Enchiladas Suizas

I first tasted these back in Chicago when our friend Judi Barnhill made them. Her recipe came from an old Southwest Cooking cookbook, and she copied the page for me. Since then, I have made it probably 50 times through many alterations, and we love it every single time. Suizas refers to Swiss immigrants to Mexico who started dairies to make cream and cheeses. These enchiladas are topped with a cup of cream, which gives them a fabulous flavor.

Since burning my foot and hand last year with boiling oil, I've been a bit leery of cooking with the stuff more than I absolutely have to. This led to a much faster way of assembling this dish, with a big reduction in fat grams. I'm sharing both techniques with you, so you can choose whichever you prefer.

This is my version.

Enchiladas Suizas

2 Spanish onions (or 1 yellow/white)
7 oz. can diced green chilies
1 clove garlic
2 T. butter or olive oil
2 T. flour
1 1/2 c. chicken broth
salt to taste
1/4 tsp. ground cumin

2 1/2 c. grated Cheddar-Jack cheese
2-3 scallions
oil for frying (optional--see below)
14-16 corn tortillas
2 c. cooked and shredded chicken or pork
1 c. whipping cream
1 c. diced tomatoes

Chop the onions and mince the garlic. Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until soft, about 2 minutes. Stir in the flour and chicken broth. Add the chilies, garlic, salt to taste, and cumin and simmer about 15 minutes to blend the flavors of the sauce. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 baking dish. Grate the cheese and slice the scallions.

Oil version:
Put about 1/2" of oil in a large frying pan and set over medium-high heat. When hot, fry the tortillas briefly, about 15 seconds, being careful not to let them get crisp. Drain on paper towels. Put some of the meat in a strip on each tortilla. Top with 2-3 T. cheese. Roll up the enchiladas and put in the prepared baking dish seam side down. Pour the sauce over them, and then the cream. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and the scallions. The dish can be assembled several days ahead. Bake until hot and bubbly, about 2o minutes. Serve hot and garnished with tomatoes.


Non-oil version:
Tear the corn tortillas into small pieces and spread 1/3 of them evenly on bottom of the pan. Arrange 1/2 of the meat evenly over the tortillas, then sprinkle with 1/3 of the cheese. Place another 1/3 of the tortilla pieces on top, then the remaining chicken and 1/3 of the cheese. Spread the remainder of the tortillas on the top, then pour the sauce over the top. Pour the cream over the top of that, and sprinkle with the final 1/3 of the cheese. Slice the scallions and scatter over the top. Bake until hot and bubbly, about 20 minutes. Serve hot and garnished with tomatoes.

I can fit 10 rolled up enchiladas across the length of my 9x13 pan, then two sets of two perpendicular to those for a total of 14.

Serve with sour cream, rice, refried beans, and a green salad.

Starting Over

I feel a bit at sea these days. Sweetie and I were talking about something this evening and we didn't know the answer to it. I decided to call my dad when we got home and ask him, because I know that he knows the answer. But of course, that's a bit difficult right now. Technology is an amazing thing (I'm still astounded by email), but to my knowledge there is no reception where he is at the moment. Pity. He would have plenty to say on the subject. I've been so lucky to have both my parents for so long, and becoming fatherless, even at the age of 47, is a bit of a change. I asked my dad for advice on so many practical things, from refinancing to career moves, real estate to books. Thank goodness there's Google, though it isn't quite the same.

My mom is having a tough time. She and my dad were sweethearts for nearly 60 years, and now he's gone. Then yesterday their poor dog died. He had been declining, but we hoped it was because he was sad about Dad. But no, turns out he probably had cancer. That dog had lousy timing. Well, I guess it's good he didn't get super sick when my dad would have known about it. But still, a death per month is not a good statistical move. I volunteered my lovely pooch (said very tongue in cheek, though he's getting better) to soften the blow, but it wasn't particularly appreciated. Lots of changes for Mom, none of them easy.

