One meal that I love to make is chicken enchiladas. It is easy and so yummy! It's a great meal to make when having people over as well as just for the family. It also makes great left-overs.
Here is how I make chicken enchiladas.
Ingredients:
- Chicken (seasoned with onion powder, salt, and pepper)
- Dry Enchilada mix
- An 8 oz can of tomato sauce
- 8 Taco Shells (the best brand is Mission; once we had those we never went back)
- A 2 cup bag of Mexican cheese
- Rice
Directions:
1. I begin by cutting up the chicken into pieces. A heat up a little bit of vegetable oil in a frying pan while I'm cutting up the chicken. I then cook the chicken in the pan with onion, salt and pepper.
2. Once the chicken is cooked and still hot, I use the most wonderful method of shredding chicken. I found this idea on Pinteret and I'm so thankful I did. I put it in my Kitchen Aid mixer and let the mixer do the work! Within about 30 to a minute I have perfectly shredded chicken.
3. While the chicken is cooking, in a small sauce pan I mix the enchilada mix, 8 oz can of tomato sauce, and 1 1/2 of water. Those ingredients need to come to a boil. After that comes to a boil, I then turn it on low in order to let it thicken.
4. Once both the chicken is cooked and shredded and the sauce is ready, I pour enough sauce on the chicken to coat all of it.
5. I then take the taco shells and stuff then with some chicken and cheese.
6. I roll up the shells and line them up an 11 X 13 pan.
7. Once all of the enchiladas are lined up in the pan, I pour the rest of the sauce over top.
8. Then I use the rest of the cheese to cover the enchiladas.
9. The enchiladas are then cooked in the oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.
10. While the enchiladas are cooking, I make rice and vegetables to go with the meal.
It's a great dish and good for so many occasions! Enjoy!
Today is my last day as a 22 year old. I spent my day busy at work but as I am at home by myself for a little while tonight, I'm taking some time to reflect on the past year.
All I can say is how thankful I am. The last year has been one of the hardest for me in a lot of ways. But it was also been one of the biggest growing years for me. After 2 years of praying for the opportunity to move from Richmond, we finally got our answer. We are so happy to be back in Lynchburg. We both have great jobs and a wonderful apartment. This is the fresh start I needed. It came together so quickly, I feel as though I blinked and here I am, a month in to my new job. I am settled and content; feelings I haven't felt in too long.
Life still isn't perfect here and that's ok. Life will never be perfect. I could sit here and list all the things that still aren't perfect, but I choose not to. I choose to be thankful in what God has given me. I have a great job, a beautiful home, the most wonderful family I could have ever asked for, and a husband who I adore, that takes care of me and supports me, and my sweet puppy, Bella.
I am thankful for the people God has blessed me with. They are what makes life such a beautiful thing.
I'm thankful for my husband. He is everything to me. He is the other half of my heart and my best friend. He understands me and he listens to me. He is my perfect match in every way. He is a hard working, selfless, supportive, loving, caring, giving, strong, and handsome man. He is everything I need in a husband and more. I'm so thankful for our relationship.
I'm also thankful for my parents. No one could ask for more wonderful parents than the two I was blessed with. They have always been and always will be my constant support and encouragement. They love me no matter what. It is because of them that I was raised with my beliefs and my values, and it is because of their example that I have a relationship with Christ. My mom is one of my very best friends and she always will be. I spend hours talking with my mom. I look forward to the day when we are closer so we can always talk in person instead of by phone. She is the most self-less person I have ever known. Her daughters are the most important thing to her and I'm so grateful for that. She is the perfect example of what a mother should be and I hope one day that I can come close to being as perfect of a mother as she is. My daddy is so wonderful. He loves his family so much. He is such a hard worker and never complains about anything. He is always looking for ways to help others.
I'm thankful for my sister. No one has a more beautiful, caring, and loving sister as I have. She means the world to me. She is creative and talented. She is the most giving and the most thoughtful person I know. I have always wanted to be just like her. I look up to her so much! And I can't wait until the day that she and I are neighbors so we can spend so much time together.
I'm thankful for my grandma. She has been like a second mother to me. She has had an incredible influence in my life. I wish I wasn't so far away from her. I miss seeing her everyday and spending time talking to her and learning from her. I was blessed with such a beautiful and wonderful grandma.
I'm thankful for my Aunt Karen and Uncle Jack. Nothing has been more wonderful than growing up next door to them and my beautiful cousins, Amy and Kelly. I was so blessed with an incredible childhood, with 2 extra 'sisters'. I am blessed to have such a close family! I'm thankful for my Aunt Lori. She is the funniest and most fun person to be around. I miss being near my family so much!
I am also blessed with incredible in-laws. My mother-in-law and father-in-law are so amazing. They have helped us in so many ways. We are so blessed with every opportunity we have to spend with them! My sister-in-law and brother-in-law are so much fun to be with. Having a 10 day vacation recently with all of my in-laws was such a special time! My husband has an amazing family and I'm so thankful to be a part of it. My nephew. Where to start? I adore him! He is the sweetest and cutest little boy in the entire world! I hope more than anything that we will be closer one day to spend more time with them.
I'm thankful with the gifts and abilities He has given to me. I'm so thankful for the person He has made me to be and for the things He created me to do. I have dreams and goals for my life. In this next year, I want to continue taking the steps to make those dreams and goals a reality.
Now, as I say goodbye to 22, I excitedly look forward to 23. I look forward to the memories that will be made. I look forward to the life that will be lived throughout the next year. I look forward to growing and learning, through trials and triumphs. I look forward to laughs and hugs and smiles. I look forwards to family and friendship.
I will cherish each moment and embrace every opportunity.
I look back on the past year with a thankful heart realizing how blessed I truly am and I am fully ready for the beginning of being 23.
