Enchiladas

Craving something warm, delicious and not too terrible on the waist line this weekend, I came across these enchiladas. The recipe for which, I immediately had to tweak and bend to my own tastes.

Enchiladas
adapted from Tyler Florence

Ingredients
3 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 pounds bone-in chicken breast w/skin
Salt and pepper
2 teaspoons cumin powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon Mexican hot chili spice blend
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
5 canned whole green chiles(or one whole small can), seeded and coarsely chopped
2-4 canned chipotle chiles, seeded and minced
1 (28-ounce) can stewed tomatoes, chopped
1/2 teaspoon all-purpose flour
16 corn tortillas
1 1/2 cups enchilada sauce, canned (go for something a little more authentic and try to avoid Old El Paso if you can)
1 cup shredded Cheddar and Jack cheeses (or queso fresco if you can find it)

Garnish: chopped cilantro leaves, chopped scallions, sour cream, chopped tomatoes

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cover a large cookie sheet with foil. Rub chicken w/olive oil and season with spices, salt and pepper. Roast for 35-50 minutes (depending if the chicken is fresh or frozen) - should have an internal temp. of 165 when you pull it. Wrap up in the foil and place in fridge to cool. If you can do this earlier in the day or the night before, I recommend it, b/c wonderful flavor will develop.

Once chicken is cool, shred by hand and take juices, spices and olive oil that have collected in the foil and pour into a large frying pan. Saute onion and garlic in chicken drippings until tender. Add corn and chiles. Stir well to combine. Add canned tomatoes, saute 1 minute.

Add shredded chicken to saute pan, combine with vegetables. Dust the mixture with flour to help set.

Microwave tortillas on high for 30 seconds. This softens them and makes them more pliable. Coat the bottom of 2 (13 by 9-inch) pans with a ladle of enchilada sauce. Using a large shallow bowl, dip each tortilla in enchilada sauce to lightly coat. Spoon 1/4 cup chicken mixture in each tortilla. Fold over filling, place 8 enchiladas in each pan with seam side down. Top with remaining enchilada sauce and cheese.

Bake for 15 minutes in a preheated 350 degree F oven until cheese melts. Garnish with cilantro, scallion, sour cream and chopped tomatoes before serving. And if you're using queso fresco (which I would recommend) instead of cheddar, sprinkle this on as well once you take the enchiladas out of the oven. Serve with Spanish rice and beans.