Authentic Old Fashioned Mexican Food

[Annarchy]

Tonight was green chicken enchiladas, re-fried beans and rice.  
 From DH’s grandmother…

 

The rice… white rice, sautéed until just brown…

 

 

Add a Tbs of diced tomatoes, I have a container kept frozen for this recipe, specifically.  Microwave a minute or two, enough to use for the rice, add a tsp of dried minced onion, a Tbs of tomato bullion and return to the heat….

 

Sauté just enough to boil some of the liquid from the tomatoes.  For some reason, frying the tomatoes makes a big difference in the taste.  Add enough water to cover,

 

bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer until most the water is gone, then turn the fire off, let it steep.

 

Chicken enchiladas, 1 pint of canned chicken.  I usually boil a leg & thigh, remove the bones & shred it, but tonight, I used the pint of chicken that didn’t seal when I canned it.  Saved a lot of time.  Lol. Added a Tbs. of cream cheese, & a Tbs of jalapeño cream cheese, and a tsp of chicken bullion, mixed well. 
 

 

Lightly fried 8 corn tortillas in veggie oil, then, let them sit, to cool down, while I defrosted the beans for re-fried beans… these are from pots of beans, when I make MIL her ‘bean juice soup.  I strain the beans out of the liquid and save the beans for re-fries.

 

 

  I use the pan i fried the tortillas in, adding a Tbs of tomato bullion & a handful of cheddar/ jack cheese.

 

 

Mix well, cook on medium heat, mixing off & on,  until they get thicker.

 

As they are cooking, I fill & roll up the tortillas with the mixture….

 

Pour the greens enchilada sauce on top and sprinkle the last of the cheese on top.

 

Bake at 350°F for about 15 minutes.  
 

 

Melted cheese….

 

 

Rice absorbed all the excess water…

 

 

and the enchiladas cooked enough to be hot throughout…

 

 

My dinner tonight…. 
 

 

(Forgive the paper plate….  It saves excess dishes…. Lol)

[euphrasyne]

That looks amazing.   I have to find some tomato bullion.   You have given me a new goal.  

[Jeepers]

Oh my, that looks sooo good! I ordered some tomato bouillon from Amazon just last night. It's the Knorr brand so I'm sure it will be good.

 

I nearly ordered a big can of tomato powder a week or so ago but wasn't sure about it. I'm so glad I waited for your recommendation on the bouillon instead. I had never heard of it.  

[Jeepers]

Tomato bouillon arrived on my door step already this morning. So fast. They must be doing drones.  

 

I picked up the box and thought it was sort of big for a little jar of powdered bouillon. Turns out I had ordered a 2 pound jar of it! Well, I guess I'm stocked up on tomato bouillon.

 

For the rest of my life. 

[Annarchy]

You might be surprised how quickly you go through it.  

[snapshotmiki]

I'm already stocked on the tomato bouillon!  Got the chicken and more beef today.

[Littlesister]

Dang, that looks so good.  I am stuck with eating sandwiches and canned soup as the dust in the house from all the work going on is making it hard to cook a real meal. I knew the dust would be bad, but I could plant a small garden in it, as it is so thick. Guess you all know what I will be doing when the work is done. 

[euphrasyne]

I blame @Annarchy for the new addition to my spices.  I broke down and ordered some from Amazon.  I can't wait to try it.   Tonight I already have a big pot of borracho beans with hamburger going.

 

(The containers are what they say they are but probably not the brand that is on them.  I buy most spices in bulk and empty it into the quart jars as needed.  If you have ever asked yourself if someone can actually use 50lb of cinnamon before it goes bad...why yes I can.) 

[Jeepers]

Absolutely love, love, love it!  Look at that bouillon. Caught my eye right away.  

Poor Annarchy has been taking the blame for lots of good stuff lately.  

 

I often pour my generic stuff in brand name containers too. LOL

[Annarchy]

Looking at your spice rack, reminded me to get more paprika….  

[euphrasyne]

That shelf has 2 more racks and I keep my smaller spices in a different cabinet.   Garlic, Curry, Paprika, Cinnamon, and lemon pepper are things I keep massive stock.  

