Shredded Mexican Chicken

Great for tacos, quesadillas or Mexican lasagna!

Ingredients
4-5 boneless skinless thighs, fat trimmed
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cumin
4 c water

Non-standard supplies
None

Instructions

1. Add water and all spices to a pot and stir to incorporate powders
2. Add chicken
3. Bring to a boil and boil for 10 minutes
4. Cover (mostly) and reduce to simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes
5. Shred with two forks before serving

Cornbread a la Boston Market

It' sweet.  It's cakey.  It's delicious.  I liked them.  Husband liked them.  Even the guinea pigs at the police department where husband works liked them.  Here's my take on how to make it.

Ingredients
2 pkgs of Jiffy cornbread mix
1 box butter-flavored cake mix
5 eggs
2/3 c milk
1-1/3 c water
1/2 c (1 stick) softened butter
1 cup fresh corn  (or frozen, rinsed)

Non-standard supplies
None

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Mix all ingredients until evenly blended
3. Spray muffin tin with non-stick spray
4. Fill tins 2/3 of the way
5. Bake for 20 min, or until toothpick comes out clean
6. Allow to rest in the tin for 10 minutes before attempting to remove, else they are likely to crumble.

Bacon Gruyere Meat Loaf

I didn't like meat loaf as a kid.  It was just a large, crusty overcooked and dry hamburger.  Therefore, I've only tried to make it once or twice in my adult life.  Tonight, I made one that was delicious.  It will be made again.

Ingredients
1.5 # ground beef 80-85% lean
1/2 medium red onion, grated
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 egg
1/4 cup plain bread crumbs
1/4 cup ketchup
3 slices bacon, chopped
4 ounces gruyere - grate 3 and slice 1 ounce and reserve
4 mushrooms, chopped
1/4 tsp fresh chopped rosemary
1/2 tsp salt
black pepper

Non-standard supplies
I strongly recommend you make your meat loaf in a loaf pan with a draining insert -- otherwise, it's sitting in grease as it cooks, and that doesn't taste good.  If you don't have that type of pan, remove the loaf from the pan while setting so it doesn't reabsorb the fat.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Mix all ingredients, reserving the sliced gruyere, in a bowl.  If the gruyere clumps together, try to distribute it as evenly as possible.
3. Place mixture into loaf pan.
4. Bake until 140 degrees internally -- 40-45 minutes total.
5. Halfway through, lay slices of gruyere on meat.
6. Remove from oven and remove insert and allow to drain.  Cover with foil.
7. Wait about 5-10 minutes before cutting into loaf.