Okay, anything Mexican, New Mexican, close to Mexican food is going straight to my heart (not hips, you notice I said) so I can't wait to try this new recipe from Andrea R. Cooper.
And keep reading, we have an excerpt from her novel Cursed in Shadow Book 1.5 Legends of Oblivion series.
Santa Fe Casserole
This is my favorite recipe because it is spicy, cheesy, and
versatile.
Ingredients:
1 lb Ground Beef (sirloin or round)
1 cup of chicken broth
1 Tablespoon of flour
1 package of Taco Seasoning
1 can sliced or diced jalapeños
1 can sliced or diced green chilies (mild to hot, whichever
you can handle)
4oz of sour cream
1 package of Fritos Scoops
Grated Monterrey Pepper Jack Cheese or Cheddar (as much or
as little as you like)
Options: mix 1/2lb of beef with 1/2lb ground turkey.
Add diced tomatoes or red bell pepper, (we even mixed sweet potatoes with the
turkey meat once and it was still yummy). This is a very forgiving recipe and
allows for lots of variations.
Directions:
Brown meat. While the meat is cooking, heat up the chicken broth
in a separate container, add the flour and whisk until all the flour is
dissolved. When the meat is no longer pink, drain the fat. Return to pan, add
the taco seasoning, jalapeños and green chilies. Stir in the chicken broth with
the flour mixed in to the meat. Add the sour cream and simmer on low for 20
mins.
In the meantime, take a casserole dish and place a layer of
the Fritos chips on the bottom.
Grate the cheese.
Add a layer of cheese to the Fritos in the dish.
After the meat mixture has simmered, add a layer of it on
top of the chips and cheese. Then lay another layer of the chips, cheese, and
meat again until no more of the meat mixture remains (The last of the meat
mixture will not have chips on top of it in the dish, the chips are only for the
bottom and middle layers). Then top with cheese (include the tomatoes and/or
bell peppers here if using them).
So the final layer will have chips, cheese, last of the meat
mixture, more cheese and any extras (i.e. tomatoes).
Bake uncovered for 15-20 mins at 250 degrees or until cheese
is melted and it is heated throughout.
Enjoy.
Blurb:
Cursed in Shadow is the continuation of The Garnet Dagger,
Book 1 Legends of Oblivion series. This novelette bridges Book 1 and Son of
Dragons, Book 2.
After defeating the Warloc, Brock, the Elvin Vampyre, takes Celeste to Tamlon to search the prophecies of the four and the Son of Dragons. However, the Elvin city is not safe, even for his witch.
The Warloc’s protégé is bent on his physical return to the living. Her necromancy brings forth Brock’s first victim and more.
Brock and Celeste must defeat prejudice and power to continue their journey and find Brock’s twin sister, Mirhana.
After defeating the Warloc, Brock, the Elvin Vampyre, takes Celeste to Tamlon to search the prophecies of the four and the Son of Dragons. However, the Elvin city is not safe, even for his witch.
The Warloc’s protégé is bent on his physical return to the living. Her necromancy brings forth Brock’s first victim and more.
Brock and Celeste must defeat prejudice and power to continue their journey and find Brock’s twin sister, Mirhana.
Excerpt:
When I rose, the two
guards sidestepped away. Nay, they would not gamble their lives again by being
within my reach.
Thankfully, since
rescuing Celeste from the oak cave had taken all night, Shadowdancer was rested
for the ride back to Tamlon.
With Celeste’s wounds
slathered with yarroway and other healing plants, she mounted. Then Emillya climbed
up behind her.
At least one Elvin
besides me did not hate humans. If Emillya didn’t like humans, or Celeste for
that matter, she wouldn’t speak to her much less ride on a horse with her. I
ran alongside them while Celeste and Emillya talked. One guard raced on the
opposite side of Shadowdancer, the other in front. And it appeared the horse
gave the Elvin a race.
The Elvin were
considerate enough to let Shadowdancer canter or walk whenever he tired. How
they understood that running the horse too long too fast would be the end of
him I do not know. There have never been horses in Elvin lands for as long as I
can remember.
We all took turns
getting Celeste to talk to us about her cave adventure; she must stay awake
awhile longer, even though we could all see she fought to keep her eyes open.
“As soon as you’ve
rested,” Emillya told her, glowering at my constant interruptions to translate,
“you need to view the prophecies of the four. Nivel gave me instructions when
he left with Brock. The library vaults await unchanged. He told me you’d come
back after banishing the Warloc to the underworld.
“Hopefully, Brock
hasn’t caused unrealized damage by the oak magic trapping you.”
I nearly stumbled at
her words. How was I to know snares waited to spring upon humans in our land?
Our kind was immune.
Just as I opened my
mouth to voice my argument, Celeste smiled at me. Her grey eyes held a glimmer
of her merriment, and my frown eased.
With a chuckle, I
turned back to the path. Celeste was safe now. And that was all that mattered.
“We’ll make camp at
dark.” Emillya patted Shadowdancer’s rump. “Should make Tamlon soon. It’s a
fine horse—any other I fear would take us three or four nights to return.”
“That reminds me.” I
said. “How did you get to the labyrinth so soon? The journey from Tamlon is
longer than the time of Celeste’s entrapment.”
“We have a secret
path Nivel created. It’s ancient magic and travels Elvin here within an hour.”
“Then let’s take this
path back.” Celeste said.
“It’s only for Elvin.
The magic would crush a human and perhaps even a horse.”
“Perhaps your magic
needs to be altered now.” Celeste smiled.
“Indeed.” Emillya
answered. “I’ll mention the request to the elders.”
When we arrived in
Tamlon, I hoped to show Celeste the wonders of my land. And bask in the sun
naked with her.
After the others
slept, I laid down beside Celeste. She turned and snuggled her head under my
chin. “Your language is so beautiful. Almost like music with its rhythms and
melody.”
My hand traced
circles up and down her back. “Emir voulan sptrea.”
“What does that
mean?”
I eased her chin up
and she looked into my eyes. “We are one heart.” I kissed her and relished in
the sweetness of her mouth for we could do little else with company.
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Bio: Growing up in Houston, Texas, Andrea
has always created characters and stories. But it wasn't until she was in her
late twenties that she started writing novels.Andrea writes paranormal and historical romance. When not writing or reading, one may find Andrea dancing in Zumba.
She believes in the power of change and counting each moment as a blessing. But most importantly, she believes in love.
Find Andrea:
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