Mexican Stuffed Shells

Photo and recipe from www.theteachercooks.com

• 1 lb. Ground beef browned and drained
• 12 – 15 large shells cooked according to directions
• 1 12 ounce jar mild picante sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
• 1 4-ounce can chopped chilies
• 1 cup Monterrey Jack cheese shredded ( I use more)
• 1 2.8 ounce can Durkee French Fried onions

You will need 2 mixing bowls.  In one bowl combine picante sauce, water,  and tomato sauce.  In another bowl place the browned ground meat adding 1/2 cup of the mixed sauce, along with the chilies, 1/2 cup of cheese, and 1/2 can of the onions.  Mix well.  Pour half the sauce in the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch oven proof casserole dish.  Stuff shell with the ground beef mixture.  Arrange shells in the baking dish.  Pour the remaining sauce over shells.  Bake covered for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees.  Top with the remaining onions and cheese and cook uncovered for about 5 minutes. 

This is a very old recipe I haven't used in years because I forgot about it.  I wanted to put it on the blog so I could keep up with it.
1 lb ground beef, drained (cook with onion)
1 t. salt
1/8 t. pepper
1 T. Worchestershire sauce
1 cup uncooked Minute Rice
1 can tomato soup

Mix beef mixture with above ingredients and then place in baking dish. Top with cheddar cheese and canned (flaky Hungry Jack) biscuits.  Bake 350 for 20 ~ minutes until bicuits are done.

Meal Ideas - Ground Beef Edition

I have a master list that contains a lot of the frequently used meals broken down into categories so I am going to attempt to duplicate it here.

Hot Tamale Pie
Hamburgers
BBQ cups
Meatloaf or Italian Meatloaf
Salisbury steak
Spaghetti
HB helper
Kim's Pasta Salad
Cowboy Beans
Cheeseburger Casserole with French fries
Manwich
Hobo Dinner
Tacos
Taco Ring
Lasagna
Hamburger steak
Taco Soup

BBQ Cups

I have made these for many years.  The recipe came from a "4-ingredient" cookbook I bought at the Biltmore House several years ago.

1 pound ground beef, browned and drained
1 package (10 count) canned biscuits (I use Hungry Jack flaky layers)
BBQ sauce of your choice ( I use KC Masterpiece)
Cheddar Cheese

To browned ground beef add BBQ sauce until the consistency of sloppy joes.  Flatten each biscuit slightly and place each one in a greased muffin tin.  Spoon in meat mixture and top with cheddar cheese.  Bake according to biscuit directions. 

These are also good as leftovers.

Note-While typing this post the thought occurred to me to use pizza sauce instead of BBQ and top with mozzarella cheese.  I might try that some time.

Stuffed Green Peppers

4 green peppers
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 can tomato soup
1 t. worststershire sauce
1/2 t. salt
1 lb ground beef
1 cup cooked rice
1/4 t. pepper
16 oz. can tomato sauce

Cut peppers in half lengthwise. Remove seeds and cook in boiling, salted water for 5 minutes. Drain. Combine ground beef, onion, 1/2 can tomato soup, cooked rice, worst. sauce, s/p and spoon mixture evenly into peppers. Place in shallow baking dish and combine remaining soup and tomato sauce and pour over peppers. Cover and bake for 1 hour at 375 degrees.

Smothered Enchiladas

Photo courtesy of google since I forgot to take one!

Smothered Enchiladas

2 lb ground beef

1 pkg taco seasoning mix

1 (4.5 oz) can chopped chiles, drained

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1 (16 oz) container of sour cream

1 jar salsa

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

package of flour tortilla

Brown ground beef in a large skillet, stirring until it crumbles and is no longer pink; drain.  Stir in taco seasoning mix and half of the green chiles; set aside.

Stir together remaining green chiles, soup, and sour cream.  Pour half of the soup mixture into a lightly greased 13x9 baking dish.

Spoon beef mixture evenly down the center of  tortillas; roll up.  Place, seam side down, over soup mixture in baking dish; top evenly with remaining soup mixture, salsa, and cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Ikea Meatballs

I found this recipe on a blog somewhere and I can't remember where it was, but I plan to try this recipe in the next few days.

1 package prepared frozen meatballs (small grocery store sized bag)
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can french onion soup
8 oz. sour cream
small can sliced mushrooms.

Place in crockpot on low for 6-8 hours and then serve over mashed potatoes or cooked egg noodles.

