Fried Chimichangas - Mexican Night!

Ingredients:

• 2 TBSP of vegetable oil (as well as a quart for frying)
• 1/2 cup of diced white onion
• 1 TBSP and 1/2 tsp of chili powder
• 1/4 tsp of ground oregano
• 1/2 tsp of ground cumin
• 1 lb of chicken breast 
• 1 tsp of salt
• 4.5 oz of canned diced green chile's
• 1 1/2 tsp of minced garlic
• 6 ten inch flour tortillas
• 1 cup of shredded monterrey jack cheese
• wooden toothpicks
• sour cream
• cilantro (garnish)

The 4.5 oz can of green chile's is the blue can on the left

All of these ingredients are pretty easy to find at your local grocery store.  The 4.5 oz of canned diced green chile's can be tricky to find, it will be located in the "TeX-Mex" aisle.  Also known as the aisle where you buy tacos! It'll be in the same area as the canned re fried beans :) 

Directions!!!

1. On a skillet cook the chicken breast thoroughly. (To save time you may just buy a rotisserie chicken instead of having to cooking a pound of your own chicken)  When done cooking put on a plate and allow to cool.  While the chicken is cooling dice onions and mince the garlic.
2. In a bowl mix minced garlic, chili powder, oregano and cumin.  (From now on will be known as spice mixture)
3. Shred the warm chicken.
4. Put 2 TBSP of oil in a large skillet, on medium-high, when oil is hot add onions.  Saute the onions until they are soft, about 2 minutes.  Add spice mixture cook for about a minute.  Add shredded chicken.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Stir in green chile's and cook for about five minutes.
   
   
   

   

   Chicken Mixture before green chile's

5. Set chicken mixture aside.
6. In microwave heat tortilla one at a time for 10 seconds.  *trick* grab two paper towels, wet them, wring out the excess water.  Place tortilla on microwave safe plate and place paper towels on top.  If you choose not to do this the tortillas may get hard around the edges while in microwave.
7. Pre-heat quart of vegetable oil to 365°F in a deep stock pot or deep fryer.
8. Spread 1/2 cup of chicken mixture on warm tortilla in the center, in a shape of a rectangle.  Spread 2 TBSP of cheese.  
9. Fold the bottom of tortilla over the filling and then fold the sides over.  Fold top of tortilla over the sides and secure with toothpicks.  Place folded side down.
10. Use tongs to lower the "chimichanga" in the oil. Make sure you lower it folded side down first.  Cook for about 3 minutes or until golden brown.  (about 90 seconds per side)  
11. Use sour cream and cilantro for garnish.

 This recipe is one of my "tumba's" favorites.  The best part is the leftover chimichangas that have already been fried taste even better the next day!  Just warm in the microwave (and I'm totally against re-heating anything in the microwave!) And serve with sour cream.  Just thinking about how good this recipe is makes me hungry.  Enjoy and please leave comments on how your Fried Chimichangas tasted!

Tyson Frozen Honey BBQ Chicken Wings (done in the oven) ... edible?

99% of everything I make is fresh.  However, I realize sometimes people don't have the time or ingredients to do that, so we turn to the freezer.  I'm sure Gordon Ramsey would be cringing right now.  It doesn't mean it has to taste terrible just because it's not fresh (not matter what tigress (this blogs female author) says).  Bring on the wings!

So basically you have three options when it comes to getting these suckers ready to eat:

1. The Oven (20 min cook time)
2. Microwave 
3. Grill

Now as much as I love to grill, I figured I will try the first batch in the oven, because lets face it the microwave isn't the best option to cook anything UNLESS you are playing "World of Warcraft" 18 hrs straight and need a hot pocket for sustenance.  I digress...

Instructions are simple:

• Pre heat oven to 400
• Place (10) wings on cooking tray and insert into oven
• Cook time is 20 minutes (turning wings over after 10 minutes)
• Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes.

My 3yr old son saw this pic and said yucky daddy, lol

They may not be as good as your local wing joint, however in a pinch they make a decent appetizer.  Next time I will try them out on the grill (I have a feeling that's the best way to cook'em).

Next blog entry: Perfectly grilled FRESH NY Strip Steak!