Mexican Archives

Enchilada Casserole

Left-Over Chicken

A few days ago, I made a roast chicken and we only ate a little of it. The thing sat in my refrigerator like a giant elephant mocking me because I couldn’t think what to do with it. We had tacos from it on Cinco de Mayo, but that didn’t use up all the chicken. I also had some left-over charred Anaheim chilis and some charred Italian tomatoes sitting in the refrigerator. It seemed I had the ingredients for enchiladas.

When we went to the store, I bought extra tortillas and extra sauce for my enchiladas. Yes, I buy canned sauce. It’s good and I don’t have to make it from scratch – but sometimes I do, like when I make Enchiladas with Three Pepper Sauce. But, I didn’t want to spend Mother’s Day in front of a hot stove, so I got the canned sauce. I also didn’t feel like burning my fingers rolling up hot tortillas. A layered casserole would be appealing and a lot easier.

Cheesy Jalapeno Cornbread with Creamed Corn

Cheesy Jalapeno Cornbread with Creamed Corn is rich, moist, and flavorful. Have it with chili, or just by itself.

Green Chili Pork Stew for Cinco De Mayo!

Green Chili Pork Stew

This is a very versatile recipe because you can make it on the stovetop or you can make it in the Instant Pot. It’s also perfect for a Dutch oven, and you can use both methods together depending on how you like to cook. You can also add spice to make it spicier, or delete if you don’t like spicy.

Enchiladas with Three Pepper Sauce

I have been making these Enchiladas with Three Pepper Sauce for years. They are similar to Enchiladas Verde or Enchiladas Suizas. Even though there are three different types of peppers in the sauce, Pablano, Anaheim, and Jalapeño, the sauce is very mild. Because the peppers and tomatoes are charred, the flavor is really spectacular.

Marinated Flank Steak Tacos

Corn vs Flour Tortilla Nutrition
	One Corn Tortilla	One Flour Tortilla
Calories	40	110
Total Fat(g)	0.5	2.5
Carbs (g)	8	18
Fiber (g)	1	1
Sugar (g)	1	1
Protein (g)	1	3
Sodium (g)	5	320

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Flank Steak Tacos

I love to find uncommon cuts of meat on sale. I found a flank steak that I was planning on stuffing, and put it in the refrigerator, hoping that it would get cool enough to warrant heating the kitchen to cook it.
Alas, that did not happen, and to prevent that meat from getting freezer burn, I decided to make tacos out of it.

I won’t use taco seasoning packets, they are full of fillers, salt and preservatives. Why pay for that stuff when you can make it at home – without all the nasty fillers and preservatives.

The great debate about tortillas. When Hernán Cortés invaded the Aztecs, they were using corn tortillas. Wheat tortillas are a relatively recent import. Their popularity was driven by the low cost of inferior grades of wheat flour and by their ability to keep and ship well. Wheat tortillas don’t have much flavor, and are probably popular because their appeal to bland American taste buds. But, those taste buds need to change, as corn is a lot healthier than wheat, as you can see in the comparison table.

Lemon Margarita Bavarian Creams

These alcohol-free Lemon Margarita Bavarian Creams are festive and easy to make. You can have them as a dessert for your Mexican-themed dinner. Enjoy!

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Meat grilled and ready for chopping

The word Chimichurri reminds me so much of Chim-Chim Cher-ee that I can’t help but get the song stuck in my head. I would change the words a bit though, “Good luck will rub off when I barbecue you, or blow me a kiss (smoke), and that’s lucky, too.” Chimichurri is a sauce for grilled meats that originated in Argentina. It is made from finely chopped parsley, minced garlic, olive oil, oregano, and white or red vinegar. It also makes a fine marinade for flap steak on the grill. Here’s the real words:

Chim chiminey
Chim chiminey
Chim chim cher-oo!
Good luck will rub off when

I shake ‘ands with you
Or blow me a kiss
And that’s lucky too

Chim-Chim Cher-ee from “Mary Poppins”, composed by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman

The best meat for this is flap steak, because it is thin, meaty and marinades beautifully. It should be cooked on the grill on high heat, directly over the coals. Let it rest for a few minutes before chopping it up. Flap steak is available in most supermarkets.

