Mexican Pizza and Homemade Taco Seasoning

My apologies to Babette of Babette Feasts who chose this week's Tuesdays with Dorie (TWD) recipe (Tartest Lemon Tart). I would have loved to have tried it, but I just got back from my trip and I was so jet lagged. So instead of a tart this week, I bring you a super simple dinner idea - the Mexican Pizza.


I grew up in southern California and I'll admit, I used to go to Taco Bell. I almost always ordered the same thing whenever I went there - "Mexican Pizza with extra tomatoes, hold the olives please."

I haven't been to Taco Bell in years, and prefer to avoid fast food establishments in general now. So when I got a craving for a mexican pizza, I decided I could just as easily make them at home. Unlike most restaurants, there aren't many things on the Taco Bell menu that you couldn't make at home.


It was relatively easy to create the copycat Mexican Pizza recipe. Each component is simple to make, and this is actually a great weeknight meal because it comes together in no time. I don't like deep frying things, so I baked my tortillas instead. In our house, we buy the 10-inch tortillas in bulk, so that's what I used for this recipe. I then cut them into "slices" for serving. You can easily use smaller tortillas if you want to make individually sized servings instead. You can either use store bought taco seasoning, or you can just as easily make your own to cut back on the sodium (I've included a recipe below).


These are delicious, and a nice change from plain old tacos. I love that I can make my own mexican pizzas at home now, because I can customize them to suit my tastes - with extra tomatoes and no olives :) Give these a try - I think you'll enjoy them!

Mexican Pizza
from Good Eats 'n Sweet Treats

1 lb ground beef
1 tbsp taco seasoning, recipe below
1/4 cup water
4 flour tortillas (10 inch)
cooking spray
2 tbsp chopped green onions (scallions)
1/2 can (8 ounces) refried beans
1 cup diced tomatoes
1/2 cup taco sauce
1 cup shredded cheese (I used a Mexican Blend)
sliced black olives, optional


Preheat oven to 350F.

Cook the ground beef over medium heat until brown, then drain. Return the meat to the pan and add the taco seasoning and water. Continue to cook over medium heat for a few minutes, stirring often.

Spray both sides of each tortilla with cooking spray and then place them on the middle rack of your oven. Bake for approximately 6 minutes, turning them half way through. The tortillas should be golden brown and crispy, but watch them closely because they will go from golden to burnt in a matter of seconds. (They may puff up slightly in the oven - you can prevent this by poking them a few times with a knife every few minutes in the oven.) After you remove the tortillas from the oven, increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F.

Place the refried beans in a small bowl and heat them for 30-60 seconds in the microwave.

Assembling the pizzas:
Spread 1/2 cup beans, then 1 cup of seasoned ground beef on the first tortilla. Top with the second tortilla.

Top the second tortilla with 1/4 cup taco sauce. Layer with 1/2 cup diced tomatoes, then 1/2 cup cheese and 1 tablespoon scallions.

Bake for 5 minutes. Cut each pizza into four "slices" using a knife or kitchen scissors.

Yield: 3-4 Servings

Taco Seasoning
from Amber's Delectable Delights

1 Tbsp chili powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp black pepper

Mix together all ingredients and store in airtight container.
Use within 6 months for best flavor.

Yield: 2 2/3 tablespoons (2 tbsp + 2 tsp)

Super Bowl Appetizers

With the Super Bowl coming up this weekend, I know that many are on the lookout for great appetizers and finger foods that they can serve up for the big game. Last year, I was able to feature a variety of recipes leading up to the big weekend. Unfortunately, time was not on my side this year, and I was unable to try out any new recipes.

Regardless, I'd still like to feature some great appetizer recipes. I hope that you'll give some of them a try and enjoy them during the big game this weekend! Not sure which one to try? I have to say that the most popular recipe (out of all the recipes, not just appetizer recipes) on my blog to date is the Sweet and Sour Meatballs recipe; the second most popular recipe is the Chicken Satay with Peanut Dipping Sauce.

