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Do-It-Yourself Stacked Enchiladas for a Crowd – An Effortless Family Dinner

December 2, 2011 in Entrees

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Do-It-Yourself Stacked Enchiladas

I never met an enchilada I didn’t like.

So I love to make enchiladas for a feast for family and friends. They are the perfect blend of spicy, cheesy, savory goodness rolled into a tortilla.

Several years ago, I discovered an easy way to make enchiladas for a crowd. They are so simple, you can even make them on a weeknight. And they are perfect for  a large crowd. Even during the holidays.

And, I love this style of making enchiladas for one more reason: EVERYBODY PUTS THEIR OWN ENCHILADA STACK TOGETHER. HOOOOooooRAY! There is never any whining about what’s in the enchiladas, because each person chooses! Vegetarian? Sure. Vegan? No Problem! Carnivore? Join right in! Fabulously easy. And they are a festive holiday food, what with the red sauce and green onion/cilantro topping with white crumble cheese like a dusting of snow on top.

This is a fabulous and festive event! Just set out bowls of grated cheese(s) – we like cheddar and Monterey Jack, spiced cooked diced or shredded meats (shredded rotisserie chicken is one of our favorites) and anything else you like to fill your enchiladas with. Then, saute corn tortillas until just soft in butter or oil. Stack them on a plate. Have a pan of simmering enchilada sauce on the stove and let everyone set one corn tortilla on their plate and then slather it with sauce. Top with desired filling(s). Repeat as many times as you like to make a huge stack of spicy southwest yummyness! Then, let each person microwave their stack of southwest goodness for a minute or more. For garnishes, set out some diced tomatoes, queso fresco, diced cilantro, sliced green onions and anything else you like to top your enchiladas. Instant and easy Christmas or New Year’s fiesta!

Happy Hollydays Everyone!

-posted by Donna

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Reborn in the Kitchen: Savory Parmesan Crusted French Toast Anytime 24/7

March 28, 2011 in Entrees, Vegetarian Entrees

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Savory Parmesan Crusted French Toast with Roasted Tomato Garnish

As a young bride I made French Toast at least three times a week. The whole time I was cursing and berating myself for not paying enough attention to what my mom was doing in the kitchen and for not learning from her while I had the chance instead of grumbling while making the family salad. So, when I was forced to feed myself and my new hubby, I turned often to breakfast for dinner. Again and again. Bread soaked in custard – who can screw that up? So, over and over again I soaked bread and slapped it in a pan and then slathered it with butter and syrup. It was a mainstay, and my sweet eternal companion choked it down, smiled and loved me anyway.

But in the last ten years, I have been culinarily reborn. I have become adventurous, yes, even daring in the kitchen. My latest food fetish is savory French Toast. Why not savory? Really, is French Toast required to be soaked in sugary syrup or piled with sugar and fruit and whipped cream? Bread soaked in custard is pretty much a blank canvas, so why not paint it with savory flavors?

I wrote a little French Toast cookbook a few years ago, and I made a cheddar crusted French Toast, which was yummy, but tricky to get just right on the crust without burning the cheddar. So, I don’t hassle with that very often.

Recently I discovered THE CURE: Parmesan cheese!  ((Parmesan is the chocolate of the savory world. Parmesan, like chocolate, cures so many things, does it not?))  Like a ray of sunshine beaming down with angelic choirs singing, Parmesan has refreshed my culinary soul once again!

Parmesan makes the perfect crust for French Toast, because it is a hard cheese. It makes more of a crunchy “crust” than, say, soft melty cheddar. I made this delicious savory version with a little roasted tomato garnish. You could use marinara instead. Either way, this makes an almost effortless dinner -perfect for busy Meatless Mondays!

We here at FFF are no strangers to turning sweet breakfast foods into savory dinners: remember our cornbread waffle chili stacks?

I love the new food trend of making savory oatmeal – featured in a post on Blogher.  Hey! If folks can make savory oatmeal, I say – Why Not Savory French Toast?!

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Meatless Dinner in Five Minutes Flat: Avocado Salsa Verde Chilaquiles!

February 21, 2011 in Entrees, Gluten Free, Healthy Fare, Vegetarian Entrees

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Five Minute Avocado and Salsa Verde Chilaquiles

When I’m strapped for time even more than my usual frantic pace, I sometimes turn to a traditional Mexican peasant dish – chilaquiles. Some Latino markets carry chips made especially for chilaquiles called “duritos,” because they are harder and thicker than regular chips. (HEY! Do you think that’s where they got the name “Doritos”? One food blogger thinks so.) But don’t worry – this dish is great using regular tortilla chips, and is great for using up the broken chips that wind up at the bottom of the bag.

This dish fits perfectly with so many things we believe in here at FFF – eating less meat; avoiding drive-thru meals by making desperation dinners with five ingredients in five minutes; focus on healthy ingredients; cooking with your family in the kitchen.

Could this be a Fab Frugal signature dish?!

There are many fabulous things about this dish – 1) You can get it on your table in 5 minutes flat, and that includes grating the cheese!; 2) It uses up leftover tortilla chips and salsa; 3) It is traditionally a vegetarian dish, perfect for Meatless Mondays; 4) It can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner; and 5) You can customize this dish easily to fit your taste.

Sold yet?

Okay, here’s one more reason: You can teach even small children to make this dish! Kids will have fun breaking up tortilla chips and tossing them in the pan. They can also grate cheese and help assemble.

An avocado is not a traditional ingredient, but I like it paired with salsa verde to add creaminess.

I added a poached egg on top in place of traditional scrambled eggs, but, - Hey! – choose your own style!  You can adjust the heat level by picking the style of salsa you love.

Salud!

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A Frugal Standby: Huevos Rancheros

July 20, 2009 in Entrees, Vegetarian Entrees

It had to happen eventually.

You just can’t have a frugal food blog without, at some point in time, having a recipe for Huevos Rancheros. It is the classic southwest breakfast food, and one of the finest breakfast-for-dinner dishes out there. It is also a perfect “desperation dinner” that you can throw together in just a few minutes.

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