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SusanJ Forum All-Star
Joined: May 25 2007 Location: New Jersey
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Posted: May 05 2008 at 12:41pm | IP Logged
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We're meeting a friend at a German restaurant to celebrate after dh defends his dissertation. Oops! There is a Mexican place next door so maybe we can vicariously celebrate without having to eat the subpar food (we love Mexican in general, by the way, just not that particular restaurant!).
Susan
__________________ Mom to Joseph-8, Margaret-6, William-4, Gregory-2, and new little one due 11/1
Life Together
[URL=http://thejohnstonkids.blogspot.com]The Kids' Blog[/UR
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MaryM Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005 Location: Colorado
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Posted: May 05 2008 at 1:12pm | IP Logged
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Oh, there was a day when we did this fiesta up big. I love Mexican food. Back when my oldest boys were little we used to host a Cinco de Mayo potluck with friends. It was so much fun. We haven't done it in years and of course the day has snuck up on us. We had chicken enchiladas last night (chicken for a bird - Ascension) - should have saved it for tonight.
We might go with our recent standby - If the Colorado Rockies score 7 runs in a game the next evening they sell tacos 4/$1. We've had that recently more than I care to admit - and wouldn't you know - they beat LA yesterday 7-2. We may just have to make a TB run.
__________________ Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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Matilda Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2007 Location: Texas
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Posted: May 05 2008 at 1:25pm | IP Logged
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For those of you still catching up from the weekend (like me!) how about easy sopapillas and a paper bag pinata. That is about the speed I am moving at today!
__________________ Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11, 10, 9 & 5) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
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missionfamily Forum All-Star
Joined: April 10 2007 Location: Louisiana
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Posted: May 05 2008 at 1:37pm | IP Logged
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Oh, I love sopapillas...I think we are going to have tortilla soup, but I'm not up for rolling homemad tortillas today as I have been every week. I didn't sleep well and my energy is fading fast. Margaritas, now that I could do. We will say the rosary for our friends in Mexico, missionaries as well as the friends we've made on our trips there, as well as for the finances to work out for our planned trip this summer.
__________________ Colleen
dh Greg
mom to Quinn,Gabriel, Brendan,Evan, Kolbe, and sweet St. Bryce
Footprints on the Fridge
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MaryM Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005 Location: Colorado
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Posted: May 05 2008 at 1:47pm | IP Logged
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JennGM wrote:
How to have some options that aren't teeth ruining candy. Ds has enough of it. Packages of raisins (although the dentist says those are bad for teeth, too. )? Granola bars, fruit leather... |
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We have done pennies and cheap plastic toys. Fake coins work, too (as real money can he heavy ). Small baggies of popcorn. I really don't think they care that much what's in it - just fun to have stuff pour out and go crazy trying to collect.
__________________ Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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Rebecca Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 30 2005 Location: N/A
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Posted: May 05 2008 at 3:02pm | IP Logged
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I am making my honey's favorite chicken enchiladas along with Pioneer Woman's Mexican-ish Mac and Cheese. (Pioneer Woman can be a bit racy at times--just a caution--but her food is oh so good) The grownups are also having margaritas on the rocks.
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folklaur Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: N/A
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Posted: May 05 2008 at 4:35pm | IP Logged
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Fish Tacos, probably.
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Angie Mc Board Moderator
Joined: Jan 31 2005 Location: Arizona
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Posted: May 05 2008 at 6:50pm | IP Logged
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We're making homemade refried beans, homemade tomatilla salsa, and homemade corn tortillas. Well...I fudged a little...my *dd* is making all of the above .
MacBeth wrote:
Mary Chris wrote:
I just buy frozen margarita mix and skip the tequila. I serve it in our pretty magarita classes and add some salt to the rim. Lemonade slushies work too! |
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My kids love Margarita slushies...and I get the tequila.
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Now why didn't I think of this? Thank you, ladies!
Love,
__________________ Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
About Me
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Red Cardigan Forum Pro
Joined: June 16 2007 Location: N/A
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Posted: May 05 2008 at 8:22pm | IP Logged
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Well, not really authentic, but I made this.
I double everything but the corn (and I just use plain corn), which makes 8-10 servings (enough for leftovers for our family!).
Thanks for this thread--I forgot about Cinco de Mayo and would probably have made something a lot harder for dinner!
