Cinco de Mayo 2017

Cinco de Mayo is upon us soon!

It is officially the celebration of the Mexican army's victory over France.
We tend to celebrate with Mexican-American foods and drinks.

Celebrate how you see fit...
Me, I see a lot of melty cheese in my future.
MMMM

Here is a round up of some of my Mexican-American (korean?) fave foods, tell me what you plan on making!

An InLinkz Link-up

Enchiladas Verde

I think I have shared with you before...the girl child and I l-o-v-e us some Mexican food, while hubby could take it or leave it.

Unless it is made at home.

Then he will eat like it's going out of style.

Anyhoo...I saw this recipe on About.com and happened to have everything I needed on hand. 

I knew the girl and I would be happy...and, hey, 2 out of 3 are good odds!

Made dinner, served it up, hubby took one bite and then shoveled the rest into his mouth! He went up for seconds...came back and started saying "I want to make sure I get as much in my belly as I can before the "full" feeling hits, this is awesome".

A little misguided in the eating habits dept, but a compliment none the less.

Then he proceeds to tell me "when you gave me my plate, all I could think of was "what is this mess", but I love this, make it lots"

OK...backhanded compliment? 

Ingredients:

12 Corn tortillas

3 Cups green enchilada sauce

2 Cups shredded monterey jack

¼ Cup diced green chiles

2 Cups shredded chicken

Directions:

1. Mix together the chicken, chiles, and 1 cup enchilada sauce

2. Fill each tortilla, roll, and place seam side down in a 9 x 13 pan

3. Pour remaining sauce over enchiladas, top with remaining cheese

4. Bake at 300 for 20 minutes

Print

Come party with me HERE!

Cheeseburger Quesadillas

It is that wicked crazy time of year!
I feel like we are running around at 90 mph with no brakes.

Memorial Day is the unofficial start to summer. We spent time with family at the coast and it was really relaxing. I did make a big batch of my chili for them and froze half so they could have it at a later date.

Short weeks at work are crazy weeks! We were straight out, and even our clients seemed a little more hectic than normal.

This weekend, my "little" cousin graduates. My use of quotes revolves around the fact that he is 6'4". Seriously. As short vertically challenged as I am, it's always awkward when we stand together and I look like the child and him the adult!

Next weekend is the graduation party for him as well as plenty of other social functions. For a homebody such as myself, this is craziness!

Ingredients:

1 Lb Ground beef

Salt and Pepper

¼ Cup Ketchup

⅛ Cup Mustard

2 Tsp Worcestershire sauce

4 Large flour tortillas

Optional Toppings: Relish, Cheese, Tomato, Onion, Pickles etc

Directions:

1. Brown ground beef, lightly season with salt and pepper. Drain.

2. Stir in ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire

3. Lay tortillas out and spread ¼ of the ground beef mix on half of each tortilla. Fold closed.

4. Cook in a large skillet until browned, flip and repeat

5. Add any toppings

6. Cut and serve

Print

Our particular additional toppings

Adapted from Iowa Girl Eats

Come party with me HERE!

Tamale Pie

My life has been a little freaking insane busy as of late.
I don't remember the last time I didn't have 500 things to do every day...until today!

I can sleep in!
Those words don't come out of my mouth!! Due to my normal M-F schedule (alarm at 4:30) my internal clock doesn't allow for this sleeping in thing...but due to the amount of stuff going on, I was the poster child for exhaustion last night.

Head hit pillow=Jay was out!

Yeah. 4:30am. I hear this noise.
Mr. Sir, cat master of the house, is having himself a jolly good time playing with the doors on the entertainment center. Seriously? :::sigh:::
Get up, chase him away...convince my body that it's not a work day, that I can go back to bed...and so I do.

Then 5:30am happens.
Mr. Sir...again. Now he has managed to wiggle his FAT bum into this 2 inch opening in hubby's sock drawer...and now he is stuck. He's wiggling all over the place making the dresser creak.
(how am I the only one in the house to hear all this noise?)
I get up...rescue chubby man...and that's it. I'm done.

So much for sleeping in.

Thanks fuzz butt. It's a dang good thing you are a handsome sir...otherwise you might become an outdoor cat.

