice.

Chicken and Rice

This is a pretty good, and very easy meal. We really like it.

2 cans Cream of Mushroom Soup (or Chicken, or one of each)
2 cans water (or one can water and one milk)
2 cups rice
4-6 chicken breasts (you could also do drumsticks, or thighs)
onions, to taste (I do about 1/2 an onion)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375*F. Add soups, water, rice, onions, and salt and pepper to a 13x9 pan. Stir. Place chicken on the top. Cover, and bake for about an hour or until rice has cooked.

Mom's Butter Baked Rice

This picture is really blurry, and not professional, BUT the rice tastes very good...Promise!

My mom made this several times, and I love it! We like to eat it with fish, but it could be used as a side dish for practically anything.

1/3 c. butter (I use less and it turns out great)
1 c. rice
1 can condensed chicken noodle soup
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper

Put butter, rice, and soup in a med size sauce pan. Add one can of water. Bring to a boil. Add remaining ingredients. Turn stove to low, cover, and let simmer for about 20 mins. Stirring occasionally. Rice is done when water is boiled out, and rice is tender (I have had to add a little more water before).

Fried Rice

4 c. cooked rice
2 eggs
3 Tbs. oil
1/2 c. cubed meat (ham, chicken, beef...whatever you want)
1/4 c. chopped onions
3 Tbs. soy sauce
Mixed vegetables (these are optional, but I definitely prefer the veggies)

Put 1 Tbs. oil into a large skillet. Beat eggs and pour into skillet. Cook like an omelet (flat and roundish) until eggs are not runny. Dump onto a cutting board and cut into small strips about 1/2 inch wide and 1 1/2 inches long.
In the same pan heat 2 Tbs. oil, and brown meat. Add onions, soy sauce, and mixed veggies. When all are heated through, add rice and meat mixture into a serving bowl. Mix well. When rice and meat are evenly mixed, add eggs and stir in gently. Serve with a Chinese dish.

Grandma's stuffed peppers

2 peppers(any color) cut in half
1/2 c. uncooked rice
1/2 lb. hamburger (add some onions if wanted)
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
spaghetti or taco seasoning, to taste
frozen or fresh veggies (optional)
grated cheese

Bring 1 c. water to boil. Add 1/ c. rice. Cover rice, and turn heat to low. Simmer for 20 mins. Meanwhile, boil water. Put peppers in it and boil for five minutes. Brown hamburger, add tomato sauce, seasoning, and veggies. add cooked rice to tomato mix. Put peppers in an 8x8 pan, fill with mix. Top with grated cheese. Bake at 350* for about 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Serves: 4