__________________ http://www.redcardigan.blogspot.com
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Tina P. Forum All-Star
Joined: June 28 2005 Location: N/A
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Posted: May 05 2008 at 9:00pm | IP Logged
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Oh MacBeth and Molly, at least you REMEMBERED!
We had tacos, but it was because we got home too late to have the beef I slow cooked to shredded tenderness yesterday! That's what I call a lucky mistake.
__________________ Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
Mary's Muse
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teachingmom Forum All-Star
Virginia Bluebells
Joined: Feb 16 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: May 07 2008 at 12:31am | IP Logged
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I missed this yesterday, but have to share that I was so excited about our Cinco de Mayo dinner! My mother-in-law has been visiting from AZ. She makes dh's favorite meal - enchiladas - with enchilada sauce from scratch. I have felt like a second rate wife using enchilada sauce from a can all these years.
Finally yesterday, I made enchilada sauce from scratch with directions from my m-i-l, whose knees are too weak these days for her to stand in the kitchen. It was interesting following her directions from across the room and bringing her spoonfuls of the sauce to taste as we went along.
The chicken enchildas (made with flour tortillas, which we prefer) turned out delicious!!!
Oh, and dh made yummy strawberry Margaritas too.
__________________ ~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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MaryM Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005 Location: Colorado
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Posted: May 07 2008 at 1:43am | IP Logged
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teachingmom wrote:
Finally yesterday, I made enchilada sauce from scratch with directions from my m-i-l, whose knees are too weak these days for her to stand in the kitchen. It was interesting following her directions from across the room and bringing her spoonfuls of the sauce to taste as we went along.
The chicken enchildas (made with flour tortillas, which we prefer) turned out delicious!!! |
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Way to go! So now can you share the recipe? Or will you need to sit in my kitchen and try the sauce - one of those kind of recipes? Great story.
__________________ Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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Molly Smith Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 08 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: May 07 2008 at 6:10am | IP Logged
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We did pull together some quesadillas, but I wanted to share our dessert! It's a variation of a Rachel Ray recipe. Cut flour tortillas into wedges, put on baking sheet, brush all over with melted butter, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and bake at 400 for 5-7 minutes until crispy. Serve with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce. Oh my goodness, it was sooooo good!
Here is Rachel Ray's recipe, which sounds terrific, but I was determined to just use what I had on hand and stay out of the grocery!!
__________________ Molly Smith in VA
Mom to seven beautiful children, ages 1-14
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teachingmom Forum All-Star
Virginia Bluebells
Joined: Feb 16 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: May 09 2008 at 12:22am | IP Logged
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MaryM wrote:
So now can you share the recipe? |
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Sure! This is from the notes I took for the enchilada sauce:
Enchilada Sauce
Heat 8 cups of water on the stove in a big pot. Add 8 teaspoons powdered chicken bouillon and stir to dissolve. Take some of the liquid and put it in the blender. Add 5 Tablespoons chili powder and 1/3 cup of flour. (You can substitute cornstarch for the flour for a gluten free sauce.) Blend for a few seconds. Add that back to the big pot and heat until reduced a bit. (About 20 minutes or so.)
This makes enough sauce for 24 flour tortillas. Half of the recipe will work for a dozen enchiladas.
********
It's important to use good chili powder. I went to two different international food stores looking for the kind my m-i-l wanted in the small cellophane packets.
You do not have to do the blender step, but my m-i-l says it really keeps the flour from lumping up. (She does this for gravies too.) That amount of flour did not really make the sauce thicken up, like I thought it would. I might try a bit more next time. But the canned enchilada sauce is pretty thin too.
To make the enchiladas, I just put enchilada sauce in a deep plate and dip a tortilla into the sauce, covering both sides thoroughly. Then I put grated cheese, onions, and cooked chicken (optional) in the middle of each tortilla and roll it up. I cannot handle chopping onions because of ultra sensitive eyes. I buy chopped onions in the frozen vegetable section of the grocery store and they work great. I pour any extra sauce over all the rolled up tortillas in the pan and cover with more grated cheese and bake (uncovered) at 375 for about 30-40 minutes.
My m-i-l seemed very shocked that I was using flour tortillas. In order to consider them genuine enchiladas, you need to use corn tortillas. I told her that the only way I could make corn tortillas roll up without breaking, was to fry them in oil, so using flour tortillas without frying seemed healthier. She told me a trick to using corn tortillas, without frying them. If you put them in a hot oven for just a short time (less than a minute) or even microwave them for a few seconds, they become soft enough to roll up without falling apart. I might try that in the future, but all of us in my family really prefer the taste of the flour tortillas.
