Tex-Mex French Bread Pizza Recipe

Tex-Mex French Bread Pizza Recipe

Cook Time:  10-15 minutes

Difficulty:  Extremely Easy!

I know there are some leftover haters out there. It's okay...I confess, I used to be one of them! Growing up, I did not understand the concept of eating a meal twice in a row, so as you can imagine, our dog was well-fed...sorry Mom if you're reading this...now you know;) Also, when it came to leftovers and wasting food, another thing I did not understand, my mom would often refer to a money tree growing in the backyard...except I never saw one!  Crazy parents! :)

As a mom of three, I totally get the concept of leftovers, saving money, wasting less, and of course, the money tree. (I have been known to tease our teenage children occasionally...they look at me like I am crazy...crazy kids).  

I see leftovers as a creative challenge to create new masterpieces, to save money, and to waste less. Amen!  For this round of leftovers, I made Tex-Mex French Bread Pizzas, using leftover chicken, sweet and robust Cherchies® Black Bean & Corn Salsa, savory Cherchies® Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro Seasoning Blend, and of course French Bread and gooey cheese!  Sounds dreamy, right? These pizzas hit all the flavor notes and were devoured in minutes!

If you have not added French Bread Pizzas to your recipe cache, you need to do so, and this Tex-Mex version will quickly become a family favorite!  Your pizzas will disappear and so will your leftovers! The money tree?  Not so much!

What is your favorite French Bread Pizza Recipe?  We would love to hear from you!  Thank you for stopping by:)

Ingredients

• Leftover cooked chicken or turkey, diced (leftover ground meat or any meat for that matter would work)

• 1 baguette or Italian bread, sliced in half vertically

• Spaghetti or pizza sauce

• Cherchies® Black Bean & Corn Salsa

• Cherchies® Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro Seasoning Blend

• About 2 cups of shredded Mexican cheese (but who's measuring?)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Slice a baguette or Italian bread in half vertically.  Place bread halves on a baking sheet.  Spread each slice with a generous amount of spaghetti or pizza sauce (maybe 1 cup?  It all depends on the size of the bread).  Sprinkle the diced chicken or turkey over the bread halves.

Next, add the Cherchies® Black Bean & Corn Salsa over the chicken.  Sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of Cherchies® Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro Seasoning (or to taste).  Of course, what pizza wouldn't be complete without the cheese?  Add the cheese to you heart's delight...add some more...you decide, it's ok!

If you're wondering about the brown stuff in the first picture, it's taco meat.  I also had leftover taco meat I added to one half of the pizza (a previous pizza night:)  Plop the pizzas into the oven and bake for about 10-15 minutes, or until pizza is golden brown and the cheese is melty.  Slice into individual portions and enjoy!

View fullsize

Tex-Mex French Bread Pizza Recipe

The Real Deal "Shepherd's Pie" Recipe

The "Real Deal" Shepherd's Pie Recipe

Happy St. Patrick's Day, friends! What better way to celebrate the day than to share this lovely Shepherd's Pie recipe? I have been waiting to post this recipe, and today could not be more perfect for paying homage to Ireland and our new Irish friend.

Did you know? Traditional Shepherd's Pie consists of Lamb, and according to our Irish friend, "Cottage Pie" is the correct name for the ground beef version we know in the United States. And apparently, "we do everything backward in the United States" (a little Irish joke).

My new love for Ireland and St. Patrick's Day blossomed last summer when I first traveled to this beautiful, peaceful country to celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss with my dear hubby;). We had the most fantastic time. We toured Southern Ireland, enjoyed new foods, learned about the country's traditions, and laughed until we cried with our new funny friend, Dave, from Dove Chauffer Drive. (He's "a bit of a leprechaun," as he will tell you himself). He's witty and a wisecracker but a lovely new friend and an excellent tour guide. Consider looking him up if you travel to Ireland. He had a lot of funny quotes and stories, and he proudly shared his recipe for Shepherd's Pie and permitted me to add my Cherchies® touches.

Dave, I hope I did your recipe justice! Friends, this recipe is the real deal if you want to make an authentic, savory Irish Shepherd's Pie! It will become one of your favorite dishes you can enjoy anytime.

Comment below and let us know your thoughts on this delicious Irish recipe.

