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Last week, I attempted to make Pioneer Woman’s Simple, Perfect Enchiladas. One reason was that I really wanted to go to a Mexican food restaurant, but my husband is sick, so I figured I would bring the “Mexican food restaurant” to our dinner table. Another reason I decided to try a PW recipe is that I made a promise here to make all of PW’s recipes from her cookbook within one year.

So, I read the recipe.  I bought the ingredients I didn’t have.  I thought about a game plan all day.

Then, 4 o’clock rolled around and since I figured it would take me a while, I got started.

The first few steps were a breeze, although NONE of my results looked in any way like the pictures in her cookbook.  But I was a little afraid to improvise as I have never made enchiladas like this before.  I taste tested the sauce and it tasted wonderful so I decided to quit worrying and get to The Meat.  I learned in a cooking class when I was 7 or 8 to brown ground meat, so that part was a breeze.

Then I attempted The Rest.  She must have special super thick strong tortillas because mine completely fell apart after visiting the hot oil for ten seconds.  Literally.  Fell apart.

Next I attempted to assemble the enchiladas.  Oh my heavens!!  My whole baking dish looked like the reject pile.  Instead of enchiladas it looked like a layered casserole.  I even tried to just soften a few in the microwave, hoping that would help.  (It didn’t).

It also didn’t help that the whole time I am dipping the tortillas in sauce, filling them with meat and black olives and green onions and cheese (can you imagine what my hands looked like?) my son was pulling at my pants legs begging and screaming to be picked up.

I was getting very frustrated.

I gave up on the last 6 tortillas.  Hence, half the meat mixture was left over and I only ended up using 2 cups of cheese (instead of 3) and I had about a cup of sauce that I didn’t use.

Thankfully, none of that mattered except aesthetically.  The enchiladas were deeeelicious.  My husband and Cub refused to try them but DQ and Ace loved them.

I would have taken a picture of them, but like I said, they were in no way aesthetically pleasing.  So, hopefully PW won’t mind me using one of her photos to show y’all what they are supposed to look like.

So, in conclusion, they are messy, they are frustrating (die corn tortillas DIE) but they are worth it.  They are so delicious.  If you haven’t gotten her cookbook…and if all the recipes are as yummy as this one (which I’m sure they are)…run out and buy it.

But if you want to “try before you buy” then visit her cooking website and try her “Simple. Perfect. Enchiladas!”  I think you will be highly satisfied.  And feel like you need to run on the treadmill ASAP.

So, what are you waiting for?