Tag Archives: dinner

Feb19

Doritos Burger

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Doritos Burger

Doritos Burger
Nacho Cheese Doritos + Burgers = Doritos Burgers. Let that sink in… Ok, I’ll tell you how these burgers came to be: Years ago, I was moving into my new apartment and my mom had bought everything we needed to grill burgers at the pool. However, we quickly realized all the seasonings were still packed away, so my mom said “No worries!” And took out handfuls of Doritos chips and mixed them up in the hamburger meat. We all looked at her like she was crazy, but let me tell ya, those burgers were delicious!!! So, I’ve been making my burgers with Nacho Cheese Doritos ever since!

Ingredients:
Nacho Cheese Doritos (duh)
Hamburger meat
1 T Worcestershire sauce
1-2 tsp your favorite burger seasoning

1. I put my Worcestershire, hamburger meat, and seasoning all in a bowl. Then, grab your Doritos.
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2. Take a few handfuls and crush the chips up in your hands, then place those in the bowl.
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3. Shape your meat into hamburger patties. image

4. Grill burgers to desired doneness. Mmm, smells good!
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5. Oh ya, I forgot to tell you about my favorite pickles. These are amazing on a burger! image

6. Serve up your burger with your favorite toppings and serve with seasoned sweet potato fries for a yummy side!
Doritos Burger

Feb19

Seasoned Sweet Potato Fries

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Seasoned Sweet Potato Fries

Seasoned Sweet Potato Fries
Y’all, I have a serious obsession with sweet potato fries. They are so delicious and easy to make. And not to mention cheap! Try these out the next time you’re grilling burgers or hot dogs!

Ingredients:
Sweet potato cut into fries (Use a knife – no fry cutter works on a sweet potato, believe me I went through 3 of them!)
Enough oil to cover your fries (Use an oil with a high smoke point like canola or peanut)
Your favorite seasoned fish fry
Your favorite season-all (I used Tony’s)

1. Place your sweet potato fries in a large boil and keep covered in water until ready to use. Once you’re ready, drain them.
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2. I used a half a bag of this seasoned fish fry. You want all the fries to be covered in the seasoning.

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3. Stir up the fries so they’re evenly coated.
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4. Fry them in batches in your oil. I always turn mine a little higher than medium heat and test it out by sprinkling a little fish fry on it to see if it starts frying it. If not, I turn the heat up a bit. However, if you’re the scientific type, you’re looking for a temp of 325-350F. Also, don’t overcrowd your frying pan because this will cause the fries to be soggy and also drop the temperature of your oil, thus making your cooking time longer. You’ll cook your fries in batches of 30-40 minutes each and as soon as you take the fries out, place them on a cookie sheet that’s been lined with paper towels and season immediately with your season-all.
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5. Keep fries in a 200F degree oven to keep them crisp and delicious until you’re ready to serve. Seasoned Sweet Potato Fries

Feb15

Chicken Casserole

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Chicken Casserole

Chicken Casserole

Y’all know by now I love to use leftovers and turn them into another yummy meal. This saves time and money, which adds money to your wine budget. Genius, I know 🙂 This is a simple make ahead meal that freezes great too! For this I used leftover grilled chicken, but you could use a store bought rotisserie chicken if you wanted to.

Ingredients:
1 sweet onion chopped
1 garlic clove chopped
1 can cream of chicken
1 can cream of mushroom
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, plus extra to sprinkle on top (I love Kraft Mozzerella with a touch of Philadelphia)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, plus extra to sprinkle on top
2 cans diced green chiles
1 can Rotel
4 cups diced chicken
Salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and your favorite season-all
1/2 stick of butter
Olive oil
6 corn tortillas

1. Sauté onion with butter, olive oil drizzle, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper pinch on medium to high heat. After about 15 minutes add your chopped garlic and sauté another five minutes.
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2. Meanwhile, tear up your corn tortillas and line the bottom of a baking dish with them.
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3. Add your cream of mushroom, cream of chicken, chiles, Rotel, chicken, and cheese. Stir on medium to high heat until cheeses are melted and everything is thoroughly combined. It’s at this point I like to taste it and sprinkle a little season-all type seasoning on there like Tony’s or Jane’s Krazy Mixed Up Salt.
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4. Pour mixture over tortillas.
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5. Sprinkle as much cheese as you want over the top. Note: if you’re planning on freezing this, allow it to cool after this step and cover with plastic wrap, then a layer of foil.
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6. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. I like to serve mine with crushed tortilla chips, green onion, and a dollop of sour cream. Yummy!
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Jan30

Meatloaf Sandwiches

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Meatloaf Sandwiches

Meatloaf Sandwiches

Are you ready to taste one of the most delicious sandwiches you’ve ever had in your life? Well I hope so, because this sandwich is amazing!!! This came from meatloaf leftovers, obviously, and is now a staple whenever I make meatloaf. So get out some box wine and get ready for this cheap and delicious sammich!

