Shepherd's Pie

I made this for St. Patrick's day and it was so yummy and easy that I'll be adding this to our dinner rotation!

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef

1 can Cream of Mushroom

1 tbs ketchup

1/8 tsp black pepper

1 cup frozen peas and carrots

2 cups instant mashed potatoes (prepared according to box)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400. Brown beef in skillet. When cooked, add soup, ketchup, pepper, peas, and carrots to skillet. Spoon mixture into pie plate. Spoon prepared mashed potatoes on top of mixture. Bake for about 15 minutes or until potatoes are lightly browned. Optional: add shredded cheese to top and bake additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Oven Baked Tacos

Ingredients:

Ground beef

Taco Seasoning

1 can refried beans

Salsa (I used 1/2 a jar)

Taco shells

Shredded cheese

Cook ground beef with taco seasoning. Add beans and salsa to skillet with beef. Cook on medium low for a few minutes until well combined. Fill taco shells with mixture and place in casserole dish. Top with shredded cheese. Bake for 8-10 minutes until cheese is melted.

Stuffed Bell Peppers

 Ingredients

2 lbs ground beef

1 cup minced onion

1 cup bell peppers, diced

3 cloves minced garlic

1/4 cup cilantro, minced

1 small tomato, diced (I used canned.)

8 oz can tomato sauce

1 1/2 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp garlic powder

2 bay leaves

salt and pepper to taste

3 bell peppers

1 cup rice, cooked

cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions

Brown beef in skillet. Add salt and pepper. When no longer pink, add onions, garlic, and bell peppers. Continue to cook for 3-4 minutes. Add mixture to crockpot. Add cilantro, tomatoes, tomato sauce, 1 1/4 cups of water. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for about 6-8. Discard bay leaves when finished cooking.

Cut tops of bell peppers and dice. In bowl, combine rice, diced peppers, and crockpot mixture. Stuff bell peppers. Preheat oven to 350. Place peppers in casserole dish, add 1/3 cup water in bottom of dish. Cover and bake for 50 minutes. Remove foil, top with cheese, and bake for additional 5 minutes uncovered.

Recipe adapted from: Skinny.Taste

Taco Cornbread Casserole

I discovered this recipe on Pinterest and it is fabulous!! It will definitely be a new staple in our house!

 Ingredients

1 pkg (8.5 oz) corn bread/muffin mix

1 egg

1/3 cup milk

3 cups cooked taco seasoned meat

1 can black beans

1 cup light sour cream

1 cup Mexican blend 2% cheese

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 can Rotel

1 cup shredded lettuce

1 can black olives

Directions

In a large bowl, combine corn bread mix, egg, and milk until blended. Spread into an 8 x 8 pan sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Combine taco meat and beans, spread over corn bread. Layer black olives on top of meat, then onion, then sour cream, and 3/4 cup cheese. Bake for additional 20-25 minutes or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with Rotel, lettuce, and remaining cheese.

It's pretty, too!

yummmmm

1 serving= about 12 WW points +

Simple Beef Stroganoff

 Ingredients

1 package egg noodles
1 pound ground beef
  1 can fat free condensed cream of mushroom soup (I actually ended up using 2 cans to make it creamier.)
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1/2 cup sour cream
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Prepare the egg noodles according to package directions and set aside.
2. In a separate large skillet over medium heat, saute the ground beef over medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until browned. Drain the fat and add the soup and garlic powder. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Remove from heat and combine the meat mixture with the egg noodles. Add the sour cream, stirring well, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Baked Spaghetti

 Ingredients

1 package spaghetti
1 pound ground beef (I only had 1/2)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 (26 ounce) jar meatless spaghetti sauce (I actually ended up using 2 jars.)
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt (I used garlic powder instead.)
2 eggs
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese (I was out of Parmesan, so I used a three cheese blend.)
5 tablespoons butter, melted
2 cups small curd cottage cheese
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the spaghetti sauce and seasoned salt; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, Parmesan cheese and butter. Drain spaghetti; add to egg mixture and toss to coat.
3. Place half of the spaghetti mixture in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Top with half of the cottage cheese, meat sauce and mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Cover and bake at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes. Uncover; bake 20-25 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

This was delicious. It was a nice change from regular spaghetti.

