Enchiladas and Margaritas, please!

Spring is in full swing in this unusually warm year, and we have had plenty of days of what we refer to as great deck weather.  Afternoons and evenings when you just want to hang out on the deck and relax!  The kids and the dog wear themselves out playing in the yard, and we like to keep an eye on them while we work in the garden. After we bring them in and stick them in the tub to clean off after all of the good old fashioned fun, we are all ready for a relaxing dinner, after which the hubby and I like to get them all tucked into bed and then go enjoy a cocktail on...you guessed it...the deck.

Days like this, a simple and delicious dinner really hits the spot, and since it is beautiful outside but not yet super hot, we don't have to worry making the whole house sweat by turning on the oven.  Once the days and evenings really heat up, it's grill season, but in the spring (or really any time, to be honest), my favorite dinner is enchiladas.  They have to be made from scratch, I'm not really a fan of canned enchilada sauce.  Also, they have to be paired with one of 2 perfect drinks.  Mexican beer or margaritas.

I've been promising my enchilada recipe to my friend Tricia, or more specifically to her husband Amos, and (as usual) they have been very patient as life with 4 active small children and the unknown perils of gardening with the kids (yes, I said perils of gardening, but I'll save THAT set of stories for my next post, which will definitely contain another strong drink recipe) have delayed things time and again.  I hope that now that I have found the time to sit down and finish this post, which I started almost 2 weeks ago, they will find the time to enjoy it soon!

Enchilada sauce is easy to make, and while there are lengthy, multi-step recipes, mine is pretty fast and easy and I love it.  If I didn't, I wouldn't be sharing it here!  Once you get the sauce made (it's only a 10 minute recipe), throwing together the rest of the enchiladas is a snap as well.  I do add cheese to mine, but when I assemble Cassidy's I just leave the cheese out, which makes it a filling and satisfying allergy friendly recipe.  Here's what you need:


Enchilada Sauce

1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 Tbsp. flour
1/4 cup chili powder
8 oz tomato sauce
1 1/2 cups water
1 Tbsp ground cumin
1 Tbsp minced garlic
2 tsp onion powder
1-2 tsp salt, or to taste

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat, then stir in the flour and chili powder. Stirring constantly, cook until lightly brown.
Stir in tomato sauce.
Gradually stir in water, cumin, garlic, onion powder and salt into the flour and chili powder until smooth, and continue cooking over medium heat approximately 10 minutes, or until thickened slightly.

I usually pour this into a glass measuring cup and set it aside so that I can use the skillet for the next step, no need to wash it first!  Of course, you could always just use a second skillet.

Enchilada Filling

1 pound of ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 small green pepper, chopped
about 1/4 cup of the enchilada sauce that you just made
black pepper to taste

You will also need enchilada shells (Traditionally enchiladas are made using soft corn tortillas for the shells, but you could also use taco size soft flour tortillas) and green onions.




 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Brown the ground beef in a skillet, along with the onion and pepper.  Stir in the enchilada sauce and black pepper. Turn off the heat.

In a 9 x 13 glass pan, spread about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of enchilada sauce in the bottom of the pan. If you are using cheese (shredded sharp cheddar is best!) add some to an enchilada shell. If dairy is a concern for you, rest assured that these are very satisfying and filling with or without cheese. Scoop some filling into the shell.  Wrap closed and place seam side down in the pan. Repeat until you have run out of shells or space in the pan. If you are lucky, you run out of both at the same time!  
Pour the remaining enchilada sauce evenly over the top and top with more cheese (if you are using cheese, of course!) 
Finally, top with sliced green onions.
Pop into the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, and you are all set!

 Something to drink with that?

Strawberry Margaritas (or slushies, for kids and non-drinkers!)


3 cups of strawberries, washed and stems removed
2 cups of ice
1/2 cup tequila
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup triple sec
lime wedges and/or strawberries for garnish


Toss it all in the blender and whirl away.  Some people prefer sugar also added to these, but that makes it too sweet for me.


If you would rather have a non-alcoholic slushy, leave out the tequila and triple sec and add 1/2  cup of orange juice.


Hope you enjoy!