SUNKEN MEAT BURRITO

Steps:

• ------TheFilling--------------.
• In a medium bowl, combine the ground beef with the flour, red pepper, chili powder, salt, minced onion, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder.
• DO NOT include the cocoa powder.
• Use your hands to thoroughly mix the ingredients into the ground beef.
• Add the seasoned beef mixture and all the liquid to a crock pot.
• Sprinkle a little cocoa powder on the mixture.
• Cook on low for about 2 hours.
• Every 20 to 30 minutes, sprinkle a tiny amount of cocoa powder on the mixture, and mash with a potato masher.
• Remove meat and water to saucepan.
• Add refried beans, if desired.
• Simmer gently until water evaporates.
• ----------TheSinking Gravy---------------.
• Melt bacon fat or oil.
• Gently sauté chopped onion and mushrooms until tender.
• Set this mixture aside.
• Combine ¼ cup of the beef stock with the flour in a jar with a tight-fitting lid- shake mixture vigorously until smooth.
• Combine stock/flour mixture with remaining stock in a heavy saucepan.
• Add tomato paste and whisk until tomato paste is thoroughly mixed in.
• Bring the stock mixture to a boil, and then reduce heat to low and simmer for 10-15 minutes or so, whisking frequently, until mixture begins to thicken.
• Add all remaining ingredients as well as onion/mushroom/fat mixture.
• Simmer until heated throughout.
• Add salt, pepper and other spices to taste.
• ----PUTTINGIT ALL TOGETHER----.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Place 3 to 4 ounces of beef or beef/bean mixture in the center of each tortilla.
• Sprinkle minced onion and then cheese, generously, on top of beef.
• Fold the filled tortillas into oblong burritos.
• Place each burrito, folded side down, into an 8" x 4" baking pan OR place all the burritos into a baking pan large enough to accommodate them without letting them touch one another.
• Pour gravy into baking pan until burrito is barely covered.
• Sprinkle more cheese, generously, on top of each burrito.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes OR bake 10 to 15 minutes and then broil until cheese is bubbling.
• Add hot sauce, crumbled tostados, sour cream and/or guacamole, if desired.
• Serve with a taco salad (or other salad of your choice) on the side.