Easy Beef Enchiladas

I am by no means an expert when it comes to Mexican food. I do enjoy eating it, though. This is my simple and "Americanized" version of beef enchiladas. They are easy enough to prepare after a long work day. These were pretty spicy to me but the boys I fed them to loved them.

Beef Enchiladas

1-1/2 lb ground beef
1 small onion, finely chopped (opt)
1 pkg taco seasoning mix
12 small flour tortillas
1 pkg shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
1 can prepared enchilada sauce

Brown ground beef with onion and drain. Add taco seasoning mix and 1 cup water. Simmer until thickened. Spoon ground beef mixture onto each of 12 tortillas. Top with cheese. Roll up and place on a greased baking pan. Pour sauce over the tortillas and top with remaining cheese. Bake at 350° for about 30 minutes. Serve with black or refried beans and spanish rice.

Spoon ground beef onto tortilla:

Top with cheese:
Roll up and place on a greased baking sheet:

Top with sauce:
And remaining cheese:

Serve with Mexican accompaniments.

Chocolate Sugar Cookies

This cookie is soft on the inside and slightly crunchy on the outside and it has a rich chocolate flavor.

Chocolate Sugar Cookies

1 12 oz pkg semisweet chocolate morsels, divided (I used Nestles Mini Morsels)
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 tbsp half and half (or milk)
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar

Melt one cup of the morsels in the microwave. Beat the butter with an electric mixer until fluffy Gradually add 1 cup sugar. Add egg, half and half, vanilla, and melted chocolate.

Add dry ingredients, mixing well. Stir in remaining chocolate morsels.

Shape into small balls and roll each ball in sugar. Bake on a greased cookie sheet at 400° for 8 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool.


Start with melted chocolate and softened butter:

Cream butter with a mixer until fluffy:

Add sugar, egg, and half and half:

Than add melted chocolate.

Add dry ingredients and remaining morsels. Roll dough into balls and roll in sugar. Bake at 400° for 8 minutes. Cool on wire racks:

A pretty, yet simple way to display cookies or other desserts is to use a stencil. Start with a dark colored plate and a detailed doily:

Sift a moderate amount of confectioners sugar onto the doily and remove carefully.