Buffalo Chicken Dip (aka Crack Dip)

Sun Dried Tomato Dip

Baked Zucchini Coins

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Spinach and Artichoke Dip


Chicken Satay

Bacon Pinwheels

Tex Mex Salsa with Homemade Tortilla Chips

Pan Fried Onion Dip

Sun Dried Tomato Basil Crostini

BBQ Baked Beans

Guacamole

Southwestern Wagon Wheel Pasta Salad

Baked Brie

Caramelized Onion Cranberry Cream Cheese Bites

Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas with Chipotle Tomato Rice

When I saw these enchiladas on Holly's blog, Phe/MOM/enon, I knew I had to try them. The flavor combination of honey and lime just sounded so good. Plus Holly assured me that these would rock.my.world. How could I not try them? :) A word of warning, though - if you don't like sweet flavors in your savory dishes, I would pass on this... sometimes when a recipe has the word "honey" in its title, it has a subtle hint of sweetness to it. Not these enchiladas! The honey flavor is quite prominent. I enjoy all things sweet, however, and loved these! They're a nice change from your typical enchiladas.


I especially love that they are easy and quick to make. The enchilada sauce is actually a rich, creamy sauce. I used the original quantity of heavy cream recommended in the recipe (one cup) but found it a little too rich. Next time, I will do what Holly did and only add one half cup.


I served these with Brianna's chipotle tomato rice. You can serve these with Spanish rice instead, but I found the smoky, spicy flavors of the chipotle rice to complement the sweet and creamy flavors of the enchiladas quite well.

This is the perfect meal to throw together on a weeknight, especially if you use a precooked, store bought rotisserie chicken. I will definitely be making both of these recipes again. You need to try them - you won't be disappointed!

Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas
adapted from Phe/MOM/menon (who got it from Brittany at The Sisters' Cafe via Melanie at My Kitchen Cafe)

6 tablespoons honey
5 tablespoons lime juice (approx. 1 large lime) (I have used 1/2 cup and have found the flavor even better)
1 tablespoon chili powder (use a little less for a milder version)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 pound chicken, cooked and shredded (approx. 2 large chicken breasts) (I poached* my chicken. Save time by using a store bought rotisserie chicken. If you like a lot of filling in your enchiladas, I would recommend doubling this.)
8-10 flour tortillas (I made 6 enchiladas with 10" tortillas)
1 pound monterey jack cheese, shredded (I used a Fiesta blend of Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Queso Quesadilla and Asadero Cheese)
16 ounces green enchilada sauce (also good with red enchilada sauce)
1 cup heavy cream (I would recommend going with 1/2 cup, as it was a bit too heavy/rich)

* To poach your chicken, put the chicken breast halves in a large saucepan and add lightly salted water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. The longer you do this, the more tender the chicken will be.  You can do this with frozen chicken breasts, too.

Mix the honey (tip: spray your measuring spoon with cooking spray before measuring out the honey), lime juice, chili powder and garlic together and toss with the shredded chicken. Let it marinate for at least 1/2 hour (or toss together in a ziploc bag and let it sit in the fridge for a few hours).

Pour about 1/2 cup enchilada sauce on the bottom of a 9X13 baking pan. Fill flour tortillas with chicken (approx. 1/4 cup) and shredded cheese, saving about 1 cup of cheese to sprinkle on top of enchiladas. Mix the remaining enchilada sauce with the cream and leftover marinade. Pour sauce on top of the enchiladas and sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until brown and crispy on top.

Serve with sour cream, rice and black beans.


Chipotle Tomato Rice
from Oishii

2 cups cooked rice (2/3 cup uncooked rice)
2 Tbsp canola oil
1 white onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (or 1 tsp. chipotle powder) (halve this if you don't have a high heat tolerance)
1 tsp dried oregano
14 ounce can of diced tomatoes, with liquid
salt & pepper to taste
chopped cilantro, for garnish (optional)

Prepare the rice by combining 2/3 cup uncooked rice with 2 cups of water in a rice cooker or in a sauce pan. When done, set aside.

