A request!

My boyfriend, Chad, requested me to make something meaty for dinner and so I began to list off dishes. We came to a conclusion of enchiladas. I also had a mission to make these as good as his mother's. A quick grocery trip later and then enchiladas!

I'm not always a fan of Mexican food. Maybe it is because I've never had real Mexican food and Sam Diego's is the closest thing to Mexican on Cape Cod...(It's awful Tex-Mex with amazing fried ice cream). Cilantro is not my favorite herb and generally the flavors get kind of muddy for me. However, when Mexican is done right and everything is super fresh, it turns out amazing.

I got a pretty simple, beef enchiladas recipe from Food Network and kinda made it my own from there. I cooked two tablespoons of canola oil and flour together to sort of make a roux and then after that cooked, I added the can of enchilada sauce, chicken broth and then brought that to a boil and then a simmer. I decided to put about two little canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. I kinda eased off the heat, cause I kinda used a whole can back when I made chili. It was a tad bit too spicy. Whilst that was simmering away, I cooked a pound of ground beef with a medium onion together with salt and pepper. I also chopped up a half cup of black olives, cup of scallions and then a quarter cup of jalapenos. I then quickly fried about 10 large, white tortillas in canola oil. Crispy enough to taste cooked but not deep fried.

After the tortillas were patted dry of oil, I put about half the sauce at the bottom of the pan.Then, I dipped each one in the enchilada sauce, put it on a plate, scooped a bit of meat, olive, scallion, jalapeno and then a buttload of cheese. I rolled it up, put the fold side down in the deep baking dish. I continued with the rest and poured the rest of the sauce and about a cup of monterey jack cheese on the top. Then, because I'm addicted to lemons, I put a bit of lemon and lime zest on top for some brightness. It went in the oven for 20 minutes at 350 degrees!

I also did make some instant Mexican style rice...it was quick and necessary!

However, Chad did say this was the best thing that I have ever made and it was "close" to his Mother's. :)