Category: MEXICAN

HONEY LIME ENCHILADAS

Enchiladas are just something that I never grow tired of. For one thing, you can make them a bazillion different ways.  So I’m always excited when I see a new way to make enchiladas.  This time I needed something quick.  I had the chicken, I just needed stuff to put in it.  These were perfect.

The flavor combination of the honey, lime and chipotle is wonderful.  A lot sweet with a little spice for the tongue. 

This recipe made a lot, we froze one 8 x 8 pan so I have something to look forward to next month! 

Honey Lime Enchiladas

Adapted from TidyMom

2 pounds chicken, cooked and shredded
2 cans (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained


6 tablespoons honey (1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons)
1/2 cup lime juice
1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder


2 (10 oz) cans green enchilada sauce
6 ounces colby jack cheese (or whatever kind you’d like)
1/2 cup milk
18 -6 inch 100 calories whole wheat tortillas

  • Cook chicken, cool, shred.  Mix together the honey, lime juice, chipotle chili powder and garlic powder.  Add the chicken and black beans to it, stir and marinate in the frig for 30 minutes or more. 
  • I used a 9 x 13 pan and an 8 x 8 pan.  Pour a small bit of sauce on the bottom of the pans. 
  • Mix milk with the enchilada sauce. 
  • Lay out tortilla. Spread a small amount of enchilada sauce around on tortilla.  Place 1/4 cup of chicken/bean mixture on the tortilla, sprinkle with a bit of cheese.  Not too much as you want to save some for the top. Fold enchilada and place in pan. I got 12 in the 9 x 13 pan and 6 in the 8 x 8 pan.  Cover enchiladas with the rest of the sauce and sprinkle with cheese.  Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.  Or cover one pan with aluminum foil and freeze for another night. 

You could also use 3 – 8 x 8 pans with 6 enchiladas in each and freeze two of them.


Total calories = 4801 calories
18 servings = 267 calories per enchilada

PIQUANT CHICKEN with CHARRED TOMATO SAUCE

Chipotle chiles add a nice smoky heat to the sauce.  Serve this piquant chicken with lime wedges, chopped cilantro and chiles, and sour cream.
PIQUANT CHICKEN with CHARRED TOMATO SAUCE
3 pounds skinless chicken breast
1-1/2 cups oil
2 cans Chipolte Peppers in Adobo Sauce
1 (can) 16 ounce whole tomatoes, chopped
1 cup onions, chopped fine
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 large bunches green onions, chopped
1/4 cup chopped parsley
3 large cloves garlic, sliced thin
3 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon red pepper
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons sea salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon oregano
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

  • Drain peppers, retaining sauce. Finely chop peppers and set aside.
  • In a heavy skillet, add 1/4 oil and heat until hot. 
  • Add 1/2 cup flour and stir mixture until roux is a nice caramel color.  Set aside.
  • In a 4 quart heavy pot add 2 to 3 tablespoons of oil and adobo sauce. 
  • Cook on low heat until brown in color. 
  • Add onions, celery, garlic and stir until mixture is sauteed. 
  • Add roux, a pepper or two depending on your heat index and whole tomatoes, while continuing to stir to keep mixture from sticking to bottom of pot. 
  • Slowly add chicken broth while stirring to blend all ingredients together. 
  • Add all seasonings, sugar and Worcestershire sauce. 
  • Cook on medium heat for about 1 hour, stirring every 10 to 15 minutes. 
  • Turn down heat, and add green onions and parsley. 
  • Heat remaining oil until hot. 
  • Slowly add chicken and pan-fry until slightly brown. Salt and peppering generously.
  • Drain on paper towels to remove excess oil. 
  • Slowly add chicken to the sauce and cook for about 45 minutes.

CHICKEN ADOBO – MEXICAN PHILIPINO CROSS – CHICKEN ADOBO ala TAMY

When  you look up recipes for Chicken Adobo ou have to choose between either a Phillipino recipe or a Mexican recipe.  I couldn’t choose so I decided to combine my favorite ingredients from each of them and make my own recipe.

Chicken Adobo
1 1/2 to 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  3tablespoons butter
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, sliced VERY thin
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 cup orange juice
3 tablespoons honey
1/2 tablespoon achiote seeds
1 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon basil
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • Cover achiote seeds with boiling water. 
  • Cover and set aside overnight. 
  • Drain seeds discarding water.
  • Place seeds, orange juice, soy sauce, vinegar, cayenne, paprika, cinnamon, honey, salt, pepper and garlic in a food processor. Grind until well blended.
  • In a large wok or skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken on one side until light golden brown, about 5 minutes. Flip the chicken over and sear the other side for another 5 minutes.  
  • Add the onions over the chicken.
  • Pour the seed mixture over chicken and heat through.
  • Serve hot over rice and vegetable sides. 

