10/24/12

Ground beef for dinner - something besides hamburger helper? Please help!

After a while of cooking the same-ol' thing for dinner everyone gets tired of it, including the cook. :) Pinterest is an amazing tool and can help you get ideas for those nights where you just don't know WHAT to make anymore.  Being on a budget, that is pretty tight, it is hard to be creative, cost effective and healthy that the kids will eat, too? Gasp! That's almost too much to ask. 

Here's what we did tonight - Easy Enchiladas and Homemade sauce
Cooking time 35-45 minutes
Prep time - approx 20 minutes
Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Ingredients -

For the sauce -  Original @ Foodnetwork.com click here
3 Tbs. Olive Oil
1 Tbs. Flour
1/4 cup Chili powder
2 cups chicken stock (or Veggie stock, low sodium)
6 oz tomato paste
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp ground cumin (optional - it's in the chili powder)
1/2 teaspoon salt (also optional - we are watching salt intake and I didn't add it)

Making the sauce - combine dry ingredients and blend with the oil and stock, use a whisk to keep sauce smooth.  keep on medium heat until blended, then simmer on low. Add water to thin, if necessary. Stir often.

Ingredients for the Enchiladas -
1 1/2 pounds of lean ground beef (turkey)
1/2 a small onion
1 small zucchini
2-3 large broccoli florets
1/2 cup of tomato sauce
2 cloves of garlic (or 2 tsp. of garlic powder)
2 cups of our Easy Enchilada sauce
8 whole wheat tortillas (large)
8 oz of low fat Mexican cheese blend or shredded cheese
Cooking spray

Directions -
You're already browning ground beef in a pan. Do this until it’s no longer pink.
Drain any extra fat.

Use a food processor/chopper to pulverize the zucchini, onion, broccoli florets and garlic. (so the kids don't know they are eating them!)
Add in chopped veggies and cook for 5 minutes. (see how they hide?!?)
Add in 1/2 cup of tomato sauce and 1 cup of our Easy Enchilada sauce.

Place about 1/2 cup of beef mix onto a tortilla and roll up like a burrito (lay seem
side down in a 9 X 13 baking dish.)
When all tortillas are rolled, spray tops with cooking spray.
Cook enchiladas for 20-25 minutes.
Take out of the oven, and pour on enchilada sauce and top with shredded cheese.









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