Cheese & Onion Enchiladas with Tex-Mex Chili Gravy

Don't let my platinum blonde hair color fool you (Spare me the quips on blonde jokes, please. I used to tell them, and now I am a blonde! )  As a young kind (see below) was born with thick black hair, that turned light golden. As I began to mature, my hair turned the shade of my father's dark brunette. In my early 20's, grey hairs began to reveal themselves startlingly early.  My mother's German DNA was beginning to take over my father's Mexican DNA.  Pardon the pun, but I do have Hispanic roots.

 Dad, Mom, Me (check out the German Dirndl), Alan (nice Lederhosen, eh?) and Fred

While my dad was stationed in Austria, he met the woman who would become his wife, and mother to his children.   My late father was born in Oxnard California. His father came from Spain, and married a woman of California-Indian descent.  I'm still searching for my ancestry, but haven't discovered a lot about my Great-Grandmother.  Dad's mom (my "Nana") passed away when I was in elementary school, and we didn't visit her often.  (I suspect that the Mother-In-law & Daughter-In-Law wasn't the most loving.) However, I can vividly remember how she made homemade tortillas and refried beans.  To this day, I cannot eat refried beans without flour tortillas. It's blasphemy!  I'm thankful that Nana taught her daughter-in-law (that would be my "Mutti") how to make Beef Enchiladas that are out-of-this world good.  I can make them, from memory, and they have become infamous among my family and lifelong friends as "DA's Enchiladas"...and, if I do say so myself, they are addicting!

So, I got to thinking-- why is it that I don't share more of the Mexican recipes that I have been making for decades?  Mexican cooking has become so much of my cooking repertoire that I've never thought to create a recipe with measurements.  As soon as the holidays slow down, I will start to do that.

Chili Gravy is an entirely new discovery for me.  I don't like canned Enchilada sauce.  I never have, and I make my own (yes, I'll post it). I bookmarked this recipe a while ago, when  I saw on a blog that I have been following for quite some time, called "Eating Etc."    I love Cheese & Onion Enchiladas, and I've been known to order this at a local Mexican take-out restaurant.  After reading her recipe, I soon realized that I could make this very easily, because I have all of these recipes on hand.   I decided to do a little research on Chili Gravy, and this is what I found:

Chili gravy” (or “chile gravy") has been called the soul of Tex-Mex. It’s popularly served with enchiladas (and is sometimes called “enchilada sauce"), but is served with tamales and other dishes as well. The brown gravy with Mexican spices has been described as neither truly American nor Mexican. Chili gravy is said to have been invented by Anglo-owned Mexican restaurants, such as those in San Antonio.

“Chili gravy” is cited in print from at least the 1890s. “Chili gravy” was sold in cans by the early 1900s. 

-Source: The Big Apple

DISCLAIMER: The few times that my California feet have touched Texas soil is making a flight connection through Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport.  Decades ago, I drove through Texas on a endless long car journey from Florida to California. We never stopped there to eat, as we were headed to Las Cruces, New Mexico.  Therefore, I have not experience true and authentic Tex-Mex.  There appear to be many different versions to making Chili Gravy. With that said, I'm sharing this particular recipe with you, because I loved so many things about the recipe. First, the chili gravy is very fast to make:

While I prefer using fresh herbs and garlic, I do keep an ample supply of dried spices and herbs. You need, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, chili powder, salt & pepper. Odds are (if you love Mexican food) you have these on hand.  Begin with heating oil in a medium skillet (or a pot) over medium-high heat. Stir in flour and continue stirring for 3-4 minutes, or until it makes a light brown roux.

Add remaining the spices  ingredients and continue to cook for 1 minute, constantly stirring and blending ingredients.

This step is important, because "blooming" the spices really brings out the flavors. Trust me.

Add chicken broth, mixing and stirring until the sauce thickens.  Turn heat to low and let sauce simmer for 15 minutes. May add water chicken broth to adjust thickness, if necessary.  NOTE: I added more chicken broth, as this gravy becomes surprisingly thick.  See what I mean?

