eating-pizzaMy schedule these past few weeks has been super busy, and the last thing I want to do each night is come home and prepare time-consuming meals.  As I head into the holiday frenzy, I know my to-do list will continue to grow!  Since we all still need to eat and feed our families, an easy mealtime strategy is needed for this time of year.   I’ve come up with some fun and tasty recipes from one key ingredient to make mealtime a little simpler.  I chose to start with a  supermarket staple – the Rotisserie Chicken.

The chickens (found in the deli) are usually a great price for the amount of meat that is on them.  I just buy a chicken and bring it home, let it cool and then shred the meat off it.  (Actually, my husband usually does the shredding and I’m sure a few morsels are taste tested!  Not a problem, he does the shredding – he can taste).  We divide the shredded chicken up into 2 plastic bags.  One goes in the freezer for later and one is used for supper in the next few nights.  I’ve created 10 easy recipes to use with the shredded chicken.

Here are 2 of my favorites that make it to my dinner table several times a year:

Chicken & Artichoke Pizza
Drain and chop 1 (14 oz.) can of artichoke hearts and mix with 1/3 cup light mayonnaise, ¼ t. hot pepper sauce and ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese.  Spread mixture onto a Boboli pizza crust.  Top with 1-1/2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken; 1/3 cup chopped red bell pepper, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese and 2 T. pine nuts.  Bake at 400°F for approx. 10-12 minutes or until heated through.  Serve with a tossed green salad.

White Chicken Chili
Add 2 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken to a large pot with 1 T. olive oil; sauté for 1-2 minutes.  Add 1 (48 oz.) jar of cooked Great Northern Beans, 1-2 T. cumin and 1-1/2 cup salsa (mild to hot, depending on taste).  Heat until hot.  Add 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese and stir until cheese is melted.  Serve with whole grain tortilla chips and fresh fruit.

Enjoy and let me know what you think…