Enchilada Lasagna

1 1/2-2 pounds ground meat (or equivalent in shredded chicken, or textured tofu, sauteed mushrooms would work too)
18 soft corn tortillas, taco size (the small ones)
1 Large can (~28oz) Enchilada Sauce (I like Las Palmas red (good for kids, mild flavor) or green)
3 cups shredded cheese (Mexican blend works well, or you can use one smaller bag cheddar, one monterey jack)
1/4-1/2 red onion, chopped (optional)

Seasonings for the meat:
Use either a package of taco seasoning or

1/4 Cup Salsa (whatever you have in the fridge)
Hot sauce to taste (I like Tapatio, and use about 5 hearty shakes of the bottle)
Salt (shake a light covering over the pan)
Pepper (grind until you're happy)
Crushed/chopped garlic (optional, 1-2 cloves)
1/4-1/2 Cup water to dissolve salsa, etc. into the pan and meat

If you are going to cook chicken (2-3 large breasts or equivalent in dark/light meat) and then shred, add
1 can tomato sauce
and omit the water (don't use taco seasoning)

Brown/cook the meat, draining any excess liquid.

Preheat oven to 350F.

Grease or PAM the bottom and sides of a 9x13 baking dish.

Pour a bit of the enchilada sauce (ES) in the bottom to cover lightly.

Layer, overlapping, six tortillas into the bottom of the pan.
Apply a layer of meat for even coverage.
Top with an even layer of cheese to cover. (Insert sprinkling of onions here, if desired -- not so great with kids.)

Add six more tortillas, and cover with some of the ES, spreading out with the back of a large spoon (or spatula, whatevs).
Repeat meat and cheese layer.

Top with final six tortillas and remainder of enchilada sauce. Cover with a light layer of cheese (enough that it doesn't burn in the oven, but not so much that it's thick and goopy -- you want to see the edges of the tortillas and some sauce along the outside edges of the pan).

Bake for about 20 minutes (heated through) and the the dish is bubbling and cheese is melted.

Leftover meat and cheese can be used for taco night, burritos, etc.

You can do a version with black or pinto beans as part of the layers, but be careful that the layers don't get too thick, or you will overfill the pan.

Serve with [black beans and corn] Jennifer's Black Beans and Green Chiles and Mexican rice on the side.

Serves 6-12, depending on hunger, age/sex of guests, and pie slice size.

Let's all give VDog a hand for that tasty recipe! *a roar of applause from the crowd is heard*

Italian Beef

1 Roast (Rump, Top round...whatever)
1 jar of Pepperocinis (mild if you don't want your guts to catch fire)
1/2 yellow onion, sliced

Put the roast in the crock pot. Pour the jar of pepperocinis over the roast. Cook on low for 8-9 hours or on high for 5-6 hours. When there is about an hour or two left of cooking time, add sliced onions.

Yes. That's really it.

And dayum is it ever good.

Taco Bake

1 lb. of ground beef or turkey
1 can of Condensed tomato soup OR 1 can of red enchilada sauce*
1 C of salsa
1/2 C of milk
6 flour tortillas or 8 corn-tortillas** cut into 1 inch pieces
2 C of shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese (reserve about 1/2 C for sprinkling on top of casserole)
chopped onion to taste
Optional add ins: chopped black olives, chopped green chilies, drained black beans, chopped jalapenos.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook meat and onions together in a skillet. Add remaining ingredients, then spoon into a 2 pt. shallow baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes. Add reserved cheese, bake another 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with sour cream.

*I prefer this recipe with enchilada sauce.
**I think the corn tortillas are better in this recipe.

Technorati tags: Easy Recipe, Main Dish, Mexican, recipe

Chicken Fajita Breakfast Casserole

This Recipe is spectacular if you have leftover chicken fajitas...

1/4 Cup leftover chicken, shredded or cubed
A Few Strips of leftover green pepper strips, cut into small pieces
A Few Strips of leftover onion slices, cut into small pieces
4 Slices of whole wheat bread, crusts removed and broken into pieces
6 eggs
2 Cups milk, cream, or half-n-half
1/2 Cup of Shredded Cheddar Cheese
3-4 TB of Sour Cream (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Salsa

Spray a 8 X 8 Casserole dish with no-stick spray and line it with the broken up bread slices. Cover with chicken, green peppers, onions, cheese. Mix eggs, milk, salt and pepper until well blended. Pour egg mixture over bread. Refrigerate overnight.*

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Set casserole dish on stove top for about 20 minutes before baking. Put a few dollups of sour cream over the egg mixture. Bake 40-45 minutes or until knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Serve with salsa.

Serves 4-6.

*You don't have to refrigerate overnight, I've even cooked it without letting it sit. It's not as good, but if you don't have time for the refrigeration nonsense, it tastes just fine!

Related Recipes
Chicken Fajitas

Black Beans and Green Chiles

1 Can of Black beans
1 Can of chopped green chiles
1/2 tsp of cumin
Dash of Red Pepper (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix, heat, and serve. Voila.

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Chicken Fajitas

Technorati Tags: Mexican, Low Carb, Vegetarian, Side Dish, Recipe

Chicken Fajitas

4 Chicken Breasts, trimmed of fat, rinsed, and patted dry
1/2 white or yellow onion, cut into large chunks that can be cooked on an outdoor grill
1 green pepper, cut in half with seeds and stem removed

Marinate the above ingredients for 4-24 hours in the following:

1/2 C Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 C White Vinegar
Juice of 1 lime
1 clove of garlic, smashed
1/2 tsp cumin
Dash of red pepper (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Cook chicken, onion, and green pepper on the grill for approximately 20 minutes*, or until chicken has reached 180 degrees. Watch for flare-ups, the olive oil likes to try and catch fire. Slice the chicken, onion, and pepper into strips. Serve on warm tortillas, or over a bed of lettuce with sour cream, salsa, and shredded cheese.**

Serves 3-4 adults

*If it's raining and I can't use the grill, I have cooked the ingredients in the marinade in a large skillet on the stove. It's not as good as being cooked on the grill, but it works in a pinch.

**I usually serve this meal with Black Beans and Green Chiles.

Related Recipes
Chicken Fajita Breakfast Casserole
Black Beans and Green Chiles

Technorati Tags: Low Carb, Mexican, Salad, Recipes