Cheese and Onion Enchiladas

Before you start in on me, we did not fast fully this year for Lent as my recovery required a fuller protein intake that I cannot get fasting typically. We modified our fast this year to a few days a week to ensure I lost no more weight and actually gained a few pounds to promote healing. We limited our meat intake as we usually do during our weekly regiment.

I had some flour street taco tortillas and a lot of cheese in the fridge. I found a can of enchilada sauce I forgot I bought  and so I was in business.

Firstly, the sauce.  I like authentic enchilada sauce and usually make my own. For a canned sauce,  I look to make sure no tomatoes are listed in the ingredients, just peppers.

Here is my brand of sauce and if you like authentic taste, this is your sauce. It tasted exactly like my homemade sauce but so much less work.
 
I started the enchiladas by cooking my chopped onions just till softened slightly. A medium size onion was plenty. I had all kinds of cheese, mozzarella, cheddar and gouda. I grated a good amount of all and mixed a few cups with the onions, reserving some for topping. I added about 1/4 cup of chopped, pickled jalepenos too.

I poured some of the sauce in a flat bowl and soaked the tortillas before filling with a few tablespoons of the filling, rolling and placing seam side down in a greased casserole. I like this street taco size tortilla, just big enough for a serving of 2 for a meal. Once the pan was full, more sauce was ladled over then topped with cheese. Baked at 350 till bubbly and then served with sour cream and salsa. Yum. Even better the next day.

I Owe You an Update....

I am back to work now, my second week back actually, full throttle. I have a desk job with a lot of walking about so its no big deal really. Everything is in place, I have a routine down and am experiencing no issues with any surgery or recovery related problems.

I am writing this because today one of my sales reps stopped by to see how I was. Apparently he is from a small Nebraska  town, Yutan, and his prayer group was wondering about me.  Well Yutan, I am great. Still down a few pounds and trying to keep it that way. So great in fact we booked a trip to Cancun in October with all the kids and others just to feel normal again and have something to anticipate besides Ben's upcoming nuptials.

I guess this should not have taken me aback as earlier,  before my return to work, I ran into another sales rep at Target and he introduced me to his son as the 'Tom' we've been praying for every night. Wow. How powerful is that? It is really humbling. So thank you one and all. I am so happy that all your petitions on my behalf worked and am thankful to actually be able to attend Ben's nuptials in December.

Thank you work, for missing me. I must contribute something though most days I just feel like I'm in the way. Thank you one and all for the prayers and thoughts as I embarked on my journey from all the folks I never met (especially in Yutan) and Roseville, CA and anywhere I happen to reach people with this silly blog or through acquaintances.

Happy Pascha everyone. We celebrate Palm Sunday this week so we are a week behind America but I am looking forward to a nice leg of lamb, family and friends gathered at the table and a cancer free life ahead, God willing.

Dinner with Old Friends

Friday night dinner with salmon in the menu and a semi Lenten feast with Western Rite Orthodox friends.  I have known Tari and Mike Choiniere since the early eighties as Tari and I worked the Cath Lab together for a few years till we moved to Cedar Rapids in '87. While we don't see each other often we decided recently to reconnect and meet every month or so.

 I wanted to make some nice Mediterranean style appetizers with some large shrimps. I started with 2 pounds of 16-20 size shrimps cooked and peeled. To this I added 1 tin of calamari with about half the sauce.

I love this calamari for its texture and smokey taste. Its cheap and delicious too.
To the seafood I mixed in some olive oil and the juice of half a lemon. A bit of parsley, some sliced pickled garlic and ground pepper rounded out the main ingredients. So light and tasty.

Eating Omaha...Via Farina

Yesterday was a busy day. The weather was amazing and we set out for an adventure which turned out to be an all day affair.
Firstly, we went shopping, of course. Hit all our major spots and I found another pair of smaller slacks for work. A few hours of that was about all I could do so we went home to rest up as we had plans to hit Lauritsen Gardens about 230. Stopped by Mackenzie's house to deliver a ottoman we picked up for her at Homegoods on the way down.

We walked through Lauritsen for a few hours and enjoyed the gardens in the green house then on to the Old Market for quick refreshments at M's Pub. While there, since no tables were available and bar seating was uncomfortable, we decided to dine at Via Farina on 10th street.

We started with a few appetizers including toasts with burratta and prosciutto, a crowd favorite. Then some fried cauliflower and a shaved Brussels sprouts salad.

All of this was followed by a delicious pepperoni pizza, thin, chewy crust with charred spots and dotted with fresh mozzarella. So tasty, definitely a spot worth visiting again and again.