Enchilada Casserole

Enchilada Casserole

Meat Mix:

1 lb ground beef

Salt free seasoning to taste

1 Tbsp minced dry onion

3 tsp chili powder

1tsp cumin

½ C water

1 (15oz) can refried beans

1 (4oz) can diced green chilies

Sauce:

1 (6oz) can tomato paste

Salt free seasoning to taste

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp cumin

2 C water

Additional Ingredients:

1 pkg corn tortillas

Shredded cheddar cheese as needed- about 2-3 cups

Nonstick cooking spray

Brown the ground beef and drain off any fat. Return to pan and add seasoning, onion, chili powder, cumin and water. Stir and let simmer over low heat for 5-10 minutes. Stir in refried beans and chilies, warm though and set aside. Combine all the sauce ingredients and simmer together for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. When done set aside. To assemble spray a 9x13 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place 2 layers of corn tortillas in the bottom of the dish, top with a little sauce. Spread half the meat filling evenly over the top, sprinkle with a little bit of cheese. Add another layer of tortillas, top with remaining meat mix and remaining sauce. Top with cheese. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until heated through and bubbly at 350°F.

For more recipes visit Cooking Thursday

Foodie Pen Pals March

This was my first month participating in foodie pen pals and honestly it feels like a lifetime ago. I really apologize for the lateness of my post. My words have just escaped me for the longest time. During March my mom was in the hospital which I had somewhat gotten used to, she had been in and out of the hospital since last October. On March 20th my mom was placed on hospice and I was told by the doctors that she would live 2-3 days...a week at the most. I stayed by my mom the entire time and was there when she took her last breath. She lived 13 days after being placed on hospice. She was always a strong lady. She died Easter Sunday 3-31-13. She had end stage dementia- Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson's Disease. I have been taking care of her for 6 very long years. I'm just devastated as is the rest of my family.

To find out about participating in Foodie Penpals click here 

Tami, my pen pal sent me a wonderful box full of good snacks and I really have to thank her because the contents of that box is pretty much what I ate the first few days while I was at my mom's side.

I loved everything (almost) and had never had any of it before. I had to say I loved everything almost because once my daughter saw the cotton candy it was gone and I didn't get to try it. It made her really happy. Thank you for that Tami.

The person that I sent to was Cali. This is the box I sent her:

I got this note back from her:
Hi, thank you for my package- it was awesome. You were definitely right- the Inca snacks were delicious:) Thank you also for the handmade potholder! That was such a sweet and thoughtful addition.

Not in the picture was a potholder/dishcloth that I made her.
I'm glad she liked it.

In a few months once my life is a bit more normal I hope to participate again.