Concoction Enchildadas, Chicken three ways

I realize the name is a little odd, but concoction is the name Michael gives to anything I make that doesn't have a definite recipe. These enchiladas are different nearly every time. The only constant is that there is always cheese and tortillas. You can substitute nearly anything that you like wrapped in a tortilla in this "recipe." The quantity of filling determines how many tortillas you'll need. If you make too much filling, refrigerate it and make some more enchiladas, or cook more rice and serve it over top. I know the directions look long, but the actual dish doesn't take that long to make.

Ingredients
10-12 tortillas (I like corn, but have used flour before - if using corn, spray both sides of the tortillas with nonstick spray and allow to heat in a 350 oven for 2-3 minutes)
2-3 chicken breasts, or a Costco rotisserie chicken, shredded* see explanation below
chicken broth* see explanation below
about one cup of cooked rice, if desired
about one cup of black beans, if desired
about one cup of corn, if desired
about two cups of cheese, shredded
2 cans of 10 oz. enchilada sauce (I use one red and one green)
8 oz. cream cheese on occasion

*For chicken three ways, bake, grill, or otherwise cook a whole chicken (or go to Costco and buy one). Serve with whatever side items strike your fancy. Meal number one. Shred remaining chicken to use in enchiladas (or some other meal). Meal number two. For meal number three, put remaining chicken (bones and all) in a pot filled with water. Bring water to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Allow this to simmer for as long as you have time for; I've done it for as long as three hours. When you've waited long enough, remove the bones and skim the fat off of the top. Add carrots, celery, onion, and/or any other vegetables you like. When those have nearly finished cooking, add some noodles, and voila - meal number three is chicken noodle soup. Now, back to enchiladas.

*If you are using raw chicken, boil the breasts in a pot with enough broth to cover the top of the meat with one inch of broth. Bring broth to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 20-60 minutes (the longer the better, but it usually takes about 20 minutes for the chicken to be fully cooked). If you allow the chicken to simmer for the longer amount of time, be sure to check on it every so often so it doesn't cook dry. When chicken is cooked, remove from heat - don't drain, shred chicken.

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Add chicken and one can of sauce to remaining broth (if using the raw chicken method). Heat this mixture to a simmer and allow to simmer until you need the filling - this is where I use the red sauce.
3. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick spray. If using cream cheese, add to the second can of sauce - this is where I use green sauce. Cover the bottom of the pan with about 1/2 cup of the second can of sauce. Be sure all other ingredients are prepped.
4. Add rice, beans, and corn to the chicken mixture. Get ready to start rolling.
5. Add some filling and cheese to a tortilla, roll it up, and place it seam side down in the 9x13 pan. Repeat until filling is used up or tortillas run out.
6. Pour remaining can of sauce over top of rolled enchiladas, being sure to spread it evenly. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake for 20 minutes. If the cheese isn't browned after 20 minutes, turn the broiler on to low, and broil until the cheese has browned. It doesn't take long for it to turn from melted pale cheese to browned to black, so watch carefully.
7. After removing from oven, allow the enchiladas to cool for about five minutes. Serve with sour cream, salsa, guacamole, avocado chunks, olives, etc. Enjoy!

A surprise! - sorry Molly

I realize I am very behind with blogging. Between kids, apartments, and life in general, this has been one of the things (let's just say the list is long) that has been pushed aside. As I was looking through pictures of what to post, these caught my eye. Although there are things that happened before this that I haven't covered, I just couldn't let this one sit any longer.

As a preface, I'll start with an apology. As noted in the title, there is a little apology to my dear sister-in-law, Molly. I say again, sorry Molly, this tidbit really did make my day. A little history, Molly is married to Michael's brother Coby, who is stationed in Spain. So, because of the distance, we communicate mainly through Skype. Skype has the added bonus of video conferencing, which because of the time difference isn't utilized as much as we would like. I had never wanted to Skype Molly more than when she sent us a little birthday package. It had Jacob's and Christine's birthday presents, as well as a little surprise for us.

Here are the cute pajamas she sent for Jacob with the t-shirts that Christine loves. She especially likes the panda one.

and...

A little surprise! Somehow, Kohl's must have slipped in this little goody. In case the glare from the plastic distorts it for you, yes, it is a pair of women's underwear.



Maybe a little forgiveness from Molly when she sees just how cute he is in these fireman pajamas.

It's just a napkin right?

This would seem like an ordinary napkin, but to my girls, it is the beginning of a war. It was just a typical morning at the Croft house. I got the kids their breakfast and headed for the shower. I hate when the kids start a fight when I'm in the shower. Trying to referee with soap in your eyes and a cool breeze meeting your backside because your lovely children have to rip open the shower curtain to tell you of their sibling's latest error isn't the best start to a day.

Pre-shower, the napkin war was brewing. Christine got Emma a napkin, and Emma didn't want one (never mind that usually when Christine gets a napkin, Emma's world ends until she gets one too). Christine tried to tell her that she didn't have to use it, but it could sit there waiting for her. Emma wanted nothing to do with that napkin. I finally convinced Emma that she didn't have to use it, and it could just be next to her at the table.

To the shower with me. Christine started the tattling. "Mom, Emma keeps doing this (arm stretched out) to her napkin. She keeps pushing it to the middle of the table, and she's almost sitting on the table." Nearly all of my responses were the same, "It's just a napkin, go eat your breakfast." Emma's turn. "Mom, sissy said I hafta use that napkin." Insert my earlier response.
My miserable shower was over, and the screaming had started. Emma finally runs into my room crying. "Sissy did this to my napkin!" The napkin was nearly torn in half. I couldn't help it, my response was, "Is this the same napkin that you didn't want before?" Emma, "Yes." Insert earlier response.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that Christine has been late to school a few times .

Totally unrelated, but exciting nonetheless, Jacob finally cut a tooth! 12 months old, and he finally has a tooth. It looks like the next will come through shortly.

Time for a new post

Here's what Jacob has been up to lately.


He loves to be in the bathroom, so long as the light is on, he heads straight for it. He also loves the bathtub. He loves to stand by it and wait his turn.


He uses this little step for mischief. He can push it all over and then use it to climb up to something.


Waiting his turn.


This is another hot spot. He loves to take all of the puzzles and books off of the shelf. He doesn't really play with them afterward, he just likes to dump.


How can you get mad at that face?


Although, I am getting tired of putting the puzzles together multiple times a day. How fast a year has gone, in a few days, my baby will be one.

Frozen Peanut Butter Pie

In my mind, there is no better combination than peanut butter and chocolate. Mint is a close second, but peanut butter takes the cake, or in this case the pie. If you're really ambitious, you can make your own crust, but why? I normally make this with a chocolate crust, but graham cracker is what was in the cupboard, still good. Enjoy!



8 oz softened cream cheese
½ cup milk
¾ cup extra chunky peanut butter
8 oz whipped topping
1 cup powdered sugar
1 9-inch chocolate or graham cracker crust
Chocolate Syrup

1. Mix cream cheese in medium bowl with electric mixer on low speed until soft and fluffy. Mix in peanut butter and sugar until incorporated.

2. Slowly add milk, beating until well blended. Fold in whipped topping.

3. Spoon into pie crust, mounding the top. Freeze until firm. When solid, cover with foil. (Pie may be frozen for several weeks.) Go ahead and throw the lid away that comes with
the store bought crust, it won't fit on.

4. To serve, remove pie from freezer 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Drizzle chocolate syrup over individual pieces.

Christmas Pictures

Since we are well into January, it's probably time to get some Christmas pictures up. These were taken at the Gazette's kid's Christmas party. I've been so behind with blogging, hopefully that will translate into a lot of catchup, but I'm not making any guarantees.

Christine and Santa
This guy is the nicest Santa. Everything is real!


Emma and Santa
I was really surprised that she talked to him. She normally clams up around people she doesn't know.


Jacob and Santa
I love this picture. Jacob was so smiley that day.


Christine got a stationary set. Paper, you are no longer safe in the Croft house.


Emma loves her tea set.


I thought he would really like the little ball toy in there, but I think his sisters played with it so much that he has forgotten it is his. Finally paper he could tear without it being snatched away.


My favorite part, a family picture that has includes everyone! I couldn't believe we got all of the kids to smile, look at the camera, and keep their eyes open. Now maybe I'll exchange our framed one from two years ago.

Curly Sue's Transformation

Michael and I had talked about getting Christine's hair cut some time to donate to Locks of Love. She has gorgeous hair. It's thick, wavy, basically everything mine wasn't as a child. I envied girls with her kind of hair.
Mine was very fine - which translates into limp and flat. It would never hold curl, my mother even tried getting it permed a few times, and within weeks, it was back to it's former limp, blah self. Anyway, back to Christine.
One day I decided to tell her about Locks of Love, why it is needed, how they get the hair, etc. I asked if she wanted to do it, and without hesitation, she said yes. I told her that we would talk about it again later with her dad, thinking that she would change her mind. I talked with Michael some more about it and we decided that if she wanted to do it, she could. A few days later, I brought it up again, and she was still on board.
I asked if she wanted me to call Jackie (the magician for my hair) and get her an appointment, and she said she wanted it done before Christmas. I called and got it set up and let Christine know that if she changed her mind before the appointment, she didn't have to go through with it. Every day, the answer was still the same.
The big day came, my friend took the other kids, and Christine and I headed for the salon. Here's our girl's transformation.


In the waiting room, here is the front before the deed.


and the back


Jackie checked her hair to be sure that it was suitable for donation.


Measuring (this is where I thought I might change my mind!)


Because her hair is so thick, she had enough for two donations!


Look at all of that hair!


Christine has always had curly hair, but with it being so long, most of it was weighted down. It's back!


Again with thickness, this is how much of her hair was taken out for thinning (so it wouldn't look like a big bush on her cute face).


Jackie straightened it to be sure that she hadn't missed any stragglers.


Jackie the Master with the finished product.


Christine had a bath last night, and this was her hair in the morning, all over the place!


Cutie Pie

She loves her hair, and so do we. I think I'll miss some of the things I used to be able to do with her hair, but I am so proud that she wanted to do this. After all, for her, it's just hair, and it will grow back. For someone else, it's a way to help them feel good about themselves at such a difficult time in their life.