Meatloaf Cups

I found this recipe at a blog called: http://all-things-delicious.blogspot.com and I plan to make these little things very soon.

1 lb. ground beef

1 (6 oz.) pkg. Stove Top Stuffing mix

1 C. water

2 T. A-1 sauce (opt.)

1 tsp. garlic powder

favorite BBQ sauce

shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix meat, stuffing mix, water, A-1 sauce (if desired), and garlic powder until well combined.Mix meat mixture and place into muffin cups creating a well in each and fill with BBQ sauce.  Top with cheese.

Baked Spaghetti

This makes a really large batch.  I use this when I need to take a meal to someone and I keep one and take one.

2-2 1/2 lb ground beef, browned with onion
1 chopped onion
1 t. salt
3 T. chili powder
1/2 t. pepper
4 t. oregano
1/4 t. garlic powder
2 c. ketchup
1 jar Chunky Garden Ragu spaghetti sauce

1 lb spaghetti noodles
tomato juice (large can, but I usually have some left over)
1/2 lb cheddar cheese
1/2 lb mozzarella cheese

Make sauce with first set of ingredients.  I like to heat in crock pot for several hours to enhance flavors.  When ready to assemble, cook spaghetti and drain.  Mix sauce with noodles. Place in pan and pour tomato juice over top of both dishes.  (You can just add this to sauce, but this is how the person who shared this with me instructed me to do it.)  Top with cheeses.
Bake 450 til bubbly.

Taco Casserole

I don't have a photo because I haven't tried to make this yet.  I had it recently at a Boy Scout function and it was really good and all the kids loved it.

1 package crescent rolls
1 lb ground beef, cooked and drained
1 pkt taco seasoning
16 oz. sour cream
cheddar cheese
Doritos - crumpled

Cook ground beef, drain and season with taco seasoning per package instructions. Meanwhile spread crescent rolls in the bottom of baking dish. Cover with sour cream.  Top with cheese and then crumped doritos.

Bake according to instructions on crescent roll package.

Chili for a Crowd

3 lb ground beef

1 lb sausage with sage

approximately 3 cups chopped green pepper (or less to taste)

approximately 3 cups chopped onion (or less to taste)

3 12oz cans diced tomatoes (I use petite diced)

3 8oz cans tomato sauce

3 T. chili powder

3 t. salt

3/8 t. cayenne pepper

3 T. salt

3/8 t. paprika

3 cans light red chili beans (I use only one...picky eaters you know)

6 T. sugar

Brown beef, sausage and peppers / onions.  Add to crock pot with remaining ingredients and stir.  Cook on low all day.

(I have made 1/3 of this recipe for a normal serving, but it is nice to make the large batch and keep some in the freezer for those cold nights.)

Pizza Casserole ..then no more casseroles for awhile

1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1/2 pound pepperoni, halved
1 pound cooked rigatoni pasta
1 (45 oz) jar spaghetti sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degree. In a large skillet, brown ground beef and add peppers and onions. Drain. Add pepperoni, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Add sauce and heat through. Mix with cooked pasta and place in 3 quart baking dish. Top with cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes until cheese is melted.

P.S. I am experimenting with enlarging my photos.

Hot Tamale Pie

(This is not really HOT, it is just part of the name)

1 lb ground beef
1 can mexicorn (drained)
small jar ragu spaghetti sauce
1 small box Jiffy corn bread mix
chili powder
onions/green peppers (optional)

It is preferable to make this in a cast iron skillet to take from stove top to oven. I can't do that with my stove now so I have to use a skillet and then a baking dish.

Brown beef with onions and peppers if using them. Drain. Add corn and spaghetti sauce and chili powder to taste. (It should taste more chili-like than spaghetti)
Prepare corn bread mix in small bowl per label instructions.

Place meat mixture in baking dish if not using cast iron skillet. Pour corn bread mixture over top being careful to cover entire dish and spread gently to sides to try and seal.
Bake according to corn bread instructions.

This is great one dish meal that I have cooked for many, many years.

Ground Beef Casserole

1 1.2 lb ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 c. chopped celery
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 c. uncooked rice
2 soup cans water

Brown beef with onions. Mix all ingredients and pour into casserole dish.
Bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours.

