Southwestern Stuffed Acorn Squash

This recipe is an amalgam of two recipes that I found (here and here). I wanted a vegetarian version, hence the rice and beans (for protein and some extra calories).The combination of the slightly sweet squash and the salty/spicy filling is just right.

Southwestern Stuffed Acorn Squash


2 medium acorn squash
2 tablespoons butter, cut into 4 pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 small bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon coriander
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon oregano
1 15-oz can tomatoes and green chiles (i.e. Rotel)
1 15-oz can black beans, rinsed
1 cup cooked rice
1/2 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, monterey jack, or muenster)

1. Preheat oven to 375F.  Cut squash in half horizontally, and scoop out seeds (you can toss them or save them for roasting). Place squash in a 9x13 dish, cut-side up. Place 1 piece of butter into each of the squash halves. Add 1 cup of water in to the bottom of the pan before covering with foil (the steam from the water will help keep the squash moist). Bake until the squash is tender, about 45 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper; cook, stirring often, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, cumin, coriander, paprika and cumin; cook for 30 seconds. Stir in tomatoes w/green chiles, beans, rice, and salt. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until the tomatoes are broken down, 10 to 12 minutes.
3. When the squash are tender, reduce oven temperature to 325F. Fill the squash halves with the beans/rice mixture. Top with cheese. Return to the oven and bake until the filling is heated through and the cheese is melted, 8 to 10 minutes.

ENJOY!!

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Chicken Fiesta...

Yeah I totally made up the name for that. There is no title, I just throw things in a skillet and eat it :)
OK, so here's the ingredients.

2 or more cups of cooked chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken, just for you Lacie :) )

About a full can of corn

And black beans

A shake or two of Ranch Mix (I'd guess about 1-2 Tbsp)

1/2 to a full packet of McCormick (sp?) Chicken Taco seasoning 

Here's the chicken. It was all I had left, I would have used more though.

Cut up the chicken into chunks and toss into a skillet to start warming it through. I toss in a little EVOO, because I can... I have a fear of food sticking to my pans. George probably fears it more, he is the designated dishwasher in this house :)

After about 3-5 minutes, toss in the corn and black beans. Use the whole can if you use 2 or more cups of chicken.

Sprinkle the Ranch mix and Chicken Taco mix on and start mixin' it all together. If you feel like it's too dry, put a glug of water or salsa or something in it.

Here it is :) Yummy.

Serve over rice, in a hard corn taco, in a flour tortilla, on a salad, in a cup, straight-outta-the-pan... whatever you choose.

And yes, that IS cottage cheese on top of mine. Sour cream was gone and George hadn't come back from the store yet with a new pint, I had to improvise. Starving momma.

ENJOY!

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