Take-out Tuesday, Chicken, Corn and Black Bean Lasagna and Autumn Snack Mix
Sunday the weary hurricane warriors returned
and I wanted to reward them in some way,
they worked all weekend cleaning up our beach house,
property, plus helping neighbors,
in the aftermath of Hurricane Sally
There was no water the first two days
and no power until after they left on Sunday…
hot, humid, buggy, smelly, awful conditions!
The first thing I did was make a big batch
of Autumn Snack Mix,
their favorite Chex mix
with the addition of peanut M & Ms,
sesame sticks, and pumpkin seeds
I sent a big bag home with my sweet and salty loving son-in-law
HHjr had been cooking and feeding 5 hungry men all weekend
All meals had to be prepared outside on the grill
He even figured out how to cook a huge pan
of frozen macaroni and cheese on the grill…
He deserved someone making him dinner for a change!
Not feeling real peppy myself,
I decided to make a simple Tex-Mex lasagna
and started by cooking the chicken on Saturday
After 3 1/2 hours of cooking
in green enchilada sauce in the slow cooker,
the chicken is so tender it practically shreds itself!
I put the chicken and sauce into a plastic container
covered, in the refrigerator overnight
On Sunday morning,
it only took a few minutes to put this dish together
First rinse and drain the black beans and drain corn
Put the beans and corn into the container
with chicken and green enchilada sauce
Mix the red enchilada sauce with the Cream of Chicken soup
for a creamier finishing sauce,*
{I only used about 2/3 of the chicken soup}
*this is optional, you can just use the red enchilada sauce if preferred
All that you have to do now is layer,
First a layer of creamy red enchilada sauce, about 1/2
I used a deep 8″ square baking dish
It was pretty full so I put a sheet pan under it while baking
Next a layer of tortillas, tearing into pieces to fit
Next layer 1/2 of chicken and vegetables on top of tortillas
and sprinkle with 1/3 of the cheese
{forgot to photo the cheese, pretend you see it on top of the chicken}
Repeat layers, ending with tortillas on top,
then pour remaining red enchilada sauce over all
and sprinkle with remaining cheese
At this point you can cover it and put it in the refrigerator
for 24 hours if desired, before baking
This is a moist lasagna,
I recommend serving it with some rice to soak up the extra sauce,
and a crisp green salad
Chicken, Corn & Black Bean Lasagna
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 1 can 15 oz. black beans
- 1 can 15 oz. corn
- 1 can 10 oz green enchilada sauce
- 1 can 10 oz. red enchilada sauce
- 1 can 10 oz.Cream of Chicken Soup
- Flour tortillas { I used 6 8 inch tortillas}
- 6 oz grated sharp cheddar
Instructions
- Place chicken in a sprayed or lined slow cooker and pour green enchilada sauce over it. Cover and cook on high for 3 1/2 hours
- Shred chicken in the sauce with 2 forks {this can be done a day ahead and refrigerated}
- Drain black beans and rinse well. Drain corn. Combine beans and corn with chicken in sauce
- Mix red enchilada sauce with Cream of Chicken soup. Spread a layer of this sauce on the bottom of baking dish
- Top sauce with a layer of torn tortilla pieces
- Top tortillas with 1/2 chicken vegetable mixture and sprinkle with 1/3 of cheese
- Add another layer of tortilla pieces, the rest of the chicken mixture and another 1/3 of the cheese
- Cover top with tortilla pieces, pour remaining sauce over all to cover and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
- Bake at 350 degrees until hot and bubbling, about 45-60 minutes
Notes
Autumn Snack Mix
Ingredients
- 12 oz chex cereal, corn or rice 1 large box
- 1 cup dry roasted peanuts
- 1 cup roasted and salted cashews
- 1 cup sesame sticks
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
- seasoned salt to taste
- 1/2 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
- 2 cups peanut M & Ms
Instructions
- Combine cereal, nuts, and sesame sticks in a deep full size roasting pan
- Mix Worcestershire sauce and olive oil and pour over ingredients in pan
- Sprinkle cereal mix with seasoned salt
- Gently fold ingredients over and over to coat with seasonings and spread into an even layer
- Bake at 275 degrees for 20 minutes, stir well and continue to cook for another 15-20 minutes
- Turn mixture out onto paper towels to cool
- Evenly sprinkle mix with pumpkin seeds and M & Ms
- Once mixture has cooled completely, transfer to large ziplock bags or plastic containers to store.
- This makes 2 large ziplock bags of snack mix, about 12-14 cups
Enjoy!
I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Meal Plan Monday Love Your Creativity Over the Moon
Between Naps on the Porch, Celebrate Your Story,
All About Home/ Common Ground Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Tasty Tuesday Oh My Heartsie Girl Turn About Tuesday
Full Plate Thursday Centerpiece Wednesday Creative Crafts
Thursday Favorite Things Creatively Crafty Creative Cumpulsions
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Do you use olive oil as a healthier alternative to butter for the Autumn Mix? You are so fortunate to have your son, son-in-law and others to help you. I continue to pray for the victims of the storms and fires.