Hobo Dinners

 Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
5 potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes (This time I used these Baby Yellow Potatoes I found at the grocery store. Yay, for not having to peel and cut!)
4 large carrots, peeled and sliced lengthwise (Again, I took a shortcut and used carrot chips.)
1 onion, peeled and sliced into rings
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
garlic salt to taste

 olive oil

 Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line baking sheet with foil squares for however many packets you are making.
2. Shape the ground beef into patties and place in center of each foil square. Layer the vegetables on top of the beef patties, starting with the onions, then carrots and finally potatoes. Season with salt, pepper and garlic salt to taste. Drizzle with olive oil.
3. Cover with aluminum foil and seal edges. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, or to desired doneness.

Beefy Noodle Casserole

You will need:

4 oz. uncooked wide egg noodles
1 lb. ground chuck
1 jar of pasta sauce
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, cubed
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan Cheese (I ended up using just a sprinkle of Parmesan and about 1/2 cup of Mozzarella.)

1. Cook noodles. Place noodles in slightly greased 11 x 7 inch baking dish set aside.

2. Cook beef in large skillet, stirring until it crumbles and is no longer pink. Stir in pasta sauce and set aside.

3. Place cream cheese in bowl and microwave for 1 minute or until softened. Stir in cottage cheese and sour cream. Spread mixture over noodles.

4. Spoon beef mixture over cream cheese layer. Sprinkle with Parmesan and Mozzarella.

5. Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes.

From: Southern Living Quick & Easy

Beef Enchiladas

You will need:

1 lb hamburger meat
1 small onion, chopped
1 can of chopped black olives (optional)- I didn't use them.
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 can of Enchilada sauce
8 oz of shredded cheddar cheese
6-8 flour tortillas (I used 16 small tortillas)

Brown the meat and saute the onions in with it.

Combine the mushroom soup and enchilada sauce

Once the beef is done, add in the olives (optional) and let it heat and then add in 3/4 of the cheese and let it melt - mix it all together.

Fill tortillas with the meat mixture and roll up.

Pour sauce on top and top with cheese. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.

Oooh, so yummy!

Serve with rice.

Or for a really good meal, serve with rice, chips and salsa and a margarita! :)

Stuffed Southwestern Burgers

These were so juicy and mouthwatering! They had the perfect spice and balance of flavors.

You will need:
1 avocado
3 plum tomatoes, chopped
1 garlic clove, pressed
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons pepper, divided
2 pounds lean ground beef
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 (8-ounce) block Monterey Jack cheese with peppers, cubed
6 large sesame seed buns, toasted
Toppings: leaf lettuce, tomato slices, red onion slices

1. Mash avocado with a fork; stir in chopped tomatoes, garlic, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Set aside.

2. Combine ground beef, onion, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, remaining 1 teaspoon pepper, and chili powder; shape into 12 thin patties.

3. Top 6 patties with cheese cubes; cover with remaining patties, pressing edges to seal.

(see the yummy cheese oozing out of the middle! yum!)
4. Grill patties, covered with lid, over medium high heat 5 minutes on each side or until done (or cook in skillet).

5. Make sure to find a wine to serve with your burgers. Our choice this night: Mad Housewife.

Serve on buns with desired toppings and avocado mixture.

Aren't you hungry now?

Lasagna

You will need:

1 box of lasagna noodles
1 jar of your favorite tomato sauce
1 (16 oz) container of cottage cheese
1 egg
1 lb. ground beef
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
2 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese
4 0z cream cheese (half of a box of cream cheese)
minced onions (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package

Brown beef and minced onions. Add salt and pepper.

Mix cottage cheese, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, and 1/2 cup (or more if you want) mozzarella cheese in bowl.

When beef is done, add sauce.

Put a spoonful of sauce at the bottom of casserole dish. Layer noodles, then cheese, then tomato sauce. Repeat. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.

Serve and Enjoy!

So, so good!