CLICK HERE FOR FREE BLOGGER TEMPLATES, LINK BUTTONS AND MORE! »

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Recipe! Yum!

Many years ago, we moved to Gilbert, Arizona.  There I was introduced to HOT summers, scorpions, cactus, sweet smelling orange blossoms and great Mexican food!  Matta's was a restaurant in Mesa that had THE best chimichangas I had ever eaten!  There were no fillers like rice, beans, or cheese in the chimis, just deliciously flavored beef or chicken!  To this day, whenever we try out a new Mexican restaurant, my husband orders chimichangas just to see if the restaurant is worth frequenting.
Remember this cookbook?  It has a fabulous recipe for chimichangas that taste just the way I remember Matta's to taste.


I'll tell you how I made the meat and if you want to read exactly how it's supposed to be made, you can get the book!  You'll be glad you did!
Mexican Meat Mix
1 - 4 lb chuck roast
Place the roast in a heavy roasting pan, cover with a lid. Do NOT add any salt, water, or oil.  Cook at 300 degrees for about 6 hours or until meat is tender enough to shred.
Shred the meat while in the pan, removing fat, gristle or bones.  Drain off some of the juices.  Add to the meat:
4 Tablespoons flour
1 1/2 onions, chopped well
1 - 4 oz. can chopped green chilies
1 - 14 oz. bottle green salsa
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
3 teaspoons salt
Stir well while simmering on top of the stove.  Remove from heat and assemble your chimichangas.



Spread about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of meat mixture on a flour tortilla.  (It depends on the size of your tortilla. Be sure to heat the tortillas just until warm in the microwave so they roll better) Fold the bottom edge of tortilla over the meat filling, and fold both sides toward the center.  Roll tortilla into a cylinder.  Secure with a toothpick.  You may want to remove the tooth pick before serving or have a prize for the person who stabs himself while eating.



Pour about 1/2 inch of vegetable oil in a frying pan.  Heat to 350 degrees and place tortilla in the oil.  Cook until golden brown then turn over and cook the other side.



When both sides are golden, remove from heat and place on a paper towel to drain.  Serve on a bed of lettuce.  Top with anything you want.  I put some green enchilada sauce over mine, then guacamole, sour cream, chopped tomatoes and an olive.  Salsa (green or red) and cilantro would be good toppers too!


Buen provecho!

20 comments:

KC said...

I have my menu planned out for the month...but something is getting the boot! I am TOTALLY trying this one! I can't wait! I LOVE LOVE LOVE mexican food! Please do more recipes!

mysteryhistorymom said...

Mmmmm- sounds delicious! Now if I can just master the folding technique... It will be fun to "get fabulous" together, Connie! I earned 6 points today- how about you? Lori

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

I don't know what buen provecho means but YUM!
Thanks for the recipe.
I have that book, I really should get it out and dust it off.

Julie P said...

How have you made my mouth water for Mexican at 7 am?!

gigi said...

I want that recipe book!!
This looks so good and really not that hard to make. It's on my list for this year.

Kazzy said...

I am trying this one. Looks yummy, and it is something all the kids would like. :)

Jenny said...

Yummmy, can't wait to try it. We love these types of recipes.


the verification word is: phone

Christine Jensen said...

Wow, these sound amazing! I think I am going to have to pick up a roast next time I am at the store!

Camille said...

mmm craving those chimis right about now!
By the way, you need a new hand model. Her hands are way too dry!

Tracy said...

YUM-O!!

I have that recipe book. Thanks for sharing!!!

wendy said...

Oh man, oh man, serve me up a dish of that. I hate it when they cook those things with beans and rice (yuk-o)
I had that cook book A Long Time Ago. when I did domestic things. I think I still have it , I'd have to dust it off in order to use it again.

wendy said...

Oh, and one more thing. I absolutely LOVE the plate you have that served on. love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love white.

Melissa Miller said...

Oh I love good Mexican food Connie! My mother is Mexican and my father is German. Many different types of foods were cooked when we were growing up.

This recipe looks so delicious!

Many Blessings. ~Melisssa :)

Ann Marie said...

Some of my roots are from Gilbert AZ! Too cool!

If I ever make it down there.. I know where to eat some good Mex.

Looking at those chimi's makes my mouth water.. Thanks for always sharing your delish recipes with us..

Small House said...

I'm so glad you shared this recipe with us!! YEA....I'm making this for sure!!!

My sister lived in Gilbert Az. once. My grandma and grandpa lived in Mesa for years. We used to play at the Pioneer Park, climbing on the train and airplane. Went there again about 4 years ago and didn't feel like I was at the same park. No more shuffle board. It was a little scary. ANYWAY....I don't know why I just went on and on with that story...but that's my ties to Gilbert, and AZ. HAHAHAH
Have a great day.
Sandra

Yvonne said...

Whenever we go to Arizona, one of our first stops is any Mexican restaurant we can find. That is one thing that Winnipeg doesn't have--a good Mexican restaurant.

The chimichanga looks delicious--thanks for the recipe.

Sharon said...

I know this book - I have it somewhere. I need to dust it off and make those yummy chimi's!

Kimmie said...

Thanks for reminding me about that little cookbook. I need to be like Tauna and dust mine off as well.

I LOVE Chimichangas, but I have always not liked to "Fry" food, because I hate wasting oil. I know I'm a weirdo, but to use oil to fry something and then throw the oil out, I struggle with that.

I love your meat mixture and so I need to make my 2010 exciting, by being adventurous and "frying" food in my kitchen. I need to do that at least once in my life (Wink).

BTW, the white plate that your Chimichanga is on in the bottom photo is absolutely gorgeous!!

Love your recipes and the humor that you throw in your posts!

Sheri said...

Connie, I made these for dinner today, Sunday. They are amazing! We loved them. I couldn't believe how easy they were. Thanks so much for sharing! I love your blog! You are my idol! I love Camiille too! Sheri Taylor, Linc's mom.

Sheri said...

Oops! Sorry, Camille! Got a little heavy fingered with the i's! Sheri!