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!

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.

Ranch Cheeseball

1 pkg ranch dressing mix
8 oz cream cheese
2 c shredded cheese
chopped almonds or pecans to cover

Mix ranch, cream cheese and cheese together in a medium bowl. Form mixture into the desired shape (typically round). Roll in nuts to cover. Serve with crackers.

Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

recipe from picky-palate.com

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 pound lean ground beef

1 large egg

1/2 cup finely chopped white onion

1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs

1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese

1/4 cup milk

2 tablespoons minced garlic

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon yellow mustard

1 teaspoon hot sauce, like Tabasco

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

Ten 1-inch Mozzarella balls

1. Preheat oven to 35o degrees F. and grease 9×13-inch baking dish with oil.

2. Place beef, egg, onion, bread crumbs, Parmesan, milk, garlic, Worcestershire, mustard, hot sauce, salt, pepper and garlic salt into a large mixing bowl, stirring until just combined. Take 1/4 cup beef mixture and press into center with your thumb to make room for cheese ball. Place cheese in middle then with hands enclose the cheese with the beef, making sure the cheese is completely covered. Place meatballs into prepared baking dish and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until cooked through.

3. Serve over top your favorite pasta or inside a warm roll for delicious meatball sandwich.

Yummy Cracker Dip

Recipe courtesy of Bobbi Lynn Anderson

24 oz Cottage Cheese
16 oz sour cream
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 package Ranch Dip mix

Serve with your choice of crackers. My favorites are Ritz and Wheat Thins.

Manacotti

1 lb mozzerella cheese, shredded (4 c)
1 1/4 c cottage cheese
3 eggs
3 TBSP butter
1/3 c parmesan cheese
salt and pepper
3/4 c water
Spaghetti sauce, I like Prego

Combine all ingredients, except water and spaghetti sauce, in a large bowl. Mix well. Preheat oven to 350. Stuff noodles firmly with cheese mixture. Place in a casserole dish. Add water to dish. Cover with sauce to your liking. Cover with foil. Bake for 1 hour. If you think there is still too much water in it 45 minutes into baking remove foil for the last 15 minutes. Let it stand for 10 minutes, covered, before serving.

Baked Mac 'N Cheese

Courtesy Liz Layton!

8 oz uncooked noodles

6 TBSP butter, devided

2 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 c sour cream

1 can condensed cream of cheddar soup

1/2 tsp salt

1 c whole milk

1/2 tsp dried mustard

1/2 tsp pepper

break crumbs or 3-4 slices of fresh bread torn into pieces

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Boil noodles and drain. In a medium sauce pan melt 4 TBSP butter and cheese stirring constantly. Add sour cream, soup, salt, milk, mustard and pepper. Stir well. Add noodles and stir. Pour into a greased casserole dish. Top with bread crumbs or bread pieces.

Home Made Mac 'N Cheese

1 bag pasta
2 TBSP butter
2 TBSP flour
1-2 c heavy cream
1-2 c shredded cheese
Season All to taste

In a medium saucepan boil water. Add pasta, cook until tender. Drain in colander. Set aside.

In a large saucepan melt butter. Whisk in flour. Whisk in cream until mixture is smooth. Add cheese. Stir until melted. Add cooked pasta to cream mixture. Add season all to taste. Serve with a veggie. Makes 6-8 servings.