Ingredients:

Filling:

1 Tbsp vegetable oil

1 Medium onion, chopped

1 Green bell pepper, chopped

2 Jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced

1 ½ Lbs ground beef

1 ½ Cup corn kernels (canned, fresh, or frozen)

1 (14.5) oz can diced tomatoes (drained)

3 Tbsp tomato paste

2 Tbsp chili powder

4 Tsp ground cumin

2 Tsp salt

4 oz shredded Monterrey Jack cheese

Topping:

1 ½ Cup yellow cornmeal

1 Cup all purpose flour

2 Tbsp sugar

1 Tbsp baking powder

1 Tsp salt

2 Eggs

1 Cup milk

6 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375

2. Filling: in a large skillet, warm the oil until hot

3. Add onion, green pepper, and jalapenos. Cook until softened. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

4. Add ground beef to pan, breaking up the meat, cook until browned.

5. Add onion mixture to the cooked meat in the skillet

6. Stir in corn, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, chili powder, cumin and salt. Stir well.

7. Bring to a simmer and then reduce heat to low. Cook for 20 minutes.

8. Topping: Whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.

9. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, and melted butter

10. Pour the wet ingredients over the cornmeal mixture. Mix until just moistened.

11. Assemble: Stir cheese into beef mixture

12. Pour beef mixture into a 9 x 13 pan, smoothing top

13. Pour cornbread mixture over the beef mixture, smoothing for an even top.

14. Bake for 30-40 minutes

15. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving

Print

Recipe adapted from Brown Eyed Baker

Come party with me HERE!

http://celebrateanddecorate.com/

Green Chile Enchiladas

A friend of mine has a cutie patootie little girl named C.
C is like a little old lady trapped in a 6 year old body. So much of what comes out of her mouth just proves she is wise beyond her years.

Said friend is a waitress and, therefore, runs into people of all type of demeanor. The other day, she had a grumpy sort who was all bent out of shape because his water glass was only half full (does anyone else see the irony here?)

Waitress friend said to her mother "Some days I wish I could look at these people and say "my husband just died two weeks ago, I am trying to support my baby" "
C overheard this all and got a panicked look on her face!
"Don't say that Mama, that's bad karma"!

Well, from the mouths of babes.
She is right.
We should all try to be a little more karma friendly.
Thanks for the lesson C!

Ingredients:

1 Onion (diced)

2 Tbsp butter

1 (15 oz) Can green enchilada sauce

2 (4 oz) cans chopped green chiles

12 Corn tortillas

2 Cups shredded cheese

Sour cream

Salsa

Directions:

1. In small skillet, saute onion in the butter until they are golden brown

2. In small saucepan, combine enchilada sauce with green chiles and heat until warm

3. In the oven, melt cheese all over the top of each tortilla

4. Stack three cheesy tortillas on top of one another

5. Spoon green sauce over top

6. Add salsa and sour cream

Print

All the toppings! 

Recipe adapted from Tasty Kitchen

Come party with me here!

http://celebrateanddecorate.com/

16 Minute Beef and Bean Burritos

The girl who sat next to me at work has moved on to a different job, in a totally different field. I wish her well!!
I had a new (temporary, while they played musical desks) neighbor, she happened to say something and my response was "oh, that happened when we had our flood".

She looked at me like I had 10 heads (one would think I would be used to such a thing by now).

So the story goes...
I sit in the middle right cube in a section of 6.
We had contractors everywhere building a new section of our office.
My neighbor to my right yelled over one day and said "do you hear dripping?"
Next thing we knew it was Niagra Falls

Gah!

A pipe burst over our heads! 

People came running like ants...it was chaos! We were trying to get all of our computers unplugged and out of the line of fire. Then someone remembered the printers. It was madness I tell you!

My neighbor got the worst of it. My desk got some, but the majority landed in a small lake under my desk.

Oh it was something to behold.

We then became other people's temporary neighbors while our desks and ceilings were repaired.

Nights like that, I am more than happy to make a quick, easy meal. 

Running around trying not to get shocked by office equipment is hard work!

Ingredients:

2 Lbs ground beef

½ Medium onion

1 (7 oz) can Mexican tomato sauce or Enchilada sauce

Salt and Pepper

Cumin, Oregano, Chili Powder

1 (28 oz) can refried beans

¾ Cups grated cheddar cheese

Sour Cream and Salsa to top

12 Burrito sized flour tortillas

Directions:

1. Brown ground beef with onion and season to taste

2. Pour in sauce and simmer (reserve a little sauce to top the burritos)

3. Heat refried beans in a sauce pan

4. Heat tortillas in the microwave for one minute

5. Spread small amount of beans on each tortilla

6. Add seasoned meat

7. Fold over ends and then roll up

8. Place two burritos on microwave safe plate

9. Drizzle read sauce over burritos and sprinkle with grated cheddar

10. Microwave for one minute until cheese is melted

Print

Adapted from here

This recipe was shared with:
Monday:  Uncommon Designs, Flour me with Love, Pioneer Momma, Homemaking with Style, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms, Feeding Big, A Southern Fairytale, A Pinch of Joy, Modest Mom Blog, Huckleberry Love, I Should be Mopping the Floor, Jambellish, A Mama's Story, All Things Fee, The Chicken Chick, Boogieboard Cottage, Enchanted Homeschooling Mom, Skip to my Lou, Mom Favorites, 21st Century Housewife, Sew Can Do, Mom's the Word, Mom's Test Kitchen
Tuesday: Cornerstone Confessions , Inside Bru Crew Life, Kathe with an E, Pint Sized Baker, Memories by the Mile, The New Mrs Adventures, Hope in Every Season, My Joy Filled Life, Timewarp Wife, Mini Van Dreams, Mandy's Recipe Box, Hope Studios, Stone Gable Blog, My Journey Back
Wednesday: Recipes for our Daily Bread , Dizzy Busy and Hungry , Buns in my Oven, Lemoine Family Kitchen, Crafty Allie, Milk and Cuddles, Raising Homemakers, White Lights on Wednesday, A Peek into my Paradise, Gingersnap Crafts, Mostly Homemade Mom, The Newlywed Pilgrimage, Ivy and Elephants
Thursday: Miz Helen's Country Cottage, Lambert's Lately, Sweet Haute, Katherine's Corner, A Delightsome Life, Sweet Bella Roos, What's Cooking Love, Saving 4 Six, Stacey Embracing Change, The Nourishing Gourmet
Friday: The Grits Blog, O Taste and See, Play Party Pin, Lady Behind the Curtain, Daily Dish, The New Mrs Adventures, The Better Baker, Endlessly Inspired, Coffee with us 3, Love Bakes Good Cakes\, Craft Dictator, Thirty Handmade Days, City of Creative Dreams, Diary of a Real Housewife, Craft O Maniac, The Pin Junkie, The Girl Creative, Morsels of Life, Pure Grace Farms, Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom
Saturday: Belle of the Kitchen, What's Cooking with Ruthie, Six Sister's Stuff, Simply Gloria, Beauty Through Imperfections, Raising Memories
Sunday: A Peek into my Paradise, 3 Little Greenwoods

Jordan's Mexican Lasagna

I have this friend from high school, we still keep in touch, but live too far away to see each other (which makes me sad. Yay for Facebook!)

She is an amazing mother. She has 4 babies and has one step son.
It's one of those amazing relationships where you would never know he was a step, she loves him as much as her own flesh and blood.
This does not surprise me though, she is good folk.

My friend is always playing around in the kitchen making super fun and healthy foods.
(no, I am not implying this recipe is "healthy"!)

The oldest sprout was there and told her he wanted her to make a certain meal. So, being awesome x's 100, she had him dictate...and she cooked.

Ingredients:

1 Lb ground beef

1 Pkg taco seasoning

1 Large onion (diced)

1 ½ Cup cooked rice

Corn tortillas

1 Can diced tomato with chilies

1 Cup cheddar cheese

1 Can cream of chicken soup

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Brown hamburger with onions

3. Add taco seasoning

4. Mix rice with cream of chicken soup

5. Layer the bottom of a 9x13 pan with corn tortillas

6. Add layer of ground beef

7. Layer of rice

8. Layer of cheese

9. Layer of corn tortillas

10. Layer of ground beef

11. Layer of rice

12. Layer the remaining cheese

13. Top with diced tomatoes

14. Bake for 20 minutes

15. Serve with assorted toppings: Sour Cream, Cilantro, Lettuce, Etc

Print

I got to use up a few bags of cheese I had hanging around, BONUS!

This recipe was shared with:
Monday: Homemaking with Style, Flour me with Love , Pioneer Momma, Feeding Big, Kitchen Table Art, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms , A Southern Fairytale, A Pinch of Joy, Modest Mom Blog, Huckleberry Love, I Should be Mopping the Floor, Uncommon Designs, Jambellish, Mom Favorites, A Mama's Story, All Things Fee, Boogieboard Cottage, The Chicken Chick, Say Not Sweet Anne,  Skip to my Lou, Sew Can Do, Mom's the Word, 21st Century Housewife
Tuesday: Cornerstone Confessions, Inside Bru Crew Life , Kathe with an E , Pint Sized Baker, Memories by the Mile, Hot Momma's Kitchen Chaos, Lou Lou Girls, Our Table for Seven, Time Warp Wife, Mini Van Dreams, Mandy's Recipe Box, Hope Studios, Hope in Every Season, Stone Gable, 
Wednesday: Dizzy Busy and Hungry, Recipes for our Daily Bread, Buns in my Oven, Crafty Allie, Milk and Cuddles, Raising Homemakers, White Lights on Wednesday, A Peek into my Paradise, Gingersnap Crafts, Mom's Test Kitchen, Mostly Homemade Mom, The Newlywed Pilgrimage, Lemoine Family Kitchen, Gooseberry Patch
Thursday: Lambert's Lately, Sweet Haute, Miz Helen's Country Cottage, Katherine's Corner, Sweet Bella Roos, What's Cooking Love, Saving 4 Six, Embracing Change, The Nourishing Gourmet
Friday: Coffee with us 3, Simple Nature Decor, Mommy on Demand, O Taste and See, Daily Dish, The Better Baker, Endlessly Inspired, Love Bakes Good Cakes, Thirty Handmade Days, City of Creative Dreams, The Diary of a Real Housewife, Craft O Maniac, Morsels of Life, Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom, A Little Claireification, The Girl Creative
Saturday: What's Cooking with Ruthie, Will Cook for Smiles, Six Sister's Stuff, Beauty Through Imperfection, Sewlicious Home Decor, Raising Memories, Weary Chef
Sunday:  A Peek into my Paradise, Denise Designed       