Ingredients:

Meatloaf slices
1 sweet onion sliced
Butter
Olive oil
Cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper
Scoop of leftover mashed potatoes (optional)
Mayonnaise
Provolone cheese
Bread

1. Sauté onion with butter, drizzle of olive oil, salt, pepper, and cayenne 15-18 minutes on medium to high heat.
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2. Once your onions are done, turn to low to keep warm and place a few pats of butter in another skillet to grill your bread.
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3. Smear mayo on one slice of bread and leftover mashed potatoes on the other piece and place into skillet.
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4. Place your sliced meatloaf onto the bread and then top with your sautéed onions and provolone cheese.
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5. Place other piece of bread on top and flip over after a few minutes so it cooks evenly on both sides and cheese melts completely. This is seriously one of the best things you’ll ever put in your mouth!!!
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Jan29

Meatloaf

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Meatloaf

Meatloaf

Ahhhh, meatloaf… Nothing says “Home” like meatloaf and mashed potatoes. This meatloaf is so yummy and definitely a crowd pleaser! The sautéed veggies and ketchup/BBQ sauce mix inside and out really make this meatloaf stand out from other recipes 🙂

Ingredients:
1 sweet onion chopped
6-8 mini bell peppers chopped or 1 large bell pepper
1 garlic clove chopped
Around 2 lbs ground meat (I used a little over 2) and you can use venison, beef, turkey, pork, or any combination of those together
1 T Worcestershire sauce
1 egg
1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
Ketchup
BBQ sauce (I use Sweet Baby Rays Original)
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp paprika
Salt and pepper
Olive oil
1 T Butter (optional)

1. Put your chopped veggies, olive oil, butter, salt & pepper in a pan and sauté about 10-12 minutes before adding in garlic. Then sauté another 5 minutes or so.
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2. After your veggies are cooked, combine them in a large bowl with meat, 1 egg, Worcestershire sauce, 2 T ketchup, 1 T BBQ sauce, 1/4 tsp garlic salt, 1/4 tsp paprika, and give it a little regular salt and pepper too.
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3. It’s at this point I like to add my breadcrumbs. I fill up a 1 cup measuring cup and sprinkle it in there until I get the consistency I’m looking for. I used just right under a full cup. You want it to be sticky and sort of wet, but moldable enough to hold its shape on the pan. Once you’re happy with your texture, place your mixture onto a cookie sheet that’s been covered in foil and sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. It should look like this:
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4. Now you’re going to make a glaze for the meatloaf. I used about 1/3 cup of ketchup and probably 2 T BBQ sauce, but honestly I didn’t measure it. I usually just squirt it into a bowl until it looks right 🙂
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5. Pour the glaze all over your meatloaf and make sure it covers all the meat.
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6. Place in a preheated 375F oven for 50-60 minutes.
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7. When it’s done it will look like this bad boy right here:
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8. Serve with mashed potatoes and southern turnip greens for the perfect meal!
Meatloaf

Jan26

Soup For A Cold Day

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Soup For A Cold Day

Soup For A Cold Day

Y’all, I could hardly drag myself from my bed with my electric blanky into my bathroom with my personal space heater due to this crazy weather. It’s safe to say I despise the cold, and if I had it my way it would come for Christmas holidays then GO AWAY! This soup was so yummy and warmed me up long enough so I could build a fire and try to stay warm!

Ingredients:
3 boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 sweet onion chopped
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup frozen peas and carrots
1 garlic clove chopped
1 – 1 1/2 tsp your favorite season-all (I used Janie’s Crazy Mixed Up Salt)
GOYA Sazon, GOYA Adobo, and GOYA Seasoning Total Seasonings
1 box chicken broth
1/2 – 3/4 c queso (Didn’t see that comin did ya?!)
1/4 – 1/2 c half and half
1 can Rotel
1/2 c uncooked rice

1. Put your chicken thighs in your soup pot and season both sides liberally with the three GOYA seasonings. Look familiar? It should, this is the same stuff used on my grilled chicken recipe!
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2. Once your chicken is done, pull out and set aside. Then get your husband in the kitchen and have him help cut it up. Ha! 🙂
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3. See all those dark num nums at the bottom of the pot? Mmm, they’ll give us lots of flavor! Throw in your onions and add a little olive oil if you need to. Sauté about ten minutes and then add your garlic in, then sauté another few minutes.
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4. Now add your frozen veggies and Rotel.
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5. Season your veggies liberally with your favorite season-all.
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6. Add your chopped up chicken back to the mix.
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7. Add one box of chicken broth and bring to a boil.
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8. Add your uncooked rice and allow to boil for a minute before turning to a simmer and putting a lid on it for 20 minutes.
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9. Now add your queso to the soup. Oh my goodness, the cheesy goodness!!!
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10. Now give your soup a healthy splash of half and half to balance it all out!
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11. Your soup is done!
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12. Serve with shredded cheese, avocado, sliced cherry tomatoes, green onion, and a dollop of sour cream! Mmmmmm!!!
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Jan23

