Beef Enchiladas w/ Home made Enchilada Sauce

Oh my goodness! Have I found a fabulously easy dinner? YES I HAVE!!! I have been craving enchiladas for the past few weeks, since going back to work, I have no time anymore to make homemade dinners! I called on the Food Gods and they answered my foodie prayers! Voila…ENCHILADAS!! Hope you enjoy this……..scratch that…….YOU WILL!!!

Makes: 5 enchiladas

Bake: 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes

Here’s what you’ll need…

Filling:

• 5 whole wheat (fajita style) flour tortillas
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 can (15 oz) refried beans
• Shredded Pepper-Jack cheese

Enchilada Sauce: Makes 2 cups (approx.)

• 1 can tomato sauce (15 oz)
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 TBSP olive oil (I use Grape Seed Oil)
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 3 TBSP chili powder
• 1 TBSP cumin
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground oregano

Directions for Sauce:

Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and cook until just browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, chili powder, cumin, salt, and oregano and cook for about 30 seconds (this will give your sauce a fuller flavor).

Add in the tomato sauce and chicken stock. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook for approx. 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat and strain mixture through a fine mesh strainer, pressing on the onion to extract the sauce ( I skip this step because I like the onions to be included in my enchiladas and this sauce can be kept in the fridge up to a week).

Directions for Enchiladas:

1. Place flour tortilla flat on wax paper, spread 1/5 of the can of refried beans to the edges of the tortilla with the back of a spoon (this will act as a glue). Continue doing this to all 5 tortillas. Set aside.
2. Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat and season with a little salt and black pepper. Cook until brown and remove from heat, drain grease, return to skillet.
3. Spread a small amount of enchilada sauce in the middle of the tortilla, place 1/5 of the cooked ground beef (in a line across the tortilla) over the sauce, repeat for all 5 tortillas.
4. Sprinkle shredded cheese over beef (use as much as you want…remember to save some for the baking process!)
5. Bring one side and fold (roll) over until the tortilla is sealed. Place in a 13×9″ pan and place each filled and rolled tortilla (seam-side down) smother the enchiladas with the remaining sauce, then add shredded cheese and bake in the oven (350 degrees) for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly!