Dinner Waiting After a Hectic Day: Slow-Cooker Enchiladas

A few years ago a local caterer prepared a special dinner at school. This was the main dish. As soon as all of us took one bite of this yummy dish, we were asking her for the recipe. I always like slow-cooker recipes that I can leave all day to cook on their own. This one is great to double when a crowd is coming. Enjoy.

Slow-Cooker Enchiladas

1 pound ground beef

1 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

1 16 oz. can of pinto or kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained.

1 10 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chillies, undrained

1/3 cup water

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese

6 flour tortillas ( 6 or 7 inch)

In a skillet cook beef, onion and green pepper until beef is browned and veggies are tender;drain. Add the next 8 ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Combine cheeses. In a 5-qt. slow cooker layer about 3/4 cup meat mixture, one tortilla and about 1/3 cup cheese. Repeat layers. Cover and cook on low for 5-7 hours or until heated through. Serve it up! 4 servings.

"Before the Eye Can Focus... Crocus"

"First a howling blizzard woke us,
Then the rain came down to soak us,

And now before the eye can focus

Crocus." Lilja Rogers

One thing I love about these early spring bulbs is how quickly they appear. One cold, windy day you notice some grass like leaves emerging through the bark in the garden bed. The next day you observe vivid, colorful blooms. If you are just beginning to grow spring bulbs, this is a surefire pick. I like to mass plant them, allowing them to come up in big clusters of color. I knew a guy in Spokane that naturalized them into his lawn each year. In March the front yard was always bursting with purple and yellow blooms. It was beautiful . If you haven't planted a crocus before, plan ahead in the fall. Get the bulbs in the ground then. You will reap the rewards the following spring. These lovely blooms just appeared in my garden bed.