Five Minute Dinners: Navajo Tacos & Hawaiian Haystacks

Sometimes life just gets in the way and you need to throw together a 5 minute meal. I'm all for fresh, homemade ingredients...but sometimes it just isn't realistic, so a big "thanks" to canned chili and Rhodes Rolls for those times when we just don't want to spend the time.

So, Navajo Tacos is total man-food. There's nothing dainty about it...it's a big piece of fry bread with meat and beans. Totally reminds me of my college days when I was plum broke and I made this a few times a week! ...but the man digs it, my kids dig it, and if I've got some avocado to throw on...I'm down too.

So the required ingredients are: chili (my favorite is Wal-mart's or Albertson's generic brands...who knew?), Rhodes Rolls, and Canola Oil. Then you just need your optional toppings: cheese, sour cream, lettuce, salsa, avocado, black olives, peppers, whatever...

Heat up a good inch or more of oil in a fry pan on med/high heat. Don't skimp on the oil! It doesn't mean you will be ingesting more oil...it just helps it puff up, bubble and fry better. Defrost some dough balls. If I'm making a man-size fry-bread I will squish like 4 dough balls together. Women...like 3. Kids, 2. Toddlers, 1 dough ball. (Based on much experience) So, squish and flatten the dough balls making a flat circle as big as possible but without ripping it. Touch the end of the bread in the hot oil. It should start immediately sizzling/bubbling or your oil isn't hot enough and too much oil will absorb into the bread. (Doesn't taste as good) Wait until your oil is hot and try again. Let it turn golden on one side (about 1 minute or less) and then flip it over.

Meanwhile, have your chili heating up.

We like to make a couple extra to put honey-butter on later...

Easy. Top with whatever your little heart desires.

Next up, Hawaiian Haystacks. I love this so much it was actually served at my wedding dinner! And, you may have seen this before on my personal blog...but, I haven't posted it here...so, here ya go.

Ingredients: Rice (Minute Rice or pull out your rice cooker), 2 family sized cans of Cream of Chicken Soup, Chicken Breasts (even easier...canned chicken), Chicken Bouillon, Milk, and any toppings you would like: olives, peas, chow mein noodles, cheese, pineapple, etc.

So, dice and cook up your chicken. If you want things even easier, either used canned chicken or rotisserie chicken shreds.

Pour two family size cans of Cream of Chicken soup and 1 can full of milk over the chicken. Stir and heat up. Yes, that is my head shadow and NO, I have not had my back splashes put in yet.

Add chicken bouillon granules to taste.

Get your rice cooking...

Pull out your toppings. My hubs and I only like olives, pineapple, chow mein noodles, and cheese. But, there is a plethora of options to put on top! Yes, that is STILL my head shadow....chill out, I was trying to make dinner in 5 minutes! And, I did! Dang-it, I lied. It was actually 10...that's how long the rice took.

Sorry, I wish I had a final results picture for you. Just imagine. A pillowy bed of white rice, topped in a creamy, heavenly chicken gravy. Sprinkled with cheddar cheese, black olives, chow mein noodles, and pineapple. Yum...(and easy).