TACO SOUP – SIMPLY DELICIOUS SUNDAY

Taco Soup Adapted from Paula Deen
Serves 12 to 16
2 pounds ground beef

2 cups diced onions
2 (15 1/2-ounce) cans pinto beans
1 (15 1/2-ounce) can pink kidney beans
1 (15 1/4-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can tomatoes with chiles
2 (4 1/2-ounce) cans diced green chiles
1 (4.6-ounce) can black olives, drained and sliced, optional
1/2 cup green olives, sliced, optional
1 (1 1/4-ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1 (1-ounce) package ranch salad dressing mix
Corn chips, for serving
Sour cream, for garnish
Grated cheese, for garnish
Chopped green onions, for garnish
Pickled jalapenos, for garnish

Directions:  Brown the ground beef and onions in a large skillet; drain the excess fat, then transfer the browned beef and onions to a large slow cooker or a stockpot. Add the beans, corn, tomatoes, green chiles, black olives, green olives, taco seasoning, and ranch dressing mix, and cook in a slow cooker on low for 6 to 8 hours or simmer over low heat for about 1 hour in a pot on the stove. To serve, place a few corn chips in each bowl and ladle soup over them. Top with sour cream, cheese, green onions and jalapenos.

Modifications:
-I cut this recipe in half.  There was still more than enough.
-I elminated the stewed tomatoes.


Here’s what you’ll need:
  • Diced up one onion.
  • Brown the ground beef and add the onions.
  • Once cooked, transfer the drained meat and onions to a crockpot.

  • Add the beans.
  • Drain and add the corn.
  • Add the tomatoes.
  • Add the green chilies and the black olives. 
  • Add the taco seasoning and the ranch seasoning. 
  • Cook for 6-8 hours and here’s what you’ll end up with:
  • Garnish with chips, sour cream, green onions, jalapenos, guacamole, lettuce . . . taco stuff.
Our Thoughts:
We thought this dish was pretty good.  It reminded me of just a chunky chili (except I didn’t add any chili powder).  The whole time I was eating it, I kept thinking that it would make great nachos or even a “chili/taco” dog.
Scott said that he really enjoyed it and that it would be great football food.  I think that I will actually make this for my next football party instead of chili to see how it goes over.

TURKEY BACON ENCHILADAS

Need something to do with those turkey leftovers? 
I love this time of year. All the super cheap turkeys around. I’ll cook one up just to shred it for meals like this!  Enchiladas, soups, casseroles, potpies…tons of things to do with shredded turkey! 
…and of course the bacon makes it better!!

Smokey Bacon Enchiladas Recipe Adapted from Meg’s Cooking Corner

Filling:
1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic; minced
5 cups cooked chicken breast; shredded
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
3 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste
15 – 100 calorie whole wheat flour tortillas

Sauce:
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 1/4 cup sour cream
1 (4 oz) can diced green chilies
3 cloves garlic; minced
1/2 cup cooked crumbled bacon
1 1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
salt and pepper to taste

Topping:
5 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
1 green onion, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 350,
 
In a medium sized bowl combine all sauce ingredients and stir to mix well. Set aside.
 
 In a pan sprayed with cooking spray, add onions and cook until onions are soft. Add garlic and cook for a couple more minutes. Remove to a large mixing bowl. To the onions, add chicken, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper, shredded cheese and 3/4 cup of the prepared sauce. Stir to mix.

Spoon 3/4 cup of the sauce into the bottom of the 9 x13 baking pan and spread evenly. Warm tortillas slightly until they are soft and flexible. Spoon 1/2 cup of the chicken filling down the center of each tortilla. Fold in the ends and roll up the tortillas. Place seam side down in the Dutch oven or baking pan. Spoon the remaining sauce over the top and top with cheddar cheese and green onions.

Bake in 350 oven for 30 minutes or until hot and cheese is bubbly.

We put 10 enchiladas in a 9 x 13 pan and then 5 of them in an 8 x 8 pan and froze the small pan. 

Total calories = 4500
15 servings = 300 calories per enchilada

2 Bacon Enchiladas = 600 calorie dinner

BLACK BEAN CHICKEN BURRITOS

BLACK BEAN CHICKEN BURRITOS
corn tortillas
black beans, drained well
KNORR creamy rice mix
4 ounce green chiles, drained well
2 cups rotisserie chicken pieces
15 ounce can HATCH green enchilada sauce
2 cups shredded cojack cheese
sour cream

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Spray a large baking dish.
  • Prepare KNORR rice mix as directed.
  • In a large bowl combine chicken pieces, black beans, green chiles, rice and 1/3 of the cheese.
  • Spread sour cream on each tortilla.
  • Add a scoop of the chicken mixture.
  • Layer in baking dish seam side down.
  • When baking dish is full, evenly pour the enchilada sauce over the enchilads.
  • Sprinkle cheese evenly over all enchiladas.
  • Bake 30 minutes.
  • Enjoy.

