Tyler Florence's Guacamole Recipe

4 ripe avocados
1 lime, juiced
1/2 medium red onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 vine-ripe tomato, diced
1 big handful fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper [or about 1/4 tsp of Paula Deen's house seasoning]

Halve and pit the avocados; scoop out the flesh with a tablespoon into a mixing bowl. Mash the avocados with a fork, leaving them still a bit chunky. [Instead, I was able to easily peel my avocados, then dice them. I left the entire mix chunky.] Add the remaining ingredients, and fold everything together to gently mix.

Lay a piece of plastic wrap right on the surface of the guacamole so it doesn't brown and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

[I have left the original recipe intact but added my notes.]

Chicken Enchiladas

4 corn tortillas [or use whole wheat for more fiber]
1-1/2 c. shredded, cooked chicken
1/2 c. navy beans [or other white beans that your family won't notice]
1/2 c. corn
1 c. salsa [medium or hot, not mild]
1 c. plain low fat yogurt
1/2 c. low fat sour cream
1/2 c. reduced fat Jack cheese

Mix chicken, beans, and corn. In another bowl, mix the next three ingredients. Add half the salsa mixture to the chicken mixture, then fill the tortillas (heated according to package directions) with the chicken mixture. Place tortillas seam side down in sprayed 8"x8" baking pan. Pour the rest of the salsa mix on top. Sprinkle cheese on top. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Original recipe can be found HERE.

Crockpot Honey Mustard Chicken

whole cut up chicken (or equivalent chicken pieces), skinned
1/2 c. honey
1/4 c. mustard
1/2-1 tsp Paula Deen's house seasoning (or salt & pepper to taste)

Place chicken in crockpot. In small bowl, mix the remaining ingredients. Pour over chicken. Cook for 6-8 hours on low.

[Original recipe HERE]

Homemade Chicken Stock

Click HERE for the recipe.

Cranberry Salsa

1 12 oz bag of fresh cranberries, no need to thaw (I used fresh, not frozen)
1 Granny Smith Apple, peeled, cored & chopped in eights
½ large red pepper
½ medium red onion
3/4 c sugar
1/3 c apple juice
3 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
2 Tbsp chopped, pickled jalapeno pepper (I used plain, not pickled)
1 tsp grated lime zest

Place cranberries, apple, pepper & onion in food processor; pulse till chopped; stir in remaining ingredients till blended. Cover and refrigerate.

Serve with favorite tortillas...the lime ones are good with this.

Christmas 2009 Menu/Recipes

[Updated to include 2011 photos]

Hashbrown Casserole
1 bag shredded hasbrowns, thawed
½ small block Velveeta cheese
1 c. sour cream
3 scallions, finely chopped
3 Tbsp butter
1 can cream of chicken soup
Melt Velveeta and butter in microwave in 2 minute intervals until soft. Mix all ingredients together. Put in sprayed pan. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Serve.

Christmas Morning Strata
1 lb. sausage
8 eggs
10 slices of bread, cubed
3 c. milk
2 c. shredded Cheddar cheese
2 c. sliced fresh mushrooms
10-oz. pkg. frozen cut asparagus,
thawed and drained
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted
2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp. dry mustard
2 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. salt

Begin the night before Christmas. Crumble sausage into large skillet. Cook over medium heat until browned, stirring occasionally. Drain off any drippings. Whisk eggs in a large bowl. Add sausage and remaining ingredients; mix well. Spoon into a greased 13x9 baking dish. Cover; refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. Preheat oven to 350 F. Bake 60-70 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting into squares; serve hot. Makes 10-12 servings.

Christmas Morning French Toast Casserole
1 loaf French bread
6 eggs
3 c. milk
1/3-c sugar
1-2 Tbsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp vanilla extract [Use vanilla butter nut flavoring and a few dashes of nutmeg to taste like Grandmother's pound cake!]

Spray a 13x9-inch pan w/Pam. Tear the bread and place it in the pan. Combine the remaining ingredients together. Pour them over the bread. Bake at 375°F for 45 min. Dust w/powdered sugar. Serve w/syrup.

Fruit Salad
1 lime (juice and some zest)
1 can chopped pineapple
1 can sliced pears
grapes, kiwi, bananas, apples, etc. (seasonal fresh fruit)
poppy seeds
honey

To prepare sauce: Reserve 1/4 c. canned pineapple juice. Add 1 TBSP honey and the juice of ½ lime. Add 1 tsp. poppy seeds and lime zest. Pour over fruit salad.

Crockpot Grits

1 c. grits (not instant or quick grits)
5 c. water
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 c. butter

Combine all in crock pot; cook on low 6-8 hours. Season/garnish as desired.

(Shown with hasbrown casserole and a side of shredded cheese for the grits.)

(The original recipe can be found HERE.)