__________________ ~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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Molly Smith Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 08 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: May 09 2008 at 4:54am | IP Logged
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teachingmom wrote:
She told me a trick to using corn tortillas, without frying them. If you put them in a hot oven for just a short time (less than a minute) or even microwave them for a few seconds, they become soft enough to roll up without falling apart. I might try that in the future, but all of us in my family really prefer the taste of the flour tortillas.
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I found a recipe at Taste of Home, that I've used several times successfully, where you warm the enchilada sauce in a small frying pan and let the corn tortilla soak in it for a minute or so. I transfer one tortilla to a plate and stick another one in the pan while I'm filling the first, and so on until they're finished. I love corn tortillas, but have never had success with microwaving them.
__________________ Molly Smith in VA
Mom to seven beautiful children, ages 1-14
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JennGM Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: May 13 2008 at 4:01pm | IP Logged
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Molly Smith wrote:
teachingmom wrote:
She told me a trick to using corn tortillas, without frying them. If you put them in a hot oven for just a short time (less than a minute) or even microwave them for a few seconds, they become soft enough to roll up without falling apart. I might try that in the future, but all of us in my family really prefer the taste of the flour tortillas.
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I found a recipe at Taste of Home, that I've used several times successfully, where you warm the enchilada sauce in a small frying pan and let the corn tortilla soak in it for a minute or so. I transfer one tortilla to a plate and stick another one in the pan while I'm filling the first, and so on until they're finished. I love corn tortillas, but have never had success with microwaving them. |
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I don't think I've ever had enchiladas, but it sure sounds good. Do they have to have cheese?
Cook's Illustrated (or was it Consumer Reports ) recently rated corn tortillas. I need to find that issue, but Trader Joes was their best rated.
__________________ Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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MaryM Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005 Location: Colorado
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Posted: May 13 2008 at 4:37pm | IP Logged
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Molly Smith wrote:
where you warm the enchilada sauce in a small frying pan and let the corn tortilla soak in it for a minute or so. |
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Yes, this is the way I've always done it - I think it's pretty much the standard way.
__________________ Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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Tina P. Forum All-Star
Joined: June 28 2005 Location: N/A
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Posted: May 13 2008 at 4:59pm | IP Logged
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I probably shouldn't admit this in front of all the gourmet chefs around here, but the only enchiladas I've ever made are made in a slow cooker and use leftover turkey from Thanksgiving.
It's based on a recipe found in Six Ingredients or Less Slow Cooker. I usually triple or quadruple it.
2 cups cubed, cooked chicken (or in our case turkey)
3 cups shredded Pepper Jack cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup milk
6 flour tortillas
The chicken and cheese mixture goes into each tortilla. Place seam side down in a sprayed/oiled slow cooker. Pour the soup mixture over the top covering completely. Sprinkle any remaining chicken mixture over the top. Cook on high about 2 hours. Makes 4 servings.
Being one who can't leave recipes alone, I experiment with seasonings, enchilada sauce instead of soup, etc. But you get the general idea.
__________________ Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
Mary's Muse
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teachingmom Forum All-Star
Virginia Bluebells
Joined: Feb 16 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: May 13 2008 at 6:59pm | IP Logged
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MaryM wrote:
Molly Smith wrote:
where you warm the enchilada sauce in a small frying pan and let the corn tortilla soak in it for a minute or so. |
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Yes, this is the way I've always done it - I think it's pretty much the standard way. |
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That sounds great. Thanks for the tip!
JennGM wrote:
I don't think I've ever had enchiladas, but it sure sounds good. Do they have to have cheese? |
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Unfortunately, that's the only way I've ever seen them. And the cheese adds a lot of the moisture, so making them with just the tortillas and sauce and meat might end up rather dry. Anyone tried this?
__________________ ~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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Molly Smith Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 08 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: May 14 2008 at 2:37am | IP Logged
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Yeah, I don't see how you could completely leave out the cheese, but here is a recipe for White Bean Enchiladas that I've made quite a few times. It calls for very little cheese, so you could try leaving it out altogether and see what happens. Can you do sour cream? If so, I'd add extra sour cream to make the beans more creamy since there won't be cheese holding everything together.
__________________ Molly Smith in VA
Mom to seven beautiful children, ages 1-14
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