Eating Healthy in a Tough Economy!

What's on Your Friday Night, Yippee the Weekend is here, menu?  Tonight, we are having Enchiladas.  This is a great meal, takes a little time to prepare, but oh so good!  This is a meal that you can get the whole family involved in.  I have made this dish for a long time and the recipe is truly in my head but just for you, I am writing it down!  The first thing you must do is be ok that this will take a bit of time, so it is not for the faint of heart on a week night when you need something quick.  It is a family affair and the results are wonderful food enjoyed by all.
“This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook- try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!”~Julia Childs~

This is a practiced attempt at being creative with a recipe, learning from mistakes.  I hope you enjoy it too!

Ranae's Enchiladas
1 lb. ground hamburger
1/2 c. chopped onions
2 tbs. chile powder
1 tsp. cumin
2 cans pinto beans, drained and pureed
1/2 c. of your favorite salsa
2 c.shredded mild cheddar cheese or cheddar Monterrey jack cheese
low fat sour cream or plain low-fat yogurt
10 large flour tortillas
Homemade sauce:
2 to 3 Tbs. Canola Oil
1/4 c. flour
1 small can tomato paste
2 to 3 Tbs. chile powder
1 tsp. cumin
4c. water
Directions for Enchiladas:
Brown hamburger and onions, drain.  Add 2 Tbs. chile powder and 1 tsp. cumin. Salt and pepper to your liking. Puree pinto beans and add salsa and mix together, warm this in your microwave on reheat setting for 2 to 3 minutes, just so it is warm. Spread approximately 2 Tbs. of bean and salsa mixture on bottom of tortilla, then, add 1 to 2 Tbs. of the hamburger mixture.  Sprinkle 1 tbs. cheese and roll up.  Place in 13x9 pan (spray pan with non-stick spray oil).  Continue this until they are all rolled.
Directions for Enchilada Sauce:
Put 2 Tbs. canola oil in large fry pan, heat slightly, sprinkle 1/4 cup flour into oil, add chile powder and cumin, salt and pepper to your liking.  Cook this mixture slightly.  Add water to this and prepare just like you would a sauce or gravy.  Add tomato paste.  Pour mixture over enchiladas.  Sprinkle remaining shredded cheese over top.  Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes until cheese slightly brown.  If you like it to be really brown, at end of cooking, place under broiler for 1 to 2 minutes, watch closely.  Garnish with lettuce, tomato, salsa, black olives and sour cream or low fat yogurt.  Enjoy!!!

So, next time you think you do not have time, YES You do!  Cooking is a breeze especially if you make it fun!        
Note:  I used pinto beans and salsa:  1.  I can control the fat and salt content. 2. Typically this is cheaper than purchasing a can of refried beans.  I like to cook beans from dried beans on a day off, I then cool them off a bit, mash them up and freeze them in quart size bags.  This is the most economical way and again, you can control the salt and fat.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Ready to roll up

                                                                                                         

Pinto Beans& Salsa 

oil, flour, chile powder and cumin

Refried beans first

Ready for sauce

Finished!

Let's Eat!

               

 When you are thinking:  I don't have time for that, yes you do!  I leave you with a fun reminder that if you put your mind to it, yes, you can make your cooking experience healthy and fun.  Find Joy in your kitchen!