I present to you Chili Gravy in 20 minutes. Amen.

VERDICT:  I think I've discovered one of Tex-Mex's best kept secrets. I really need to travel to the Southwest (or is it Southeast?) more often.  This chili gravy is liquid gold, I tell ya!  I'm used to a tomato-based enchiladas sauce, but this gravy has a smoky flavor of cumin that comes through. The chili powder doesn't overpower the flavor one bit. The ratios are perfect, to me, keeping in mind this is my first (and not last) venture into making this Tex-Mex sauce.  I can already imagine the possibilities... where was I? Roll up your sleeves, I'm about to take you one more level into cheesy goodness. Grab your Lipitor, because we're kicking up the flavors a few pounds notches:

Ask your husband to  Grate cheese. Lots of it.  I used a blend of medium and sharp cheddar. Mince some onion.  NOTE:  I rarely buy pre-grated cheese.  Did you know that you can often find corn starch and additives so that the cheese doesn't clump?  Just sayin'...

Pour 1 to 2 teaspoons oil in a small or medium skillet and heat tortillas, one at a time, on each side. Layer on plate and cover with paper towels (blot them) until all are heated.  NOTE: We're not making taco shells, so you don't need a LOT of oil, and you aren't trying to deep-fry them. We're just softening them a bit.
TIP: I've been known to quickly wet corn tortillas and to steam them in the microwave.  Pour about 1/2 cup  sauce into the bottom of a casserole dish or 7x9 dish.

Add some cheese and chopped onion.  (Yes, you can use beef, chicken, tofu, whatever sounds good to you.)

 Here we go...That's right...cover the enchiladas with this tasty chili gravy

.

We're not finished yet! We need more cheese...and more onion.

I made a smaller casserole and used some pre-shredded cheese blend that I buy at Trader Joe's. What? Didn't I just denounce the virtues of pre-shredded cheese?  Okay, I do buy these for pure convenience and I wanted to compare the results. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.  The oven should be preheated to 450F. Bake until bubbly. In my oven, that took about 20 minutes. Oh, look!

Our kitchen smelled like a local cantina.  Corn tortillas and sauce... Mmmmm.

Rather than serving beans and rice, I did make a healthy Honey-Lime vinaigrette with a fresh Spring Mix and some grated Cotija cheese.  I'll have to recreate that dressing, as it was worthy of guiltless second helpings.

 ...though I have to say that a side of beans and rice would be quite lovely. 

My husband and I each ate two three, Forgive help us.  

VERDICT: Excellent!  Easy.  Perfect make-ahead meal to put together on a busy work night.  Make double...triple the chili sauce. Freeze it. Can it. Sell it!  So, um the next morning day I had some chili gravy left over...

...and I made three more enchiladas and added some sliced black olives.  I can clearly see the difference in using pre-grated cheese, though. It baked a lot drier and browned more.  Minor details, though.  

...but it tasted just a delicious. Maybe even more.

I think the chili gravy could easily be adapted for a vegetarian, by substituting vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.  I have my sights set on slathering scrambled eggs with this gravy.  I have visions of a breakfast-style casserole with tortilla chips, and cheese and.... well, I'm listening. Any other suggestions?

Thanks, Lady JayPee for posting this recipe.  Please pop in and pay her site a visit. She shares the same mission that I have in the way that I cook and bake--  scratch ingredients, fresh, organic and home-grown, when possible.  I've made her Corral Rolls and her Chocolate Cake with Caramel Frosting several times. They are family favorites.

I have posted a printable recipe for the enchiladas and the chili gravy.  If you try this, and I hope that you do, you will never have to order this at a restaurant. It's that good!

