Love Your Neighbor: Make a Meal!
Love Your Neighbor Week 3
This week on our Love Your Neighbor series, we talked about how a home cooked meal could make a big impact for the family next door or even a family welcoming a new baby into the world! When we were planning out these videos and what we wanted to say, we joked that when we had babies or were sick, we NEVER forgot the people who showed up with warm food on our door step.
For this meal, we actually just made a double batch of enchiladas and fed our family and another family at the same time making this simple and affordable for everyone! We also grabbed a box of instant rice from the grocery store to go with it.
We'll post the video here and the recipe below!
Beef Enchiladas:
2 lb ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoon chili powder
2 teaspoon cumin
If you would like, you can also purchase a couple of taco seasoning packets instead
Salt and pepper to taste
16-20 flour or corn tortillas
2 bags store bought shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican blend)
Optional: Fresh cilantro, avocado or lime (for garnish)
2 cans refried beans
20 oz Enchilada Sauce
Step 1: Gather your ingredients.
Chop and prep the necessary ingredients for the recipe. Get a pan or your blackstone ready to cook!
Step 2: Brown the meat.
As you cook, take a moment to pray for the person or family who will receive this meal.
Next, stir in the garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Add about half of the enchilada sauce to the beef mixture, stirring until everything is well combined. Let this simmer for a few minutes, then add about ⅓ of the cheese to the ground beef to get a nice melty mixture.
Step 3: Assemble the Enchiladas
Take the tortillas and spread some refried beans in a thin layer. Then spoon a generous amount of the beef mixture into the center. As you roll it up, place it seam-side down in a greased baking dish or disposable pan.
Repeat this step until all tortillas are filled and lined up in the dish.
Step 4: Top with Sauce and Cheese
Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the rolled tortillas, covering them fully. Sprinkle a generous amount of shredded cheese over the top. Cover with aluminum foil and leave a note with the oven temperature and bake time.
(Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes)
Step 5: Prepare for the Delivery
While preparing to deliver, take a moment to write a heartfelt note for your neighbor. You can add a favorite Bible verse or one that resonates with the idea of caring for others.
Example: Here is a special meal inspired by God’s love: 'The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.' (Numbers 6:24-25)
Step 6: Deliver the Enchiladas with a Blessing
Pack everything up to transport to your neighbor. You can include a side of rice with the enchiladas to make it a complete meal. Be sure to include your recipe card and scripture note for added encouragement.
As you deliver the meal, greet your neighbor with kindness and, if they are open to it, offer a quick word of prayer or blessing over them.
Step 7: Reflect on the Experience
After sharing the meal, take a moment to reflect on the joy of giving. Perhaps God will bring other neighbors to mind who might need a kind gesture or a reminder that they’re not alone. Sharing food is not just about feeding the body but also nourishing the soul with love and scripture.
We hope this series has been helpful to show you easy ways to serve others. Incase you missed it, Here are the other two videos in the series!
Make your Neighbor a flower arrangement.
Create community with Mocktails and your Bible.
And remember, it doesn't have to be expensive or ellaborate to show someone you care. A text message with a Bible verse or a coffee delivered to someones door step can make a big impact on someone today. Go love on somebody!
