Oven Baked Tacos

Recipe and photo from mommyimhungry.blogspot.com

2 lbs ground beef
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 Colby-jack cheese 
18 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 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

In a small bowl, mix all together. Store in an airtight container.


We really enjoyed this meal. Well everyone but Owen- no surprise there!

Bang Bang Cauliflower

 (Serves 2-4 as an appetizer or side dish)

1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup egg whites
1 head cauliflower
Salt & pepper
1 tablespoon garlic powder
Green onion for decor
1/4 cup coconut oil

Sauce
1/4 cup lite mayo
1-2 TBSP hot sauce (I use this Chinese one that Mike loves and it is HOT)
1 TBSP rice vinegar
2 TBSP sugar

1. Slice your cauliflower florets. Mix salt, pepper and garlic powder into your Panko breadcrumbs in a shallow dish. 

2. Set separate bowls aside with egg whites and cornstarch. Dip your florets one by one into the cornstarch, and shake off excess. Then dip into egg whites, and then coat with Panko mixture. 

3. After coating all of your florets, warm up your coconut oil in a large frying pan and place all florets in hot oil. Turn with tongs making sure all sides are browned. Set on top of paper towels to remove excess oil. Top with more salt.

4. In a small bowl mix all of your sauce ingredients. Coat your breaded and pan fried florets with sauce, top with sprinkles of green onion and serve right away.


recipe courtesy of thatssomichelle.com

Pizza Braid

Here's what you'll need: Pizza Crust, Mariana Sauce, Mozzarella Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, Pepperoni, Italian Seasoning, Garlic Powder and Butter.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Unroll pizza crust and place on baking sheet. I like to use parchment paper for less of a clean up. In the middle place some marinara sauce-how much is really up to you.

Put on some mozzarella cheese and pepperonis.

Cut sides of crust into 1 inch strips in a "V" formation. But don't cut too close to the middle. If you do then your pizza braid will spill out.

Now comes the braiding part. Just pick a side to start with then alternate them, overlapping.

Spread melted butter on top and sprinkle with Italian seasoning, garlic powder and Parmesan cheese.

Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown.

Tilapia Fish Tacos

 What you need: tilapia, tortillas, garlic, onion, jalepeno, tomato, avocado, lime, cilantro, little bit of olive oil

Add oil and chopped onions and garlic to pan. Make translucent and then add tilapia.

 Meanwhile, chop jalepeno, cilantro, and tomato.

 Once fish is cooked (may need to turn over a couple times) shred it. Then add chopped veggies.

 Stir and cook til smells of jalepeno are released.

Serve on tortilla with sliced avocado with a little lime juice. Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Brownie Bites

 What you'll need: box of brownies (and ingredients it calls for), peanut butter, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips.

 Make brownie batter and scoop into greased mini muffin tins. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

 Melt 1/2 cup peanut butter in microwave safe bowl.

 Wait for brownies to cool completely before removing them from pan. (I didn't in this picture). Press down in the middle of brownie bite to create a nest for the melted peanut butter to go in.

 Sprinkle with milk chocolate chips and peanut butter chips.

Enjoy!!

Texas Roadhouse Rolls and Cinnamon Butter CopyCat

Rolls

3 1/2 tsp dry yeast

¼ cup warm water

1 cup milk

¼ cup sugar

¼ cup honey

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon melted butter

1 egg

1 teaspoon salt

Butter

1 cube butter

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/4 honey

½ teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

1

Preheat oven to 375.

2

Soften yeast in warm water with a teaspoon of sugar.

3

Scald milk; cool to lukewarm. Pour into a large bowl.

4

Add yeast, sugar, honey, and half the flour to make medium batter.

5

Beat thoroughly. Let stand until light and foamy.

6

In a small microwaveable bowl add melted butter, egg, and salt. Beat well. Add to the flour mixture.

7

Add the rest of the flour to form soft dough.

8

Sprinkle small amount of flour on counter and pour the dough onto the counter. Knead dough until smooth.

9

Clean the large bowl that you were using and then grease the surface.

10

Then put dough in greased bowl; turn over to grease top.

11

Cover, let rise in warm place until double in bulk, then punch down.

12

Turn out on floured board. Divide into portions for shaping; let rest 10 minutes.

13

Shape dough into desired forms and place on greased baking sheets. Let rise until doubled.

14

Bake for 10 minutes; then reduce temperature to 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes more.

15

Cool on rack.

For cinnamon butter, blend all ingredients at room tempature.

**I did not follow the recipe to let the dough rise in between because I didn't have enough time. They still turned out good, but if I did let them rise they would have been better.

Orange Julius

6 oz frozen orange juice

1 cup milk

1 cup water

1/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

10-12 ice cubes

2 scoops vanilla ice cream

Blend all ingredients together for about 15-30 seconds until smooth.