Best Chocolate Cake 2010

Best Chocolate Cake Recipe

Like many of my generation, I was sent to boarding school at a young age. There, we had insufficient food is available and the poor. I am also close to the inadequacy of food poisoning on an empty stomach, yes promote appetite for all things sweet, there was time. This is my memory of chocolate cake, my parents, rarely come into play when they visited me in boarding school, my mother always brought me a chocolate cake. Yes, all the whole cake for themselves.

Best Chocolate Cake Ever Recipe

Currently, other schools, such as the establishment of monasteries polite provide my sisters for life inadequate and it was the practice for the goods you want to share with them at one table in the cafeteria of the school . I did not, despite the rules in reverse in. juvenile I, we are off to tuck all the lockers in our dormitory squirreled other boys slowly that it threatens the hoarding of food about 1 It is not at the dead of night, was swallowed up. Salivary juice yet I secretly filled chocolate cake into my mouth, when considering the massive rust without them, please run riot in my mouth. Their insatiable appetite for something sweet immediately melts on the tongue.
Even then, I dabbled in my chocolate cake in the kitchen, in the case of ground almonds and flour, rice flour than usual took place partially or completely, it can remember. The cake, the icing of the two on the way butter icing, glace icing on top of it was. Many years later, I brought a chocolate cake joy of this school very much, recipes, please remember asking my mother. Ambiguous in a way characteristic of her, but she has promised to find it, that she was, she took the secrets of cooking has made it her grave.

Best Ever Chocolate Cake

Over the years, this cake again I may not be the result of regularly comes to mind, a sense of sadness that I can create and share a day of sadness came with my sister. To my surprise, she also has a memory of our mother's chocolate cake, the recipe, she was going. She then produced a chocolate cake recipe was created by those close to our youth when she told me that the encounter. This, Tasmin Day-Lewis, in the west of Ireland Summers, has been described in cookbook. This dish, it is pure serendipity that the author dwells on memories of the food children eat during the summer on the west coast of Mayo, I am a happy summer vacation of my youth in this part of the country too Having a.

Best Chocolate Cake Made With Buttermilk

Tasmin Many thanks to the Deiruisu, I'm now so that you can share this recipe. My sister was right. My sweet addiction, always have done, this cake is chock rank and school dormitory bed, I drifted back to food is straight forward for chocolate cake made by my mother.
175 g good dark chocolate chopped
175 g butter
175 Caster sugar
4 eggs separated
85 Ground Almond
85 g flour

Whole walnuts to decorate

Rich Chocolate Icing:

125 g good dark chocolate chopped
40 g butter
50 Caster sugar
85 Ml Cream

First, make icing. Put all ingredients in a bowl of hot water in the pan, stir gently over low heat. Smooth when left to cool in the refrigerator, where I put, it is thick as it cools, making it easier to become popular.
Mark preheated 180C/350F/Gas 4 oven. Grease two 18 cm sandwich cans. Melt chocolate in a bowl of hot water in a pot.
Cream butter and sugar (this is easily done in a food processor), then eggs, almonds, flour, egg yolks and add the melted chocolate one at a time.
Whipping egg whites are a little quiet until they form soft peaks, fold them into the mixture.
Divide the mixture between the oven and cook about 20 / 2 cans each sandwich. Cool slightly and then cans, leave found in a wire rack.
When cold, spread with no freezing my half sandwich and cake with the other half at the top you want to decorate the entire nut.

Cheese & Rosemary Shortbread Crackers

Today's post is one of the simplest and quickest savory snack crackers that were a lovely complement to the Roasted Butternut Squash & Apple Soup that I made last weekend.  I discovered this recipe on Style at Home.com,  The only change I made to the original recipe was that I used a Quattro Formaggio blend of shredded cheese, instead of white cheddar.  If there had been white cheddar in my fridge, I would have used it. The four-cheese blend, that I buy at Trader Joe's has Fontina, Asiago, Parmesan and Mild Provolone cheese.

Fortunately, we have a healthy rosemary bush in our yard. I chopped a couple of sprigs of rosemary to equal about two teaspoons.  Thyme would be a nice substitute, too.