Bolillos

Hubby surprised me one Christmas with a bread machine...I was beyond excited!
(well, I use the word "surprise" loosely. It started with me saying "I want a bread machine" but the guy gets credit for remembering!)

I make breads and dough with it frequently...and have since become lazy about making breads by hand.

I read this recipe online and decided it sounded easy enough, even for a lazy bread maker like me.

Honestly, this bread is delicious! I never got around to using it for a sandwich, we were too busy walking by and grabbing part of a roll just to much on.
Plain, with butter, or with a hunk of sharp cheese, it was really just good!

Ingredients:

4 Cups flour

1 Tsp salt

1 Tsp sugar

1 Package yeast

2 Cups warm water

1 Egg white, whisked

Directions:

1. Pour water into a large mixing bowl and sprinkle yeast onto it.

2. In separate bowl, mix flour, salt, and sugar

3. Add flour mixture to water a little at a time and mix until dough forms

4. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with a towel or cloth, and leave in a warm place for an hour.

5. Remove dough from bowl, punch it down, and knead for about 10 minutes.

6. Divide dough into 10 balls.

7. Cover and let rise again for 30 minutes

8. Preheat oven to 375

9. Brush each dough ball with egg whites

10. Score each roll with two, two inch lines among the top, about ¼ inch deep

11. Bake for 30 minutes

Print

This recipe was shared with:
Monday:  Flour me with Love, Pioneer Momma, Homemaking with Style , Kitchen Table Art , Jam Hands, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms , A Pinch of Joy , The Modest Mom Blog , Huckleberry Love , I Should be Mopping the Floor  , The Chicken Chick, Uncommon Designs, Jambellish, A Mama's Story, All Things Fee, Boogieboard Cottage , Life After Laundry , Skip to my Lou, Mom Favorites, Sew Can Do, Mom's the Word, Feeding Big
Tuesday: Hot Momma's Kitchen Chaos, Pint Sized Baker, Morsels of Life, Yesterfood, Cornerstone Confessions, Inside Bru Crew Life, Lou Lou Girls, Mandy's Recipe Blog, New Mrs Adventures, Kathe with an E, A Bowl Full of Lemons, My Joy Filled Life, Time Warp Wife, Mini Van Dreams, Sweet Silly Sara
Wednesday:  Dizzy Busy and Hungry, Recipes for our Daily Bread  , Wine and Glue,The Newlywed Pilgrimage, Lemoine Family Kitchen, Ginger Snap Crafts, Gooseberry Patch, Crafty Allie, Lady Behind the Curtain, Milk and Cuddles, Raising Homemakers, White Lights on Wednesday, Buns in my Oven, A Peek into my Paradise, Mom's Test Kitchen, Mostly Homemade Mom
Thursday:  Lambert's Lately, Sweet Haute, What's Cooking Love, Think Tank Thursday, Miz Helen's Country Cottage, Embracing Change, Sweet Bella Roos, The Nourishing Gourmet
Friday: Morsels of Life, O Taste and See, Play Party Pin, A Little Clareification, The Better Baker, Endlessly Inspired, Love Bakes Good Cakes, Craft Dictator, Hungry Harps, Thirty Handmade Days, Angel's Homestead, Craft O Maniac, The Girl Creative, Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom
Saturday: Weary Chef, What's Cooking with Ruthie, Beauty through Imperfection, Coffee with us 3, Six Sister's Stuff, Simply Gloria, Sewlicious Home Decor, Raising Memories, 
Sunday: A Peek into my Paradise, Denise Designed, Three Mango Seeds