[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]With a casual dinner party coming up quickly this week, and an extended family meal need to fill, I decided to serve our favorite Chilies and Cheese Bake.

Best described as Southwestern style, custardy, cheesy comfort food. It’s also rather moreish, so I have to be careful! That’s still a good thing, right? At any rate, around here it’s a trusted, filling crowd pleaser.

The recipe requires a bit of forethought and time. Otherwise, it may look overly detailed, but it’s super simple to put together. And wait.

Delicious for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I served ours for dinner along with a salad and fresh fruit. We ate leftovers for breakfast, the next morning and it was great. In fact, I think most of the family enjoyed it best, the second time around!

The family who received the giveaway portion raved several times and asked for the recipe. So, here she goes…

Serves 14-16 (This recipe easily divides to serve 8, with a separate 6-8 servings to share. Or simply cut the ingredients completely in half for a single family meal)

Prep time: 30 minutes active, plus 8 hrs inactive. Additional 30-45 minutes to bake. Plenty of time to leisurely get the kitchen cleaned up before guests arrive, set your table real nice and prepare the salad and fruit!

Ingredients:
1lb Ground Pork
1 small Onion, finely chopped
2 cloves Garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

1 1/2 teaspoons Kosher Salt
2 teaspoons Chili Powder
1 small pinch Cayenne Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
1/2 teaspoon Leaf Oregano
1 teaspoon Ground Cumin
1 generous pinch EACH of Ground Cloves, Ground Coriander and Ground Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper

2 Dozen Flour Tortillas (Thin Original Style, not Gordita style)
6 (4oz) cans Mild Green Chilis
1 1/2 pounds good quality Jack Cheese, grated and divided into six equal parts.
1 pound good quality Cheddar Cheese, grated and divided into six equal parts.

12 Eggs, divided (see directions)
5 cups Whole Milk, divided (see directions)
1 1/2 Tablespoon All-Purpose Flour, sifted
1 1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 Teaspoon Pepper

Directions:

Finely chop the small onion and mince the garlic cloves. Set aside. Gather Pork Seasonings, measure out and mix together. Set aside. In a medium-sized frying pan, add Olive Oil, heating pan to medium. Add onion and garlic and lightly saute. Add Pork and Pork Seasonings. Break up and brown pork until done. Leaving in the frying pan, divide into six equal portions. Set aside.

Gather remaining ingredients. Grate cheeses and open chili cans.

Crack 6 eggs in a large mixing bowl. Add 3/4 teaspoon Salt, 2 teaspoons of sifted Flour and 1/2 teaspoon Ground Pepper. Whisk together and set aside.

Prepare two baking pans, approximately 9×13’s &/or half-sheet foil pans with a light coating of pan spray. [Disclosure: Pictured is a 10×14 and a half-sheet foil pan- of which I added a bit larger portions because we have big eaters around here.]

Cover bottom of each pan with a layer of tortillas as pictured, tearing pieces for minimal overlaps or gaps.

Using a slotted spoon, spoon 1 entire can of chopped mild chilis on top of tortillas. Add 1/6 portion of the Jack Cheese. Add 1/6 of the Cheddar Cheese. Top layer with 1/6 of cooked and seasoned Ground Pork.

Repeat layers, twice more for each pan.

Gently pour egg mixture over the layers of one baking pan.

Repeat by mixing the second bowl of remaining eggs, milk, flour, salt and black pepper. Pour egg mixture over the second baking pan.

Whoops! Forgot to add the final bit of Pork! No worries, it’ll all bake together nicely in the end.

Cover pans with plastic wrap or foil lid and refrigerate overnight or a minimum of 6-7 hrs.

One hour before baking, set out on the counter to bring to room temperature. [Important step for the baking time. If forgotten, you may need to increase baking time.]

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Bake 30-45 minutes until contents are browned, puffy and set.

Gently dab away any pools of cheese grease that may develop on top with a paper towel.

Stache ran the giveaway portion over to our family in need, while I finished up preparations for our dinner party. The timing worked best for both households, for them to bake in their own oven.

I suggest you serve the Chilies and Cheese Bake paired with a Green Salad and Fresh Fruit. Together the meal was warm, comforting, but light (depending on how big of portions, lol!).

Take care now! Apparently, with the rise in popularity of avocados these days, Emergency Room Doctors are warning against a newly recognized condition called “Avacado Hand”. I’ll let you imagine that one as you exercise great caution.

Dinner Served! So yum!! Enjoy!!!

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