In a bowl, I measured about 1-1/4 cups of shredded cheese. To that I added 3/4 cup of unbleached flour, 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper and 1/4 teaspoon of coarse salt.

...and 1/2 teaspoon of dry mustard

I also decided to kick up the flavor with a pinch of Cayenne....

...and then the finely chopped rosemary.

You need a stick of softened unsalted butter. Yes, one stick. (That's why homemade crackers taste so good).  You can use a hand-mixer, your own hands if you wish. I use my stand mixer, because it makes my life a little easier. I need that, because of my crazy work schedule!

Begin, by beating the butter until smooth.  Now add the dry ingredients to the creamed butter...

..and gently blend until combined.   You don't want to overbeat it!

 That's good...

Next, tear a large piece of plastic wrap....

Dump the dough onto the plastic wrap and pat the dough together...

...and start to shape the dough into a log.  I'm going for an oblong shape. Round is good, too.

Chill this for at least two hours, but you can make these a few days ahead.  I took a shortcut and popped the dough into the freezer for an hour. Preheat the oven to 325F. 

 

Slice the log into 1/4-inch rounds (or oblongs.. or squares) and place rounds 2 inches apart on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. 

 Bake on the middle rack of oven until cookies are lightly golden around the edges, about 20 to 22 minutes.

Be prepared for the aroma of cheese, and savory goodness!

Allow them to cool completely. If you can.

VERDICT:  These are super easy to make.  If you hoard cheeses as much as I do, you can switch around different blends to create your own combination that you like best.  The crackers are very tender, though. They're not as dense as other crackers I've tried.  I'd describe these are resembling Parmesan Crisps.  In other words, I'm not 100% sure that these crackers are dense enough to support slathering cream cheese and red pepper jelly on them-- which is one of my biggest indulgences.  Still, these disappeared very fast. They're addicting, I promise you.  They are buttery, and the cheese gave a nutty and salty flavor.  The rosemary was subtle and the cayenne added a subtle heat. My family kept filching them, include Yours Truly.  My co-workers enjoyed them.  

...and they are kind of cute as a soup garnish.

The printable recipe is at the bottom of this post.  I'm making this short and sweet, because I'm feeling as though a cold might be trying to get the better of me.  Hopefully, with some rest, I can get started with my own Thanksgiving prep work-- and I hope to upload some more recipes I made last week.

One more week until Turkey and all the fixin's. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

 

Time to Switch Over to the Dark Side of Garlic?

Black Garlic

Recently people have been discussing black garlic claiming that it has more nutritional benefit than regular garlic.  Black garlic is not chemically altered and does not possess any colors or additives.  The garlic actually gets its black color through fermentation.  The natural amino acids and sugars undergo fermentation and produce melanoidin and gives the garlic a jet black color.  It's similar to the process of creating dried fruit.  Black garlic has a more tender texture and a slightly sweeter taste, almost like molasses after fermentation and it lacks the usual potent odor of regular garlic and does not give you bad breath.  On the side of health and nutrition, black garlic has twice as many antioxidants compared to regular garlic and it contains a compound called S-Allycysteined and other compounds that fight off cancer cells.

Black garlic is normally found in Asian cuisine and is now becoming more and more well known and popular in the United States.  A lot of expensive and exclusive restaurants have incorporated black garlic in their dishes because it adds a different texture and appearance to the dishes.  The foreign factor and health benefits make black garlic an intriguing and new ingredient for American cooks.  In Asian countries they utilize black garlic for the amount of antioxidants and typically put the crushed cloves in "energy" drinks.  On the Food Network's program "Iron Chef America", black garlic was introduced and turned into a sauce during the preparation of monk fish.