In a frying pan, heat the canola oil over medium high heat. Cook the onion until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more.

Stir in the chipotle and oregano.

Add the canned tomatoes with liquid, reduce heat, and simmer until some of the liquid has evaporated, about 8 minutes.

Add the cooked rice, and stir until combined and heated through. Season to taste with salt & pepper and serve. Garnish with some fresh chopped cilantro if you have some.

Yield: 4 Servings

Baja Fish Tacos

Having grown up in southern California, I love fish tacos. I've only ever had them in restaurants, though... so I thought it was about time that I tried making them myself. Luckily, these are so simple to make. When I went in search of a great fish taco recipe, I decided to turn to none other than Susan of Food Blogga, who lives in San Diego. Being so close to the Mexican border, she's had the opportunity to taste some of the best fish tacos around.


This recipe is so easy as is - but you can simplify it even more if you're short on time. Use a store bought salsa if you don't want to make pico de gallo from scratch. Bottled hot sauce can also be used in place of the chilies de arbol sauce. Use store bought guacamole or simply dice the avocado if you don't want to dirty up your food processor making the avocado sauce. And for those who won't eat anything with mayonnaise, please make the mayonesa sauce - just go light on the sauce when you assemble the fish tacos - it's just not the same if you don't use the it. (My husband, the mayo hater, didn't even notice that I snuck some mayonesa sauce into his fish tacos!)


These were delicious. The next time I make fish tacos, I think I'd like to try Susan's baked fish taco recipe instead (which can be found here - just scroll down). I don't really like frying things in my kitchen, and I'm sure they'd still taste just as good without the extra calories.


If you're a fan of fish tacos - or even if you've never tried them - you need to try these now! :) This is a wonderful weeknight meal for those who are busy because you can put it together in no time (and you can make everything except the avocado sauce ahead of time). Thanks Susan, for sharing this awesome recipe with us!

Baja-Style Fish Tacos
from Susan of Food Blogga, as seen on NPR

Tacos

Makes 24 servings, enough for 6 to 8 people

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried whole Mexican oregano, rubbed to a powder* (I didn't have any so I just used regular oregano)
Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
12 ounces (1 bottle) cold beer, plus more to thin the batter if necessary
2 pounds firm, meaty fish (I use halibut or Pacific sea bass) (I used halibut; tilapia also works well)
A little squeeze of fresh lime juice, from 2 to 3 limes
Canola oil, for frying

Serve with:

24 (6-inch) corn tortillas, warmed (you can substitute flour tortillas, but the corn imparts a more authentic flavor) (I used flour tortillas)
Avocado sauce (recipe below)
Lime wedges
Mayonesa secret sauce (recipe below)
Salsa de chilies de arbol (recipe below)
Pico de gallo (use your own favorite recipe, or try this one)
Finely shredded green cabbage (not lettuce)
Cilantro leaves (optional)

For the batter, whisk together the flour, baking powder, garlic, cayenne, mustard, oregano and salt and pepper in a large bowl until well blended. Stir in the beer until there are no lumps. (The batter can be made several hours ahead and refrigerated.)

Cut fish into pieces the size and shape of your index finger. Sprinkle with some lime juice and salt.

Pour oil into a deep, wide pan to the depth of 2 inches and heat over medium-heat to 350 degrees (if you have a deep-fry thermometer). Otherwise, test the heat by dropping a little bit of the batter into the oil. It should quickly bounce to the surface and be surrounded by tiny bubbles.

Pat the fish dry with paper towel. Check the thickness of the batter by dipping a piece of fish in it; it should be the consistency of medium-thick pancake batter, coating the fish easily and dripping very little. Add a little beer or water if it seems too thick.

