Mexican lasagna

From 08/17/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

...totally experimental, but it got good reviews from all partakers. Abigail kept thanking me "so much!" for making it.

I was actually just trying to use up some ingredients we still had hanging around after our lake trip-- here's what went in...

~1 lb ground beef
~one onion, chopped
~4ish cloves garlic
~maybe 1/2 a packet of taco seasoning
~1 can enchilada sauce
~1 can black beans, drained
~1 cup salsa
~some pepper
~1.5 cups cottage cheese
~2 cups shredded cheddar/Mexican cheese
~lasagna noodles

Preheat oven to 400. Brown meat, drain any fat and set aside. Saute onions and garlic and add to meat. Add taco seasoning, enchilada sauce, beans, salsa, pepper and simmer together for a few minutes. Layer meat mixture, cottage cheese, shredded cheese and lasagna noodles for 2-3 layers and end with last of meat mixture topped with shredded cheese. Cover with foil and cook for 45 min. Remove foil and cook for another 15 min. Serve with fruit and salad. Yum.

Southwestern chicken and rice bake

From 08/06/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

I've been trying new recipes out occasionally and even meaning to post some, but life has just been taking over. This recipe was one that I'll be making again, though, as it's healthy, relatively quick prep (despite the seemingly long list of ingredients), and all of the kids ate it gratefully-- often a difficult feat.

http://southernfood.about.com/od/chickencasseroles/r/bl51204a.htm
(This recipe made two meals for our family)

sweet potato cranberry bake

From 01/13/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

When we were in Wisconsin after Christmas, we finally got Jack to try some of the Apple Mallow Yambake that Grandma made (not before pulling some teeth). Afterward, he told me I needed to make it every day. While I haven't had a chance to make that yet, I tried a recipe tonight that reminded us of that one- but instead of apples, I used some cranberries I've been wanting to use, and instead of a marshmellow topping, there was a walnut, (minimal) brown-sugar and cinnamon topping. And Jack said tonight's dinner was the best he's ever had. For the record, the accompanying foods were baked tilapia, mixed veggies (corn, edamame and red peppers) and homemade wheat rolls. I'll be sure to duplicate this one again... we had not a leftover. It's gluten-free and can easily be made dairy-free, as well.

Ingredients

• 4 medium sweet potatoes
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• (less than) 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• TOPPING:
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• (less than) 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons cold butter

Directions

1. Place sweet potatoes in large pot; cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30-40 minutes or until tender. Drain. When cool enough to handle, peel potatoes and cut into 1/4-in. slices. Place half in a medium baking dish. Top with the cranberries, brown sugar and butter. Pour orange juice over the top.
2. Cover and bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes. In a bowl, combine the walnuts, brown sugar and cinnamon; cut in butter. Sprinkle over sweet potato mixture. Bake, uncovered, 10 minutes longer or until topping is golden brown.

Spaghetti Pie

While I was stalking Suzy Homemaker, I also found a recipe for Spaghetti Pie that looked promising, with this group of "fagetti" lovers. I gave it a whirl tonight, and the reviews were good. This was an easy dish to sneak in some extra veggies too.

INGREDIENTS -
1 pkg. (12 oz.) vermicelli
3 tbsp. butter
1/3 c. Parmesan
2 eggs, beaten
-------------
1/2 c. low-fat sour cream
1 c. mozzarella cheese (split in half)
--------------
1 1/2 lb. ground meat
1/2 c. onion, chopped
1/4 c. bell pepper, chopped
1 can (12 oz.) stewed tomato
1 (6 oz.) tomato paste
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic salt

DIRECTIONS -
**Cook vermicelli according to directions. Stir butter and Parmesan into hot vermicelli. Add eggs and stir well. Spoon into casserole dish which has been sprayed.

**Brown beef with onion and bell pepper. Drain. Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste and seasonings.

**Spread sour cream evenly over pie shell. Sprinkle with half of the Mozzarella cheese.

**Spread on Beef mixture. Top with any veggies you may want such as mushrooms, olives.

**Sprinkle with remaining Mozzarella Cheese.

**Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes.

Serves 8 or more.

Cleaning out the fridge and pantry

Tuesday dinner-- Peppercorn and Garlic Tenderloin, Basmati medley rice, spinach salads with tomatoes and cucs and nectarines.


Wednesday dinner-- Tuna casserole, leftover pumpkin walnut bread, grapes.

For the tuna casserole, I just tossed all of the ingredients (just whatever sounded good) in a large casserole dish and heated it at 350 for 15 minutes. It turned out really good.

1 pkg 12 oz. Healthy Harvest whole wheat egg noodle shaped pasta, cooked
half a bag of frozen peas
1 can low sodium, low fat cream of mushroom soup
2 6 oz cans tuna, drained

Top with low fat mozzarella cheese.