Shrimp Etouffee

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Shrimp Etouffee

Shrimp Etouffee

“Mama bought a rooster, she thought it was a duck. She put him in the oven with his legs straight up. Along came the children with a cup and the glass, tryin to get the gravy from the yas yas yas.” Whenever I think Cajun, I think of my neighbors Jay and Pokie Dean, and this is something I’ve heard them say at least 1,000 over the years. Don’t ask me what it means, because I have no idea, but I love listening to their Cajun rhymes and sayings. Their Boudreaux and Thibodeaux jokes are great, and I’ve never once left their house without a smile on my face and a full belly! This shrimp etouffee recipe was my attempt to satisfy my New Orleans craving, and I hope you’ll try it to in the spirit of Mardi Gras coming up!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 – 2 lbs raw shrimp with shells on
1 stick of butter OR 8 tablespoons bacon drippings (or you can use a combination of the two, but we’ll get back to that in a minute)
1 sweet onion chopped
1 large red, yellow, or orange bell pepper chopped or approx 8 mini sweet bell peppers chopped
2 cloves of garlic chopped
1 bunch of green onions chopped
8 tablespoons flour
1 1/4 tsp creole seasoning (I use Tony’s)
2 bay leaves (dried)
Pinch of cayenne pepper
3 cups chicken broth
1 T Worcestershire
Louisiana hot sauce to taste

1. Remove the shells from your shrimp and place shells and discarded onion skin and top into a stock pot. Add 3 cups of chicken broth and bring to a boil. Allow to boil for a few minutes, then bring to a simmer for about 10 minutes. Set aside.
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2. Next, we’re going to start the roux for the etouffee. I always use my trusty cast iron skillet for this. Have I told you how much I love cast iron? They last more than one person’s lifetime and in the unlikelihood that your house ever burned to the ground, you would still find your cast iron skillet in the ashes just waiting to be used. If you don’t have one, go out and buy one, I’ll wait………….. Ok, glad you’re back! Let’s get started on the roux! First, use either 1 stick of butter OR 8 tablespoons bacon drippings. Or feel free to use a combination of the two equaling 8 tablespoons. Add your flour to this as well and turn heat to medium.
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3. Now you’re going to stand there over the roux and not leave it for about 20-25 minutes. Yes, I’m serious. It needs to be stirred almost constantly and keep a watchful eye on it so it doesn’t burn! Allow me to take you through the process of cooking the roux:
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4. Ok, now it’s done! Notice it sort of looks like you melted a giant Hershey’s chocolate bar in there. That’s how my mom always says you can tell the roux is done. Now, we’re going to mix in all those yummy veggies you chopped up!
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5. Stir them up and let them cook for about 10 minutes or until tender.
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6. Remember that shrimp/chicken broth you made? Strain it and discard the yucky stuff in the trash can. Then pour the juice into the vegetable roux mix. Also add your Worcestershire, Louisiana hot sauce, and seasonings.
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7. Bring to a simmer for at least 30-45 minutes or until it begins to thicken up.
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8. Now add your shrimp in and cook for another 10 minutes or so.
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9. It will look like this when it’s done:
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10. Congratulations! You’ve crossed the Louisiana border and made etouffee! It was a lot of steps, but 100% worth it once you taste this delicious dish! Don’t forget to remove your bay leaves before eating! Serve with rice and more green onion for garnish 🙂
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Jan17

Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas

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Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas

Chicken Enchiladas With Cream Cheese Sauce

So, once again I had leftover grilled chicken and needed to do something with it, plus I had a request for a chicken enchilada recipe, so naturally I made my delicious cream cheese chicken enchiladas. Back in college, my friend Jill used to make her chicken enchiladas very similar to this recipe, and I’ve taken it and done things a little different with it. Actually, many things are different from when I was back in college, like how much I can drink and how late I can stay up, but that’s neither here nor there. I love the cream cheese sauce instead of a sour cream sauce and think these are so yummy! Also, I’ll go ahead and say I ran out of shredded cheese (in our family we call this “sprinkle cheese”) at the end, so I didn’t have nearly as much cheese on top of the enchiladas as I would’ve liked. It was a Great American Tragedy lemme tell ya, but they were still tasty 🙂

Ingredients:
2-3 cups of chicken chopped, sliced, shredded, whatever (Don’t make this part hard on you – use leftover chicken, a store bought rotisserie chicken you picked apart with your hands, or pan sear some chicken and chop it up in your kitchen)
1 1/2 cups salsa (Yes, you can use store bought salsa if you’d like. However, I’d suggest adding some chopped cilantro to it since they never have that fresh taste to them)
2 8 oz packages cream cheese
1 can Rotel
2 cans diced green chiles (I like the Hatch brand hot ones, but mild is fine too)
1/4 tsp garlic salt
Pepper to taste
1 dozen tortillas
At least 1 cup shredded cheese