Add a few pieces of fish to the batter. Using tongs, lightly swish each piece until thoroughly coated. Remove fish, letting excess batter drip into the bowl before gently placing in the hot oil. Cook a few pieces at a time until they float and the batter is set but still light in color, about 2 to 3 minutes. If a piece sticks to the bottom of the pan, just leave it, and it will release itself.

Remove the fish to a rack to drain, reserving the frying oil. At this point the fish can be cooled and refrigerated, uncovered, if you're preparing ahead.

When you are ready to serve, reheat the oil to 350 degrees, and quickly refry the fish a few pieces at a time for about 1 minute until crisp and golden brown.

Heat tortillas on a dry griddle for 1 minute per side or, using metal tongs, simply hold over an open flame until warmed and slightly charred. (I wrapped my tortillas in foil and warmed in them in the oven at 375F for 10 minutes.)

To serve, place refried fish, warmed tortillas and condiments on a table so guests can make their own tacos. To assemble tacos, hold a tortilla in your hand, and spread a spoonful of avocado sauce on it (you can use diced avocados or guacamole instead). Place a piece of fried fish on top and sprinkle with a little lime juice. Drizzle with some mayonesa sauce, a few drops of chilies de arbol sauce (you can use bottled hot sauce instead) and some pico de gallo (or store bought salsa). Top it off with some shredded green cabbage and fresh cilantro.

*Whole Mexican oregano can be found in the Mexican food section of most major supermarkets or in Latin American markets.

Avocado Sauce

Makes 1/2 cup

1/4 ripe avocado, peeled
Pinch of salt
A few drops of lime juice
1 to 2 tablespoons water or milk
2 cilantro springs, stemmed and chopped (optional)

Place the avocado, salt and lime juice in a small food processor. Add 1 tablespoon water or milk (for a slightly creamier consistency) and pulse. Add more liquid as necessary until sauce is the consistency of thick cream. Add the cilantro and pulse until just blended.

Mayonesa Secret Sauce

Makes 1/2 cup

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoon water or milk

Place the mayonnaise in a small bowl and slowly stir in vinegar. Add water or milk until the sauce is thick and creamy.

Chilies de Arbol Sauce

Makes 1/2 cup

1 garlic clove, smashed with the side of a large knife
1 teaspoon canola oil
1 cup dried chilies de arbol (about 30 chilies), stemmed**
1/3 cup water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon white vinegar

Pour canola oil in a small skillet over low heat. Add smashed garlic and cook 4 to 5 minutes until golden and aromatic. Place in a small food processor.

Wearing gloves, seed the chilies (unless you want hotter sauce, in which case, leave the seeds), and place in the processor. Process until well pulverized. Add water and salt and puree until as smooth as possible. Scrape into a bowl and add the vinegar. Let stand at least 30 minutes. Taste for seasoning, adding more salt and/or vinegar as necessary.

**Chilies de arbol are thin, red chilies about 3 inches long, and can be found in the Mexican food section of most major supermarkets or in Latin American markets. These small chilies are big on heat, so use this sauce sparingly.

Chipotle Chicken Taco Salad

Chipotles are actually smoke-dried jalapeño peppers. Not sure why they need a different name instead of just "dried jalapeños." Guess it's kind of like how we call dried plums prunes :) Chipotles come in many forms (dried, powder, etc.) but the most common form I've seen used in recipes are the canned chipotles in adobo sauce. If you use just the chipotle chiles in this salad, it's only mildly spicy. If you particularly enjoy a lot of heat (like I do) you can add extra chipotle chiles and a teaspoon or two of the adobo sauce.


I'm always looking for quick and easy weeknight dinner ideas and this definitely fit the bill. Plus it's pretty healthy, so even better. I love tex mex dishes with black beans and corn. Top it off with some avocado and I'm sold :) This salad really comes together in just minutes. You can prepare the dressing and cook the chicken the night before. Or, save even more time buy using a store bought/precooked rotisserie chicken. For a little extra crunch in your salad, add some deep fried tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips.

