Mexican Lasagna

1 lb ground beef
1 pkg. taco seasoning, reserving 1 Tbs seasoning
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained
1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 cup frozen corn
salt
1 cup sour cream, mixed with the remaining taco seasoning
8 flour tortillas (I think whole wheat tortillas taste best with this recipe)
2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar or shredded pepper jack cheese

Brown ground beef and onions and drain
Add to beef: taco seasoning, tomatoes, black beans and corn.
Heat through, 2-3 minutes.
Coat a shallow baking dish with olive oil.
Cut tortillas in half or quarters.
Build lasagna in layers of tortillas, meat, sour cream and cheese, Repeat ending with cheese on top.
Bake at 425 degrees for 12-15 min.
Top with your favorite toppings such as chopped tomatoes, sliced olives, avocado, and/or shredded lettuce (or just put nothing, like I do.)

Glorified Tacos

Hamburger Mixture:
1 lb hamburger
1/2 a yellow onion (amount to your preference)
peppers (whatever kind you like)
1/4 c brown sugar
8 oz can of tomato sauce
8 oz can of water
1 T Vinegar
Garlic Salt

Brown hamburger and then add onions and peppers. Saute together for a few minutes and then add the rest of the ingredients. Let simmer for 15 minutes.


Layer bottom to top in this order: Chili Cheese Fritos, Hamburger mixture, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomato, Avacado.

My kids and Shaun loved this. I also put Taco seasoning in when I browned the hamburger. It was good that way. I didn't use peppers because my kids wont eat green stuff, ha! So, I haven't tried the way this recipe reads exactly. 

I got this recipe from my friend Pam's blog: http://pamscooking.blogspot.com

Meatballs and Gravy over Rice

1 can evaporated milk
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1-2 packets of brown gravy mix (make with a little less water than it calls for)
1 cup sour cream
Meatballs (Costco kind rocks)
Rice (will be on the side or covered with meatballs and gravy)

1. Brown meatballs in stove and put in crockpot. (can start with frozen meatballs, just brown a little and only if you want to, it's not necessary.)
2. Make rice later when time to serve.
3. Mix remaining ingredients and pour in crockpot over meatballs.
4. Cook on low for 2-3 hours. near the end judge if you like the thickness of the gravy. It thickens as it cooks. If gravy is too thick, add milk to thin. If it is too thin or flavorless, add more gravy mix.


This is so yummy. I love it. plus, it's a crockpot meal so you gotta love that. I think you can just make it on the stove too if you don't have time but it tastes best after cooking in a crockpot.

Zuppa Toscana

1 lb bulk Italian sausage, browned and drained

2 cans chicken broth

1 cup water

1/4 cup onion, chopped

3 large russet potatoes, cubed

1 garlic clove, minced

Bacon bits

1 cup whipping cream

Kale 

Place Italian sausage, chicken broth, garlic, potatoes and onion in slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours until potatoes are cooked and soft. Add desired amount of bacon bits, whipping cream and cut up kale right before serving. Top with your choice of cheese; serve with fresh bread. Makes 8 servings. Also add mushrooms if you’d like...

Spinach and Strawberry Salad

Spinach

Strawberries

Candied walnuts or almonds

feta cheese

dressing (see recipe below, people put their own dressing on)

Creamy Strawberry Poppy Seed Dressing

1/3 Cup apple cider vinegar

3/4 Cup sugar

2 Tblsp. chopped shallot

1/2 tsp. mustard

1 tsp. Kosher salt

1/2 Cup mayonnaise

2 Tblsp. orange juice

1/2 Cup canola or vegetable oil

1 1/2 tsp. poppy seeds

5 regular sized strawberries (chopped or sliced)

1. Put all ingredients but the oil and the poppy seeds in a blender.

2. While the blender is a blending away take the lid off carefully and then add the oil slowly. When the oil is added, blend on high for about 2 minutes.

3. Turn off the blender and gently stir in the poppy seeds with a spoon. Don't blend them. They'll get all chopped up.

4. Serve or cover and refrigerate.

Best Ever Sloppy Joes

2 lbs. ground beef
1/2 c. onion, finely chopped
3 tbsp. mustard
1 sm. bottle ketchup
1 can condensed chicken gumbo soup

Brown meat and onions; drain. Add ketchup and simmer. Add mustard; simmer. Add undiluted soup; simmer. Longer mixture is cooked, the better it is. Great for crock pot cooking.

I fond this recipe on Cooks.com. It's awesome. Every time I make it I have to re-google. I decided to finally post it so I know where it is!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Joan's Chocolate Cake

2 1/2 Cups flour
2 Cups sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. soda
2 eggs
1/3 Cup cocoa
1 Cup oil
1 Cup sour milk or cream or buttermilk
1 Cup boiling water
1 tsp. vanilla

Cream sugar and oil. Add eggs and milk and beat heard. Sift cocoa, flour, salt and soda. Add to first mixture and beat. Add boiling water and vanilla. Bake in pans coated with shortening and flour. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

**This cake recipe was made for high altitude. I don't know how well it works in normal altitude, but it is super good, and worth a try.
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Peanut Butter Icing

1 Cup Confectioners' sugar
1 Cup creamy peanut butter
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup heavy cream

Place the confectioner' sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt in a bowl and mix on medium-low speed until creamy. Scrap the bowl with a rubber spatula as you work. Add the cream and beat on high speed until the mixture is light and smooth.

**I double this recipe to cover a two layer cake.
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Chocolate Buttercream Icing

1/2 Cup shortening
1/2 Cup butter or margarine, softened
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
4 cups (approx. 1 lb.) sifted confectioners' sugar
3/4 cup cocoa powder (or three 1 oz. squares unsweetened chocolate, melted)
4 tablespoons milk

Cream butter and shortening with electric mixer. Add vanilla. Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often. Add cocoa. Will seem very dry. Add milk and beat on high until light and fluffy.
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Make the cake and then freeze the layers, wrapped in plastic wrap, over night. Torte the layers and add chocolate buttercream and then the peanut butter icing for the middle layer. Then cover the whole cake in the peanut butter icing. Add Reeces peanut butter cups.