 

Without listing amounts, this is my current spice inventory (yes i use them all.  some more than others.)   Condiments & sauces and things like taco seasoning packets or gravy/soup/dip packets I track under a different category.   These are just large bottles/bags of spice.   I'd love to hear what other people consider their necessary spices.

Spices	Allspice
Spices	Basil
Spices	Bay Leaves
Spices	beef bullion cubes
Spices	black pepper
Spices	Bread Seasoning
Spices	Cajun
Spices	Caraway
Spices	Cardamon
Spices	Cayanne
Spices	Celery Seed
Spices	chicken bullion
Spices	Chipolte Pepper
Spices	Cinnamon lbs
Spices	Cinnamon Sticks
Spices	Cream of Tartar
Spices	Cumin
Spices	Curry
Spices	Dill
Spices	Dried Ginger
Spices	Everything Bagal Seasoning
Spices	Fajita Seasoning
Spices	Garlic Minced  jar
Spices	Ginger ground
Spices	granulated garlic
Spices	Ground Cloves
Spices	Italian Seasoning
Spices	Lemon Pepper
Spices	Montreal Cx Seasoning
Spices	Mustard Ground
Spices	Mustard Seed
Spices	Nutmeg sm
Spices	Paprika
Spices	Pectin
Spices	Peppercorns
Spices	Pickle Crisper
Spices	Pink Salt
Spices	Poppy Seed
Spices	Poultry Seasoning
Spices	Pumpkin Spice
Spices	Roaster Garlic Herb seasoning
Spices	Rosemary
Spices	Salt
Spices	Salt Grinder
Spices	Sazon
Spices	Thyme
Spices	Tumeric
Spices	Whole Cloves

[Virginia]

I didn't know you could even buy that many different spices!!

[Jeepers]

I'm a spice dud. Most of the ones I listed I only use 1-2 times a year. Like Thanksgiving. Using your list I have and sometimes use;

 

Bay Leaves

Bouillon   Beef, Chicken and now Tomato

Celery Seeds

Chili Powder   Mexene

Cinnamon   Powder and Sticks and Sugar

Cloves   Ground and Whole

Dill Seeds

Garlic   Granules and Powdered and Dehydrated  

Ginger Powder

Italian Seasoning

Montreal Seasoning

Mustard Seed

Nutmeg

Onion   Granules and Powdered and Dehydrated

Paprika  Plain and Smoked

Pepper   Black

Rosemary

Sage

Salad Seasonings

Salt   Lite and Canning

Taco Seasoning

Thyme

Vanilla   Pods

[Annarchy]

That’s a nice list euphrasyne,   Very nice.

 

A couple I didn’t recognize or know what you use them in. 
Bread seasoning, everything bagel, & Sazon.  Otherwise, I have about the same variety.

 

I can add a few to your list, Sage, Greek, Italian and Mexican oregano, white pepper.  Mixed spices/seasoning; Gumbo File, Pepper Chere, Quarterdeck, peppermint, Achiote (Annato), Creole, and a few more.

 

 I re-package most all my spices & seasonings into canning jars.  It makes it easier for me to see if I’m running low.  
 

I will add more Mexican recipes, as I cook them.  

[Annarchy]

Caldio 

 

1 lb cubed beef

Sprinkle with; salt, pepper, Ground cumin, onion powder, & garlic powder, then, mix.  Sauté, over medium heat.  Add sliced, quartered onion, Sauté, add diced tomatoes & simmer 15 minutes.  Add diced jalapeños (to taste). Add 2-2 1/2 cups of water.  Simmer 30 minutes.  Add 2-3 cubed potatoes, and simmer until potatoes are cooked.

[Littlesister]

I love the everything bagel spice. I buy the bagels and heat them up with a little butter and sprinkle that on them. They are really good.

[euphrasyne]

If you ever go out for Italian or such and they sprinkle that herb mix in a plate and cover it with oil so you can dip the bread in it, that is what I call 'bread' seasoning.

 

Everything bagel is a type of bagel that has all the toppings on it, sesame seed, poppy seed, garlic, onion, salt.   I put it on top of bread before baking, or use it to season chicken for baking.  

