Scraps and Snippets ~ Cheeseburger Enchiladas

Cheeseburger Enchiladas

9 x 13 pan

1 and ½ Cups of crumbled hamburger substitute.

2 TBSP ketchup

1 TBSP classic yellow mustard

2 ½ TBSP finely minced onion (Set ½ TBSP aside and mix with ½ TBSP of dill pickles for the top of the casserole)

2 ½ TBSP finely minced dill pickle (Set ½ TBSP aside and mix with ½ TBSP of onions for the top of the casserole)

2 teaspoons of pickle juice

4 TBSP of chili cheese sauce

Mix all (but the reserved pickles/onions) together in a bowl

Grease the 9 x 13 pan.

Divide the meat mixture between approximately 10 flour tortilla shells and fit them into the pan. Don’t overstuff these. If you are someone who really loves a stuffed pan of enchiladas you might want to double the filling and sauce and add extra baking time.

Chili Cheese Sauce

3 TBSP Flour

3 TBSP Earth Balance

3 Cups unflavored/unsweetened non-dairy milk

1 Cup enchilada sauce or tomato sauce

1/2 TBSP chili powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 cup of shredded cheese (Daiya)

1/4 Cup nutritional yeast

Melt Earth Balance in pan, add flour and make a paste. When completely incorporated begin adding milk slowly and stir. Heat until mixture bubbles and thickens, stirring constantly.

When mixture thickens add chili powder, garlic powder and cheese. Stir until cheese is incorporated and melted. Add the tomato sauce and mix well. Pour this over the enchiladas. (Don’t forget to use the 4 TBSP of this for the enchilada stuffing mix.) Sprinkle sesame seeds over top of casserole. Squirt on ketchup and mustard swirls. Add the minced onion and pickles. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Check and if the mixture is bubbling and heated through it’s good to go. Serve with a side of french fries.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Dusty Filter

 Instagram is great. Where you snap pics and then change them up and make them all arty with filter fun. 

However, I did this series the old fashioned way. Sunny afternoon. Curious pups and a dusty black Nissan with a lovely reflective surface. And a Smart Phone. Just a peek into the fun I have during frequent bathroom breaks. (Theirs, not mine. Just in case you were confused. ) 

Serials and Scenarios ~ Gardein Beefless Ground ~ Reviewed and Recipe

Again, thank you, Target for selling Gardein products at the best prices around. 

Now, onto Gardein Beefless Ground. 

Look at that picture. Totally looks like hamburger doesn't it? I don't think anyone would guess it's not the real deal if it's in a recipe. Maybe a taste comparison side by side with no seasonings etc. But who does that? We want a meatless replacement to go into our favorite family dishes and recipes. Right? 

Gardein will do that. I am so impressed with all the products I've tried and this one is no different. 

With the Beefless Ground I made a hearty "Bear" Soup (I have no idea where that name came from, my husband's grandma I think.) Bear Soup is hamburger potato soup. 

I used 1 Cup of the Gardein Beefless Ground
1 small to medium onion finely diced
1 TBSP oil (I used grape seed)
2 finely diced celery stalks
3 garlic cloves minced
4 Large or 7 small to medium diced potatoes)
8 Cups of broth (my broth was no salt added so I added salt to taste)

This will feed 4-6 depending on appetite.

In a dutch oven or soup pot sauté the onion, garlic, and potatoes until golden and crisping. Add the other ingredients and simmer for at least a half hour or as long as needed. 

If you need a hamburger substitute I suggest Gardein's Beefless Ground. Texture and taste are hand down winners. Also the bag will probably make 2-3 solid multi-serving meals. At under $5.00 that's cheaper than beef. Also, it's gluten free. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Slithery

only okay type of snake I've ever met.... See the size of the tiny leaf? 

 I'm pretty sure I've made my hate affair with snakes clear. 

I detest them, they creep me out and I pretty much freak out around them. 

Back in the day, though, when my kids were little I tried to tolerate the horrific reptiles. Toad-boy would find snakes pretty much everywhere. And he'd study them. I remember once discovering him jotting down notes on a dead snake he found at my parents. He began to pry it's mouth open. When I voiced my motherly concern he suggested that I not watch the experiment. 

Another time we went camping and he found a garter snake at a lake. He measured the writhing and very unhappy snake. So then I notice scratches all over his arms. What in the world I wondered out loud, Then the snake struck and grabbed his arm and he pulled it away leaving a new set of scratches. UGH!!!!! 

However, there were cute (I know, right?) little ringneck snakes that the kids would find on occasion. Little worm-sized gray things with an orange little stripe around the neck. The only issue I had with these little guys was the habit of the kids to bring them in the house and then lose them. 

So yesterday afternoon I spied a ringneck. I had to take a picture and send it for nostalgia's sake. And I told the kids I was tempted to bring it inside and let it lose for old time's sake. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ A Different Take on Training.

Charlie is a smart one. 

Let's think this one through shall we? Lil Laura is going to be at Charlie's licking level for a few years. He's probably seen how messy children's faces get. He's maybe seen children in high chairs tossing bits all over the place. 

I think that Charlie is training Laura to share. And while he's at it, teaching her the beauty of a good game of fetch. And making sure she knows who her best friend truly is. 

Oh, yeah, it's not the smart move of tossing toys to the baby, it's the baby training behind the ball game. 

Thanks Mom for sharing the video. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Just a Paws...

Last night while working on my post for today my computer decided to be challenging. So here's a puppy paw. That's all. 

Serials and Scenarios ~ drips coffee/gallery - review

 I have been negligent, again. How could I go to a coffee shop many, many times and not review it?  

I will rectify this now. 

drips is the most unique coffee shop I've ever been in. For starters, there are limited coffee house sounds such as screaming, steaming milk. When coffee is ordered the owner/artist, Tres, grinds the perfect number of beans and crafts a delicious pour over. 

Pretty much, those who want frou-frou with chocolate or caramel drizzle with meh coffee shouldn't plan on having that itch scratched. However, fans of coffee...the real deal with all the diverse qualities that make each estate, each coffee growing region unique will adore Tres's pours. Tres chooses beans with coffee lover palates in mind. And he's more than happy to talk about the subtle and not-so-subtle qualities of the coffee. 

Tres also experiments with other drinks, I watched him make an iced coffee yesterday, and I've heard about some amazingly decadent creations that include things like butter. 

Right now he is serving a unique bean and he updates his Facebook Page often.  He even offers a little historical coffee information about the limited-time newest bean offering. 

drips atmosphere is cool and ever changing. Different artists hang their pieces in the gallery, and Tres often is hard at work on his own creations. 

I think drips is the only non-chain coffee location in Council Bluffs. If you are a coffee lover you owe it to yourself to check it out if you are a Council Bluffs or Omaha resident or visitor. Located in the historic Main Street section of Council Bluffs, it's near the Dodge House and infamous Squirrel Cage Jail.