Stages of Black Garlic Formation

After 45 days of aging the fermentation process is complete, and the garlic turns into jet black garlic and has more antioxidants and other vitamins and minerals.  A raw head of garlic has .332 mg of S-Allycysteined (the cancer fighting nutrient), 5 mg of calcium, 40 mg of phosphorus, and 3.3 g of protein.  Those are all great numbers and regular garlic is one of the healthiest ingredients you can add to your food.  When you compare the amount of nutrients of regular garlic to black garlic there is a significant difference.  Black garlic has 5.84 mg of S-Allycysteined, 36.66 mg of calcium, 80 mg of phosphorous, and 12.3 g of protein.  So can black garlic be categorized as a super-food and superior to it's once crowned healthy processor, it seems we're heading to the dark side from now on.

Top Cake Decorating Classes 2010

Wilton Cake Decorating Classes

Cake demand everywhere, and therefore what kinds of situations in the class felt decoration, the cake is increasingly popular. Cake is not picking up the charm of its purpose, and unless they are being taught out of a beautifully decorated cake decorated with decorating. Cake decoration skills should not be difficult.

Cake Decorating Classes in Pittsburgh PA

The, DVD provides a hint about how to decorate your cake and books, but I would still join the class, making it cheaper to learn more about the professional cake decoration. Cake decorating session will teach you the practical use of these classes. During this practical session, in fact, cake decorating and decor are charming.

 

Cake Decorating Classes Portland Oregon

Know what it is that you are using the proper tools. Are you dealing with minute details of how many other fondant and how to put the eatables completely without spilling or knows to fill the current layer. American Culinary School, Food Research Institute, Arizona, Florida Institute of Food Research Institute, Oregon cooking, you have many well-known institutions that offer courses such as cake decoration.
Uirutonsukuru in Illinois certainly is the most prestigious schools are interested in cake decoration to learn that people want to go. But everyone can afford a class even one person can not go to Illinois.

 

San Antonio Cake Decorating Classes

Are held so that you can become skilled in this art tips in front of the house by his students interested in cake decorating classes as well buy today. Process audio and video along with pictures and instructions available online for these decorations in the classroom can help to learn all aspects of cake decoration entirely by students.
If you want to study this process, you can always repeat the steps. Through your membership you can join the Web site, you can learn different techniques of cake decorating can bring water to the mouth of someone soon. Cake decorating class, your efforts will help make you an expert, I'm sure everyone will appreciate.

Omega 3's: The New Found Fountain of Youth

  Omega 3s have become more and more well known and recommended throughout the past few years, but I'm not sure if people fully understand the health benefits and how to incorporate Omega 3 fatty acids into their daily eating habits.  There are several ways to easily incorporate Omega 3s into your diet without being forced to eating "health food".  Omega 3s are found in Wild Alaskan salmon, flax-seeds, walnuts, eggs, grass-fed beef, organic chicken, and some organic cheese and milk.  Omega 3s can also be ingested through supplements such as krill oil and fish oil.  All of the fatty acids in Omega 3s are polyunsaturated which are good fats that the body needs to properly function.  Omega 3s have been linked to anti-aging, boosting your immune system, supplying energy, preventing several types of cancer, decrease risk of cardiovascular disease, increased brain function, and help with inflammation.  If you are unable to incorporate Omega 3s into your diet, Omega 3 supplements are just as affective and you can purchase either krill or fish oil pills.  If you decide to add Omega 3s into your food, you can easily do so by sprinkling flax-seeds on your food.  There is no need to panic because flax-seeds will not alter the taste of your favorite foods but it may change the texture a little.  In order to get all of the health benefits from the flax-seed, you have to ingest it all crushed up, you will not get any of the benefits if you eat flax-seeds whole because the body cannot properly breakdown the seeds.  Flax-seeds are a great source of Omega 3s but are also low in calories and high in fiber so you're adding Omega 3s and fiber to your regular foods that may not have a lot of fiber or any Omega 3s in them.  The best things to sprinkle flax-seeds on are oatmeal and Greek-style yogurt.  By adding flax-seeds to both of these items you're adding an extra dose of fiber and since Greek-style yogurt does not have any fiber, you're adding an essential amount of fiber along with a great dose of protein (Greek yogurt has about 15 grams per serving) so that translates to "you're going to be full!".

