Games for the Car, Potato, Bean, and Cabbage Enchiladas, and the Greatest Kitchen Tool

If you're planning a road trip with the kids this Labor Day weekend you might be getting a little anxious about how they are going to behave in the car. Sure, a confined space and long stretch of road are not the prime ingredients for childhood fun, but with a little preparation your biggest nightmare can be kept to a minimum.

Check out this link for some great ideas on road trip games. I especially like the game where the players have to find an object that starts with a certain letter. It'll keep the kids looking at the passing surroundings so they can experience the trip and have fun at the same time. Another good idea is to have a scavenger hunt. All you'll need for this game is a pre-printed list of things for the kids to find and some pencils or crayons to mark them off.

Recipe:

Potato, Bean, and Cabbage Enchiladas

Ingredients
3 medium organic potatoes, peeled and diced
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 large can green enchilada sauce
1 Anaheim chili, diced
2 cups green cabbage, diced
1 cup pinto beans
1 cup black beans
1 - 11/2 cups Monterey Jack cheese (vegans: try Daiya Pepperjack Shreds)
12-14 corn tortillas

1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a bowl, toss diced potatoes with cumin, chili powder, and salt, and place in an oiled baking dish. Bake for 20 to 25 min, or until tender.

2) Mix the beans and heat. Meanwhile pour enough enchilada sauce into a 9 x 13 casserole dish to cover the bottom (1/4-1/3 of the can)

3) Heat tortillas in microwave until soft and easy to fold.

4) Fill tortillas with potatoes, beans, cheese, chili, and cabbage and roll up. Place seam side down in the prepared dish.

5) Sprinkle leftover cabbage and diced chilis on top. Then pour the remaining enchilada sauce over it all. If desired, sprinkle some cheese over sauce. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

Product:

Cuisinart SmartStick Hand Blender

A hand blender is one of the greatest cooking tools ever invented. It saves both time and effort - no need to transfer hot liquids, do extra dishes, or lift heavy pots or appliances. It's no wonder some call it a wand, because it's like waving one and voila—the work is magically finished. This particular one by Cuisinart has served me well for two years and shows no signs of slowing down. It is solid and sturdy and blends soups and smoothies super fast. It also comes with a chopping attachment that can dice garlic, herbs, and more.


I had to stop driving my car for a while... the tires got dizzy. -Steven Wright