 

Sazon is a Mexican/South American spice of salt, pepper, cilantro, achiote, garlic, cumin, oregano and sometimes paprika or tumeric.      I also have tropical sazon which has garlic and tumeric and onion as well as some of the others.

 

I have sage and oregano in the garden as well as rosemary and basil.  I use them seasonally.  

 

I used to keep gumbo file, but I was the only one who liked it and it is hard to find here so I didn't replace the last bottle I finished.    Never heard of Pepper Chere or  Quarterdeck.  I'll go look those up.  

[snapshotmiki]

I make and use sazon as yellow rice seasoning. 

[The WE2's]

On 2/4/2022 at 10:46 PM, snapshotmiki said:

I make and use sazon as yellow rice seasoning. 

 

same here.

[mommato3boys]

 

 

Don't forget:

Chinese 5 Spice

Old Bay Seasoning

File'

 

[Necie]

I’m not home right now, but a couple off the top of my head that I use quite a bit:

 

ancho powder 

herbs de provence 

 

I also use a garlic infused smoked sea salt that is AWESOME, though a bit pricey. I use it sparingly... an itty bit goes a looooong way.

 

 

[euphrasyne]

My current pantry: and I mix a lot.  all bulliion is currently powder jars and not cubes.  Seasoning makes life happy.  There can never be too much garlic.  

Spices	Abado
Spices	Allspice
Spices	Basil
Spices	Bay Leaves
Spices	beef bullion cubes- 1
Spices	black pepper- 1
Spices	Bread Seasoning
Spices	Cajun
Spices	Caraway
Spices	Cardamon
Spices	Cayanne
Spices	Celery Seed
Spices	chicken bullion cubes- 1
Spices	Chipolte Pepper
Spices	Cilantro Lime Seasoning
Spices	Cinnamon lbs
Spices	Corriander Seed
Spices	Cream of Tartar
Spices	Cumin
Spices	Curry
Spices	Dill
Spices	Dried Ginger
Spices	Everything Bagal Seasoning
Spices	Fajita Seasoning
Spices	Fennel Seed
Spices	Fenugreek Seed
Spices	Garlic Minced  jar
Spices	Ginger ground
Spices	granulated garlic- 1
Spices	Ground Cloves
Spices	Italian Seasoning
Spices	Lemon Pepper
Spices	Montreal Cx Seasoning
Spices	Moroccan Spice
Spices	Mustard Ground
Spices	Mustard Seed
Spices	Nutmeg sm
Spices	Orange Pepper
Spices	Paprika
Spices	Pectin
Spices	Peppercorns
Spices	Pickle Crisper
Spices	Pink Salt
Spices	Poppy Seed
Spices	Poultry Seasoning
Spices	Pumpkin Spice
Spices	Ranch Powder shaker
Spices	Roaster Garlic Herb seasoning
Spices	Rosemary
Spices	Salt
Spices	Salt Grinder
Spices	Sazon
Spices	Sazon Tropical
Spices	Star Anice whole
Spices	Thyme
Spices	Tumeric

Edited February 9, 2024 by euphrasyne

[euphrasyne]

It won't let me edit to add that DH had to put new handles onto the pantry to attach the baby locks to keep DD3 out.  It was a serious issue for the last few months.  I had to buy new paprika, cinnamon, and mustard.  Kids are awesome, but kids suck.  Seriously, kidproof your preps.  also i have tomato bullion now.  

Edited February 9, 2024 by euphrasyne

[mommato3boys]

I love the tomato bullion. It has saved several of my recipes.  There is also a shrimp bullion. It is awesome in fried rice.

[euphrasyne]

I keep minced garlic in the fridge and whole garlic on the shelf.  Seriously garlic everything.  Its a natural antibiotic and we stay healthy because of it.  DD15 has only been sick once in her life and I passed on garlic love to her.  Say yes to health and garlic.  Black pepper is a diuretic.  Great after stomach issues to stop constipation.  Turmeric is a great antiseptic topically.   Spices have many uses.   It is sad that knowledge has been lost over time.  We eat tasty, spicy, and healthy.  Spices aren't just for flavor.  

Edited February 10, 2024 by euphrasyne