Beef Mexican Casserole

This is from one of my favorite people in the world... Mrs Barbara Jones

Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 canned mexican styled stewed tomatoes
1 can whole kernal corn
2 pkges cornbread mix

Brown beef until crumbly.  Drain.  Stir in dry taco seasoning mix.  Add tomatoes and corm.  Bring to a soft boil, stirring frequently.  Pour into 2 greased quart casseroles.  Prepare corn bread mixes according to pkg directions.  Carefully pour cornbread batter over ground beef mixture. 

Bake 400 for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

((I spread butter on top of it when it gets out of the oven.))

Calzones

I am not sure who I got this one from....

Ingredients:
Refrigerated Pizza Crust
Mozzarella Cheese
Pizza Sauce
Pizza Toppings (I use hamburger meat and pepperoni)

Roll out pizza crust dough.
Put pizza sauce in the middle of the dough.
Sprinkle Cheese on top of sauce
Place toppings on cheese
Sprinkle cheese on toppings.
Cut sides of dough into strips and cross every other side so dough looks braided.
Cook at 375 for 25-30 minutes

Pizza Pasta Casserole

I got this one from a wonderful friend Mrs Barbarba Jones.
TCH Boys have nicknamed this "Pizzagna".

Ingredients:
2 pounds ground beef
1 large onion chopped
2 (28oz) jars spaghetti sauce
1 (8oz) can tomatoe sauce
1 (16oz) spiral pasta cooked and drained
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
8 oz sliced pepperoni

In a large skillet, cook beef and onion until meat is no longer pink.  Drain.  Stir in spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, and pasta.

Transfer to 2 greased 9x13 casserole dishes.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Arrange pepperoni over the top. 

Bake uncovered at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until heated thru.

If you want you can freeze one for up to 3 months before cooking.  To Use Frozen Casserole:  Thaw in fridge overnight.  Bake uncovered on 350 for 35-40 minutes or until heated thru.

My 2 Cents Worth:

• BIG HIT!
• It is said to be a favorite regularly!
• No need to measure cheese and pepperoni - just cover!  :)
• I've never frozen one so I am not sure how that turns out.

Pizza Cups

I got this recipe from our congregation's cook book.

Ingredients:
3/4 lb ground beef
6 oz tomato paste
1 tablespoon minced onion
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
10 oz can refrigerated layer biscuits
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Brown and drain beef.
Stir in tomato paste, onion, and seasoning.  Mixture will be thick.
Cook over low heat about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
Separate and place biscuits in a greased muffin tin, pressing to cover bottom and sides.
Spoon about 1/4 cup meat mixture into biscuit lined cups.
Sprinkle with cheese.
Bake 400 for 12 minutes or until golden brown.

My 2 cents worth:

• I am not a fan.  It is a little sloppy joe-ish to me.
• The TCH boys, my hubby, and both my kids LOVE it and ask for it!
• The biscuit lining is the hardest.  Cooking it for a lot of people is not easy to me.
• I just cover in cheese - no measuring necessary!  :)

Beef and Bean Burritos

I got this one from Pioneer Woman Cooks. This is one of her 16-minute-meals. I did not time it... it probably took me longer than 16 minutes but still not too long. (I am slow when it comes to cooking, though.)

Ingredients:

2 pounds ground beef
1/2 whole medium onion
1 can (7 oz) Mexican tomato sauce or enchilada sauce
salt and pepper to taste
cumin, oregano, chili powder, and garlic to taste
1 can (28 oz) refried beans
3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
12 whole burrito-sized tortillas
extra grated cheese, for sprinkling
extra sauce for drizzling
cilantro leaves, optional
optional filling ingredients: Mexican rice, sour cream, guacamole, green chilies, pico

Brown ground beef with onion and season to taste. Pour in sauce and simmer over low heat. Add water if mixture gets too dry.

Heat refried beans in a saucepan. Add cheese and stir in till melted. Keep warm.

Heat tortillas in microwave for one minute.

Spread small amount of beans on each tortilla. Add meat. fold over ends, then roll up. Place two burritos on a microwave-safe plate. Drizzle red sauce over the top and sprinkle with more grated cheddar. Microwave for one minute or until cheese is melted and burritos are very hot. Serve immediately.

My Two Cents:

• I filled one of Chris' up with beans, meat, and rice and he liked it better than the ones with only beans and meat.
• I put a little Mexican cheese into the burritos with the beans and meat.
• I served it with some sour cream on top.
• I used red enchilada sauce.
• I normally prefer chicken over beef but I really enjoyed this. We all did.
• Next time I want to try the green chilies in it!
  

Fiesta Marvelous Mini Meatloaves

I got this recipe from Kraft Foods! I just love them!

Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 pkg stuffing mix
1 cup water
2 tsp Chili Powder (seasoning)
3/4 cup salsa (add-in)
3/4 cup shredded Mexican style cheese (cheese)

SIDE NOTE:
Those are the ingredients to make FIESTA mini meatloaves.
To make Italian use: 1 tsp Italian seasoning for your seasoning, 3/4 cup spaghetti sauce for your add-in, and 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella for your cheese.
To make Mediterranean use: 1 tsp dried oregano leaves for your seasoning, 3/4 cup chopped roasted red peppers for your add-in, and 3/4 cup crumbled feta for your cheese.
To make BBQ use: 1tsp garlic powder for seasoning, 3/4 cup BBQ Sauce for add-in, and 3/4 cup cheddar for your cheese.

Whew!

Preheat oven for 375. Mix meat, stuffing mix, water, and seasoning until well blended. Press evenly into 12 medium muffin cups sprayed with cooking spray. Make an indentation in center of each with back of spoon.

Spoon add-in evenly into indentations in meatloaves.

Bake 30 min. or until meatloaves are cooked thru. Top evenly with cheese and continue baking for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

My 2 cents worth on this:

• I am not a meatloaf person and thought this was pretty good.
• Chris said that this was his favorite meatloaf ever (remember we did the "fiesta" version).
• I love that I can use the same recipe but change things up a bit depending on the mood I am in.
  

Cheeseburger Meat Loaf

I got this one from - - - guess - - - guess - - - Kraftfoods.com.

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
10 saltine crackers, crushed
2 tbsp dijon mustard
1/4 cup ketchup
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 375. Mix meat, cracker crumbs, and mustard until well blended.
Pat meat mixture unto 8 inch loaf pan. Bake 40 minutes or until cooked through.
Spread meat loaf with ketchup; sprinkle with cheese. Bake 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

My 2 cents worth on this:

• I am not a meatloaf fan but this recipe does not call for very many, if any, ingredients that I don't have at home any way.
• Chris loves it. He likes it more than the BBQ meatloaf I fix.
• The cheese helps with people like me who are not really fans of meatloaf.

Microwave Barbecue Meatloaf

I got this one from Kraft Foods.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Barbecue Sauce
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup plain dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup finely chopped green pepper
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried basil leaves
1/8 tsp black pepper

Remove 1/4 cup of the barbecue sauce and set aside. Mix remaining ingredients until well blended.

Shape mixture into loaf in 12x8 microwavable dish; top with reserved 1/4 cup barbecue sauce. Cover loosely with wax paper.

Microwave on HIGH 12-14 minutes or until cooked thru, turn dish after 7 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting into slices to serve.

My 2 cents worth on this:

• I am not a meatloaf fan. My husband is. This is a good compromise.
  
• This is easy and does not take long.
• My hubby loved it.
• The BBQ sauce gives it a little something different.
• I may put it in a smaller dish next time.
  

Pound, Pound, and a Bottle

I got this one from another blog.

Ingredients:
1 lb of hamburger
1 lb of Velveeta Cheese
1 Bottle of green taco sauce

Brown the hamburger; Drain.

Cube the Velveeta cheese and add to meat in pan, when it starts to melt add the taco sauce. Stir well until cheese is melted and all is well blended. Serve with Lots of chips for dipping.

My 2 cents worth on this:

• I could not find anything at the store called "Green Taco Sauce" so I went with the brand she recommended and got La Victoria Salsa Verde and it was a medium size ( I think) bottle. I don't know how many ounces.
• We used Tortilla chips.
• This was very yummy and quick.
• Hannah, my 2 year old, ate this meat dip with a spoon. She loved it.
• Chris, my hubby, says that this is similar if not better than the meat cheese dip from Applebees and that it would be a GREAT "meal" for Monday Night Football get together.
  

Taco Salad

I got this one from my wonderful Mom!

Ingredients:
1 lb hamburger meat
1/2 of a big bag of Doritos
1/2 head of lettuce
1/2 block of cheddar cheese shredded
1 can of whole corn (optional)
1 chopped tomato (optional)
Catalina dressing

Cut up lettuce and mix with cheese in a large bowl. Brown and drain meat and put in with lettuce cheese mixture. Mix in dressing to taste. Crush Doritos and add to salad. Add corn and tomato if desired. Mix in a little more dressing to taste. Serve immediately.

My 2 cents on this one:

• One of my favorites of all time.
• I use to ask for this for my birthday instead of cake!
• I use corn but no tomatoes.
• If you have left overs, refrigerate. When you want some more, add a little dressing and some more crushed Doritos to freshen it up.