CHEESY CHIMICHANGAS

Cheese!  Cheese! Cheese! 
I don’t often indulge in cheese. Even though I do so love it.  I usually feel that you need a LOT of cheese in order for it to really taste good.  I don’t usually indulge in that many calories, I usually choose to flavor my food in other ways.
However, one does have to have cheese sometimes, right?? 
I tasted this before adding the cheese and after and it was delicious with the cheese.  It still has a lot of flavor and the cheese brings it out even more! 
These were plenty flavorful on their own but I used some of my tomatillo green salsa to put on it.  This made it even better!  Seriously, this was a fantastic meal!  Loved the leftovers the next day too!
Cheesy Chimichangas
Adapted from Food Snob

1 pound ground turkey
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
11/2 tablespoon cumin
1 can green chiles, 4 oz.
2 teaspoons oregano
1 can Rotel tomatoes with green chiles
1 can tomato sauce, 15 oz. (I only used about 3/4 of it)
1 1/2 cups of cheddar cheese, 6 oz.
10 – 100 calorie whole wheat tortillas

  • Cook the ground turkey and the onions together.  
  • When the ground turkey is done, add spices, chiles and tomatoes.  Let simmer for 10 minutes or until thickened.  
  • Turn off heat and add cheese and stir until melted. 
  • Put 1/2 cup of turkey mixture onto tortilla and roll and place seam side down in a pan. 
  • Spray tops with cooking spray and bake in oven for about 25 minutes at 400 degrees. 

Total calories = 2569 calories
10 servings = 257 calories per chimichanga

2 Cheesy Chimichangas = 514 calorie dinner

PINEAPPLE BLACK BEAN ENCHILADAS

Oh, the many forms of an enchilada. This is a vegetarian version that is simply delicious. I love the contrast of the pineapple and green chilies and they totally work together!

I frequently make meals in larger batches and freeze them. Enchiladas freeze great. You can make this in a 9 x 13 pan or do what I do and make it in 2 – 8 x 8 pans. This would give you 6 big enchiladas per pan which is perfect for my family. If you do decide to make rice with your enchiladas, save the rest of the pineapple juice to add to the rice instead of some of the water. I personally would rather eat 2 of these bad boys rather than rice, but to each his own.

 
Pineapple Black Bean Enchiladas
Cooking spray1 large onion
1 red bell pepper
1 can (20 oz) pineapple tidbits in juice, drained, 1/3 c. juice reserved
1 can (15 oz) Progresso black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso chopped green chilies
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese or Colby jack
1 can (10 oz.) Old El Paso mild enchilada sauce
12 whole wheat flour 8 in. – 100 calorie tortillas
  • Heat oven to 350.
  • Spray 9 x 13 in. pan with cooking spray or 2 – 8 x 8 pans.
  • Heat cooking spray and cook onion and pepper for about 4 – 5 minutes.
  • Stir in pineapple, beans, green chilies and salt.
  • Cook and stir until heated.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Stir in 1/4 cup cilantro and 1 cup cheese
  • Spoon and spread 3/4 tablespoon enchilada sauce onto each tortilla.
  • Spoon about 1/2 cup vegetable mixture over sauce on each.
  • Roll up tortillas, place in baking dish.
  • Mix 1/3 cup pineapple juice and remaining enchilada sauce.
  • Pour over top of enchiladas.
  • Sprinkle with 1 cup cheese.
  • Cover with foil, spray inside with cooking spray.
  • Bake 35 – 40 minutes, removing foil during last 5 – 10 minutes.

Total calories = 1625 calories
12 enchiladas = 236 calories per enchilada

2 Pineapple Black Bean Enchiladas = 472 calorie dinner

Pizza Roll Up Burritos

So have you every had those frozen pizza rolls?  I’ve bought them. We eat them occasionally.  They are extremely greasy, fatty and like a million calories for 4 of them.  Not filling at all either.

These remind me of those but are like 10,000 times better!  I love how they get crispy in the oven, with out all the fat. They are also super easy to handle without all the mess.
I posted these on my other blog awhile back and recently made them again.  They deserve anther look.  They were incredibly simple and everyone loved them.
They are a little higher on the calories than I usually make but these are very filling!  I was completely satisfied with 1 of these bad boys and a side of watermelon.  

