Saw It. Pinned It. Did It: Roasted Veggie Enchiladas

I am so excited to link up for the very first time with Katie and Stephanie for Saw It. Pinned It. Did It.

Roasted Veggie Enchiladas

I have been making these for almost 2 years now and let me tell you, I have NEVER gotten tired of them!  They are filled with yummy veggie goodness and don't require any additional toppings in my opinion.

Original Pin:

I modified this recipe to include veggies I like (broccoli and carrots) and exclude things I don't like (sweet potato-YUCK!!!!).  Also, I am in NO WAY a photographer so no judging the iphone pics k?

What you need:

1 poblano chile, cut into matchsticks (honestly my grocery store didn't say "poblano chile" so I got a big green pepper that looked like the picture in the recipe)
2 red bell peppers, cut into matchsticks
1/2 head of cauliflower, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
1 medium onion, halved and slivered (or just sliced up in your food processor if you're lazy like me)
1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen
3 T heat-safe oil like grapeseed or coconut (I used good ole EVOO and I just eyeballed the amount)
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
2 garlic cloves, minced
salt and black pepper
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 cups homemade or store bought salsa/pico de gallo (I used Pace picante and it was amazing)

2 ounces baby spinach leaves (about 2 big handfuls)
9-10 corn tortillas, halved (try making homemade tortillas!)
2 cups shredded cheese (I used a cheddar-Monterey Jack blend)
sour cream and thinly sliced scallions (green onions) for garnish, if desired

Step one:

Heat oven to 425 degrees and lightly oil a small roasting pan, I used a rimmed cookie sheet

Step two:

Place veggies onto cookie sheet. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle the cumin and minced garlic over top. Add a generous pinch or two of salt and black pepper, then use your hands to mix everything together.  And I mean MIX!  C'mon, get your hands good and greasy!

After everything is coated well, spread the vegetables evenly in the pan. 

See?  NOT a professional photog

Step three:

Roast tray for 30-40 minutes until vegetables are tender and begin to brown in spots. Stir or shake the pan every 10 minutes for even roasting. Remove pan from oven and reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F.

Step four:

Mix cilantro and salsa together and set aside.

Step five:

Spray your casserole pan with a non-stick spray.  I used whatever rectangle pan I had lying around.

Spread 1/4 cup of salsa into the bottom of the baking pan. Add a layer of tortilla pieces, to completely cover the salsa. Top with 1/3 of the vegetables, a handful of spinach, and 1/3 of the cheese. Make a second layer of tortilla, salsa, vegetables, spinach, and cheese. Top with with a layer of tortillas, salsa, vegetables, and cheese. Cover with aluminum foil.

Side note:  I only got to do 4 layers before my dish was FULL.  As long as you have a couple of layers of tortillas mixed in, you should be fine.

Step six:

Bake for 20 minutes.  Remove foil and bake for another 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Step seven:

Separate into your Tupperware containers for lunchtime that week and ENJOY!

So good and makes enough for me to eat all week!  

Oklahoma

From 2002-2006 I called Oklahoma home.  As a freshman entering Oklahoma City University, I remember having such a peaceful feeling about being on my own in this city.  It was far enough (8 hours) from Odessa to give me the true "on your own-college" experience but close enough that my parentals could jump on a plane if needed.  In OKC I met some of my best friends, made billions of mistakes, conquered many fears, and learned a lot about the adult I wanted to be.  Even after graduating, I knew that OKC would always be a part of me.

My heart is BROKEN to hear about the families and people who literally lost everything in the tornado yesterday.  I know so many people who are from Moore, OK, who work there, who's families still live there.  My cousin's fiancé is a teacher at the high school in Moore and if anything had happened to Macie our family would have come unglued to say the least.  To think that in just an instant people's belongings and even worse, lives are gone, just puts pit in my stomach.

However, I am so comforted by seeing how quickly people are jumping at the chance to help!  Both my Facebook and Instagram feed are filled with people who are texting REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10, loading their pickups with bottled water and other supplies, and people who are taking in families who have no where to go.  In a world where we tend to see the bad, dark, and negative side of things, it's so nice to see the kind and the compassionate.

pic from www.cbsnews.com

Another fun way to donate is to visit the Hello Merch website.   Hello Merch is an independent company that serves as an outlet for artists to manufacture and sell merchandise online and on tour, without giving up their rights by signing major label-style merch contracts.  You can read more about them by clicking the link above.
Right now, they are selling the Oklahoma Benefit Tank Top for just $15!  All proceeds will be sent to the Oklahoma Red Cross.  According to the Hello Merch site they raised $35,000 with their first round!  Looking stylish and giving back?  Easy pick if you ask me! 

