Taco Casserole

When Making this I would put the olives on the side so those that do not like Olives like me could have the dish without the olives. 

Taco Casserole

Ingredients

1 large package corn tortillas
1 can refried beans
1 can enchilada sauce
1 can black olives (optional)
1 pound ground beef
1 package taco season
1 can green chilies
1 jar taco sauce (liquid)
4 cups shredded cheese
Salsa

Preparation

In a large saucepan, brown the ground beef. Combine olives, taco season, green chilies,
and half jar of taco sauce with ground beef. Simmer for 5 minutes. In 9 by 13 pan layer bottom
with corn tortillas, add with meat mixture on top followed by salsa, and cheese.
Next layer the tortillas, beans, salsa and cheese. Top with tortillas, cheese and salsa (or taco sauce).
Cook for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.

Creamy Pesto Chicken and Bow Ties

I discovered this recipe a number of years ago.  It is really easy to make and tastes good.

Creamy Pesto Chicken & Bow Ties
Prep/Cook Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients:

3 cups uncooked bow tie pasta
2 tbsp. butter OR margarine
1
lb. boneless chicken breasts, cubed

1 can (10 3/4 oz.) Campbell’s® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup OR 98% Fat Free Cream of Chicken Soup

1/2 cup pesto sauce

1/2 cup milk

Directions:

COOK pasta according to pkg. directions. Drain.
MEANWHILE , heat butter in skillet. Add chicken and cook until browned,
stirring often. ADD soup, pesto sauce and milk. Bring to a boil. Cook over low heat 5 min.
or until done. Stir in drained pasta and heat through.

Carl’s Spaghetti Sauce

I always like trying new recipes so a few years ago my dad sent this recipe to me.  I make a habit of keeping a copy stored electronically.   Comes in real handy when i get a phone call from dad saying he lost the recipe and do I have it.   I got just such a call just a few minutes ago and have already emailed my copy to dad.

1lb ground chuck

1 28oz can diced tomatoes

2 6oz can Tomato sauce

1 6oz can Tomato Paste

1 tsp garlic salt

3/4 c chopped onion

2 bay leaves

1/4 tsp basil

1/4 tsp Oregano leaves

1/4 c oil

salt and pepper to taste

Cook onions in oil a few mins. Add beef

brown,then drain off fat. Add spices and all the cans of tomatoes.

Cook with lid on for an hour

Lid off 30 min.

Add 1 tsp of sugar at end

You may add 1/2 c burgandy if you like at the end

Double recipe and freeze

Capellini Caprese

This sounds like a nice dish to  make sometime.   Found it over at Kraft.

Prep Time:

10 min

Total Time:

25 min

Makes:

4 servings, 1-1/2 cups each

What You Need!

1/2 lb. capellini or spaghetti, uncooked

1/2 cup  KRAFT Tuscan House Italian Dressing and Marinade

1 onion, finely chopped

2 cloves  garlic, minced

3 cups halved grape or cherry tomatoes

1 cup  KRAFT Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese

1/3 cup fresh basil, finely sliced

Make It!

COOK pasta as directed on package.

MEANWHILE, heat dressing in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic; cook and stir 2 min. Add tomatoes; cook 5 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally.

DRAIN pasta. Add to tomato mixture; mix lightly. Sprinkle with cheese and basil.

Kraft Kitchens Tips

Substitute

Substitute 3 tomatoes, chopped, for the grape or cherry tomatoes.

Special Extra

Add 2 pkg. (6 oz. each) OSCAR MAYER Deli Fresh Grilled Chicken Breast Strips with the tomatoes.

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

This recipe was given to me by my dad.   He took over all the cooking when my grandmother passed away 15 years ago.  She was a wonderful cook and this sounds like something that she would like.

Chicken and rice soup

Ingredients

1 lb of chicken breasts cooked and chopped

1 box uncle ben’s wild rice (23 herbs) regular not fast cook dump it all in pot, including the packet

2 cans chicken broth

1-2 can of water (I use the broth from cooking the chcken breasts)

1 small onion, chopped

1 can cream of celery soup

1/2 tsp tarragon

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 can mushrooms

Directions

Boil your Chicken for 30-40 minutes.
Mix all together and bring to a boil. Simmer for at least 45 mins to cook the rice,
I usually start mine on the stove in the pot I cooked the chicken in and then transfer to crockpot for
the rest of the day, low heat. If too thick add water or chicken broth. Very hearty.

