Patti Wagon: Beans, Bears, and Bulletin Boards

Beans:

Being a 31-year-old woman, it seems like every other day someone is popping out another kid. And being the aspiring chef that I am, I always look to take advantage of opportunities to cook for people. So, it actually works out quite nicely for all involved.

I have recently found the best recipe for enchiladas, and it's the perfect thing to take to a growing family. I've made it three times, and each time, I've had to make two pans, lest I eat the one earmarked for Mama before I can give it to her.

I start out by roasting a chicken. (You could also just buy a rotisserie chicken. I don't judge......a lot.)

Shred the meat and combine with a can of green chilies and a block of cream cheese in a pan. Stir so that the cream cheese melts and everything gets nice and combined.

You know the drill: enchilada it all together. Prepare your assembly line. Pour a layer of canned green enchilada sauce onto your baking dish and onto a plate. Dip a tortilla into the enchilada sauce and fill with the meat mixture. Roll up and place into the baking dish. Repeat until you're out of something. Cover the top of the tortillas with enchilada sauce and cheese (I like quesadilla cheese.) Bake it in the oven covered for 20 minutes and then uncovered for 15 minutes, until the cheese is toasty brown and bubbly. I serve it with tomatillo salsa and sour cream mixture. And then I melt.

VARIATION that is >>>>>

In life, I always choose meat. But I think I actually like the black bean version better. Instead of chicken, use two cans of black beans. (I drained the black beans first, then heated them with a little bit of water and red pepper flakes. After that, keep everything the same.) I did not realize this, but black beans + cream cheese = heaven.

Bears:

What's the best bear? The black bear, obviously. Who else is ready for March? While (I guess) I've (kind of) become an Ole Miss fan in recent years, I'll be bleeding blue for the next three weeks, Tiger blue that is. (Blasphemous, yes, but I foresee an early exit for my dear Cats.)