I thought about making these more like enchiladas and pour a bit of pizza sauce over and a bit of cheese but decided these were much neater. It certainly would have made a pretty presentation that way though!
We made extras and froze them for lunches.  We just take them out, thaw and microwave them for an awesome lunch. Or a snack in my kids’ case!
Pizza Roll Up Burritos

Adapted from Penny-Pinching Provisions


2 pounds ground turkey, 93%
1/2 large onion, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
2 ounces pepperoni (about 50 slices), cut in half
1 (15 ounce) can pizza sauce
1 teaspoon dried oregano
10 slices mozzerella string cheese
10 – 100 calorie whole wheat tortillas


Cook turkey in pan until it’s almost done.  Toss in onion and pepper and cook for about 5 minutes or until ground turkey is no longer pink.  Add pepperoni slices, oregano and pizza sauce and simmer for a couple of minutes to warm.  Add about 1/2 cup pizza mix on tortilla.  Place 1 piece of string cheese along the middle on top and roll. Place seam side down in 9 x 13 pan.  I was able to put 9 in the pan, we just stuck the 10th one on a tortilla the next day for lunch.  Bake in oven at 350 for about 15 – 20 minutes until cheese is melted. 


Total calories = 3743 calories
10 servings = 374 calories per burrito


1 Pizza Roll Up Burrito + 2 cups watermelon = 474 calorie dinner

EASY CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

Easy Chicken Enchilada adapted from Taste of Home
1 small onion, chopped
2 teaspoon oil
3 cups shredded cooked chicken breasts
1 can (14.5oz) no-salt-added diced tomatoes, drained
1 tub (10 oz) Philadelphia Santa Fe Blend Cooking creme, divided
1/2 cup Mexican-style shredded four cheese
8 flour tortillas
  • Heat oven to 350 degrees. 
  • Cook and stir onions in hot oil in a large skillet on medium heat 4 to 5 minutes or until crisp-tender.  Stir in chicken, tomatoes, 3/4 cup cooking creme and shredded cheese.
  • Spoon about 1/3 cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla; roll up.  Place, seam-sides don, in 13×9 inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; top with remaining cooking creme.  Cover.
  • Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through.
Here’s what you’ll need:
I put the chicken breasts into some water to cook. Just thought that I would show a picture of the Philadelphia Santa Fe creme cheese blend.  I think it is a fairly new product and it is yummy!
While the chicken is cooking, chop up an onion.
Saute the onion in some olive oil for about 5-6 minutes.
 

Shred the chicken.
Put the chicken in with the onions.
Add a can of drained diced tomatoes and 3/4 cup of the Santa Fe creme..
Add 1/2 cup of Mexican-style cheese and mix.
Put some of the chicken mixture in a tortilla and roll it up.
Put the tortillas in a greased 13×9 baking dish, seam side down.
Cover with more of the Santa Fe creme.
Add some more cheese.
Pop into the oven for about 20-25 minutes and here’s what you’ll end up with:

CHICKEN FLAUTAS

I used to have a favorite lunch haunt called simply ‘Nachos’. It started as a hole in the wall, literally!, with ‘mama’ making her own tortillas and sauces. Mama couldn’t speak a word of English, but her traditional Mexican fare spoke volumes for her. She prepared the best Mexican food! At work we used to all pool together, call in a big order, send someone to pick it up and then truly pig out when the food arrived back at work! Their Nachos were truly awe inspiring ~ crisp and gooey all at the same time.
One of my very favorite meals that she made was her Chicken Flautas! Now that we’re here in the North Woods, where honestly they wouldn’t know Mexican food if it bit them on the butt, I crave those Chicken Flautas and have been working to replicate them. I tried boiling chickens with various seasoning combinations, none of which were correct and then finally settled on this recipe. It’s actually easier and tastes perfect too.

1 lemon herb rotisserie chicken (lemon & herb works best)
1 cup finely shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Juice of 1 lime
sea salt
1 bunch green onions, finely minced
1 package tortillas
sour cream
Fresh Guacamole
Garden Tomato Salsa
1 cup or so Safflower oil for frying

  • Remove chicken pieces from the bone and finely shred the meat.
  • Toss the chicken pieces with the green onions, lime juice and salt.
  • Warm tortillas so they are soft and pliable.
  • Distribute the chicken and cheese mixture evenly amongst the tortillas.
  • Sprinkle onions over top.
  • Sprinkle with sea salt and lime juice.
  • Roll each tortilla up jelly roll style.
  • This works best with deep frying, but I found a cast iron pan works well as long as the oil goes at least half way up the side.
  • Fry each Flauta until golden. (Don’t crowd them in the pan)
  • Drain on a paper towel.
  • Serve with sour cream, Fresh Guacamole & Garden Tomato Salsa for dipping.