Open Faced Enchiladas & Tara Made Me Feel Special

Earlier this week, Connie at I Started Out as a Child posted this recipe and I wanted to try it right away. I made the enchilada sauce that she makes, but you can use canned enchilada sauce if you'd like. It was easy to make, but when I put everything on the table, my kids said, "No beans??" We are a big bean-eating family (kidney, black, pinto, lentils...) so next time I'll bake some beans to throw on top. It was a really good dinner and then the leftovers made a perfect lunch today. Here is her recipe from her blog. And if you'd like great step-by-step pics, visit Connie's blog. Connie's Open Faced Enchiladas

1 lb. browned ground beef
1 can enchilada sauce
1 can tomato sauce
Corn tortillas

Heat enchildada sauce and tomato sauce in skillet OR make enchilada sauce below.
Place 1 or 2 corn tortillas in bubbling sauce. Cover the tortillas with the sauce and leave for about 30 seconds. If you leave too long, they'll break apart while removing from the pan - but that's OK if they do. With a spatula remove the tortillas and place on plate. We like to put 2 tortillas at a time on our plate. Spoon a little more sauce on top.

Top with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, onions, cilantro, olives or anything else you'd like.

Enchilada Sauce:
2 T. vegetable oil
2 T. flour
2 T. chili powder (if you want it more mild, use 1 1/2 T.)
1/2 t. ground cumin
1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
2 c. water
1 t. salt
1/4 t. garlic powder

Heat oil in large 2-quart sauce pan; stir in flour and chili powder cook for 1 minute.
Add remaining ingredients, bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes. Makes 3 cups.

And.....!!!!!
My awesomely sweet blogger friend Tara sent me a gift that was sitting in my mail box today. It is not just any gift. It is a gorgeous and fun apron (I {heart} aprons!!!) from Flirty Aprons. And it's not even my birthday, so how special is that? Tara is a smart, hard-working, generous (as you can tell), mommy who loves her adorable kids. I'm glad I got to know her through my sister Heather. I'd share Tara's blog, but it's private. Thanks, Tara! I have loved getting to "meet" and know new ladies through blogging. I don't just mean because I got a free apron. And I'm grateful for all you other readers who come and read and share your thoughts!

Here's Elisa modeling my apron for me.