9/4/08

Green Enchiladas and a Family Hike!

These are the kids who love my green enchiladas!

This past Labor Day, our family hiked for 4 hours in the hills behind our nearby ski area. We ended right at dusk – a great way to end a three-day weekend.

Family of 5


Starting out


Mom & kids


Incredible weather


The guys


Mommy, daughter


Exuberant doggie


Air-brush in the photographer?


Two lovers


Tired Feet


Heading home

Do you enjoy getting your family together in the outdoors?

OK, back to my green enchiladas ...


I finally found an enchilada sauce that is kid-friendly! My kids and their friends now tell me that my enchiladas are their favorite! That is music to any mother’s ears!

My green enchiladas are mild-spicy, but not too overpowering like a red sauce can be. I think that is the secret!

Just this week I took a pan to a friend who had surgery and is laid up for a few weeks. I promised dinner, and I knew that this meal would be easy and a pleasing dish for her and her husband and their two daughters.


SIMPLE GREEN ENCHILADAS
1 (19 oz.) can LaVictoria Enchilada Sauce (Green Chile/Chile Verde)
1 lb. cooked ground beef, ground turkey, or chicken
Flour tortillas
Sour cream
Grated cheese


Heat oven to 325. Spray bottom of 9x13 pan. Lay flour tortilla on a plate and add meat, small amount of sour cream, and cheese. Roll and lay in the pan. Continue making until the pan is full. Pour one can of “green sauce” over the top. Sprinkle cheese on top. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until bubbly.

Delicious left over, too. Many times I double-up the recipe and make two 9x13 pans. One to keep and one to give away!

Secret to Fast and Easy Meat
Buying the “4” pack of ground turkey from Costco, I brown it all at one time in a large fry pan, adding salt, pepper and seasoning. What I don’t use for a meal, I then freeze in a Ziploc bag. Whenever I’m in a pinch for time, I pull out the meat, and in 10 minutes I have a pan of enchiladas ready to go into the oven! The meal comes out hot and fresh and delicious, and ready to serve or take to a friend.

My kids confessed to me the other day that they’ve never really liked enchiladas! That is until now. Either it’s the “green sauce,” or they are just growing up.

Green enchiladas and a family hike--it doesn't get any better than that!

When is the last time you “listened” for a need in another family, one you could take a meal to?

(Enchiladas, spinach salad, brownies, fresh tomatoes from the garden – and of course I had to throw in a jar of homemade jam!)

35 comments:

Jess said...

That sounds delicious, Sandy. I love preparing enchiladas and this seems fairly quick to put together. Thanks for sharing. Love the pictures of you and the family hiking...one of my favorite outdoor activities. I'm inspired again. ;)

Barb said...

I luv the "exhuberant doggie" shot! :oD

GiBee said...

Absolutely photo shop the photographer in! It's a beautiful family picture, and would make a great Christmas picture!!!

Ms. Tee said...

This sounds very good! I've been looking for an enchilada recipe - my last one were NOT a hit! :)
Your hike looks like it was such fun - I am looking at your jackets and longing for cooler weather!

Mandy said...

Those pics are great! Love the shadow one's!

I have been in a cooking slump and several of my favorite blogs have posted recipes today! I think it was just for me! :-)

Rebekah said...

Enjoyed the photos. The one of you with your children is beautiful. Also love the one you and your hubbie's shadow.

Dee Light said...

What fantastic photos! Looks like you all had a wonderful time. Those enchiladas sound yummy! I will have to give them a try.

Christian - Modobject@Home said...

"Listening" for a need in another family is, I believe, the key.

A few weeks ago you asked readers if they let others know when they need help. After 3 weeks of sick children (horrible bacterial infection) I have realized that I, ahem, am one of those people who will not easily express a need for help, and I suspect there are many like me.

The truth is... we did need help, we did need a meal or two, someone to run to the grocery store for me. I think it was a fear of imposing, rather than pride, that kept me from showing our need.

Since that experience I am resolving to put on my "listening ears", to be proactive -- to give help rather than just offering to help.

"...'Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth' (I John 3:18). In the biblical scheme of things, love is something we do, not just something we feel. Mercy is something we extend, not just something we intend..." George Grant

Darla said...

Looks like your family really enjoyed their time together.

Enchiladas are a family favorite here and I make several versions although I admit Echiladas Suiza made with chicken are my first choice.

Darla

Anonymous said...

Sandy, Either I have not yet grown up or just like the green sauce better too! In truth, I can not eat an enchilada with red sauce. I only use the green. Also, when making tacos, along with seasoning, I add green sauce right to the meat.
Looks like your hike was a perfect family day. Great pics. Do we need to learn what kind of camera you have or are you just photo talented?
Love, cousin Peggy

Christy said...

Sandy~

What great pictures! I love the ones of the shadows, very clever.

I've never had green enchiladas before but yours look delicious!

Neighbor Jane Payne said...

Great post, Sandy, and the hike looked like a perfect Labor Day activity.

Just last week I got the last minute urge to take a meal to a family and was so glad I had seasoned cooked meat in the freezer. I didn't make green enchiladas (I made tamale pie), but I'm going to try the sauce you suggested.

Thanks for such upbeat posts.

