A WEEKS WORTH OF DUERDEN FAVORITES:

Not in any special order...

Tostadas, Soft Tacos or Burritos (whatever you want to call them)
Tortillas (we like wheat)
Cheese
Put tortillas on hot pan to make them crusty and melt cheese on top (like Cafe Rio baby!) Take off pan and add any or all of the following: refried beans, black beans, fresh tomatoes, green or red peppers, avacado, sour cream, salsa, turkey burger, etc.

Homeade Hamburger & Fries
Hamburgers
Remember how we used to have homeade hamburgers every Saturday night? Well recently we started making these and they are delish!
Hamburger or Turkeyburger(how ever much you need)
Minced onion, garlic powder and anything else in your spice cupboard you'd like.
Mix burger and spices. I like to make patties on wax paper so that I don't have to touch the meat.
Fries (my weakness, these are better than fast food)
In a big bowl mix oil (about 1/4 cup or less), and any spices you want (we like: minced onion, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, Season salt, whatever). Add cut potatoes (I like to cut them thin like real fries) and stir them around (or shake them in a tupperware) to coat them. Spread on cookie sheet and bake at 400 for 30-35 minutes.
OR
Sweet Potato Fries (yum!)
Do the same as above except the only spice I add is a little Cayenne pepper to the oil.
This meal is also good with cooked, fresh green beans.

Baked Chimichangas
1lb chicken or turkey burger
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic
1/2 tsp chili powder
taco seasoning (to taste)
3/4 cup shredded cheese
1 (4oz) can green chili peppers
1/2 cup snipped cilantro
12 large flour or wheat tortillas

Brown meat, add onion, garlic, chili powder and taco seasoning to taste. Drain any liquid. Add cheese, chili peppers, and cilantro. Assemble like a burrito and place in baking dish. Sprinkle cheese and cilantro on top for garnish. Bake at 400 for about 25 minutes or until golden brown.


BLT's
I don't think you need a recipe for this one. But I would suggest adding avacado.

Pizzas
Make pizzas with your favorite toppings on flour or wheat tortillas. Bake at 400 for about 10-15 minutes or until edges are crisp.

Breakfast for Dinner
Sometimes we'll have German pancakes, or eggs and hashbrowns, or our favorite hearty waffle/pancake recipe from Michelle, who got it from Katie. (Hope you don't mind that we share it Michelle)

Pancake/Waffle Mix
4 cups old fashioned oats
2 cups white flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup instant milk
3 tbsp bkg powder
2 tbsp cinnamon (or more)
5 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cream of tarter
Mix ingredients and store in container or ziplock.

To made pancakes or waffles:
2 eggs
1/3 cup canola oil or applesauce
2 cups pancake mix
1 cup water
Beat eggs, add oil, mix and water. Makes 10 pancakes or waffles.


Chenae's AYAYAY! Tortilla Soup
Cooked chicken, shredded with a fork. (OR THIS CAN BE A VEGITARIAN DISH IF YOU DON'T WANT CHICKEN)
1/2 of an onion
1 clove of garlic
1 can of diced tomatoes
4 cups of chicken broth (or water with bullion cubes)
lime juice (to taste)
taco seasoning (to taste)
1 can corn
1 can white hominy (opt)
1 can black beans (opt)
1 avacado
cilantro
shredded cheese
corn tortillas (cut with pizza cutter into strips and bake spread out on cookie sheet at 400 for 10 min or until crisp)
Cook & Shred chicken, set aside. Saute onion and garlic, then add chicken again. Add tomatoes, broth, lime juice, taco seasoning, corn, hominy, and beans and a handful of chopped cilantro. Simmer until hot (its not rocket science right?). When you serve it, top it with cheese, crisp tortilla strips, cilantro and (drum roll please) avacado.
This is my all time favorite meal and I'm Mat's favorite chef when I make it.


If you can't tell...we like Mexican food. I think it's my way of coping without Cafe Rio. I'm always looking for good ones, so send any my way!