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Welcome to Simple Fare, Fairly Simple. This is a place for me to post recipes of all kinds...along with other miscellaneous fodder from my so-called life here in the south. Who knows what you will find here. Could be anything from my husband...known as IT Guy...to my kids and beautiful grandbabies that are growing up way too fast right before my eyes. But...mostly this will be a place for food. I hope you'll see something you like and if you decide to try something from the list...leave me a comment and let me know!



Monday, June 3, 2013

Fajitas


One of my family's favorite things to eat is mexican food! We eat it all the time....in any form...at any time. When we lived in Arizona, we went to a yummy Mexican Food place (can I get a yee-haw for Molina's??) that always served hot delicious food. When we go back to Arizona to visit my husband's family, we eat at El Charro...as often as possible. You know, there are many wonderful things about the south...but mexican food isn't one of them. We've tried ump-teen mexican restaurants here and have only come up with a couple that we enjoy. So...most times if we want mexican food, I just make it at home. And today....I'm offering one of the dishes that makes us smile!!

Fajitas



2  pounds meat - chicken, steak, ground beef, shrimp....whatever you like..or a combination of any
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
1 yellow pepper
1 orange pepper
1 medium onion
3 tablespoons fajita seasoning (recipe follows)
3/4 cup water
flour tortilla
cheese
salsa
sour cream
guacamole

Slice meat into 1-inch strips and set aside. Slice peppers and onion into strips and throw in a skillet along with a few glugs of olive oil. Let the veggies saute for a little while until they are a little soft. Remove from pan onto a clean plate. Throw the meat into the same pan and let it cook until done. When the meat is done, add the veggies back into the skillet and add 3 tablespoons of fajita seasoning and the water. Stir to combine and heat through. Serve with flour tortillas and other goodies. Enjoy!


This might look like a lot of veggies 
but remember they will cook down.

Throw it in a large skillet.

Cookin' away and smellin' good!

Take out the veggies and cook the meat.

I used a combo of chicken and beef here.

Stir the veggies and meat all together 
with the fajita seasoning and water


Fajita Seasoning

3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons crushed chicken bullion cubes
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon cumin

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl to combine. Store in a sealed jar to use as needed. Makes the equivalent of three purchased fajita mixes.



Here's all the spices...

I love the way they look in the bowl...
 

Mix it up and season away!

Sour Cream Enchiladas



This recipe goes WAY back. Before I was married, even. My mom used to make this when I was a kid, right after we moved to Arizona. When I got married...at the tender age of 17...this was one of only two things I could cook. IT Guy learned to love it without complaint. I haven't made this is years so I dug it out of my archives and surprised the family! And guess what? Still a hit! I've simplified this from the 70's version but the deliciousness is the same. Try it....you'll like it!

Sour Cream Enchiladas



Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a large baking pan with cooking spray.

2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream (fat-free works...or you can use plain yogurt)
2 4-ounce cans diced green chilies
1 8-ounce block of cheese, grated
6 - 8 green onions, diced
Salt
2 cups cooked, diced chicken ~ optional
18 corn tortillas

In a large bowl, combine the soup, sour cream, green chilies and salt. Whisk to combine. Stir in diced chicken, if using.

In a medium bowl, combine the grated cheese and green onions.

To soften the tortillas you can do one of two things:

1) Place one tortilla at a time in the microwave for 15 seconds then immediately fill and roll.
2) Heat about 1 cup of oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Soften tortillas one at a time in the hot oil then place on paper towels to drain. You do NOT want them crispy. Just a few seconds on each side.

Working inside your pan, place a 3 - 4 tablespoonfuls of the soup mixture into a softened tortilla. Top with a few tablespoons of the cheese mixture. Roll. Repeat with remaining ingredients until all tortillas have been used.

There will be some of the soup mixture and some of the cheese mixture left over. Spread the soup mixture over the rolled enchiladas then sprinkle the rest of the cheese mixture on top.

Cover with foil and bake about 45 minutes until bubbly. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.



The line up. You don't have to use 
diced chicken in this recipe. The 
original didn't call for it. Totally optional.


Mix the soup, sour cream green 
chilies and salt together in a bowl.


Add the chicken, if using.


Combine the cheese and the green onion.


Soften the tortillas.


You want them limpy, not crispy. 
I put napkins between each tortilla 
to soak up the extra oil.


Then starting with the soup mixture, 
place some on a tortilla.


Then add some cheese.


Repeat until all tortillas are used.


Spread the remaining soup mixture 
on top of the rolled enchiladas.


Then the remaining cheese.


Bake!


Woo-hoo!!!