Barley Chicken Casserole

This recipe was a hit in my kitchen!

(the picture doesn't do justice!)

4 slices bacon, fat removed and meat chopped

1 onion, thinly sliced

2 carrots, diced

12 button mushrooms, quartered

2 1/2 C. chicken broth

1 cup barley

1 t. thyme

1 t. marjoram

1 t. parsley

1/2 t. turmeric

pepper to taste

1 green bell pepper, chopped

4 pieces of chicken

1. Preheat oven to 375*

2. In a large skillet, fry bacon until browned. Reserve bacon fat for sauteeing chicken later. Add onions and carrots to skillet and saute 2 minutes. Add everything besides bell pepper and chicken. Mix all together and spread in 9X13 pan. Add bell pepper on top and stir to settle.

3. Heat reserved bacon fat in skillet and brown chicken. Place browned chicken on top of barley mixture, cover baking dish and bake for one hour and ten minutes.

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Ok, I know this recipe seems like a lot, but you can do a bunch of it ahead of time, and *bonus* you only use one skillet on the stove. With the grains, veggies, and meat it's a whole meal in itself. Max thinks it would be even better with some green chile added in, and I can see definite dutch oven potential. Hope you try it and like it!

Tortilla Soup

We love this soup!
2 1/2 Cup Chopped Raw Chicken

1 Can (15.25 oz.) Corn, drained

1 Can (10.5 oz.) Cream of Chicken Soup

1 Can (4 oz.) Diced Green Chile

2 Tbls. Fresh Cilantro

1 1/2 tsp. Taco Seasoning

1 Can (14 oz) Chicken Broth

1 Cup Water

Mix in pot & cook until the chicken is done.

THEN, take 1 cup soup juice & 1 Cup Sour Cream & mix together until smooth & add back into the soup. Serve with sliced strips of tortilla.

Chicken-Ranch-Tacos

Ok,-I've-been-wanting-to-go-gangbusters-on-this-blog-and-put-up-a-bunch-of-recipes,-but-alas,-my-computer-is-a-bit-dysfunctional-and-makes-me-type-like-this.-So-for-now,-I'll-just-be-putting-up-recipes-that-I-can-copy-and-paste.-Hope-you-like-'em!

Chicken-Ranch-Tacos

Bake taco shells according to package directions.
This recipe is good for 10-12 tacos.

3 C. cooked chicken, chopped in bite sized pieces - I microwaved a few chicken breasts for this.
1 package (1 oz.) Old El Paso taco seaoning mix - I used a generic brand.
1/2 C. Ranch Dressing

Mix the chicken and taco seasoning and microwave 'til hot (about 2 min.), then stir in the ranch dressing.Stuff shells with meat and top with your favorite taco toppings (cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, etc.) You can also drizzle a little more ranch dressing on top. Then you feast!