Taco Casserole

I was looking through Pinterest a few days ago and got the hankering for a Taco casserole. Sorry, not sure if hankering is a real word? Anyway I had a craving for a Taco casserole.  After wasting about 30 minutes, I decided to just throw some stuff together.  I figured it couldn't turn out that bad since I would be using all of my favorite ingredients. 

You should know that Pioneer Woman, or PW is a great source for me. But even with her blog help I was on my own.

Oh no!...

I made this on a Thursday evening around 9pm. Just a small sample nibble ensured me that it was yummylicous!  Ok, I know that one isn't a word but I like it anyway!

When I got to my work I had the cafeteria staff reheat it for me. I think it was in there a bit too long! Oops!

I topped it with a bit of crushed chips and the like!

At this point it's all about the taste and the fact it was hot!

I would take off 5 points on presentation if I was grading. Ha ha!

 Directions:
Tostitos corn chips

1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef

1 can re fried beans

1 can mild Rotel

1 cup water

1 packet Taco seasonings

frozen corn (enough to cover the casserole)

Toppings:

1 cup shredder sharp cheddar cheese

salsa

sour cream

chopped green onions

shopped tomato

crushed corn chips 

Brown hamburger and drain.  Add remaining ingredients except corn, and mix it all together.  Layer unbroken chips across the bottom of 11x13 baking dish.  Pour out meat mixture and cover the chips.  Top with enough corn to cover the meat mixture, maybe a cup or more.  I just think frozen corn is better and sweeter, but you could use can if you wanted.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 20 to 30 minutes.  Remove from oven and sprinkle with cheese and return to oven till cheese is melted.  

Top with remaining ingredients for a beautiful presentation (unlike mine.)  :)

I received several compliments so that made me smile!
All you need now is one of PW Mango Margaritas!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Peach Crisp

I went to our local farmers market a couple of day ago and bought a few peaches.  Oh my, how I love fresh peaches!  Well I waited until they were good and ripe.
  Heaven!

This is really a very simple and easy desert.  You could easily change this to apples, pears or blueberry like my friend Bonnie did.

Directions:
Combine first three ingredients and place in a lightly greased baking dish.  I used a pie dish.  
Combine remaining ingredients and sprinkle over peaches.  Bake at 350 degree for about 30 minutes and topping is starting to brown.
That's it! 

Thanks for stopping by!
Hope you are having a great day!

Tabouli Salad

I have been missing in action . Ha ha!  Summer has been very hectic around here. 

 I went to Missouri to visit family and friends and finally got back this week.  I tried to pack in as much as possible.

.

  My family is coming over for dinner tonight so I went looking for something light and refreshing.  Tomatoes and cucumbers came to mind!

Recipe:

2 ripe tomatoes chopped in small pieces

1 cucumber chopped in small chunks

1/2 cup Bulgar wheat

1 bunch finely chopped parsley

juice of 1 lemon

1 1/2 Tablespoon olive oil

1 or 2 finely chopped green onion

Salt and pepper to taste

Prepare the bulgar according to package directions. Add all remaining ingredients. Refrigerate. 

All of my ingredients are approximate. You can add more or less as you feel like. This is so easy.

 Thanks for stopping by.

Coconut Cupcakes

My daughter and I made this terrific cupcake over the weekend.

We found the recipe at Your Cup of Cake

Lizzy has some of the best cupcake ideas ever!

Everything about this cupcake is sooooo good!

You will have to pop on over to her blog to get the recipe.

You won't be disappointed!

The cake part has a mild coconut flavoring and also the cream cheese frosting.

But the chocolate frosting puts it over the top!

I could make myself sick eating theses little babies!

Thanks for stopping by.

Leave a comment, I love to hear from ya' all!

Another Broccoli Salad

Sorry my post has bee so sporadic lately. Things are a little hectic here from time to time. I have enjoyed blogging and reading all of your post greatly. So many of you are so talented and have been so up lifting for me. At times I'm laughing at some of the things you all come up with and other times tears are running down my cheeks. I want you to know how blessed I feel to have gotten to know you all.

God bless you and Happy Easter!

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I know I've posted a broccoli salad before, but this one is very yummy. I wanted a fast easy salad I could through together. Also, it's such a pretty salad to serve to guest.

My friends at work planned a pot luck last week and this was my contribution.

Ha ha. I can't blame this one on Pioneer Woman.