A big THANK YOU to my girl Chelsea Kaye for letting me know about these cute tanks!

I know I'm not alone in this but I am definitely praying for all of my Okies!

Once Upon a Time....

...a Texas girl traveled to Michigan for her GPhi twin's wedding.

Little did this Texas girl know that among the wedding cake, drinks, laughter, and lots of dancing, there would be a rather handsome boy with whom she would hit it off.

These 2 would keep in touch and soon the boy from Michigan would come to Dallas to experience the State Fair Of Texas and try Fried Frito Pie for the first time.

He had such a great time with the Texas girl that he decided to take her to one of her favorite cities.....Las Vegas!

This led to her traveling to Michigan to celebrate St. Patricks Day.

Not too long after this trip, the Michigan boy and the Texas girl decided that living this far apart was for the stinkin birds!  Michigan went out on a HUGE limb and asked the Texas girl to leave her beautiful home state and warm weather, and live in his beautiful state with not-so-warm weather.

After tons of thinking, praying, and sleepless nights, the girl accepted his invitation!  Whoa!

Sooooo.....there you have it folks!  I, a true Texas girl, cowboy boot wearing, 100 degree weather-country music-patio drinking-TexMex lover, will be moving to Michigan at the end of August.  This is by far the biggest decision I have ever made in my life and while I KNOW it's 110% the right decision it is still VERY bittersweet!  I have developed a huge love affair with this city, its restaurants, culture, nightlife, and people.  I have some amazing friends here and 2 jobs that I love that have both taught me so much!   While my family is not in Dallas, they are mostly in Texas so that will be tough being so far away.

I have always said that I would NEVER move for a boy.  Well if there is one thing I've learned in my 20-something years in life it's truly NEVER say NEVER.  Everyone has to make the right decisions for their life at the right time and I truly believe that this is what is right for Michigan and me.

To all of my wonderful friends here:

You guys are like family to me!  You have seen me through some pretty dark days and helped me celebrate some pretty huge moments!  I love YALL so much!

So stay tuned for my Dallas Bucket List and lots of pictures that will probably include as much queso and guacamole as I can manage before August (ya hear that Michganders-you have 3 months to get a good TexMex place)!

Home Sweet Home

I've mentioned a few times on this here blog (said with my best West Texas accent) that I'm from a little ole place called Odessa.  You may remember this post when I went home for my 10 year reunion.

In my 20-something years I have only taken 3 outsiders non-Odessans home to see the place where I grew up but that is all about to change.  In a rare 'grown-up' moment, I decided to ask Michigan (aka The Boy) to come with me to my best friend's daughter's 2nd birthday party....AKA meeting my family and friends....AKA GULP!  Being the wonderful guy that he is, he of course agreed.  This will all happen in May (on Michigan's birthday bless his heart) and I am already planning our trip.  Now, I know some of you outsiders people not from Odessa may think there isn't anything but football - GO MOJO!- in my hometown but let me tell you, you're wrong!  

Here are a few places I've come up with:

Taco Villa - if you are from anywhere in the West Texas area, you are as much in love with this place as I am!  The best bean burritos, chicken soft tacos, taco burgers, cheese fries (yes cheese fries at a mexican place), and apple burritos.  I can feel my summer shorts getting tighter.

Casa Ole - Casa Ole was definitely the place most visited for lunch by my group of friends.  We probably ordered at least 3 bowls of that green sauce for ourselves and then would all try to steal each others when ours was gone.  I have to have this meal at least twice when I'm home.

The World's Largest Jack Rabbit - Pretty sure Michigan thinks he's gonna see a real live rabbit.  Pretty sure he's not going to think this is as funny as I do.  Pretty sure he's also asked twice if we get to feed the World's Largest Jack Rabbit.

Ratliff Stadium - Of course I will take him to see where all of my Friday nights were spent in Jr. High and High School.  

While Odessa may not be as glitzy as my current city of Dallas, it's home and I love it for all of its charms.  

Plus I'm sure after Michigan meets this little stinker, he won't care where he is