Category Archives: Mexican

Taco Seasoning Mix

1 1/4 Teaspoon Chili powder
1 Teaspoon Paprika
1 Teaspoon Salt
3/4 Teaspoon minced onion
1/2 Teaspoon Cumin
1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne pepper
1/4 Teaspoon Garlic powder
1/4 Teaspoon Sugar
1/8 Teaspoon Ground oregano
1 Tablespoon Flour

Combine all of these dry ingredients in a small bowl. Store in an air tight container.

To prepare the meat filling for tacos, preheat a large skillet.
Brown 1 pound ground beef; drain the fat. Add your Taco Seasoning
that you prepared previously and 2/3 cup water to the beef; mix
thoroughly. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cook,
uncovered, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Serve taco filling with warmed taco shells or tortillas. Top with
shredded lettuce, grated cheddar cheese and chopped tomato or fresh
salsa.

This recipe makes enough meat filling for 12 tacos.

Spinach and Black Bean Enchiladas

Several quarts of water

8 cups fresh spinach leaves, stemmed (1 pound)
Vegetable oil spray, if needed
15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup low-sodium salsa
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
6 6-inch corn tortillas or nonfat or low-fat flour tortillas
1/2 cup nonfat or low-fat sour cream
1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons lime juice
4 ounces shredded nonfat or low-fat Monterey Jack cheese (about 1 cup)
2 Italian plum tomatoes, diced
2 green onions (green and white parts), thinly sliced

In a large pot, bring water to a boil over high heat.
While water heats, thoroughly rinse spinach. Add spinach to boiling water and cook for 1 minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain well in a colander. Press out as much liquid as possible with the back of a large spoon. (Discard water or save for vegetable stock.)
Preheat oven to 3500 F. If using a casserole dish, spray it with vegetable oil spray and set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine spinach, black beans, salsa, cumin, and chili powder.
Spoon 1/4 of the mixture down the middle of one tortilla. Roll the tortilla around the filling (jelly-roll style). Place tortilla seam side down in a shallow nonstick baking pan or prepared casserole dish. Repeat process with remaining tortillas.
Bake enchiladas, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine sour cream and lime juice. Remove enchiladas from oven and spread sour cream mixture evenly over enchiladas. Top with cheese, tomatoes, and green onions and bake for 5 minutes.
Cook�s Tip: This dish freezes so well that you might want to make a batch to keep on hand for unexpected guests or evenings when you just don�t want to cook. After rolling the enchiladas, place them in a container and cover tightly with foil or put them in an airtight plastic freezer bag. Increase baking time to 35 to 40 minutes.
You can substitute a 10-ounce package of no-salt-added frozen spinach for the fresh spinach. Cook according to package directions, omitting salt and oil, then continue with the recipe.

Serves 6

Sharon’s Mexican Chicken Casserole

This is nothing short of awesome! And oh, so easy!

3 cups cooked chicken, cubed or shredded
1 12 oz. can chicken broth
1 10 3/4 ounce can cream of chicken soup
1 12 oz. can canned corn, (Mexicorn), drained
1 12 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 8 oz. bottle green taco sauce or Tomatillo Salsa
1/4 cup salsa
9 corn tortillas
3 cups cheddar cheese, shredded – may use the Mexican flavored cheese

In a large bowl, whisk together the soup and half of the broth. Stir in the green taco sauce, salsa, corn, black beans and one cup of the cheese.
Place one layer of corn tortillas over bottom of a 13×9″ baking dish. Top with half of the chicken mixture. Repeat layers ending with a layer of corn tortillas. Top with remaining cheese and pour remaining chicken broth over the casserole.
Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or until bubbly.

8 Servings

Red Pepper Quesadillas

Eight 8-in. flour tortillas
1 cup preshredded Cheddar cheese (4 oz)
1 cup frozen chopped red bell peppers, thawed
1/4 cup sliced scallions
1/4 cup chopped cilantro (optional)
4 tsp vegetable oil

Note: Next time you make bean soup, serve these Mexican “grilled cheese” sandwiches on the side.

Sprinkle 4 tortillas with 1/2 cup of the cheese, the red peppers, scallions and cilantro. Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and tortillas.
Heat 1 tsp oil in each of two nonstick skillets over medium heat. Cook a quesadilla in each about 2 minutes per side, turning once, until tortillas are crisp and cheese is melted; repeat with remaining quesadillas. Cut in wedges.

4 Servings

Monterey Tortilla Casseroles

Nonstick spray coating
6 6-inch corn tortillas, each cut into 6 wedges
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 cup loose-pack frozen whole kernel corn
1 16-ounce jar salsa verde
3 tablespoons light dairy sour cream
3 tablespoons snipped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup crumbled Mexican chihuahua or farmer cheese (4 ounces)
Light dairy sour cream (optional)
Snipped fresh cilantro (optional)
Chopped tomato (optional)
Jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced (optional)

Spray four 10- to 12-ounce baking dishes with nonstick coating. Place 5 tortilla wedges in the bottom of each dish. Place remaining tortilla pieces on a baking sheet; bake in a 350 degree F oven about 10 minutes or until crisp and golden. Meanwhile, combine chicken, corn, salsa, the 3 tablespoons sour cream, cilantro, and flour. Divide mixture among dishes.
Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree F oven for 20 minutes. Arrange baked tortilla pieces atop casseroles. Top with cheese; bake for 5 to 10 minutes more or until heated through. If desired, garnish with additional sour cream, jalapeno slices, cilantro, and tomato. Makes 4 servings.
To bake frozen casseroles: Bake, covered, in a 350 degree F oven for 25 minutes. Uncover; bake about 20 minutes more or until heated through. Top with tortilla pieces and cheese; bake for 5 to 10 minutes more or until heated through. Garnish as above.
To micro-cook frozen casseroles: Cover microwave-safe casseroles with waxed paper; micro-cook on 30% power, allowing 4 minutes for 1 casserole and 5 minutes for 2 casseroles. Continue cooking, covered, on 100% power until heated through, allowing 2 to 4 minutes for 1 casserole or 3 to 6 minutes for 2 casseroles, rotating the dishes once. Top with baked tortilla pieces and cheese; micro-cook, uncovered, about 30 seconds more or until cheese is melted. Garnish as above.
Make-Ahead Tip: Assemble casseroles as directed above, except do not top with baked tortilla pieces; place baked pieces in a moisture- and vapor-proof plastic bag. Freeze casseroles and tortilla pieces up to 1 month.