Italian Green Bean Casserole

Looking for an option to traditional green bean casserole?  This Italian casserole is a perfect side dish for your holiday meal.  In fact, my kids beg me to fix it year-round.  Occasionally, we fix a "mock" Thanksgiving dinner with baked chicken (instead of turkey), this green bean casserole, and yummy homemade macaroni and cheese.  I think you'll find that this dish is one worth serving again and again.

Ingredients:
4 cans cut green beans, drained
1 can quartered artichoke hearts, drained and chopped fine
2 cups (1 16 oz. bottle) Italian dressing
1 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350.
2.  Combine all ingredients in a casserole dish.
3.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
Enjoy!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

This recipe is one that a friend of mine gave me several years ago.  I've added a few personal touches to it over the years, adapting it for the slow cooker.  It's the perfect soup for a cold evening.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cans chicken broth
1 can Rotel tomatoes (undrained)
1 can corn (undrained)
1 can Great Northern Beans (drained and rinsed)*
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
4 large flour tortillas
Vegetable oil

Directions: 
1.  Place chicken breasts in the bottom of a large slow cooker.  Combine all ingedients except for tortillas and oil and pour over chicken.  Cook on low for 7-8 hours,
2.  When you arrive home in the evening, preheat oven to 400 degrees.  On baking sheet, brush both sides of 2 tortillas with oil.  Use a pizza cutter to cut into small strips.
3.  Bake for 5 minutes.  Repeat with remaining 2 tortillas.

Serve soup hot, with baked tortilla strips as garnish.  Delicious!

*You can substitute the great northern beans with black beans.  Don't forget to drain and rinse.