1. Place your cream cheese in a pot over the stove on low heat. Don’t rush this because it burns easily. Keep stirring it around until it’s smooth and creamy like this.
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2. After it’s melted and creamy, add your salsa, Rotel, chiles, garlic salt, and pepper to cream cheese and stir. Taste the now pinkish mixture to see if you want to add more salsa to it or if you like it how it is. Keep on low to medium heat.
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3. Take one cup of the cheese sauce and pour over your chopped/sliced/shredded chicken. It will now sort of look like the most delicious chicken salad you’ve ever seen in your life! -14
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4. Spray a 9×11 baking dish with non-stick spray and preheat your oven to 350. Start to fill up your tortillas with about two spoonfulls each of chicken mixture.
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5. As you’ve heard me say before, I like corn tortillas and my husband likes flour, so I had him come in and help hold down the corn ones because they’re a little tricky sometimes.
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6. Pour the cheese sauce all over the enchiladas and make sure to spread it out so it covers the entire baking dish and there aren’t any “naked” tortillas.
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7. Sprinkle as much shredded cheese as you like all over the enchiladas.
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8. Bake in a 350F oven for 20-30 minutes or until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbly 🙂-7

Jan14

Roasted Vegetables

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Roasted Vegetables

Roasted Vegetables

These roasted veggies are super delicious and very good for you. I’ve done virtually every veggie combo in this recipe, but these were what I had in my fridge: yellow squash, zucchini, asparagus, sweet potato, purple potato, sweet onion, Brussels Sprouts, jalapeño, sweet peppers, and green onion. Other veggies I love in here are cauliflower, broccolini, cherry tomatoes, carrots, whole garlic cloves, and bell peppers. The next day I love to chop any leftovers up and add to seasoned quinoa and add a can of drained black beans for dinner.

Ingredients:
Sliced vegetables
Olive oil
Seasoning
1-2 T of butter (optional)

1. Cut up all your veggies and arrange on a sheet pan lined with foil (helps with cleanup later).
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2. Drizzle olive oil all over veggies on the pan and add your little pats of butter if you’re using it. Then season liberally with salt and pepper. I also love to use Tone’s Garlic Herb (salt free) seasoning on my veggies, but you can use virtually any seasoning you like, just make sure there isn’t any salt in it, and if there is omit adding additional salt.
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3. Place veggies in the oven at 425F for one hour. Be sure to stir veggies around about halfway through to ensure even cooking.
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4. Veggies will be soft and roasted perfectly at an hour, but you can leave in a little longer if you like them browner. image

Dec11

Pantry Soup

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Pantry Soup

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Every week (or just about) I make this soup with leftovers from what I’ve cooked the few days before. I call it “pantry soup” because it’s something you can use almost anything in your pantry for, and super simple to make. Usually, I take whatever leftover meat (grilled chicken in this case, but feel free to use grilled pork, leftover steak, or keep it vegetarian and leave out the meat which I do as well sometimes) and add it to a plethora of vegetables and seasonings from my freezer/pantry and serve it over cornbread. It’s super simple and very good! Even my very picky 1 year old loves it.

Ingredients:
Chopped up leftover meat (or none if you’re doing meat free)
1 onion chopped
2 cloves of garlic chopped
1 potato chopped (in this case I used a sweet potato, but I also use red potato, purple potato, or whatever is in my pantry and desperately needs to be cooked before it goes bad)
1 bag of frozen vegetables (in this recipe I used a bag of mixed frozen veggies, but use whatever you’ve got. If you have baby carrots in the fridge chop those babies up and throw in a can of corn. Use whatever you have!)
1 can of beans – do not drain prior to putting in soup – (I used Great Northern Beans here, but use pinto, black, etc.)
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 can diced green chiles
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp cumin powder (optional for smoky flavor)
1 chicken bouillon cube
Pepper
About 3 cups of water
Drizzle of olive oil

1. Throw your chopped onion, garlic salt, pepper to taste, and olive oil in a pot and saute on medium high for about 15 minutes. Then add chopped garlic and saute a few more minutes. Then add all your veggies in there. -2

2. Chop up your leftover meat and throw that in there as well. In this case, it was leftover grilled chicken.
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3. Add your canned goods to your soup mix, Italian seasoning, cumin powder, chicken bouillon, and water. You want to use enough water that everything is covered by about 1/2 inch. Bring to a boil and let it simmer with the lid on for an hour before serving. I like to serve mine over cornbread and top with chopped green onions and Louisiana hot sauce! Yum!
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