taste

on CHRISTmas eve eve we had a little fiesta with some friends. sadly, no pics. but i promised the recipes.

be warned. one bite {or drink, as it may be} of any one of the following three deliciously edible concoctions just might make you wish you had a mariachi band nearby.

*** Creamy Chicken Enchiladas ***

ingredients

12 flour tortillas

4 chicken breasts {cooked and cut into 1/2 in. cubes}

2 cans cream of chicken soup

8 oz. diced green chilies {mild}

1 1/2 C. sour cream

2 C. monterey jack cheese {grated}

1 can black olives {sliced}

4-5 green onions {thinly slice} OR 1 whole yellow onion {diced}

method

1. preheat oven to 350. grease a 9x13 baking dish.

2. combine soup, onions, sour cream, chilies, and black olives. add most of the cheese {save some for the top}. set aside 1/2 C. of this mixture {to remain chickenless}, and add the cut-up chicken to the rest.

3. fill tortillas with chicken mixture and roll. place rolled tortillas in the 9x13 baking dish. pour any remaining sauce over the top and sprinkle with cheese.

4. bake at 350 for 45 minutes. {serves 6-8 adults}

*** Horchata ***

ingredients

1 C. uncooked white long-grain rice

5 cups water

1/2 C. milk

1/2 tbsp. vanilla extract

1/2 tbsp. ground cinnamon

2/3 C white sugar

method

1. pour rice and water into a blender. blend just until rice begins to break up {about 1 minute}, then let this mixture sit overnight.

2. strain the rice water mixture and discard the rice. stir the milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and sugar into the rice water. chill and stir before serving over ice. {serves 6-8 adults}

*** Flan ***

ingredients

4 eggs

1 can evaporated milk

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 C. brown sugar

2 tbsp. water {give or take}

method

1. preheat oven to 350

2. in a blender, mix eggs, evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla until blended.

3. put brown sugar in a metal bread loaf pan and place on top of stove-top burner set at medium-low heat. with a brush or spatula, brush sides of loaf pan with water, careful to stir the sugar where moistened. continue brushing sides and stirring the sugar until it is all dissolved {like liquidy carmel}.

4. immediately pour egg mixture into caramel pan. place this pan {the bread loaf pan} into another larger baking dish {eg 9x13} and fill the latter with enough water to immerse about 1/3 to 1/2 the bread loaf pan. {no water IN the bread loaf, caramel/egg mixture bread loaf pan. just up the OUTsides}

5. place the panS in the oven and bake at 350 for 1 hour.

6. remove from oven and flip onto cookie sheet. let cool {in refrigerator} before serving. {serves 8-10 adults... or more}