Spicy Wet Burritos

We like a bit of seasoning to jazz up dinner on occasion and these Spicy Wet Burritos with Pinto Beans and sliced fresh tomatoes did hit the spot.  This recipe made 7 medium burritos but you may easily double the recipe.

Ingredients for Spicy Wet Burritos:

1 lb. lean ground beef
1 diced onion
salt
pepper
1/4 t. cumin
1/4 t. chili powder
1 can Rotel tomatoes with chili's
1 can re fried beans
1 pound shredded sharp cheddar or pepper jack cheese
1 can enchilada sauce
8 large flour tortillas

Brown the beef and onion together and season with salt and pepper.   Add the cumin, chili powder, and tomatoes with chili's and stir to combine.  Cover and simmer 20 minutes or so to meld the flavors.  The mixture should be thick and not at all watery.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Spray a medium baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.

Heat the re fried beans over low heat and add one half of the cheese stirring until melted. 

Remove the large flour tortillas  from their package and place the whole stack in the oven for one minute to warm.  Remove them and spoon about two tablespoons of the bean and cheese mixture in a strip across the upper one third of the tortilla leaving a 1" margin on either side of the mixture.  Place about the same amount of the meat mixture atop the beans spreading evenly. 

Fold both sides of the tortilla in and fold the top down.  Continue folding down until the burrito is formed.  Start lining the completed burritos next to each other snugly in the prepared dish.  When you have filled all of the burritos pour the enchilada sauce over the top and cover with the remaining cheese.  Bake for 20-30 minutes until heated through and bubbling with melted cheese.  Serve and enjoy!

I yielded 7 when I made these and two made an adult serving.  This was great with a fresh tomato salad and pinto beans along side.

Everyone has been sick here!

Just a note to explain my absence,  Both of us have been taking turns being sick so far this summer!  We are on the mend now.  Just nasty bugs.  Hope to be back soon! 

Pickleing Fresh Peppers

I sliced the large peppers with my wavy cutter and left the small ones whole.

My husband brought home a bag of fresh peppers the other night.  The assortment included Anaheim, Serrano, Jalapeno, and Poblano peppers all freshly picked from the garden.  Today is another cloudy day and I decided to pickle them, estimating they would make about three pints.

Ingredients for Pickled Peppers:

Washed sliced or whole or a mixture of washed peppers
1 C. vinegar
1 quart water
1/4 C. salt
1/4 C. sugar

Using a very large kettle or cold packer, fill with enough water to cover the sealed jars 1" with water and bring to a boil while you proceed.

Wash and scald pint jars and lids and caps.  Bring the vinegar, water, sugar, and salt to a boil then turn to simmer while filling the hot jars with the peppers.  After filling jars pour the hot brine to cover leaving 1/2" head space.  Screw on the caps and rings snuggly.  Place the filled jars in the hot water bath to cover 1" and bring to a boil.  Cover and process 10 minutes.  Remove the hot jars to a towel covered surface and leave 24 hours.  Check for seal an store/  If any jars do not seal you may process again or refrigerate and use. 

Finished pickles peppers.

I yielded 3 pints and they all sealed!  Happy Days!  They sure will be great in next winters chili, stews, and vegetable soups! 

Also great with nachos! I also pack them later when they turn red and orange.  They are all good!

7 Year Old Twins Decorate Their Own Birthday Cakes with Grandma

Last year and this year I have baked the birthday cakes for our twin grandson's and they decorate them with small toys and candies and just have a ball doing so!  Next they put on candles and we arew ready to party!

We set up trays of goodies next to freshly frosted cakes of their choosing.

A few days ahead I shopped Cracker Barrel, the grocery, Walmart, and the Dollar Store for cake mixes, frosting, disposable pans, gummy worms etc, sprinkles, and lots of "boy" toys they like.
I DO NOT ABIDE POLITICAL CORRECTNESS.   At any rate they loved the spiders, snakes, grasshoppers, commandos armed with guns and the assorted candies. 

Before hand I washed all of the toys in hot sudsy water, rinsed well, and air dried.  So they were clean and free of yuck.  After blowing out the candles I washed again and saved them for the boys to play with later.

Sam likes Strawberry cake and frosting.

Jack ordered chocolate cake and frosting.

Then they sang and blew out candles.

To assemble I frosted the cakes and arranged the "decorations" on a tray next to each readied cake and turned the boys loose.  They had a ball!

Good and Easy Basic Stir Fry Sauce with Options

Stir fry supper from the vegetable drawer with chicken and beef.

This sauce is adapted from one I had seen on food.com and made my own as you too can do!  Just tweak it to suite what's in your families taste and what is in your refrigerator.  Last night I rummaged through my vegetable drawer and came up with celery, carrots, red onion, 8 oz. fresh mushrooms, zuchinni, a sweet red pepper, and garlic.  There was about 1/2 pound of chicken and a pound of sliced steak I had left uncooked from our Sunday night fondue.  When stir fried and combined with this easy sauce it became a great dinner for two.  I did not make a starch because it made plenty of veggies and meat for a meal!

Ingredients for Basic Stir Fry Sauce:

1/4 C. soy sauce
1 1/4 C. water
1 T. grated fresh ginger  (I always keep this on hand in my freezer and it grates easily frozen.)
2 cloves fresh minced garlic
1 t. sesame oil
4 t. cider vinegar
1 T. sugar
2 T. dry sherry or 2 T. rice wine
3 T. cornstarch

You may want to try adding:
 
pinch of red pepper flakes, optional
juice of a lime, optional
pinch of cilantro, optional
1-2 t. peanut butter, optional

Combine all of the ingredients EXCEPT the cornstarch.  Whisk together in a large 2-4 cup measuring cup or bowl.  Place the cornstarch in a small dish.  Saute the meats and vegetables you have chosen. Just before it is time to add the sauce whisk in the cornstarch and cook together until thickened.  Serve hot!

You may also want to try adding an optional ingredient.  I added the red pepper flakes.