Taco Casserole

We love taco's at out house and I have been craving them all week.  So when I remembered that I had some frozen taco meat in the freezer my plan was in full effect!! Then I realized that oopps I had no taco shells, and it dawned on me that I had shredded potatoes in the freezer and that taco casserole it would be.... If I do say so myself it was delicious So here is my version of Taco Casserole. Did I mention it that it is quick and easy..

Taco Casserole

Items Needed:

Baking Dish

Skillet

Preheat oven 

425 degrees

• 1- 1/2 lbs ground beef, taco flavor, I had some in the freezer if you don't brown beef as you normally would with some taco seasoning. 
• 1 can corn 
• 3/4 can black beans,strained and rinsed thoroughly
• 1/2 bag shredded potatoes ( I used Ore Ida) 
• olive oil
• 1/4- 1/2 c salsa
• Mexican blend shredded cheese
• sour cream
• salsa 
• hot sauce

• Heat olive oil over medium high heat and brown shredded potatoes, stir constantly so you don't burn the potatoes, brown for about 4-6 minutes until slightly golden on edges, set aside potato topping
• In a large bowl, mix ground beef, corn and  black beans and spread into bottom of baking dish, adding a layer of salsa enough to cover meat mixture
• Bake without potato topping for 10 minutes, than add the potato topping and bake in oven for 20 minutes or until edges and top are brown and bubbly add cheese and broil for 2 minutes keeping a watchful eye on it because everyone's oven is different ( I switched on the broiler for a few minutes to get the top nice and brown and bubbly)
• Serve with salsa, sour cream and a dash or two of hot sauce yummy!!!!

 

Eat and Enjoy!!

Bacon and Smoked Gouda Stuffed Burgers

Looks innocent doesn't it... Once you cut into it and the cheese slowly starts to ooze out its all over, at least for me it is. I am not what you would call a burger lover, but since we got a nice weather reprieve this weekend my hubby took advantage and we grilled. He decided to go for burgers, and when he told me they would be stuffed with cheese, bacon and caramelized onions how could I say no. I've said it before and I will say it again we are bacon lovers here.....It's always better with bacon right!!  I am also a BIG cheese fan, so much so that for Christmakuh a few years ago my hubby got me a subscription to the Cheese of the Month club, and a cheese charm for my charm bracelet. So cute! For these burgers he went with an Applewood Smoked Gouda which we had tried with the Cheese Club. He did not disappoint, they were delicious!! 

Stuffed Burgers

Makes enough for 2 burgers

• 1 lb ground beef 
• 2 slices Smoked Gouda cheese 
• 2 slices bacon, cooked
• Caramelized Onions 
• bbq sauce, optional
• condiments of choice, ketchup, mustard, mayo 

•  Season meat with some salt and pepper, we also add some BBQ sauce which is optional
• Separate meat into four squares, you need two for each burger, form each square into a patty (on the thin side because you will use two patties for each burger)
  
• Cut each piece of bacon so that it can be put in the center of the patty, then add a layer of cheese. Do this for two of the patties, leaving two patties for the tops
  
• Spoon on some of the caramelized onions and place the second patty on top, taking care to seal the edges of the two burgers together
  
•  Cook burger to your desired doneness, we grilled ours for about 6 1/2 - 7 minutes on each side.

****** I listed condiments such as ketchup and mustard we did not use any so give it a shot without and add if you must... But I think they are great without them!!!

Eat and Enjoy!!

Baked Chicken Teriyaki

So there may be a theme to some of  the recipes on this blog.... we love bacon, you will see it in a few of the recipes on this blog, after all it really does make everything better. My hubby has a few favorite dinner choices and one of them is Chicken Teriyaki, our go to marinade when not homemade is Soy Vay Very Very Teryaki, which is oh so good.  So when I decided to make Chicken Teriyaki I thought hmmm lets jazz it up with some bacon and cheese. Why not was my reason... Again not much convincing for us to those add on's. This is a really easy and quick dinner and delicious with a side of veggies like the Green Beans and Zucchini I made with this dish. 

Chicken Teryaki

Items Needed:

Baking dish

• Chicken breasts
• Soy Vay Very very teriyaki marinade
• 6 bacon slices, sliced in half
• Shredded cheese, what ever you have on hand

• Marinate chicken for at least 30 minutes up to 2 hours
• Place in baking dish and bake for 30 minutes covered with foil, checking the temp for doneness. 
• Take chicken out and top with bacon slices and shredded cheese.
• Place back in oven uncovered and bake until cheese is melted and bubbly.

               Eat and Enjoy!!

Sauteed Green Beans and Zucchini

The other day I had planned out dinner in advance, which as much as I try to do for the week it never ever works that way. I even remembered to take the chicken out of the freezer the night before to defrost and made it home to marinate it and not have to rush to get dinner on the table. Then I realized I forgot to plan a veggie... I peeked in the fridge and found a handful of green beans and half a zucchini leftover from a previous dinner and decided to throw them together for a nice side dish. It was yummy!!

Sauteed Green Beans and Zucchini

• Green beans, end snipped off
• 1/2 zucchini,sliced half moons
• 3 strips bacon, chopped, optional if you want to make it vegetarian
• soy sauce to taste
• black pepper
• olive oil 

• Heat pan to medium heat and cook bacon,  set aside and reserve 1 tsp bacon grease, or use olive oil if you want to omit the bacon .
• Heat 1 tsp bacon grease and olive oil if needed, add green beans, saute for 3-4 minutes then add zucchini, saute until just fork tender 
• Add pepper and soy sauce to taste
• Crumble bacon on top YUM!!

Eat and Enjoy!!

Romaine Salad with Mandarin Oranges and Gorgonzola

My hubby has been working nights lately so you know what that means... it's dinner for one. Sometimes I will make a full meal and wait for hubby to get home and then we can eat together. There are some nights when he gets home to late, so for nights like that I turn to something simple like this salad. The weather has been getting warmer and this is the perfect way to get ready for summer. I made this one with some Mandarin Oranges and Gorgonzola Cheese that I had on hand but really you could use any fruit/cheese combo. I ran out of pecans ( had 3 left , how does that happen?? )  so I threw some pine nuts in and it was Yummy!!

Romaine Salad

• Romaine Lettuce, chopped
• Mandarin Oranges
• Gorgonzola Cheese,crumbled
• Pecans
• Pine Nuts
• Red Onion, thinly sliced
• Raspberry Vinaigrette,  I used some we had on hand sorry folks not homemade....

• Throw it all together and Voila!! 

Eat and Enjoy!!