Usually, I heat tortillas on the stove top, and I thought to myself, why not just put them on the grill? You know what, they were nice and soft, and fantastic!

Microwave Mexican Rice with Pork Loin Tacos for Cinco De Mayo

Microwave Mexican Rice

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So, a few weeks ago I was at the market and there was a package of Uncle Ben’s Taco rice in the Manager’s Special section. I thought, hey, why not? It might be good. I prepared it according to package directions on Tuesday. When Spane tasted it, he made a face. I tasted it, and I made a face, too. I even put Tapatio on it, and sour cream, and it still tasted like dirty, old socks. Mind you, I’ve never tasted dirty, old socks, but I imagine they probably taste like that rice – horrible. Moral of the story, don’t by Uncle Ben’s flavored rice.

After that debacle, I was determined to make good Mexican rice, but my stove, Bertha, is on the fritz. I had to find another way to make it.

I also had a pork loin roast, and I wanted to marinate it, but, it too, could not be roasted in Bertha. I had to find another way for that as well.

Mexican Feast
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This afternoon when I was at the local store, I had a taste for Mexican food. I already had frozen taquitos in my freezer (I’m too lazy to make them myself), so all I needed was avocado. Well, surprise, surprise my little store didn’t have any, so I decided to make the white sauce similar to the fish taco white sauce at Rubio’s.

I also had some cabbage in the refrigerator. I love cabbage and it’s very good with Mexican food. I picked up a can of black beans so I could make the same black bean dip I used for my Black Bean Tacos.

Elena's Chicken Shish Kabob - the Number 7 plate - my favorite

Quick Meatless Enchiladas

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Quick Meatless Enchiladas

There is a wonderful restaurant in Glendale, California, called Elena’s Greek Armenian Cuisine that we go to quite frequently. The rice pilaf is just the best, I could eat it every day. Dinners are usually served with a tomato and green Anaheim chili that have been grilled on the barbecue. Often, we don’t finish everything, so I wind up picking up the rice, tomato, and chili pepper in a to go box.

In 2010, I threw together a dish for Teacher Appreciation Day at my son, Spane’s elementary school. I was in a rush, and when I was asked later how I made it, I didn’t even remember. In 2012, the PTA is now putting out a cookbook, and I was again asked about that recipe, so I started wracking my brain to figure out what it was.

Tonight, being a Friday, and wanting to use up leftovers, but not eat meat, I remembered there was a box from Elena’s in the refrigerator. I also had some corn tortillas, some cheddar cheese, and a half-full jar of green enchilada sauce. Serendipitously, while making this, I rediscovered that old recipe!

Enchilada Casserole

Left-Over Chicken

Cheesy Jalapeno Cornbread with Creamed Corn

Green Chili Pork Stew for Cinco De Mayo!

Green Chili Pork Stew

Enchiladas with Three Pepper Sauce

Marinated Flank Steak Tacos

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Lemon Margarita Bavarian Creams

Chimichurri Flap Steak Tacos

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Meat grilled and ready for chopping

Microwave Mexican Rice with Pork Loin Tacos for Cinco De Mayo

Microwave Mexican Rice

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Mexican Feast – Coleslaw, Black Bean Dip and Taquitos with White Sauce

Mexican Feast
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Quick Meatless Enchiladas

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Left-Over Chicken

Green Chili Pork Stew

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Recipes in this PostMeat grilled and ready for chopping

Microwave Mexican Rice

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Mexican FeastRecipes in this Post

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Our Favorite Cooking Quotes

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Meat grilled and ready for chopping

Mexican Feast
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