It Ain't Food Network.....But They Eat It!

Crock Pot Enchiladas

This is a recipe adapted from my "Fix It and Forget It, Lightly" cookbook.

Makes 6 servings
Crock Pot size: 4 quart

1 lb. ground beef (I weigh mine to get that part just right)
1 cup onions, chopped
1/2 cup green peppers, chopped
2~16 oz cans of pinto beans, drained and rinsed (recipe calls for 1 can black beans and either 1 of kidney or pinto)
10 oz. Ro-Tel (I used mild cause Brayden doesn't like hot stuff)
1 cup water
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
dash of red pepper flakes
1 cup shredded low-fat sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded low-fat Monterey Jack cheese
6 flour tortillas (6 or 7 inches)

In a large skillet with a lid, brown beef, onions and green peppers. Add remaining ingredients, except cheeses and tortillas. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Combine cheeses in a bowl. In your crock pot, layer about 3/4 c. of beef mixture, one tortilla, and about 1/4 c. cheese. Repeat layers until all ingredients are used. Cover and cook on low 3-4 hours.
My 4 quart crock pot gets a lot hotter than my other 2, so I only use it when I am going to be home to make sure it doesn't burn. Unless I am making soup since that doesn't burn. Really all you are waiting on is for the cheese to melt and it to get bubbly since everything is already cooked. In fact, I put it in the crock pot at 3:00 and we ate at 5:45 and the bottom was almost too done. I have made it before with the black beans and everyone ate it fine but I just don't care for black beans. They just look gross, so I use all pinto beans now. We also top ours with Cholula Hot sauce. It's the best!

It Ain't Food Network, But They Eat It....Tuesday!

I found a recipe on allrecipes.com last week and I used it as a base for a soup last night. There were things I didn't like about it, like beer, and how the chicken was cooked, so I changed it and this is what I came up with. It was really good. And you know how much I like a crock pot recipe! I used my 4 quart crock pot for this one and it was a perfect size.

Crock Pot Chicken Taco Soup

1 onion, chopped
1 (16 ounce) can chili beans
1 (15 ounce) can black beans
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
(I used corn that I froze from the garden. Nana Nana boo boo!)
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 cups chicken stock
2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning
already cooked and shredded chicken
(I used 1 1/2 cups because that is what I had in the freezer from the last whole crock pot chicken)
shredded Cheddar cheese (optional)
sour cream (optional)
crushed tortilla chips (optional)
Directions
Place the onion, chili beans, black beans, corn, tomato sauce, chicken stock, already cooked chicken and diced tomatoes in a slow cooker. Add taco seasoning, and stir to blend. Set slow cooker for low heat, cover, and cook for 5-7 hours. Serve topped with shredded Cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and crushed tortilla chips, if desired.

The verdict:
I used original Ro-Tel tomatoes and the spice was just right for me. The big boys added a blob of sour cream and it toned it down just right for them. Bryson looked at it and threw himself in the floor and screamed, "I don't like that!"

So, if you are afraid it will be too hot, use the mild Ro-Tel. And I think it comes in a hotter version if you are brave enough. I liked it just the way I made it. And I know that doesn't sound like much chicken, but I figured with 2 cans of beans we would have enough protein anyway so I wasn't that worried about it. So pretty much you can use whatever you have on hand. That makes this recipe even better doesn't it?

So now, for my Mexican eating friends (you know who you are!) this is a great recipe to make on nights when you have too much to do to cook dinner! The only prep I had to do was chop the onion and I got to thinking about all the onions that I let go bad at my house. So now I think I will chop some of the onions (because it is cheaper to buy the big bag) and freeze them in small quantities so next time I seriously will just dump it all in and go.

Enjoy!
Sara