Beef Enchiladas

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that I’m a big fan of The Pioneer Woman, and I love trying new recipes from her blog and cookbook.

Last night I decided to try my hand at making her enchiladas.  I was a little surprised when I realized that I had never made enchiladas before.  Of course, my mom made them a few times when I was growing up, and I’ve had them at restaurants before, but I had never made them myself.  This recipe looks complicated, but it’s really pretty easy.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 1 tbsp canola oil (plus more for frying)
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 can (28oz) of enchilada or Mexican red sauce
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • salt & pepper
  • 2 tbsp chopped cilantro, plus more for serving
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 medium onion
  • 2 cans (4 oz) diced green chilies
  • corn tortillas
  • 3 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 can of re-fried beans (optional)

Start with a tablespoon of canola oil in a sauce pan, along with 2 tablespoons of flour over medium-high heat.  Don’t make the mistake I did and use a sauce pan that is too small.  You’re going to need one that is big enough to hold a 28 oz can of enchilada sauce, plus 2 cups of chicken broth, so plan accordingly.

Whisk oil and flour together and let bubble for one minute.

This was the enchilada sauce I used….because it was the only enchilada sauce I could find in my grocery store.  If you have another brand you like, go for it!

Pour sauce into flour and oil mixture and stir.  After I poured this in and looked over at the 2 cups of chicken stock waiting for me, I realized I needed a bigger pot.

So I transferred the sauce in to a much more appropriate pot, and proceeded to add the chicken stock (or broth if that’s what you have).

Season with salt and pepper and give it a stir.  Bring the sauce up to a boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer while you prepare the rest of the food.

Chop up some onion and add it, along with the ground beef, to a large skillet, and cook until browned.

When your meat is browned, drain the fat, then add the green chilies.  The recipe calls for 2 cans, but I only used one since I didn’t know how we would like it.  Give the chilies and meat a stir until it’s well combined.  Then, turn off the heat and set aside.

Here’s what the can looked like in case you’ve never bought green chilies before.  I hadn’t.

Here comes the fun part, frying the tortillas!  Coat the bottom of your pan with canola oil.  I fill it so that it’s about a centimeter high.  Enough so that your tortilla can be thoroughly submerged.

You’ll know your oil is hot enough for frying when you stick the end of a wooden spoon in the oil and little bubbles form around it.

Fry your tortillas just long enough so that they are soft and bendable.  You don’t want them to be crispy like you’re making tacos.

When you’re done frying a tortilla, lay it on a paper towel-lined plate, and put another paper towel in between each tortilla.

Pour some sauce in your baking dish, enough to cover the bottom.

Dunk each tortilla in the sauce, then lay on a cookie sheet.

Fill tortillas with meat and cheese.  You can also add re-fried beans (like I did), olives, or green onions.  Whatever floats your boat.  Just don’t fill them too much or you won’t be able to close them.

Fold the tortilla closed, leaving the ends open.

Place seam side down into your baking dish.  It’s ok if they fall apart a little.  It’s going to be covered in sauce and cheese so no one will know!  It’ll be our little secret.

Add some chopped cilantro to the sauce, and stir.

Pour the sauce over the enchiladas so that they are completely covered.

Sprinkle a generous helping of cheese on top of the enchiladas.  Look at that yummy goodness!

Bake at 350° for 20 minutes, or until nice and bubbly.

Sprinkle some cilantro over the top, and you’re ready to serve!

Don’t these look delicious!?  Add a little hot sauce and cheese to some re-fried beans and use as a side dish.

Go ahead, take a bite.  You know you want to!

 

Twin Blankets for Twin Girls

One of my best friends gave birth to twin baby girls last week, and I couldn’t be more thrilled!  Evelyn Marie and Brooke Renee were born on August 15th at 5:52 and 5:54pm, and both were 5 lbs, 10 oz.

As some of you know, Renee was supposed to be in my wedding this past July, and even after she told me she was pregnant, everything was still a go for her to come out here to Nashville.  However, a few weeks after she ordered her bridesmaid dress, she gave me a call with the wonderful and unexpected news.  She was having TWINS!!   Unfortunately, she would not be able to fly after her 2nd trimester (and my wedding would be in her 7th month of pregnancy), so she wasn’t able to attend the wedding.  But she was with us in spirit!  And what a marvelous reason for not being able to come!

