Anytime Enchiladas

This is one of my family's favorites. We almost always have the ingredients for it, and as long as the meat is already cooked, it can be on the table in 45 minutes or less.

We call them enchiladas but the knowledgeable among you may protest this description, claiming that this dish bears only a glancing resembleance to actual enchiladas, which in 'Stache's family growing up always meant a stack consisting of tortilla, sauce-and-ground-beef, onions, cheese and chopped lettuce on top, made for each person individually. If you were very hungry you got a double stack.

This is more of a casserole, and is an adaptation of an adaptation of a recipe. It really isn't even a recipe,  just a method. Whatever you call it, it's yummy.

Anytime Mexican-Inspired-Thingamabob 

Line the bottom of a 9x9 pan with:

2-3 corn tortillas 

OR 

a handful of tortilla chips 

OR

a handful of Fritos

In a bowl, mix one of the following: 

1 pkg taco seasoning

OR

1 pkg fajita seasoning 

OR 

a generous sprinkling of chili powder and a good sprinkling of cumin 

with at least two of the following: 

1 lb ground beef, ground

OR

2 chicken breasts, cooked and chopped

OR 

1 can of black beans, drained

OR 

1 can kidney beans, drained

OR

1 can corn kernels, drained

OR 

1 can spinach, drained 

OR 

1 can chickpeas, drained 

OR 

1 can chickpeas, drained and pureed 

OR

2 onions, chopped 

OR 

2 onions, chopped and sauteed 

I don't recommend mixing meats for this dish. If you want a vegetarian dish, you should probably use at least 3 vegetables. Spread half of this mixture over the tortillas. Grate 8 oz of cheese, using any combination of: 

cheddar

OR

mozzarella

OR 

pepperjack

OR

colby 

Sprinkle half the cheese over the dish. On top of the cheese, spread:

2-3 corn tortillas

OR 

a handful of tortilla chips 

OR 

a handful of Fritos 

Next layer the rest of your mixture. If you want to add extra stuff at this point, you can. Some things to try:

black olives 

OR 

avocado slices 

OR 

jalapeno slices 

OR 

banana peppers 

OR

chopped bell pepper 

OR 

diced fresh tomato

Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top. Over the cheese, pour: 

1 can enchilada sauce 

OR 

a scant 2 cups homemade enchilada sauce 

OR 

1 can diced tomatoes and chilis, pureed with liquid

OR 

1 can tomatoes and 1 small can green chilis, pureed with liquid

Bake for 40 minutes at 350 or until the cheese is melted and the enchiladas are hot all the way
through. Serves 4 adults.

Right before I popped it in the oven. I used corn tortillas, chili powder and cumin, chicken, black beans, 4 oz cheddar and 4 oz pepperjack, and a can of diced tomatoes with chilis.

Any way we've made it, it's been great!