Favorite Recipe Websites

When I was working full time outside the house I was always looking for a recipe that was quick and easy to make.   I like to makes things that taste good and I also like to spend as little time as possible in the kitchen.  Recipezaar is one of my all time favorite sites to get recipes.   It has a wide variety of choices to search exactly what you are looking for.  I invite you to email me and tell me what some of your favorite recipe websites are or even some of your favorite recipes and post them here.

Crab and Lemon Pepper Bow Tie Salad

This is another family favorite.  This is the original recipe as I got it off of the Louis Kemp website a few years ago.  I will have to break this recipe out sometime when it is warmer outside.  Not much of winter dish
Ingredients
2 pkgs. (8 oz.each) Louis Kemp Crab Delights
3 cups dry bow tie pasta
2 tbsp. lemon juice
6 tablespoons non-fat sour cream
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, sugar, dry dill weed
salt to taste
1/2 cucumber, seeded and chopped fine
2 green onions, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped fine
1 small carrot, grated
1/4 cup frozen peas cooked (optional)

Instructions
Cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse under cold water and drain well. In a large bowl whisk together the lemon juice, sour cream, mayonnaise and seasonings. Add cooked pasta , Crab Delights and vegetables. Toss together well and serve.

Preparation Time
25 min

 

Creamy Beef Stroganoff

I originally found this recipe over at Kraft.  As with all of my recipes I alter the seasonings to my taste.  I season my meat with the Mrs dash no salt steak seasoning.
Prep Time: 5 min
Total Time: 25 min
Makes: 6 servings, 1 cup each

Ingredients

1 lb. beef sirloin steak, cut into strips
1 medium onion, cut into thin wedges
1 Tbsp. oil
1 can (8 oz.) mushroom pieces and stems, undrained
2 beef bouillon cubes
4 cups (8 oz.) medium egg noodles, uncooked
1 container (8 oz.) BREAK STONE’S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream

Directions

BROWN steak with onion in hot oil in large skillet. STIR in 1-1/2 cups water, mushrooms and liquid, the bouillon cubes and noodles. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover. Simmer 10 to 12 min. or until noodles are tender. STIR in sour cream; cook an additional 2 min., stirring occasionally.
KRAFT KITCHENS TIPS

Round Out The Meal
Try serving with cooked baby carrots and a quick bagged salad tossed with your favorite KRAFT Dressing, such as CATALINA.

Vegetable Beef Stroganoff
Omit mushrooms. Prepare as directed, adding 3 cups fresh or frozen cut-up vegetables with the noodles.


Poppy Seed Chicken

This was one of the first recipes that I ever received. It was given to me when my husband and I got married over 15 years ago. Again this is not one I have made in a long time. Maybe I will make it next week.
6-8 chicken breasts – cooked & boned
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
8 oz sour cream
1 stick Ritz crackers – crushed
1 stick of butter – melted
2 TBS poppy seeds

Arrange chicken in a 9×13″ pan. Spread mixture of soups & sour cream on top.
Sprinkle with cracker crumbs. Top with melted butter & poppy seeds.
Bake at 350°F for 30-40 minutes or until bubbly. Serves 6-8 people.


Pesto Tortellini With Scallops

I am not sure where  I originally got this recipe from but has over the years become a family favorite.

1 tablespoon oil
3/4 pound scallops
1 package (9 oz. size) Three Cheese Tortellini
2 cups assorted cut-up vegetables
1 package (7 oz. size) Basil Pesto Sauce

Directions:
HEAT oil in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add scallops; cook and stir 2 to 3 minutes or until no longer translucent.
BRING 4 quarts water to boil. Add pasta; boil gently 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in vegetables; continue cooking 3 minutes. Drain.

TOSS immediately with scallops and pesto sauce.