Thanks for stopping by, and we hope you visit again!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground lamb or ground beef

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) olive oil

• 1 small onion, finely chopped

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Minor's Beef Base

• 1 teaspoon (tsp) Worcestershire Sauce

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Cherchies® Champagne Mustard

• 2 teaspoons (tsp) Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning

• 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) pepper

• 1 can (14.5 oz.) of diced tomatoes

• 1 large carrot, finely sliced

• 1 cup frozen peas

• 2 teaspoons (tsp) Cherchies Basil Pizzazz

• 1 teaspoon (tsp) Marjoram

• 1 Bay leaf

• 1 teaspoon (tsp) Thyme

• 6-8 potatoes, peeled, boiled, and mashed

• 4 Tablespoons (Tbsp) salted butter

• 2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) Half and half or milk

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Wash and peel the potatoes.  Boil the potatoes until thoroughly cooked (prick with a fork to check if done). While potatoes are cooking, dice the onion and slice the carrots.  In a medium skillet, cook the onion in oil until onions are translucent.  Add the ground meat, 1 teaspoon Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning, pepper, and beef base to the skillet.  Stir.

When the meat is brown, drain the meat. Return the meat to the skillet and add the canned tomatoes, Worcestershire Sauce, Cherchies® Champagne Mustard, water, the rest of the Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning, Cherchies® Basil Pizzazz, Marjoram, Thyme, bay leaf, carrots, and peas.  Simmer for ten minutes or until carrots are cooked. 

While the meat is cooking, prepare the potatoes.  Drain the potatoes.  Add butter to the pan and mash the potatoes with a fork.  I usually use a hand mixer to do the rest of the mixing.  Add the milk, a little at a time, until the potatoes have a thick consistency.  Set aside.

Pour cooked meat and vegetables into a small casserole dish.  Spoon the mashed potatoes over the meat and vegetables.  Place the Shepherd's Pie in the oven and cook until potatoes are a lovely golden brown. 

Enjoy!

View fullsize

Sriracha Hot Wings Recipe

Sriracha Hot Wings Recipe

Cook Time: 30 minutes  Difficulty: Easy

Sugar and spice, and everything nice!  These flavorful wings, made with Fine Vines® Sriracha
Artisanal Ketchup, pack the perfect lip-smacking punch for any party. To kick up the heat, add more hot sauce.

Thanks for stopping by!

Ingredients

• 2 pounds chicken wings
• Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub & Seasoning Blend
• 3 tablespoons Fine Vines® Sriracha Artisanal Ketchup 
• 5 tablespoons hot sauce
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• blue cheese dressing
• celery and carrots

Preparation
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Season wings liberally with Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub & Seasoning Blend. Place in single layer on large baking sheet lined with foil. Bake for 30 minutes,
flipping wings halfway through.

Meanwhile, combine Fine Vines® Sriracha Artisanal Ketchup, hot sauce, and butter in
small sauce pan. Bring to simmer and turn off heat.

Remove wings from oven and toss with wing sauce. Return to oven and cook for additional five
minutes. Serve with blue cheese dressing, celery, and carrots.

Enjoy!
 

Canadian Bacon Egg Casserole Recipe

Do you love breakfast casseroles? We do! Breakfast casseroles are perfect for holidays, brunches, family gatherings, or even dinner because they can be made ahead, leaving more time to enjoy the things that matter most.

We love when our friends across the nation share their favorite Cherchies® recipes with us! Thank you, Colleen, from Pennsylvania, for sharing this delicious hearty breakfast casserole recipe! Your secret ingredient (Cherchies® Lem 'n Dill) elevated this egg dish of eggs, Canadian Bacon, French Bread, and cheese over the top! Dill and eggs? Absolutely! Hello!

The best part about this breakfast casserole? It is easy to make and can be made the night before. Let it soak in the refrigerator overnight, and it is ready to plop in the oven the following morning, allowing you extra time for whatever is important to you! Add this breakfast casserole to your list of favorite recipes. The combination of flavors is divine; your family and guests will rave about this dish.

Comment below and let us know if you made this tasty casserole. Thank you for stopping by! Come back and visit for more easy recipes, entertaining ideas, cooking tips, and more!

Ingredients  

• 4 slices of French Bread, crusts removed, cubed

• 1 lb. Canadian bacon, diced

• 8 eggs, beaten to blend

• 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

• 3/4 cup shredded Jalapeno Jack Cheese

• 1 1/2 Tablespoons (Tbsp.) Cherchies® Lem'n Dill Seasoning Blend

• 4 cooked potatoes, sliced

Preparation
Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish and set aside.  Wash potatoes.  In a medium pan, boil potatoes (ok to leave skin on) until potatoes are al dente (or just about cooked). Drain the potatoes.  Allow potatoes to cool before slicing.

Dice Canadian bacon.

Arrange the bread cubes and potatoes in the bottom of prepared pan.  Then add diced bacon.  Pour beaten eggs over top (I took this photo before I beat the eggs).  Top with cheese and Lem'n Dill.  

Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.  
When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Remove foil.  Bake the casserole until eggs are set, approximately 35 minutes. Cool 5 minutes.  Serve hot and enjoy!

View fullsize

Canadian Bacon Egg Casserole Recipe

View fullsize

Canadian Bacon Egg Casserole Recipe