This is a family favorite I have cooked for many years. It has been added to and changed a bit over the years, but it remains an easy and oh-so delicious way to enjoy a Mexican Dinner. The Mexican Spice Blend and Mexican Herb Blend are the spice/herb stars in this recipe, and they work so well with the ingredients to provide the great 'south of the boarder' taste we all love!
Ingredients:
1 1b Ground Beef or Ground Turkey
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
2 cans ‘Rotel’ diced tomatoes and chilis(drained)
1 can (10 ounces) Enchilada Sauce
9 flour or corn Tortillas (4 inch size)
1 Tblspn Mexican Spice Blend
1 tsp Cumin Seed Powder
2 tsp Mexican Herb Blend
2 cups Cottage Cheese (small curd)
4 cups Mexican Blend Cheese (shredded)
Salt/Pepper
2 Eggs
Chopped Fresh Tomatoes
Shredded Lettuce
Optional: Sour Cream and Sliced Black Olives
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet, brown the beef/turkey with onion and peppers and drain. Add the Rotel tomatoes, Mexican Spice Blend and the Cumin. Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. In a bowl, combine the Cottage Cheese, Eggs, 1/2 cup of Mexican Cheese , and the Mexican Herb Blend. Set this aside.
Spray the bottom and sides of a 9 inch baking pan. Dip the tortillas into a bowl filled with the Enchilada Sauce (cover both sides of each tortilla with the sauce). Place 3 dipped tortillas on the bottom of the prepared pan. Spoon 1/3 of the meat mixture over the tortillas and then sprinkle the top of the meat with 1/2 cup of the Mexican Cheese. Place 3 more dipped tortillas on top of the meat/cheese. Spread 1/2 of the Cottage Cheese mixture on top of the tortillas and then another 1/3 of meat mixture, and then 1/2 cup of the Mexican Cheese. Repeat this layer (dipped tortillas, remaining Cottage Cheese mixture, remaining meat, 1/2 cup Mexican Cheese). Top with the last 3 dipped tortillas and then sprinkle the remaining Mexican Cheese over these tortillas. Cover with foil and bake for about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve hot, garnished with the chopped tomatoes and shredded lettuce and/or the optional toppings of sour cream and sliced black olives.
