Winter can be so dreary and a bit depressing when the rain is pelting down, the fog has rolled in and the forecast says there will be no sunshine in days.

This is where comfort food comes in to save the day and add that bit of sunshine to your week!

A simple, delicious meal can really brighten your day. I know whenever I eat Mexican it has that kick to it to give me a bit of a lift from the dole drums of winter. You need that sometimes you see - a bit of a food kick to perk up your week.

Fair enough casseroles are great but there are so many beef, lamb or chicken casseroles you can make that range in the same flavour combination. Sometimes you look for that little bit of something different to make and this Mexican Chicken One Pot Wonder just does that. Cooking it all in one pot saves on time and washing up. Any wife or mother has got to love that.

I found the recipe for this dish in a magazine years ago and have it stored in my trusty recipe folder. This folder is bursting at the seams with printed recipes, ripped out recipes or hand written recipes. Not all of them I have cooked but they are my inspiration to shuffle through when I need a few ideas to cook something different.

It desperately needs organising but it's one of those jobs you always think you need to do but really never get around doing. I doubt I will get it done before the baby comes and well after that let's just say goodbye to ever doing it for the next few years! LOL

I am in my third week of being a stay at home wife & mummy to be and I am happy to report I am slowly getting use to it. Maybe it's because I am getting tireder and bigger and couldn't be worried about trying to achieve something everyday. I am taking the advice dished out to me to "rest" and "relax" during this time before the baby arrives and I have to say that has taken some time to get down pat as well.

I have been frequenting the library quite regularly to get out some good novels and DVDs to watch. I just finished watching Dirty Dancing yesterday for the second time in my entire life. Gotta love Patrick Swayze. Made me want to get up and learn to dance and then I realised I felt too tired and plopped back onto the couch. On my list of movies to watch is Mary Poppins. I have a sad tale to tell.... I actually have never watched the original movie in it's entirety. Sad but true fact. I think when it was on TV when I was younger we only ever got to watch it up to a certain point and it was our bed time so sadly I have never seen the end. SO hopefully I can fulfill my Mary Poppins dream and watch it all the way through - if I can stay awake!

Enough of Mary Poppins and Patrick Swayze back to the recipe at hand.....

I didn't have any corn chips to go with this casserole to add that "crunch" factor. So I raided the cupboard instead and decided to make my own "tortilla" chips using mountain bread and some herbs. These came up trumps and were so much more healthier than the corn chip cousins.

To make this casserole sing you must add the recommended condiments such as sour cream, sweet chilli sauce and these homemade tortilla chips. It's what makes this dish go from average to amazing. Trust me!

Mexican Chicken One Pot Wonder

Prep Time: 30 min

Cook Time: 45 - 50 min

Keywords: bake main Mexican winter fall

Ingredients (Serves 6)

1 tsp mexican chilli powder
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp ground coriander
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
500g chicken breast, cubed (or 12 chicken drumsticks)
1 red onion, medium, quartered and finely sliced
1 red capsicum, chopped
400g can chopped tomatoes
375g thick and chunky elpaso tomato salsa
2 cups chicken stock
400g kidney beans
2 Tbsp fresh coriander, to garnish
sour cream and sweet chilli to serve

Tortilla Chips

6 Slices bountain bread or tortilla's, sliced into triangles
3 tsp italian herbs
1 1/2 tsp smokey paprika
3/4 tsp dried garlic
spray oil

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Combine the chilli powder, oregano, ground coriander and garlic and half the oil in a bowl. Add the chicken and rub the spices all over until thoroughly combined.

Heat the remaining oil on a medium heat in a flameproof casserole dish. Add the chicken in batches and cook for 5 minutes or until browned. Remove from heat and add all the chicken into the dish.

Add the onion, capsicum, tomato, salsa, beans and stock to the pan and turn to coat the chicken.

Bake for 45 - 50 minutes turning the chicken halfway through cooking.

Sprinkle with chopped coriander and serve with rice, sour cream, sweet chilli and tortilla chips.

Tortilla Chips

Combine the spices in a small bowl and set aside.

Place the triangles of bread onto a lined baking tray.

Spray with oil over the tops of the bread.

Sprinkle the spice mixture over the bread evenly.

Place in the oven for 5 minutes or until golden brown. Be careful not to burn.

I have a great crafter to feature this friday in our "Feature Friday" segment. I will be revealing more about the crafter on Facebook over the next few days and even giving a hint or the gorgeous giveaway that this person will be hosting here on Friday. So be sure to keep your eyes peeled and visit back to enter the giveaway on Friday!

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