enchiladas

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File this recipe under “make this weekend”. The name of the recipe is quite the mouthful isn’t it? The recipe itself is full of flavor, comfort, and nutrition. With the ridiculously cold weather we’ve been having lately, comfort is all I have been craving. Can’t I just eat grilled cheese every day?

In addition to coming up with something cozy and healthy for dinner on a chilly gray day, I also needed to utilize the delicious  tortillas sent to me earlier this summer by the great people at Tortilla Land. Tortilla Land makes fresh tortillas that are great in all sorts of recipes. I’ll admit, I may enjoy them the most heated up in a pan with a glob of Nutella in the middle, but these tortillas are definitely for more than just dessert.

cumin and paprika

I don’t know where the idea came from, but I dreamed it up when I wasn’t sleeping the other night. Insomnia usually leads to some sort of recipe for me!

It’s an easy one.

Start by chopping and boiling two large sweet potatoes. Toss those, along with a cup of crumbled goat cheese, a teaspoon of cumin, and a teaspoon of paprika into a blender and puree until smooth.

crumbled goat cheese

I absolutely love my Ninja blender. It’s not a Vitamix, but it makes purees very smooth in a very short time. You could really stop right here and eat the goat cheese and sweet potato puree. As you can see, I definitely dipped a spoon in just for quality control.

sweet potato puree

Once the sweet potato is done, add about two cups of soaked lentils to olive oil, garlic, and tomato paste, all to taste. I used a small can of tomato paste because I love the flavor and the lycopene it adds to recipes.

Tortilla Land

Heat a stack of Tortilla Land tortillas in a hot pan until puffy and lightly browned, and then layer ingredients: tortilla, sweet potato mixture, lentils, repeat. Top with enchilada sauce, bake for 15 minutes at 400 degrees and serve with shredded sharp cheddar and salsa.

enchilada pie

As I said earlier, this recipe is pure comfort. The creaminess of the sweet potato really makes it so. I love making enchilada pies because the construction is so quick and easy. Fresh tortillas like the ones that Tortilla Land makes add something a little extra special.

Tags: dinner, easy dinner, enchiladas, Food, goat cheese, healthy, recipe, sweet potatoes, Vegetarian

Dinner Party

Planning a Superbowl dinner and need some last minute help? Look no further than the festive and fabulous spread my sister in law Clare put on in Galway this past week for my brother in law Patrick’s birthday. From drinks to dessert, this meal incorporated lots of different flavors and offered a great balance of vegetables, meat, and cheese to please any crowd.

Mexican themed dinner party

Clare and Patrick’s beautiful apartment overlooks Galway Bay, and in daylight, especially at sunset, the views are breathtaking. Ever the creative hostess, Clare had set the table with hollowed out peppers as candle holders which created fun patterns of light and a cozy atmosphere for a family dinner.

Mexican themed dinner party

Casper posed for plenty of photos.

image

And we got down to celebrating. I started with a Sol beer with a lime, a refreshing change from the Guinness consumed during the rest of the week.

Sol Mexican beer

While we chatted and caught up, we devoured this avocado dip, made with traditional guacamole ingredients like avocado and limes, but mixed in with ricotta cheese for a creamy spread for hot pita triangles. I ate about a million of these and could have kept going if the enticing smells from the kitchen didn’t stop me!

avocado dip

We continued with the Mexican fiesta theme with a pitcher of homemade margaritas.

margaritas

margaritas

When we got to the table, we were met with a feast. First up was chicken tortilla soup. With a rich tomato broth and tender shredded chicken, the soup was a constant delight of flavor, only enhanced by the avocado and cilantro on the top.

chicken tortilla soup

A three bean Mexican salad provided a delicious vegetarian side dish that accompanied the remaining avocado dip and some chunky homemade salsa for the main course.

three bean salad

Enchiladas stuffed with chicken and topped with sauce and cheese were the star of the show. After all of the other things I had eaten, I opted to have rice, bean salad, salsa, and avocado dip, the perfect combination of foods that was both satisfying and felt healthy. A bite of the hubby’s enchiladas was enough to let me know they were fantastic.

chicken enchiladas

We all felt as though we might roll away from the table, completely stuffed and happy with such an incredible meal. But there was more!

flan

The dinner party was capped off with a sweet, custardy flan, one of my favorite desserts for its caramel flavors and smooth texture. Even after a big meal, the flan felt light and not at all overwhelming. It was the perfect dessert for me!

Clare put together a menu even better than most restaurants. Though I do love to cook and entertain, putting together complete menus is something that I need more practice in. If you need a Superbowl menu or even a fun menu for an at-home Valentine’s Day dinner, this menu would be a great choice!

It’s just over a week away; do you have Valentine’s Day dinner plans yet?

Tags: appetizers, avocado dip, chicken, dessert, dinner, dinner party, enchiladas, family, flan, Food, meal planning, menu, Mexican food, Superbowl snacks, tortilla soup, Valentine's Day menu

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