Tasty Burritos

I found this off another recipe blog recently (can't remember which one...and I really liked it....super simple and my husband LOVES crispy burritos!)


1 lb. ground beef
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 can (16 oz) refried beans
6 flour tortillas warmed
1 c. shredded cheese
4 tsp. canola oil
sour cream and salsa

In a large skillet, brown beef and drain. Stir in taco seasoning. In a saucepan, cook refried beans over med-low heat for 2-3 min. Spoon about 1/3 c. on each tortilla; top with 2 rounded tablespoons of beef mixture. Sprinkle with cheese. Roll up tortilla, tucking ends in. In a large skillet, over med-hi heat, brown burritos in oil on all sides. Serve with sour cream and salsa.
Makes 6 burritos

Hearty Hamburger Vegetable Soup

1/2 lb ground beef
¼ c. Onion chopped
¼ c. chopped green pepper
¼ tsp. garlic powder
4 c. beef broth
1 can Italian stewed tomatoes
½ pkg frozen green beans
½ c. tomato sauce
1 c. small pasta like ditalini
½ T. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. oregano
½ tsp. basil
In a dutch oven or large saucepan, cook the beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat , cover, and simmer for 30 minutes or until vegetables and pasta are tender. 5-6 servings.

Pizza Casserole

3 cups uncooked spiral pasta
2 pounds ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cans (8 ounces each) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
1 jar (14 ounces) pizza sauce
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
4 cups (16 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
1 package (3-1/2 ounces) sliced pepperoni
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the mushrooms, tomato sauce, pizza sauce, tomato paste, sugar and seasonings. Drain pasta; stir into meat sauce. Divide half of the mixture between two greased 11-in. x 7-in. baking dishes; sprinkle each with 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Top each with pepperoni and Parmesan cheese. Cover and bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Uncover; bake 10-15 minutes longer or until heated through. Yield: 2 casseroles (8 servings each).

My Kids Favorite Lasagna

1 lb. ground beef
1 T. Italian Seasoning
2 cans (10 3/4 oz each) Tomato Soup
1 soup can water
1/2 of a 16 oz package corkscrew pasta (rotini)
1 container cottage cheese ( 15 oz)
1 package mozzarella cheese

Cook the beef and Italian Seasoning until browned. Stir the soup, water, and pasta into a 13x9 casserole dish. Add the beef mixture and cottage cheese. Stir to coat. Cover. Bake at 375 for 30 min. Uncover...Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and continue baking until cheese is bubbly. Cool before serving because this stuff stays like molten LAVA!!!!

My kids and my dear husband LOVE this stuff! It is way easier for them to eat than traditional lasagna and requires no cutting it up on my part :)

Mini meatloaves

These are really easy, but really good too!

1 lb. hamburger
1 pkg. stove top stuffing mix
1 c. water

Heat oven to 375. Mix meat, stuffing mix, and water.
Press into 12 muffin cups sprayed with cooking spray.
Make an indentation in the center of each meatloaf with spoon. Fill with sauce. Top with shredded cheese.
Bake 30 min. or until cooked through.
Sauce options :
Barbecue sauce
tomato soup
spaghetti sauce
salsa

Sloppy Jo's

I found this recipe in the "Heart and Soul" cookbook from Moreland 4th Ward published in 2001 or 2002. This recipe was submitted by Karen Hunt and it's one of the best I've found for Sloppy Jo's.

1 1/2 lb hamburger
2 Tbsp dried onions
1 cup chopped celery
1 can tomato soup
1 small can tomato sauce (8 oz)
1 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp chili powder

Crumble and brown hamburger,onion and celery in pan. After browning is complete, add soup, sauce, sugar and chili powder. Stir together and heat thoroughly. Serve hot on hamburger buns.

Easy Chili

1 lb hamburger browned with onions
1 large can tomato sauce or tomatoes
1 can kidney beans
2 cans pork and beans
1-2 TBSP chili powder

combine and simmer in crock pot on low

Upside Down Baked Spaghetti

combine 1 c. sour cream
1 - 8 0z package cream cheese
Smear over the bottom of a casserole dish

Combine : 1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 lb. browned hamburger
Pour half of the hamburger mixture over the cream cheese layer

cook spaghetti according to directions and add to dish.

Add: 1 c. cottage cheese if desired

Pour second half of hamburger mixture over noodles.

Top with 1/2 c. parmesan cheese and 1 c. mozzarella cheese.

Bake at 375 until cheese bubbles. (about 15 - 20 minutes)

Give it about 5-10 minutes to set up before you try to scoop it out of the pan.

For Pizza baked spaghetti.....follow same instructions, only top off cheese layer with whatever pizza toppings you like, for example: pepperoni, mushrooms, olives, sausage, tomatoes, etc.
It's yummy!

Hamburger Stroganoff

From "Hometown Favorites, A Collection from the Waverly Community" - A neighboring town here in Illinois.

This is my kids all time favorite meal besides pizza and shepard's pie. They love it...

1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup chooped onion
1 cup drained, canned, mushroom stems & pieces
1 can cream of celery soup
1/2 cup beef broth
1/2 cup sour cream

In fry pan, brown ground beef and onion. Drain. Stir in mushrooms, soup and broth. Cover and simmer for 15 - 20 minutes. (This is when I make my rice). Stir in sour cream. Heat through, but do not boil. Serve over noodles, rice, chow mein noodles or potatoes.

Shepherd's Pie

This is my version of Shepherd's Pie. I have tweaked it over the past three years and it's one of the top three meals our kids request.

1 lb ground beef, crumbled and cooked
1 can cream of celery soup
1/2 cup of beef broth
2 1/2 cups frozen veggie mixture (the one with corn, beans, peas, carrots, etc.)
mashed potatoes (the ones from the church cannery), usually about 4 cups water, 2 cups potatoes
shredded cheese

Combined ground beef, cream of celery soup and beef broth in 2.5 quart casserole pan. Spread evenly on the bottom of the the casserole dish. Sprinkle the frozen veggie mix over the top. Mix a handful of shredded cheese in with the mashed potatoes. Spread potato mixture over the top of the veggie layer. Cook at 375 for 20-25 minutes until gravy is bubbly around the potato mixture.

Note: I usually just use whatever veggies I have - canned corn, canned beans, frozen veggie mixture. It doesn't matter because the kids will eat it sandwiched between the meat and potatoes.

Texas Hash Casserole

Recipe from my friend, Samme Camerer, Waverly, Illinois

3 medium chopped onions
1 lb ground beef
2 cups canned tomatoes
½ cup cooked rice or 2 cups uncooked noodles
1 teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon pepper
Dash A-1 sauce
Dash Worcestershire sauce

Cook ground beef and onion. Drain. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into greased 8-inch casserole pan. Cover and bake at 350° for 1 hour. Remove cover last 15 minutes. Top with cheddar cheese.

When I make this, I boil the noodles/rice (only cook for 30 minutes, and then 10 to melt the cheese on top) and also add 4 ounces of velveeta cheese cubed.