Chipotle Chicken Taco Salad
from Cooking Light

Dressing:
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2/3 cup light sour cream
1 tablespoon minced chipotle chile, canned in adobo sauce (I used about 1.5 tbsp mince chipotles + 2 tsp adobo sauce)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
4 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon salt

Salad:
4 cups shredded romaine lettuce
2 cups chopped roasted skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 2 breasts) (I seasoned some chicken with salt and pepper, then grilled it on the George Foreman Grill)
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup diced peeled avocado
1/3 cup thinly vertically sliced red onion
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (8 3/4-ounce) can no-salt-added whole-kernel corn, rinsed and drained

To prepare dressing, combine first 7 ingredients, stirring well.

To prepare salad, combine lettuce and remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Drizzle dressing over salad; toss gently to coat. Serve immediately.

Tip: Add a spoonful of adobo sauce for a spicier salad. Kidney or pinto beans also taste great in this dish.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 2 1/2 cups)

Guacamole

Most people either love or hate avocados, there does not seem to be any in between. I love them and my husband hates them -- but that just means there's always more for me :) While avocados contain more fat than your typical fruit, they're not as bad as some people make them out to be. They are high in monounsaturated fatty acids, which can help to lower your cholesterol, and half of an avocado is equal to one serving of fruit (you should be eating 4-5 servings of fruit each day).

My husband thinks I'm weird, not only because I love avocados, but also because of how I like to eat them. When I was a kid, my mom would cut them half, pull the seed out, and put a heaping spoonful of brown sugar in the middle for me. I enjoyed the brown sugar more than anything else at the time, but as I got older, I began to also appreciate the richness and creaminess of the avocado complemented with the sweetness of the brown sugar. I don't know if this is just something my mom and her family grew up doing or if it's something that all Vietnamese people do... but regardless of where it comes from, I still love snacking on avocados this way.

One of my favorite things to make with avocados is guacamole. There are probably hundreds of different recipes out there - I've made about four or five of them. Eventually, I learned a little bit of what I liked from each one and developed my own recipe. This recipe makes quite a bit (perfect for bringing to potlucks or parties) but it can also be easily halved. Everyone who has tried this loves it, and one friend even jokingly told me that it gets her "Mexican seal of approval." Ha!

I like to serve my guacamole with homemade tortilla chips. They are baked, not fried, because we all know I need to save the calories for all the other sweet treats I eat :)


The lime juice in the recipe not only adds great flavor, but it also helps decrease the browning that occurs over time secondary to oxidation. If you're not going to serve it immediately, another trick I learned (I don't remember where), is to throw one of the avocado seeds in while you're mixing it all together and leave it in there until ready to serve. I've only tried that once, but it worked like a charm.


Guacamole
from Good Eats 'n Sweet Treats

3/4 cup red onion, finely diced
1/3 cup chopped green onions
2 tomatoes, diced
6 avocados
2 garlic cloves, finely diced (optional)
1 tsp salt
2.5 limes, juiced
1-1 1/2 tsp chili paste (or 1 jalapeno, finely diced)
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Cut the avocados in half lengthwise around the pits. Twist in opposite directions to separate the halves. Using a spoon, scoop the avocado flesh out of each half. Throw away the pits and the skins. Cut the flesh from 1-2 avocados into small chunks and set them aside in a small bowl.

Add the remaining avocados and all the other ingredients into a large bowl. Using a fork, mix it all together and mash the avocados until well combined. Add the chunks of avocado and gently mix to combine. Taste the guacamole and add more salt, lime juice, or chili paste to taste.

If you are serving it later, press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the guacamole and put it in the refrigerator.

Serve with homemade tortilla chips for dipping.

Yield: About 10 Servings.

