Chicken mole w/tomatoes

I just realized that nearly all my recipes are Mexican/Latin American. Hey, I love cilantro and cumin!!! This one was cut out from some flyer I got at the health food store next door to my work. It's yummalicious.

1 T olive oil
1 1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
1 1/2 C diced onion
2 t ground cumin
1 1/2 t chili powder
2 t cocoa powder
2 t ground cinnamon
2 14.5-oz cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1/2 t sea salt (I never have sea salt, I use regular...it's ok!)
1 1/2 t brown sugar
3 C cooked basmati/brown/whatever you want rice
2 limes, quartered, for garnish if you like
3 T chopped fresh cilantro for garnish, also if you like

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over med-hi heat. Saute chicken and onion, stirring, until chicken is no longer pink. Add cumin, chili powder, cocoa, and cinnamon. Stir to coat chicken. Add tomatoes w/liquid, sea salt, and brown sugar. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 8-10 mins. Serve over rice of your choice, add lime and cilantro to garnish if you please.

Tex Mex lentil casserole

This is a pretty fast and easy dish to make. I think I found the recipe online at some point.

1 C red lentils (I've used brown ones too and it works fine)
1 can vegetable stock (if I was out of veggie stock I've used chicken which also worked well although obv. wouldn't be vegetarian if you went that route)
1 C chopped onion
1 can diced tomatoes (I like to use the ones w/the chilies but plain is fine)
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/2 C grated fat-free cheese
2 T chopped cilantro if desired

Combine all the ingredients except cheese and cilantro in 1 1/2 qt covered microwaveable dish. Microwave on high for 18-20 mins. (Depending on the strength of your micro, you may need to do it a little longer than that...keep an eye on the container near the end of the cooking time, and adjust accordingly.) Carefully remove cover and stir, sprinkle with cheese, cover and let stand for 20 mins. Garnish with cilantro.

Homemade soft tortillas

4 C white flour
1 t salt
1/2 C shortening
~ 1 1/4 C warm water

Mix flour and salt in large bowl. Cut in shortening with knives or pastry cutter. Add warm water (I start with a little over a cup and then mix until it's dough-y but not too sticky). Mix with wooden spoon until dough forms ball. Knead dough for approx. 1 min on floured surface. Divide dough into 12 balls, put back in bowl and let "rest" for 10 mins.

Put saute pan (preferably Teflon), DRY, non-oiled, on stove on medium heat. Roll out dough ball flat, and put in pan. When ball starts to bubble, use spatula to flip over. Repeat process with each doughball.

Makes 12 tortillas.

If you wish, you can mess around with this recipe and try swapping some of the flour for cornmeal, or use wheat flour for some of it. I generally use King Arthur flour for all my stuff.

Wicked easy Mexican dinner

Brown rice, prepared to package directions*
1 package ground turkey (approx. 1-1 1/4 lbs)**
1 can black or red beans
1 can of diced tomatoes w/chiles (I believe this is called Rotel in some places)
olive oil

*I generally buy brown rice in a 1.5 lb bag. For each meal put 1 C of brown rice in casserole dish, add 2 1/4 C water, 1 t of olive oil, and for this recipe season rice to taste with dash of cumin and/or coriander if you wish. Micro the rice on full power 5 mins then 27-32 mins on 50% power depending on your microwave, or prepare on stovetop.

**You can substitute ground beef for this if you like, or ground pork. If you wish to have veggie-only meal throw in another can of beans.

Start the rice in the micro. Swirl olive oil 2x around large saute pan on medium. Drain can of bean(s). When pan is warmed throw in bean(s). After 5-ish mins you can add turkey. Season if you wish with whichever spices you like (cumin, cilantro, curry, chili powder, basil, oregano...use your imagination!) Cook until turkey has browned. At that point add tomatoes/Rotel. Simmer on low heat until rice is done, stirring occasionally. Serve mixture over rice.

This is also wicked good if you put it in tortillas with toppings.