Cooking Through Magnolia Table In A Year: Week 36
This post may include affiliate links in which we earn a commission, as we are supported by our users. All opinions expressed are always our own and any commissions earned are of no cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Week 36! While this week’s recipes of Beef Enchiladas (p.257), Apple Cider Salad (p.119) and Apple Cider Vinaigrette (p.119) are not typically encouraged to go together, we enjoyed a delicious dinner including all three. Of all the recipes we have tried in cooking through Magnolia Table this year, I would not have said that beef enchiladas paired with a salad would have been the best comfort foods, but for this past week, with all our crazy schedules and the ups and downs life throws in, these recipes were perfect. Fresh, flavorful and delicious, both Charlie and I thoroughly enjoyed these recipes and most certainly recommend trying them out, although perhaps not all at once.
Beef Enchiladas
About halfway through making Joanna Gaines Beef Enchiladas, I had a strange sense of deja vu and soon realized that I had made this recipe a couple of years ago. To our happy surprise, we enjoyed them just as much this time as we did the last time I made them. These beef enchiladas are very easy to pull together, are not overly saucy and have a great mix of flavors. The chiles and spices give a touch of heat without being too spicy, while the cheese blends in to give a wonderful Tex-Mex flavor. Similarly, as the tortillas are pan fried just slightly before making the enchiladas, the texture is fabulous and not overly soft or soggy.
Crowd Average Rating:
While enchiladas are not typically my go-to Mexican dish, this recipe was delicious and gained an average rating of 7.5! Easy and very flavorful, these Beef Enchiladas had the perfect texture, and I can’t think of anything I would change next time I make them. I sometimes am hesitant about enchiladas because of their texture, but this recipe is definitely one of my favorite enchiladas recipes I have had!
Apple Cider Salad
If I had to choose one section of the Magnolia Table cookbook that I have been most surprised by, it must be the Soups & Salads portion. Each salad we have tried has been unique, delicious and, most of the time, a new go-to recipe. This Apple Cider Salad recipe was no different, as it is simple, fresh and absolutely scrumptious. While I had not previously knowingly prepared radicchio for a salad, it added a beautiful color and texture that complemented the fresh crunch of the radishes. Similarly, the cheese and pecans balanced any hints of bitterness in the radicchio, and overall made for a wonderful blend of flavor, that I definitely recommend trying
Crowd Average Rating:
As one of our highest rated recipes in several weeks, this Apple Cider Salad gained an average of 8.5! I absolutely loved this salad and most certainly will make it again in the future. I will note though that the white portions of the radicchio can tend to be slightly bitter, but are better if sliced thinly to disperse throughout the salad instead of being simply torn. Similarly, we added pear the second time we made this dish, and that addition was wonderful with the flavors as well.
Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Much like the salad, this vinaigrette is simply delicious. Tangy and smooth, the Apple Cider Vinaigrette perfectly complements the Apple Cider Salad and brings each piece together. This vinaigrette reminds me of the one that was recommended to use along with the Layered Arugula Salad (read that review HERE!), but is different enough to compliment this new dish. Again, Joanna definitely excels with this recipe and I most certainly will be making it in the future.
Crowd Average Rating:
Similar to the salad, this recipe gained an average rating of 8.5! While I typically try to think of ways that I could improve upon the recipe or what I would tweak for the future, I can’t think of anything I would change going forward which is wonderful!
Looking Ahead – Week Thirty Seven
Week 37 Shopping List Includes:
- Black pepper
- Kosher salt
- Butter
- All purpose flour
- Sugar
- Baking soda
- Milk
- Ricotta cheese
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- Maple syrup
- Onion
- Ground beef
- Saltine crackers
- Cheddar cheese
- Tomato sauce
- Worcestershire sauce
- Ketchup
Looking ahead to week 37 within our Cooking Through Magnolia Table In A Year Guide, this upcoming week will feature Ricotta Pancakes (p.55) and Meat Loaf (p.259). If you have any remaining ground beef from the Beef Enchiladas, this meatloaf is a perfect way to use it up! I have not made a meatloaf in a very long time, so I can’t wait to try Joanna’s recipe.
Final Thoughts
While I didn’t necessarily expect to have a week of recipes all above 7.5, each of these dishes was absolutely delicious. In the future, I likely won’t make them all together again, but I am sure they each will come back to our table. Did you have a favorite recipe this week? If so, I would love to know in the comment section below!
Happy cooking!
Chloe
Want To Take On The Cooking Adventure?
Click the button below for your copy of our 1 Year Guide of Cooking Through Magnolia Table!