Another source of Omega 3s are found in walnuts, but you have to be careful with walnuts because they have a great source of Omega 3s and polyunsaturated fats and protein, but they are also high in calories so keep it limited to about less than a handful of walnuts (about 12 pieces per serving).  Probably the best source is hands down Wild Alaskan salmon.  Now don't get confused with regular farm raised salmon that many restaurants carry.  The farm raised salmon barely has any Omega 3s and has more mercury.  The reason why farm raised salmon doesn't have Omega 3s and more mercury is because the main source of Omega 3s is through krill that salmon eat in their natural environment and when they consume krill then the fatty acids are concentrated within the salmon.  Farm raised salmon has little if any nutritional benefit and shouldn't be consumed on a weekly basis because of the mercury levels.  If you don't like the taste of Wild Alaskan salmon you can also eat the more common canned, light tuna fish.  They also make Wild Alaskan salmon in canned or pouch form, so if you're curious about trying it the Wild Alaskan salmon is practically the same price.

Omega 3s are also found in eggs, grass-fed beef, organic chicken, and some milk and cheese products.  Make sure that you purchase cage-free eggs in order to get all of the health benefits from the egg.  Another source of Omega 3s is Canola oil, but as I posted and talked about earlier the risks of Canola oil out way the faulty benefits.  Another source of Omega 3s that a lot of people don't realize is fresh basil, vegetable and walnut oil, spinach, tarragon, and anchovies.  So the next time you have pizza you can get you're serving of Omega 3s by adding fresh basil and anchovies, if that's your thing that is.

Cake Boxes Wholesale 2010

Wholesale Cake Boxes

The purpose of the funds dedicate to store safely and make cakes. These funds and the container where you can place one or more of the cakes at a time and you can be sure that they will be willing to put up for sale or delivery. Most of the boxes are designed with inserts that help secure cookies, and to prevent damage to its exact configuration during transport. Square box, is among one of the most popular boxes are designed. Insert is placed at the bottom so that you can put inside a dedicate and do not have to worry about being isolated. Insert person to keep in place.

Pink Cake Boxes Wholesale

I dedicate boxes come in a variety of styles, materials, and sizes. It would be a popular choice of materials is made of cardboard. There are several funds that are created from plastic or a group or plastic and cardboard. If you're looking for your cakes to be safe from damage, and the purchase funds, which consists of the inclusion. The sole purpose of inclusion is to keep the person to the place. Prevent the inclusion of goods from cakes to destroy the other or on the sides of boxes.

Bakery Cake Boxes Wholesale

Why in the cardboard boxes are a popular choice dedicate because these are economic, and can be recycled. These boxes are available in different colors and designs. You have options, plain white and colored boxes, or decorative boxes and cakes and can hold one or multiple. The good thing about cake boxes Cup is that you can have it customized or designed to include a logo or company name.
If you are looking for a suitable option, and dedicate funds to buy individual be perfect. These types of cakes displayed in a unique and elegant. Transfer also treats are made easy with the use of these funds. Will certainly stand out from the pack when you use the box dedicate right. With a number of different shapes and sizes, and designs of the boxes, without a doubt, you will find one that is perfect for you.

Wedding Cake Boxes Wholesale

I dedicate the cost of boxes, and clear more than traditional boxes. The reason behind this is because these are more durable compared with those that have been created from materials cardboard. And clear boxes are great for storing cookies and keeps them stacked carefully in order to be ready for distribution. In short, the cakes are delicious and beautiful, and the boxes can be used to add appeal to your cakes and they make for easy transport and safe.
The author spent a lot of time learning about a place to dedicate funds to buy wholesale and other related topics. Read more about the person to purchase wholesale funds in the author's website.