Sweetie and I went up to Park City today for the Sundance Film Festival. It felt fabulous to be up above the inversion and see blue skies and sunshine. The air was surprisingly warm up there, and even though I haven't skied for years, I sure wanted to today! The movie, "Flypaper" with Patrick Dempsey and Ashley Judd, was stupid and unbelievably profane. Their talents were completely wasted in it, and I wouldn't be surprised if it went straight to DVD, if even that. The people-watching was fabulous, though! Lots of affluent ski-resort babes with their skinny jeans tucked into their boots, hair in pony tails with ski caps on and their Ray Bans perched on top. Tan skin, crows feet from too much sun, all blonde for some reason. Pashmina wraps are still the big thing apparently, particularly in black. Can't criticize their taste--I borrowed Emily's at my dad's funeral and it was tres soft and warm. The men were weathered and generally older than the women. Silver hair is big with that crowd, but the women mostly color theirs. There were about 3,000 of us in the theater, which was lovely as theaters go. Then we drove back through Provo Canyon and had dinner at Shoots in Riverwoods, which I remembered as being better than it was. Still nice, but a little bland--must have changed chefs. But it was still great, and I didn't have to cook it (I did make the kids thai chicken when I got home, so they weren't too jealous). Riverwoods had a big facelift last year, and there were cobalt blue lights on all the trees and fire pits set up high everywhere. Very pretty, and it was a nice date.

I've seen some great progress in my students recently, but I'm not sure how much can be attributed to me. Sometimes, and more often lately, I think I might not have "what it takes" to really make a difference in these kids' lives. We have them for such a short period of time every day, and they have so many things going on in their lives. I want them to have the absolute best skills so they have a chance to get out of their situations when they're older and make better choices for themselves and their families. I do try to be diligent, but I think some people have a natural gift for it that I feel I'm lacking. But what would I do instead? There is much to be said for doing something that doesn't pay well because you feel like it's the right thing to do and that you're helping to make life better for someone. There is also much to be said for getting the "most bang for your buck," and if I'm going to be gone from home for 6.5 hours every day, it would be nice to have things like a larger salary and benefits.

I haven't used my degree since I left Leo Burnett back in 1987, which the angel/devil on my shoulder tells me is a change for the better since I was in the morally corrupt field of advertising and what good could possibly come from a life in that? But then the angel/devil on the other shoulder says that I had a real talent for that morally corrupt world and if I used that talent for good instead of evil, I could have a very fulfilling career, make money, teach, and buy really nice shoes and pashmina wraps. Can't really think about that with such a skimpy resume, though. I took some sample GRE test questions online and confirmed that I am actually quite stupid and should definitely not consider grad school. And yet I keep going back to it, as I have since 1986 when I took the GMAT and planned on getting my MBA.

Oh I don't know. I may never know. I doubt there is one right answer, anyway. Just pick something and do it. That's what my dad asked me to do when I couldn't decide on a major. So I figured out that my hodgepodge of credits seemed to fit in with the Communications department, and Advertising looked like the most interesting major in there. There was no divine reason that I majored in it--I just needed to pick something. I suspect that the same will be true with grad school. I have accepted that it will always gnaw at me if I don't just do it, so I might as well. And since I'm much too cheap to pay full tuition at UVU, I'd better figure out something here at BYU so I get free tuition.

I wonder if they would actually let me into the MBA program here.....?

The Long Winter

After a two month hiatus, mostly due to computer problems but partly due to a lack of desire to write, I am back. It has been eventful, to say the least.

I spent nearly two weeks of December back in St. Louis with my family. After 20 years, my dad passed away from cancer. I got home on a Wednesday, but by then he wasn't able to open his eyes or talk, which was very sad for me. My mom and sisters said he knew I was there, and I really am trusting that that's true. I was able to be with him, as were all of my siblings, until he died Saturday afternoon, December 11.

My siblings and I are spread out over a 25 year span, and by the time Caroline was born, Jim and Suzy were married and I was starting my second year of college. I realized that Saturday that for the very first time ever, my mom and dad were alone with their five kids. No spouses, no grandchildren, just five kids and their parents. It happened on Friday and again on Saturday, and then he was gone and it was the five of us with Mom. To me, that was a huge gift, and one which was so many years overdue.