Of course, I had to make 2 baby blankets for her.  One pink and one purple for two beautiful baby girls.

I gave Renee several patterns to choose from, and she chose this pattern for both blankets, and I think it was an excellent choice.

Renee and I have literally been friends since birth (we even have pictures of us as babies together in the nursery at school where both our mom’s taught).  I can’t believe one of my friends actually has a set of twins!

And twin GIRLS to top it off!  I have a feeling that there are going to be a lot of ruffles and bows in these two little girls’ future.  Renee always does such a great job dressing up her older daughter, Bella, and I know these girls will be no different.

I’m so happy for you, Renee and Ahmet, and I can’t wait to meet the new little ones.  I hope they know that whenever they cuddle up with their blankets, that’s me giving them a hug.

 

Our Honeymoon: Bermuda

On our 9-day honeymoon cruise we stopped in 3 ports — Bermuda, St. Thomas, and Grand Turk.  We were also supposed to stop in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but due to a cyclone in the forecast, we had to skip that port.  I was pretty bummed since we were supposed to go zip lining there, but obviously I didn’t want to be stuck on a boat in the middle of a cyclone.

Our first stop was in Bermuda, where we had to meet on the dock at 7:45am to  go snorkeling.  Now, for the two of us who are used to waking up around 9:30 or 10:00am every morning, that was pretty darn early, but we were excited, so we managed to arrive on time…..early actually!

The boat just looks massive when you’re sitting on the dock right next to it.  You don’t realize just how far off the water you’re actually sitting.  Our room was on that top balcony, but when you look outside from your balcony, you feel like you’re only about 20 feet up from the water.

Our group took a 30 minute boat ride to another part of the island to go snorkeling.  It was less than thrilling since we only saw about 3 fish and a ton of sea grass.  But it was fun nonetheless.

They first drove us (can you use the word “drove” when referring to a boat?) past an old shipwreck.  It was actually sunk on purpose by some people (I can’t remember who….British, Spaniards…..someone) who wanted other ships, who were trying to take over the island, to crash into it and then sink themselves.  However, this plan failed when the boat stopped sinking a few feet above the surface of the water.  So of course, other boats avoided that spot like the plague.  I’m not sure what exactly happened, but I think Bermuda is owned by the British, so ultimately, I think they won.

They anchored the boat near this deserted resort.  Apparently each of these bungalows on the water rented for about $500 or more per night, but with the recession, the resort went out of business.  There are some more bungalows nearby that the resort allowed the staff to live in after they went under until they could get back on their feet.

Here’s Steve and I in our bathing suits ready to snorkel!  (My bathing suit is from Victoria’s Secret, in case you were wondering.  Steve’s is from Pac Sun, and his undies are by Hanes….as if that wasn’t obvious enough.)

We found this pretty little cove after exploring a little bit.

Of course Steve never passes up an opportunity to take a picture of his e-cig in cool places.  And of course, it has our website name on there, Puresmoker, so I’m doing a little free advertising.  If you haven’t checked it out, and you smoke, or know someone who does, head on over there and pick yourself up an electronic cigarette!  You’ll be glad you did!

Here’s Steve’s cool tattoo.  It’s Jesus, but instead of being on the cross, he’s being held by the hands of God.

The view from the boat looking at the beach.  That dark stuff in the water is sea grass.  It was everywhere!

Such pretty water!  And we even saw a few turtles on our way back.

The Dawn Princess joined us at the dock.  It was at the tail end of a World Cruise.  Those can be up to 3 months long!  I can’t imagine being on a cruise for that long.  Maybe one day when I’m retired and my kids (which I have yet to have) are out of the house.

It was some sort of holiday on Bermuda, so a parade of cars drove up and down the dock, escorted by police, with flags and tons of people packed in each car.  It was fun to watch, and I thought the water looked so cool in this picture.

It was a really fun day, a little disappointing in the fish department, but we had a great time overall.  Yay Bermuda!

Fun Fact:  Did you know that Bermuda is actually off the coast of the Carolinas?  I didn’t know that.  I always thought it was down in the Caribbean.  Learn something new every day!