~nanashouse~ said...

Sounds just like the recipe my daughter shared with me. I use green sauce too. Less acid, more taste. Thank you for your family pics and your great recipes!

I just love how you include your entire family in cooking and entertaining!!

Kirstin said...

THat looks yummy. I was just thinking today that I haven't made enchiladas in awhile. I planned on making them in the next few weeks. I have a yummy recipe though I've never tried green sauce. My youngest doesn't like red sauce so I wonder if she'd like this.

Looks like you guys had a blast on your hike. When we have time, we like to do outdoor stuff...right now that entails building a house, but the girls and I have been going on bike rides when we can.

grace said...

what a great family outing! i'm especially loving the shadow shots, your pup, and the enchiladas, of course. lovely post. :)

Stacey said...

Yummy!

Elizabeth said...

I love the pictures of your family hike! You guys take such great pictures.

Thank you for reminding me about green enchiladas. We haven't had them in awhile and I would just love some!

Take good care,
Elizabeth

Jen said...

I get points for this question. I took a meal to a couple who just had a baby on Wednesday and took a meal to a friend last week who just moved into a house....and next week surprising a tired momma/friend with a take home dinner for her family of 5......give them to me...I need the points.
Really though I love cooking for others helping others and just giving people a little of me. We are going to plan a family day in the up coming weeks.....a little day trip to a small town to visit with the Amish....

ellencrimitrent said...

looks like a great time, humm yummy food now i am really getting hungry.

Julie said...

Sandy,
What an awesome time you all must have had.

I loved the pictures. Especially one. Would you possibly send me a copy of the one of your shadows? It goes great with a devo I have written for one of the blogs I write for. I use an analogy with shadows. If you don't mind, I'd love a copy to use.

Also, the recipe sounds awesome. I look forward to trying it. So, the green sauce is not as spicy as the red sauce? I am the one in my family that can't eat spicy and even the mild enchilada sauce is too spicy for me. Is this on better?

Hugs,
Julie

Tarrah said...

Oh how I would love to go on a hike like that right now :) It looked absolutely beautiful!

B. said...

I make this same recipe and also put fresh cilantro in mine. Sometimes I add a can of whole corn and black beans to make it even more filling

~j~ said...

ooh, this just brings such a smile to my face, that hike.. wow,it looks so beautiful and what an awesome time for all of you (including the king of the house :) (you know the furry one!)
and of course here it is at eight in am and my mouth is watering for some of those enchiladas!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful happy family : )

I just copied the recipe to my files. I have 'signed up' (just a verbal agreement between me and a friend) to provide one meal a week for her family as a member recovers from serious surgery.

I'll email you the 'order form' I sent her -- 5 different meals to choose from, and I will rotate them during this season of illness. One meal is Enchiladas! Will try your green ones...

thanks,

Deb Meyers

Tammy said...

Hi Sandy!
I'm sorry it's been so long since I last stopped by...part of it was that I actually lost all my bookmarked blogs and then had to go back and start over with bloglines...and somehow I lost you!

I just loved these photos of your labor day hike! Everyone looks SO full of energy! I'm not sure our family would look that good if we hiked for four hours! LOL
(You just look beautiful...)

We didn't do anything very exciting for Labor Day (except for mini-golf) but we did spend time in the outdoors for a one-night camping trip the week before.
Good times...rainy times. ;)

You are now officially part of my bloglines so I'll be back again more often!
~Tammy

Shell in your Pocket said...

What a wonderful blog! I saw you on another blog and decided to stop by! I love those pictures. The shadow pictures are great and may have to copy that one!

Your recipes look great and your family seems so happy and close!

-Sandy Toes

Jill said...

Those enchiladas look so good!!
My family does not like the red sauce(I personally love any mexican food) because of the bitterness so I think I will try your green ones!!
It also looks like you had a great family hike. Love the pictures too.

Anonymous said...

Fabulous pics Sandy!

p.s. when are they going to give you a book deal already?!! ;)

Joy

Tara said...

I'll share with you my green enchilada sauce.
Gather a 2:1 ratio of tomatillas to sweet onions. Clean and rough dice all. Toss with EVOO, coarse salt and black pepper. Roast in a shallow pan until caramelized. Cool. Blend or process with juice of 1-2 limes and a handful of cilantro. Stir in sour cream. Can also roast in some garlic if you like. Use as a green sauce or salsa. Give it a try if you have time. My family always likes it.

The Cutting Edge of Ordinary said...

Wow those look great! What a neat idea, making 2 pans and giving one away. I think I'm going to have to do that myself. Lovely post,

Praise and Coffee said...

Looks like lots of fun! The enchiladas look fabulous too.

Sue

Stephanie said...

Those are great pictures from your hike and I can't wait to try the enchiladas! What a great recipe to take to another family. I have a couple coming up that I'll be taking meals to. Thanks for the idea!

Muzzymom86 said...

I really like your hiking photos. You should look into Geocaching. My family went Friday, Saturday, and Monday of that weekend. We had alot of laughs.

Anonymous said...

LOVE the shadow pic of the 5 of you!
Janae

Anonymous said...

I too just started using the green sauce. My husband exclaimed that I am to NEVER use the red stuff again.
Alrighty then...