The funeral was a sight to behold. Though I've traditionally identified myself with the German side of the family (Mom's), Dad wanted to celebrate his Scots-Irish side. We were decked out in our Campbell family tartan--scarves, ribbons, and ties were in abundance. The three older girls got silver claddagh rings to match Caroline's, and we wear them on our right hands. We all wore tall black boots, because Dad always said that every girl needs a good-looking pair of boots. There was a bagpiper who played "The Campbells Are Coming" as we left the church, and "Scotland the Brave" and "Amazing Grace" to walk us to the cemetery. Army personnel came up from Fort Leonardwood to give Dad military honors. He had an 18 gun salute, taps, and Mom was presented with the flag from his casket. Lots of music in the ceremony, glowing eulogies, the extended family, four of the grandkids, a nice lunch afterwards--all very nice. Suzy's son Robert was decked out in his Marines uniform and I'm sure Dad was very proud of that.

I miss him.

He had a bad turn back in July, and since then I had gotten a bit used to calling home and usually just talking to Mom because Dad was asleep. But when I did get to talk to him, he always sounded just like Dad, funny, completely up on current events, opinionated, concerned about me and the kids. I miss talking to him so much. I moved away from home so very many years ago, that seeing him in person was a rare luxury. Most of our relationship, arguably the best part of it, took place on the phone. Not a day goes by that I don't wish I could call him up and talk to him.

A number of my mythological suspicions about death were debunked during this experience.

1. The dogs did not howl when he died. They ran out and barked at a blowing leaf, but were oblivious to the rest.
2. There was no "deathbed miracle" when Dad opened his eyes, remarked on the beautiful angels coming for him, told us he loved us all, and fell back on the pillow with a smile on his face.
3. Just because you have suffered (and I mean truly suffered) for 20 years with cancer, does not mean that God will grant you an easy death. It was long (11 days), painful, and excruciating for him and for us to watch. And I was only there for the last four days.
4. There were moments of great happiness mixed in with the sorrow. I will always remember sitting on Mom and Dad's bed and seeing all of us girls wearing bright socks that Mom knit for us all. Little moments, but very happy ones.

I was truly overwhelmed by the kindness shown to me and my family throughout this whole experience. The day after I got there, darling Dave and his wife sent over two pies from a bakery in town, even though I haven't seen him in probably 25 years. Brent and Tricia sent flowers, which ended up right in front of me during the service and provided a focal point for me so I didn't fall apart and embarrass my dad, should he happen to be watching. Two of Mom's friends showed up on separate days and brought us amazing breakfasts. Jon and Holly run a gumbo shop and drove nearly an hour in freezing weather to bring us enough jambalaya and gumbo to feed an army. Cindy, who is exhausted from undergoing chemo, drove all the way out with her family to the visitation. So many, many kindnesses from so many people--thank you so much to all of you.

Peter Campbell Hixson

Hixson, Peter Campbell died December 11, 2010, at his home in Washington, MO, following a long battle with cancer. He was 74 years old. He was born October 18, 1936, in Saint Louis, MO, the son of Patricia Helen Larkin and James Campbell Hixson, and was raised in Webster Groves, MO. He was a graduate of Webster Groves High School, Washington University, and University of Missouri at Kansas City. He was a retired Army Officer, and Viet Nam veteran. Following his military career, Colonel Hixson enjoyed a second career as a banker, working at a number of Saint Louis area lending institutions. He lived in Franklin County for many years, first on a farm near Leslie, then in a home outside of Washington. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, serving in many callings. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Anne Seeman Hixson, by five children, James Thomas Hixson (Lori Stephenson), Suzanne Hixson, Diane Anderson (Travis), Emily Hixson, Caroline Hixson, as well as a greatly loved daughter-in-law, Margaret Rashford Hixson, by twelve grandchildren, and by his sister Nancy Hixson Yancey. Services: Visitation from 5pm to 7pm, on December 16, at OLTMANN FUNERAL HOME, 508 E. 14th St. in Washington, MO. Funeral service at 1pm on December 17 at the LDS Church (110 East 14th Street, Washington, MO), with burial in Saint Francis Borgia Cemetery, adjacent to the chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the U.S.O. or the charity of your choice.