Tex Mex Salsa with Homemade Tortilla Chips

If you're still looking for some great appetizers to serve at your Super Bowl party, this might be just what you are looking for! It's different from your traditional salsa, and that's what I like about it. I received a comment on my last Super Bowl appetizer post that made me laugh; it was a question about when the Super Bowl is being played. It was amusing to me because typically, I don't even know when it is either! While I thought it would be fun to blog about several different appetizers in honor of the Super Bowl, I actually don't even watch it! Sometimes we'll turn the TV on, but that's only so we can watch the commercials. We are not football fans in any way, shape, or form :)

I still remember trying this salsa for the very first time back in 2004. I was in school at the time, and one of my classmates had brought this in to share with everyone. Her mom (or aunt, I can't recall now) would make it for her every time she visited her. I couldn't get enough of it, and asked my classmate if she could get the recipe for me. A few weeks later, her mom (or aunt) came to visit again. This time she brought 2 containers full of salsa with her: one for my friend and one for me! :) She told me that there wasn't really a recipe for it, but gave me a rough idea of how to make it. The recipe below includes the proportions I typically use; however, you can easily adapt this recipe to suit your tastes (my husband always thinks I need to double the amount of beans!).

I love to serve this with homemade tortilla chips that are baked, not fried (so much healthier!). For this salsa, I only season the chips with a dash of salt, but for snacking and other dips, I love to season them with other things like garlic seasoning.


Tex Mex Salsa

2 lbs ripe tomatoes, diced (I like to use Roma tomatoes)
1-1/2 to 2 cups "Mexican Blend" cheese or shredded cheddar cheese
1 can black beans, drained (2 cans if you really like beans)
2-3 green onions, chopped
1 cup Kraft Zesty Italian dressing
2 - 3 tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)

Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate for at least 1 hr to allow the flavors to meld and then serve with your favorite tortilla chips. Garnish with additional cilantro.


Homemade Tortilla Chips

flour tortillas
vegetable or canola oil
salt, to taste

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Spritz or drizzle tortillas with vegetable or olive oil. Sprinkle with some salt. Cut the tortillas into strips, and then into triangles. Arrange the triangles evenly on an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. Pay careful attention to these, as they go from lightly golden to burnt very quickly!

Quesadillas with Pear Salsa

I had some leftover pears I wanted to use after making the Warm Pear Ginger Upside-Down Cake, and came across this recipe on MyRecipes.com. I normally don't care much for quesadillas, but the pear salsa intrigued me. At the same time, I wasn't sure if I would like it, especially since I wasn't sure what a pear salsa would taste like. There were a few good reviews on the website, though, so I thought I would give it a try. I am so glad I did! This meal comes together so quickly, and it is so good!

I did not have any mint on hand so I substituted cilantro, but I'm anxious to try this recipe again with the mint. Along with the Pineapple Black Bean Enchiladas, this is the second Mexican dish I have made recently that includes fruit! :)

Jack Quesadillas with Pear Salsa
from Cooking Light


Pear salsa:
4 cups chopped peeled Anjou pear (2 pounds)
1/3 cup chopped red onion (I used y
2 tablespoons chopped fresh or 2 teaspoons dried mint (I didn't have any, so I used cilantro instead)
1 tablespoon grated lime rind
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped (I didn't have one, so I used some Sambal Oelek chili paste instead)

Quesadillas:
8 (8-inch) fat-free flour tortillas
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese (I used Cheddar Jack)
1/2 cup chopped green onions

To prepare salsa, combine first 8 ingredients in a bowl; cover and chill.

To prepare the quesadillas, place 1 tortilla in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat, and top with 1/2 cup cheese. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons onions; top with a tortilla. Cook 3 minutes, pressing down with a spatula until cheese melts. Turn carefully, and cook until thoroughly heated (about 1 minute). Repeat procedure with the remaining tortillas, cheese, and green onions. Cut each quesadilla into sixths; serve with pear salsa.

Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 4 quesadilla wedges and 1/2 cup salsa)

Pillsbury Bake Off Winner

I was watching the Pillsbury Bake Off Contest on the Food Network when I saw this dish and it piqued my interest. It won the $10,000 prize in two separate categories: America's Favorite Recipe and 3-A-Day Dairy Award. The pineapples sounded interesting, and I could tell from looking at the recipe that it was fairly healthy.

I had read mixed reviews about this recipe online, but for the most part, people liked it. I really enjoyed it, and think it would also be great with chicken. The pineapple gives it a nice sweet flavor, and the chiles and enchilada sauce give it a great mild kick. I love cilantro, so next time I will probably add a little more cilantro (3/4 cup) into the filling.


Pineapple Black Bean Enchiladas
from Pillsbury.com


2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped (about 1 cup)
1 can (20 oz) pineapple tidbits in juice, drained, 1/3 cup juice reserved
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained, rinsed
1 can (4.5 oz) chopped green chiles
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
3 cups shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese (12 oz)
1 can (10 oz) mild enchilada sauce
8 whole wheat flour tortillas (8 or 9 inch) (I used seven 10" regular flour tortillas)
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
8 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper; cook 4 to 5 minutes or until softened. Stir in pineapple, beans, green chiles and salt. Cook and stir until thoroughly heated. Remove skillet from heat. Stir in 1/2 cup cilantro and 2 cups of the cheese.

Spoon and spread 1 tablespoon enchilada sauce onto each tortilla. Spoon about 3/4 cup vegetable mixture over sauce on each. Roll up tortillas; place seam side down in baking dish.


In small bowl, mix reserved 1/3 cup pineapple juice and remaining enchilada sauce; pour over entire surface of enchiladas in dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese. Spray sheet of foil large enough to cover baking dish with cooking spray; place sprayed side down over baking dish and seal tightly.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes, removing foil during last 5 to 10 minutes of baking, until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbly. Top each baked enchilada with 1 tablespoon sour cream and 1 teaspoon cilantro.

Skinny Chimichangas

I got this recipe from my friend Laura. It's from a Weight Watcher's book, but I'm not sure which one. Traditionally, chimichangas are meaty deep-fried burritos. This low fat version is really simple, and you still end up with a great tasting, crispy burrito. We usually buy lean ground beef in bulk at Sam's Club, so I just use that in place of the ground turkey, but you can use whichever you'd prefer.

Skinny Chimichangas
from Weight Watcher's

½ pound ground skinless turkey breast
1 onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon ground cumin
1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons chopped mild green chiles (I never have chiles on hand, so I usually substitute 1 tbsp Sambal Oelek Chili Paste)
⅓ cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
4 (8-inch) fat-free flour tortillas

Preheat the oven to 400 F. Spray a nonstick baking sheet with nonstick spray; set aside.

Spray a medium nonstick skillet with nonstick spray; set over medium-high heat. Add the turkey, onion, garlic, chili powder, oregano, and cumin. Cook, breaking up the turkey with a wooden spoon until browned, about 6 minutes. Stir in the tomato sauce and the chiles; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the flavors are blended and the mixture thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheddar.

Meanwhile, wrap the tortillas in foil and place in the oven to warm for 10 minutes. Spoon about ½ cup of the filling into the center of each tortilla.

Fold in the sides, then roll to enclose the filling. Place the chimichangas, seam-side down, on the baking sheet. Lightly spray the tops of the tortillas with nonstick spray. Bake until golden and crisp, about 20 minutes. Do not turn. You can top these chimichangas with your favorite salsa and 2 tablespoons fat-free sour cream.

Nutrition Information Per Serving (1 chimichanga)
241 Calories
2g Fat
1g Sat. Fat
46mg Cholesterol
613mg Sodium
34g Carbohydrates
3g Fiber
22g Protein
184mg Calcium (makes 4 servings)