Company Casserole

2 (3oz) packages cream cheese (softened)
1/2 c. evaporated milk
2 t. lemon juice
1/4 t. Worcestershire sauce
5 c. cooked noodles
1/2 c. onion, chopped
1/2 c. green pepper, chopped
1 T melted butter
1 lb ground beef.
8 oz can tomato sauce
1/2 c. ketchup

Mix together softened cream cheese with milk, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce. In a 1/2 quart casserole dish add this to noodles.
In a skillet, cook onion, green pepper, and butter until tender. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Add tomato sauce and ketchup. Cook over medium heat for about 8 minutes until thickened. Spread over noodles.
Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes, just til bubbly.

Country Fair Casserole

8 oz. macaroni noodles, cooked
1 lb hamburger
1 chopped onion
1 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1 can cream of celery soup
8 oz. sour cream
1 can leseur peas drained

Cook macaroni; drain.
Combine hamburger meat, onion and seasonings in skillet and brown. Drain.
Stir soup in meat and simmer. Add remaining ingredients.
Place in 2 1/2 quart baking dish.
Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

Salisbury Steak

1 can GOLDEN mushroom soup (not cream of mushroom)
1 1/2 lb. ground beef
1/2 c. bread crumbs
1/2 t. salt
1/8 t. pepper
1 onion, finely chopped (I usually sprinkle dehydrated onion instead)
1 egg, slightly beaten,
1/3 c. water

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium bowl, combine one fourth of the soup with remaining ingredients except water. Mix well. Shape into 6 oval patties and arrange in single layer in 13X9 baking dish.
Bake uncovered for 30 minutes. Skim off any fat. (not a problem with 93% lean meat.)
In a small bowl combine remaining soup and water (I do this while it is baking)
and spoon over cooked patties. Return to oven for 10 minutes.
Additional mushrooms could be added if desired.

Tater Tot Casserole

Easy as pie. Brown 1 lb ground beef. Mix in 1 small can evaporated milk and 1 can cream of chicken soup. Place in baking dish and top with one package ore-ida tater tots. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately one hour.

Soup Time !!!

Taco Soup

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can corn (I use large can)

1 can pinto or black beans

1 lb. ground beef (cooked and drained)

1 pkt. ranch salad dressing mix (dry)

1 pkt taco seasoning

onion (optional)

Mix and combine in crock pot on low 4-6 hours.

Serve with cheese, sour cream and tostitos.

Meatloaf...meatloaf...meatloaf

My boys are very big meat/potatoes kind of guys so it is no surprise they like meatloaf. I make a traditional meatloaf about every other week and I have an Italian meatloaf that is delicious that I make only occasionally. I decided to include both in this post so I could reference them easier later on. I am also including a meatloaf recipe my husband brought me this week. He said a nice lady at work brought it in and he really liked it and wanted me to try it. I figure he REALLY liked it to ask her for a recipe and then actually remember to give it to me. I am trying it tonight so I will have to let you know how it goes. Her recipe is unlike any meatloaf recipe I have tried because you saute the ground beef first and then combine with other ingredients to make a loaf and bake. I can't wait to try it. I am also making potato salad, green bean bundles (from http://kellyskornerrecipes.blogspot.com/) and homemade peanut butter cookies for their upcoming trip.

Traditional Meatloaf

1 lb ground beef
1/2 can tomato soup or ketchup
3/4 cup oats
1/2 cup chopped onion (+sometimes grn pepper if I have it)
1 egg
1 T. Worstershire sauce
Salt/pepper

Top with a mixture of roughly 1/2-3/4 cup ketchup mixed with 1/4 c. light Karo syrup for a nice sweet glaze.
Shape into loaf pan or 8X8 pan and bake at 350 for 1 hour. Drain off excess grease.

Italian Meatloaf (This is a much larger portion)

1 1/2 lb ground beef
1 egg
1/2 c. bread crumbs
1/2 c. chopped/minced onion
2 8 oz. cans Italian tomato sauce
1/2 tsp. oregano and basil
3. c. shredded mozz. cheese
1/2 t. garlic powder
1 t. salt

Preheat oven to 350. Combine egg, onion, 1/3 or sauce, and 1 cup of the cheese, and basil, oregano, garlic powder and salt in a large bowl. Mix well; add meat and mix thoroughly. Shape into a 10X12 rectangle on wax paper. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and roll up jellyroll style making sure to seal ends so the cheese won't leak out when baking. Place in a 9X13 (it won't fit in a loaf pan) with seam down. Bake at least one hour. Drain and pour remaining sauce over top and cook an additional 15 minutes. Let sit before slicing.
This has a really nice presentation and it is really good.