Remember a few days ago…the Time Change….Friday the 13th…the Full Moon..?? Our worries and complaints….We didn’t have a clue!
I am up early this morning as sleep is eluding me. As I stare out the windows into the blackness, the only light coming back at me is the yard light in the heavy fog. I wonder what all of that outside world holds for me and you in the next days ahead. Then I am jolted back to reality and realize, “This is the day the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it.” I need to make some plans for THIS DAY. i need to celebrate the joy inside of me and thank God for life this day!
These past days I have spent my time doing some cleaning of random drawers and closets. Sorting and reorganizing and recycling some things that someone else may make better use of than us. I have spent many minutes of my day praying for those who need it most. Especially a dear friend who is fighting for her life, and feeling so very sad because her children and grandchildren are not allowed to be close to her and see her. So many stories that will come out of this precariious time that are hard and cruel and unfair. All we can do is hold on and reach out in any way we can.
Since most of life has been put on hold, I have enjoyed a lot of reading and watching some movies and Netflex series that seem interesting. It is easy to binge watch when the episodes keep starting about ten seconds after the last one ends! The most enjoyable part is that there are no commercials. I suppose that is why we have to pay to have it available. But it seems worth it.
Probably the most fun I have had with the extra time at home is trying new recipes. I enjoy cooking and baking when I have the time, and there seems to be an abundance of it now. My “want to try” pile of recipes has been stacking up in our pantry for years, it seems. I dug them out and sorted through to see what looked good. Some I threw away, wondering why I kept them. They no longer even sounded good to me! Others were put in the “maybe” pile, depending on what ingredients I could find in the house.
Since we have some frozen chickens in our basement freezer, the following main dish sounded good for a try. It is fast and easy, and Dan said he liked it even better the second day when we enjoyed the leftovers. I suppose the flavors may have intensified a little from sitting. Modify the spiciness with the intensity of the salsa and chiies to suit your taste. Enjoy!
Simple Chicken Enchiladas
1 can (10 oz.) enchilada sauce
4 oz. cream cheese, cubed
1 1/2 cups salsa
2 cups cubed, cooked chicken
1 can (15 oz.) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (4 oz.) chopped green chilies
10 flour tortillas (6 in.)
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
OPTIONAL: lettuce, sour cream, sliced black olives, chopped tomato
Spoon 1/3 cup of the enchilada sauce into a greased 13 by 9 baking dish.
In a large saucepan, stir the cream cheese and salsa over low heat until blended. Stir in the chicken, beans, and chilies.
Put 1/3 cup of hot mixture in the center of each tortilla. Roll up, place seam down in the baking pan. Top with the rest of the enchilada sauce. Sprinkle cheese over the top.
Cover and bake at 350 degrees about 23-30 minutes.
IF DESIRED… serve with the lettuce, tomato, sour cream and olives.
( I am thinking that leftover roast beef or browned hamburger would be a good meat choice for this recipe too.)
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