Mexican

Goat Cheese and Chicken Enchiladas
by

Goat Cheese and Chicken Enchiladas

I am REALLY behind on food blogs. On a recent trip to Santa Fe I fell in love with the cuisine (again) and I picked up a Santa Fe Cooking School cookbook. I can’t wait to make some of the recipes. After adapting this recipe I made some home made corn tortillas (next blog) and I will be making this again! I made this batch with corn tortillas I bought from a Mexican market but home made is a game changer. I have a tortilla press on my Christmas list. I did not make my own green sauce but used a brand I found in the store so it made this a quick and wonderful meal, even on a weeknight. This can be made vegetarian by omitting the chicken.

Ingredients

6 corn tortillas
1 small package (4-6 oz) Goat cheese – depending on how cheesy you want
8 oz package of Mexican shredded cheese (Monterey Jack, Cheddar, asadero) or more
8 oz shredded chicken
1 Jar of green enchilada sauce
sliced avocado

Preheat oven to 350

In a mixing bowl, combine 3/4 of the goat cheese, chicken and 3/4 of the shredded cheeses.

Lightly grease a 9 x 13 inch pyrex dish. Pour half the jar of green enchilada sauce into the baking dish and spread evenly on bottom.

Preheat a skillet over medium-high heat. Place a corn tortilla in the pan and heat about one minute, Turn and heat for about another 30 seconds.

Fill the warm tortilla with the cheese mixture about half a cup down the middle. Roll up the tortilla and place seam side down in the baking dish. Repeat with the remaining tortillas. Cover with the remaining green sauce. Sprinkle with the remaining shredded cheese and goat cheese. Bake until heated through and cheese is bubbly and melting. About 25 minutes.

I served with sliced avocado, cornbread and a green salad

Advertisement
Vegetarian Tacos
by

Vegetarian Tacos

My husband and I are not vegetarian but we do experiment with lots of vegetarian recipes. I have found a new (to me) meatless product made by Quorn. We have tried several of their products and love all of them. Some are Vegan, Gluten free, soy free all vegetarian and made with mushrooms. The packaging can be recycled. I made this dish with the “Chic n Tenders”. We loved them. This is not really a recipe as it is more of a suggestion for a quick and easy weeknight dinner that is healthy. You can use just about any fillings with this product.

IMG_2718.jpg

IMG_2719.jpg

IMG_2720.jpg

IMG_2717.jpg

Ingredients

1 bag Chick’ n Tenders
1 red pepper,  seeded and sliced
1 large onion, sliced
shredded lettuce
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon chile powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
shredded cheese (I only had sliced and it also worked great)
sliced avocado
warmed corn or flour tortillas

Directions

Heat the oil and add the onions and saute when golden brown. Add red pepper and cook until soft. Add Chic’ n Tenders and stir fry until heated through. Add spices. Serve with toppings and warmed tortillas.

Tortilla Soup
by

Tortilla Soup

IMG_2486.jpg

There is nothing like a good pot of soup at the end of a cold and rainy day. This is perfect. You can add sour cream, avocado or tortilla chips.

IMG_2490.jpg

IMG_2492.jpg

IMG_2483.jpg

IMG_2484.jpg

IMG_2485.jpg

INGREDIENTS

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
1 ⁄ 2 medium red pepper
5 small boneless skinless chicken thighs
2 cups frozen corn
1 ⁄ 2 cup dry white wine or 1⁄2 cup water
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 (14 ounce) cans chicken broth
2 (14 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce

DIRECTIONS

Sauté onion, garlic, pepper and red pepper with olive oil in a large pot until soft.
Add all the rest of the ingredients to the large pot and bring to a boil.
After about 15 minutes, remove the chicken breasts and shred.
Return shredded chicken to the pot and simmer an additional 45 minutes.
Serve, topped with avocado and shredded cheese.

Grilled Shrimp Tacos with Sriracha Slaw
by

Grilled Shrimp Tacos with Sriracha Slaw

This is so good! I served it with a side of fresh Mexican corn. I posted a recipe for the corn last year and we eat it constantly when corn is in season.

IMG_0993.jpg

IMG_0978.jpg

IMG_0982.jpg

IMG_0987.jpg

IMG_0988.jpg

Ingredients

1 pound shrimp, deveined, peeled on skewers
Coconut oil spray
1 tsp paprika
4 Corn or flour tortillas
1 heaping cup finely shredded cabbage
1/4 cup yogurt Ranch dressing
2 Tbsp Sriracha sauce
1/2 lime or about 1 tsp lime juice
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp Honey
salt & pepper to taste
Half a sliced avocado

Directions

For the Sriracha Ranch, whisk together the ranch and Sriracha sauce. For a spicier sauce, add extra Sriracha to taste.

For the Slaw, combine cabbage, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper. Cut your lime in half and add juice of half the lime into your slaw. Adjust honey to taste and set aside to marinate while you cook the shrimp.

Pat shrimp dry and season with paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix well to coat both sides. Put shrimp on metal skewers and set in the fridge while you make your slaw and sauce.

Heat the grill and cook, depending on shrimp size, about 3 min each side.

Remove from skewers and chop each shrimp in half. Line your tortillas with shrimp and top with a hearty drizzle of sauce. Top with slaw and sliced avocado.

 

Chicken Tamale Pie
by

Chicken Tamale Pie

I was trying to come up with something to make with the boneless, skinless chicken thighs I had in the fridge so I started going through some old cookbooks I had not used in a while. I adapted this from an old James McNair recipe in his “Chicken” cookbook. I have quite a few that I have acquired over the years. This is a great weeknight recipe. It warms up well, too. 

IMG_2013.JPG

IMG_2006.JPG

 

IMG_2007.JPG

IMG_2009.JPG

IMG_2011.JPG

 

IMG_2014.JPG

Ingredients

1 can (28 oz.) Italian-style plum tomatoes, with their juices
1 can (16 oz.) cream-style corn
3 – 4 tsp. salt
1 medium-sized onion, sliced thin
1/4 cup olive oil
1 canned adobo chipotle chili (chopped)
1 cup milk
½ cup yellow cornmeal
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup pitted ripe olives
5 chicken thighs, cooked and shredded
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
Olive oil for drizzling

Directions

Sauté onion until golden. Add tomatoes, corn, salt, olive oil and chili powder in a large saucepan and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a mixing bowl, stir together the milk, cornmeal, and eggs; add to the tomato mixture and cook, stirring constantly to prevent scorching, until thick, about 15 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in the olives, chicken and about 1/2 cup of the cheese mixture.

Pour mixture into a lightly greased shallow ovenproof dish. Top with the remaining cheeses, drizzle with oil, and bake until the pie is firm and the cheese is crusty, 35 – 45 minutes. Serve piping hot.