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Showing posts with label baking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baking. Show all posts

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Not My Mama's Enchilada Casserole

Sorry, not the best photo!  But rest assured, this is quite yummy!
As long as I can remember, my family has been making Enchilada Casserole.  We eat a lot of Mexican food here in Texas (a.k.a. "Tex-Mex") and this casserole is great when you feel like eating Tex-Mex at home instead of visiting your local cantina!  It's also a great dish to take to a church potluck or any type of social gathering.  I have made it for many friends and it is always well liked by everyone!

The recipe my mother has always used is a bit different from the one I now make for my own family.  For instance, my mother's recipe uses ground beef and mine uses lean ground turkey.  I also add cilantro to my recipe, which her recipe does not include.  No worries ~ whether you make it with beef, turkey, or even ground chicken it will taste GREAT!  Just remember to add a bit of olive oil or vegetable oil to the pan when you use turkey or chicken, as they are quite a bit leaner than ground beef.

My version of the recipe is below ~ enjoy!!!











PENNY'S ENCHILADA CASSEROLE

1 lb. ground turkey
1 can cream of chicken soup (I use the fat-free kind)
1 can mild enchilada sauce (the red kind, not the green stuff)
1 can chopped green chiles (do not drain)
1 pkg. corn tortillas, quartered
1 small onion, chopped
2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped
2 cups Mexican blend shredded cheese or cheddar cheese
11/2  Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt (I prefer sea salt or kosher salt)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray large casserole dish with cooking spray (will make clean-up much easier!).

Take a large stack of corn tortillas and slice in half.  Take those halves and slice in two.  After slicing, you should have a bunch of little tortilla triangles.

In a large skillet, sautee the chopped onion in oil for several minutes.  Add ground turkey and season it with the garlic powder, black pepper, and salt.  Cook the turkey until no longer pink.

While the turkey is cooking, place a single layer of the tortilla triangles on the bottom of the casserole dish.  (It's okay if they overlap some!)


When the turkey is cooked through, add the chopped green chiles and the chopped fresh cilantro to the skillet and cook for a couple of more minutes.  Then stir in the cream of chicken soup and enchilada sauce.  Continue to cook the mixture for a couple of minutes so the flavors meld.  Turn off the heat.


As is you were making lasagna, you will layer the enchilada casserole in the following manner . . . layer of tortillas on bottom, place 2 or 3 large spoonfuls of turkey/soup mixture over the tortillas, then sprinkle shredded cheese on top on the turkey/soup mixture. Repeat layers.  The top of the casserole should be topped with any remaining cheese.


Bake the casserole uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes until bubbly.  Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Cake Anyone?

My stepmother made a chocolate chip cake for me after the birth of my daughter in 2002, and because it was so yummy I have been baking it ever since (have no idea where the original recipe came from!).  

This is my favorite "go-to" recipe for a quick and easy dessert and everyone always LOVES it!  I have made it many, many, many times and it always comes out perfectly moist and scrumptious!  I actually like to make it the DAY BEFORE serving it, as it tastes even better the second day!


Enjoy!!!
















CHOCOLATE CHIP CAKE

1 box yellow cake mix
1  3 oz. pkg. instant vanilla pudding
1  3 oz. pkg. instant chocolate pudding
1/2 cup vegetable oil (sometimes I use half veg. oil & half olive oil ~ tastes great!)
11/2 cups water
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup flour
4 eggs
powdered sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour bundt pan.  In a small bowl, combine flour and chocolate chips; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix and pudding mixes.  Add oil and water and beat 2 minutes.  Add eggs one at a time and beat well.  Stir in chocolate chips mixed with flour.  Pour batter into prepared bundt pan and bake for 1 hour.

After cake has completely cooled, remove from pan.  Dust with powdered sugar before cutting and serving.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

MY FIRST POST!

I am so excited to begin writing my first post!  I have never blogged before, so bear with me!!!  :-)  I am writing tonight just to tell you a little about myself so you can get to know me a bit and also to let you know what this blog will be about.


ABOUT ME . . .
I am a lucky Texas mother of 3 wonderful children (2 boys & a girl) ~ these kids bring such joy to my life!  After almost 15 years of marriage, I am currently going through the divorce process but we won't focus on that (staying positive and forging ahead!).  I have been a stay-at-home mom for the past 12 years and enjoy volunteering at my kids' schools.  In my 20's, I worked in the corporate arena as a Personal/Executive Assistant to several high profile executives and busy families in the Dallas area and had to leave my career behind, unfortunately, due to health issues in 2000.  I am self-employed now and work part-time from home supporting several busy female sales directors.  In addition to my administrative work, I have a side business ~ please feel free to visit my cool new website at http://www.marykay.com/pennys!

Below is a picture of two of my sweet kiddos and me, taken at Christmas.  My son is 13 and my daughter is 9.  I also have another son, not pictured, who is 22.

ABOUT MY BLOG . . . 
I have decided to start a blog because I enjoy baking, cooking, entertaining, decorating, and even crafting on occasion.  I am admittedly better at the cooking, baking, and entertaining however!  :-)  I feel this blog will be a great form of expression for me and perhaps may even be helpful to others as they search for recipes, cooking tips, entertaining ideas, inspiration, etc.!


Please come back and visit my blog often!  I am not the best writer, but will certainly give it a try and attempt to post regularly.


Before I end this post, I would like to share a really great quote my sister emailed to me earlier today.  I have no idea who wrote it, but it really moved me so I thought I would share it with you.  I hope it touches you, too!  :-)
"May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.  It is there for each and every one of us."
Thanks so much for visiting!!!