Oven tacos!

I've been a lump of goo lately.  This is the busiest time of year for me at work, and I have had ZERO desire or motivation to cook.  My poor family thinks it's a good day when there is a home-cooked meal on the table and they don't have to fend for themselves.  I've tried several recipes found on Pinterest, some of which have been so-so.  This one broke the mold!  Both Mona and I made this meal for dinner this week, and it's a keeper!!

Oven Tacos

2 lbs ground beef (or turkey/chicken - I used turkey)
1 small onion diced
1 small can diced green chilies
1 recipe for Homemade taco seasoning (below)
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
2 cups shredded cheese
18-20 hard taco shells

Optional Condiments-
Lettuce (shredded)
Tomato (diced)
Salsa
Guacamole
Sour Cream
Olives, sliced

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

In a large skillet brown ground beef and onion over medium-high heat. Drain off any excess liquid. Return to pan, add chilies, refried beans, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning. Mix well and cook for a few minutes if mixture seems runny.

Spoon the taco meat mixture into the taco shells and place into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish (OR check out The Taco Rack), standing up. Sprinkle cheese over the top of the taco meat in each shell. Place into the oven and bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the tacos are heated through.
Remove from the oven and top with any optional condiments for serving.

Taco Seasoning
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Monterey Jack Cheese Soup

I love soup but I'm fairly picky about the soups I like.  I found this the other day and had a feeling it would be a keeper.  The whole family loved it, and it was super easy to throw together because instead of finely chopping the veggies as directed, I roughly chopped the onion and tomato and threw it in the pot with the broth and then pureed them in the blender before adding it to the base, mainly because I'm lazy and didn't want to spend time chopping but also because my kids will eat soup better if it's not chunky.  Delicious!!!

From The Girl Who Ate Everything

Monterey Jack Cheese Soup

• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles
• 1 cup tomatoes, diced
• 1 cup onion, finley chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced
• 6 Tablespoons butter
• 6 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 5 cups milk, hot
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 3/4 lb Monterey jack cheese, coarsely chopped (about 3 cups)

Instructions

1. In a medium pot bring broth, chiles, tomatoes, onion, and garlic to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to medium. Simmer for 10 minutes or until veggies are soft.
2. While the veggies are cooking, melt the butter over medium heat in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the flour and cook for 3 minutes stirring constantly.
3. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of the hot milk, adding a 1/2 cup at a time. Cook 7 minutes over medium heat until thickened.
4. Remove veggie/broth mixture from the heat and stir into milk mixture 1/4 cup at a time. Add remaining 1 1/2 cups of hot milk, salt and pepper and Monterey Jack cheese. Stir until cheese is melted. Make sure your don't heat the cheese soup on too high of heat or the cheese will "break" and be grainy. Enjoy!

World's best granola

This is a recipe that I modified from one that I found online. It's pretty much the best granola I've ever had. Period. Mind you, it's not low-cal by any stretch of the imagination, but despite that, I still pretend that it's really healthy and I eat it twice a day, if not more. Enjoy!

• 4 c. oats (quick oats or old-fashioned, I've used both)
• 2 c. Rice Crispies cereal
• 1/2 c. butter
• 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 1/2 c. honey
• 1/2 c. peanut butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• Add-in ideas: chopped or slivered almonds or walnuts, dried banana chips or any other dried fruit (but the banana with the peanut butter equals yum so I'd give it a try), sunflower seeds, chocolate chips if you're feeling naughty, and then I add a few tablespoons each of wheat germ and flaxseed meal, just to add to my illusion that it's a healthy food. All of your add-ins here are optional and totally up to your personal preference. Make it how you like it.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, rice crispies, and any add-ins that your taste buds desire. Set aside.

In a saucepan, melt the butter, then stir in the brown sugar, honey, and peanut butter. Bring to a boil. Give it stir or two, then remove from heat and add the vanilla. The vanilla will bubble like crazy for a few seconds, so just stir it in until it calms down.

Immediately pour the peanut butter sauce over the dry ingredients and gently stir to combine. Eat immediately with some milk for a warm treat, or store or the fridge and eat it cold the next day. Makes about 8 cups of goodness.