Yes, I switched from butter years ago, you’ll never miss it! I know my guys are beyond awesome, thank you so much for your prayers Ann
What miserable conditions for working and cleaning up the beach property Jenna. Your guys are heroes, a wonderful family coming together. Hhjr had extra duty with cooking for all the guys but he is a pro at that. I’m sure they welcomed all the delicious food you’d prepared for them. So kind of them to help the neighbors and the strangers on the way down. Hope they got the worst of the debris out of the way and now the repair work can can begin……..Prayers for the the gulf coast………..
Thank you Emily, they worked so hard. I just heard that they are already clearing the piles of debris with dump trucks, so that is good news…right now we’re trying to figure out how to get our boat off the land and back into the water and if it’s totaled or not, plus get on waiting lists for repairs…but at least I have Ryan to help me, but it’s still overwhelming.
Whoa, that lasagna looks good – pinned! Mr P would eat the snack mix as his main meal. 😉
Really glad the guys were able to be there and clean up. Hopefully when you return you won’t feel distressed but calm.
😂 Thanks Rita, the lasagna is super simple to make. As for feeling calm, we have a lot of work ahead of us before that happens, but thank you
Hi Jenna! I’m so glad you and yours are ok. I’ve been thinking about you. Pinned the lasagna. Looks delish.
Thank you Kim, we’re fine, just overwhelmed…how are things in Fairhope, I know there were alot of your beautiful trees down…
What a lovely reward! Glad you are safe!
Thank you, me too!
Good morning, Jenna. So happy that you and your are safe and healthy. Everything looks delish, as always, especially that snack mix that would go perfectly with my tea right now!
Thanks Katie, my crew, young and old, always get excited when I make Chex mix!
What a great treat to give them. So happy to hear everyone is safe and sound. Nice that the mess is all cleared. I love that you used M&Ms in yours. I see so many people leaving them out. Your lasagna looks yummy as well. Happy Fall Jenna!
Thank you Terrie!
So glad you all are safe and sound. WOW! Hurricanes can sure do some damage in a short amount of time. All of your dishes look so tasty. Oh my granny used to make the Chex Mix goodies and I loved it. I haven’t made a batch this year yet! I need to do that. Happy first day of Fall Jenna. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Thank you Cindy, my children’s friends have always loved to come over because Chex mix was a staple here while they were growing up! Yay Fall, and hopefully no more hurricanes!
That looks like a great dinner and VERY well deserved! It was nice to send home a big batch of their favorite snack mix. I love the chex! Wheat are my fave. I need to make a new batch — thanks for the inspiration!
Sure, thanks Jeanie, happy snacking!
Yum, I want to come eat at your house! Have you tried the new Fudge Brownie M&Ms? They area awesome!
Thank you Carole, those sound dangerous!!!
Oh my goodness, Jenna! I had no idea…what a blessing you are all safe and sound. But still…so much work. You are so sweet to send them home with delicious things. I am in awe that you put together this blog even during this time. Blessings to you, sweet friend. xo
thank you so much Lidy, I find that doing normal everyday things keeps me from worrying and feeling overwhelmed. I actually ran out and bought flowers after I read the Monday Morning Bloom posts this morning, I was so inspired by you all, and that was very normal fun!!
Jenna, your guys did a lot of work in a weekend. You really took great care of them upon their return. The lasagne looks fabulous and I must try it. Now, I am craving autumn snack mix. I guess I will be making that this weekend for the GAME!
Thank you Pam, and YAY football Saturday!!
My mom used to say, “Many hands make the work light” and so God bless your son and his friends for working so hard and helping others! They probably feel they just made a dent in such awful conditions, but at least it’s a start and looks like they really did a great job already. Your food looks great! I love good Tex-Mex food and this cooler weather is perfect for your special lasagna and who could pass up a great snack like that! Winners, both of them and I’m sure gobbled up by those hungry men. Will pray for lots of strength and grace for the repair journey for all of you so affected by those hurricanes.
Thank you so much Cyndi, they are amazing, I am so proud of them and grateful! I hope you love the lasagna, it’s so easy to make. Thank you for your prayers, have a wonderful week.
Jenna, So glad your son and son-in-law were able to clean up and thank goodness for grills when there is no power! I can only imagine how miserable it must have been without water, power, etc. I know your meals and snack mix was appreciated along with their return to ‘civilization’. While losing a dock and a boat seems small in the scheme of things with the devastation, I would be so distraught. Hope your repairs go quickly and smoothly. ♥
Thank you Mary, the devastation is truly awful, big boats scattered everywhere like toys. One step at a time, and we are thankful that the house didn’t suffer too much damage.
Oh my Jenna, I’m so sorry about all the damage and then all the clean up from the hurricane. Thank goodness that you have family to help with all that. I hope that all your repairs go smoothly. How nice of you to make snacks and meals for all to enjoy.
Jenna, both of these recipes look and sound delicious. Pinned and pinned! I’m happy to hear the you are making some progress in the clean-up and those men sound pretty amazing with all their help. One day at a time, and, as Scarlett O’hara would say “tomorrow is another day”. Take care.
Thank you Kim, and thank you for the encouragement, it really helps…it seems like we take little steps everyday, in fact the guy that is supposed to retrieve our boat from my neighbor’s yard just called me, yay! So hopefully it will be moved in the next few days. My world has felt so upside down lately, but doing normal things and blogging with nice friends like you really helps 🙂
Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday,503. Sure hope to see you again soon!
Miz Helen
Thanks Miz Helen!