Pastelitos

I love having access to the plethora of recipes found online! I was making a Mexicali Hamburger Casserole (Better Homes and Gardens May 2008); you know, quick, easy mexi-meat mixture with a cornbreadish topping. It was easy enough and it would feed the man clan...but probably not excite them. I had the meat mixture combined and the thought of Honduran pastelitos came to mind!

There was nothing quite like the pastelitos there in Honduras. No doubt, cholesterol bound...as all they knew to use was Manteca...by the bucket fulls. Everything there was fried in thick white hydrogenized fat. We didn't know any better; we used it too.

After a Google search and perusing several recipes, I settled on a tortilla recipe (which is posted below)and revised it to suite me. You know, my desire to better the recipes and make them a little more healthy. So, I used half white and half whole wheat for the dough and even though I fried these "baby pies" as my own little baby (now 3) kept calling them..I did use canola. The family shared in the pleasure of this wonderful taste from my past...........pastelitos.

Meat Mixture:
1 1/2 lb of cooked ground beef
1 15 oz. can of Rotel
1 cup frozen kernel corn
1 cup of finely shredded Mexican cheese blend
the above ingredients were per the BHG recipe.
cumin, pepper, salt, SW chipolte seasoning, garlic powder...to taste

Tortilla Dough
http://www.cooking-mexican-recipes.com/flour_tortilla_recipe.html
recipe adapted from the above website

• 2 cups of flour (1 cup all-purpose and 1 cup whole wheat)
  
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 TBS. vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup warm water

The directions for making these tortillas were rather detailed and lengthy. However, she did a great job of breaking it down and making it easy. I do encourage you to go to the above website. This was my first time attempting tortillas since my summers in Honduras as a teen. Oh, they used to make fun of my misshapen attempts at tortillas. Today's efforts were much better. Rather than trying to shape them in my hands like the dear ladies that tried to teach me in Honduras...I used my roulpat and silpat and a rolling pin... The next time I do these I will post pics! Worked like a breeze! Perfectly round tortillas to fill with the savory mexi-goodness!

The accompanying sauces were homemade salsa and Cafe Rio Dressing. The pastelitos were served with tortilla chips and a salad. Oh, so satisfying

I may serve hot dogs...but I have killer hot dog chili!!!

This has been my "go to recipe" since I found it online in 2004. I was asked to take it to a graduation party. The source stated that it was the recipe from Aiken Pool Hall in Aiken, SC. Really, if you use this on your hot dog....there is no need for anything else. Since sometimes I don't know when to stop....I still add the slaw, and sweet relish...yep, I like sweet relish on my hot dog.

I have to admit, I don't approve of hot dogs on a regular basis. It's about the nitrites, or is it the nitrates.... We eat them so rarely around here, my man clan cheers when I put hot dogs in the grocery buggy! It is a little embarrassing in the grocery store. My disapproval for hot dogs is so well known, my husband once admitted that when working from home one day he ventured to the local hot dog shop and couldn't even enjoy the hot dog for looking over his shoulder...thinking I would see him there....Craziness!!!! It did him alot of good to get it off his chest!!! Confession is good for the soul!

I promise I am not the oppressive type, I promise!!! I blame this on one of my junior high through high school classmates. He ruined it for any of us girls ever liking hot dogs by sharing with us the makings thereof. Therefore, the man clan can just thank him for my "hang-up" regarding hot dogs!

All that being said, there are just sometimes that hot dogs are the menu item of choice. JOC my son 2 of 3, most always requests them for hot dogs for celebration meals!

Here's the recipe.

1 lb hamburger meat
4 medium onions, finely diced and chopped
4 TBS yellow mustard
3 tsp. sugar (optional)
2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
2 tsp chili powder
1 cup catsup
salt to taste

Break up the hamburger meat and put into a 4 quart pan. Add enough water to make a thick mix. Stir until smooth.

Add the remaining ingredients. Cook slowly for 1 hour. Can be thinned as needed with water.


Give it a try!