What is pantry cooking? Put simply, it’s preparing meals with nonperishable food items that you can keep in your pantry. It is a great idea to have on-hand ingredients for at least a few meals. In the event of an emergency or if you just don’t want to take a trip to the grocery store, you have what you need to make a great meal for your family with what you have on hand. If you are interested in building a year’s supply of food, pantry cooking is the option that I recommend.
Here is a great recipe for fried burritos, or beef chimichangas. If you are storing the ingredients to use in the event of an emergency, you will also want to store ingredients to make flour tortillas (see recipe below).
If you are not interested in food storage at all, you should still try this recipe. It’s pretty tasty.
Easy Fried Burritos
2 cans roast beef with gravy
1/2 package Lawry’s taco seasoning
1 (7oz) cans green chilies (or green chili salsa by Ortega, if desired)
2 to 3 tablespoons of salsa–mild or hot, you decide
2 shakes of Worcestershire sauce
8 to 10 flour tortillas (room temperature for easier folding)
Oil or shortening for frying
Mix first five ingredients together in medium saucepan. Simmer about a half hour, breaking up meat and stirring every few minutes. Place a large spoonful onto each tortilla. Fold over the bottom, then one side, then the top of the tortilla. Roll, securing with a toothpick if necessary. Fry in hot oil on all sides until crispy and golden. Drain on paper towels. Serve with salsa and sour cream, if desired.
Homemade tortillas:
2 cups all-purpose or whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup hot water
Mix together flour and salt. Cut in the shortening using a pastry blender or crisscrossing two knives. Add water and mix until combined. Separate dough into ping-pong shaped balls. Roll with rolling pin in between waxed paper, or flatten between two sheets of waxed paper and two glass pie dishes. Cook over medium heat until one side begins to bubble and underside is turning the slightest gold. Turn for a few seconds to allow other side to get just slightly golden around the bubbles.
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