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Directions:

1 bag of broccoli flowers

2-3 Tablespoons sunflower seeds

1/2 cup dried Craisins

6 slices crumbled bacon

3 green onions sliced

Dressing:

1/4 cup oil

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

3 Tablespoons sugar

.

Mix all ingredients. Add bacon last when ready to serve. That way it won't get soggy and soft.

I don't want the salad to be dripping. Use as much as you would like for your taste.

That's it!

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Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week!

Lentil Soup

Your first thought my not be a positive one but I assure you that this soup has a factor of +7.

Ha ha! I just made that up.

Maybe I'm on to something with that. .

Ingredients: .

1/2 bag of dried lentils

2 26 oz box of chicken stock ( more or less)

2 tablespoon olive oil

1 large onion chopped

3 stalks cup up

2 garlic cloves chopped

2 cans petite chopped tomatoes

1 bay leaf

2 tablespoons of fresh chopped parsley

1 teaspoon basil

salt and pepper to taste

.

In a large pan add rinsed lintels and chicken stock to low heat. Let simmer. In a saute pan add oil, celery and onion. Saute until onions are translucent. Then add garlic. Now add this into the pot of lentils. Add tomatoes, bay leaf and remaining ingredients.

Bring to a boil and then slowly simmer for about 1 hour or until lintels are tender.

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All you need now is a piece of crusty bread.

This turned out to be quite tasty if I say so my self.

I'm still getting accustomed to putting recipes down on paper. I usually, as you know by now, like to add ingredients to taste. I guess that's why most of the things I cook never taste the same twice. That could be a good thing or bad.

I hope you try it a like it.

Have a super day!

Macaroni and Cheese Cups

Another fellow worker is leaving our school. Long story, lucky for you I won't go into the details.

We are having a small pot luck and this is my contribution.

I know this looks rather messy but bear with me.

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This is a different kind of twist using a muffin pan.

I thought this might be used as a finger food. Hum.

Ingredients:

1 sleeve crushed Ritz crackers

4 tablespoons melted butter

1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese

.

6 oz uncooked macaroni

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup shredded Monterey Cheese

1/2 cup shredded smoked Gouda

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup sour cream

pinch of red pepper flakes

salt and pepper to taste

.

Set oven to 350 degrees. Spray muffin or cup cake pan with oil.

In a medium sized bowl combine crushed crackers, 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, and butter. Press a large spoon full of cracker mixture into the bottom of each muffin cup and slightly up sides.

In a large bowl mix macaroni, milk, and cheeses.

In a small bowl beat the eggs and sour cream together. Then add remaining ingredients. All this is stirred together in a large bowl. Place 2 or 3 spoons full into each cup. There will be some left over. You can bake this in a dish for left overs.

Bake for 15 - 20 min. Makes 12.

.

Thanks for stopping by.

I hope you have a fun filled weekend.

Peggy

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

This is a yummy recipe I found on line, but made several changes. You know me I can't leave anything alone. Mostly because I run out of an ingredient from time to time.

We had a staff development meeting last year that was catered. This was one of the entrees that was served. I think it's a real tasty meal and also easy to put together.

All you need is a salad and your set.

Recipe:

1 box Stove Top Stuffing

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 cup milk

2 chicken breast

1 cup ham sliced (can use country ham or ham slices) salt and pepper to taste adobo to taste (may use garlic salt)

1 cup Swiss cheese

1 cup Gouda cheese or Cheddar shredded

Prepare stuffing mix as directed and set aside. In a med. bowl, combine soup and milk; set aside. Saute chicken in olive oil and season with salt, pepper and Adobo.

Cut up chicken in small bit size pieces along with ham and place in the bottom of a casserole dish. Layer the Swiss cheese and half of the Gouda. Pour soup mixture over the cheese. Then layer in the stuffing and top with remaining cheese. Cover and bake for 35 min in a 350 degree oven. Then uncover and bake an additional 10 min.

Yum!

Thanks for stopping by.

Have a great week!

Linked:

The Shady Porch

Cinnamon Baked Donut Puffs

I found an old recipe that someone gave me years ago. I was in the mood for something sweet and looking for a recipe that was easy.

East and fast being my middle name.

I think all together it took maybe 30 min from start to finish. This recipe makes 24 "puffs".

Yum!!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 large egg

1/2 milk (I used almond milk)

sugar coating:

1/2 cup melter butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 heaping teaspoon cinnamon

Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Set aside. In another medium mixing bowl cream sugar and butter them add egg and beat until smooth. Slowly add flower and milk, alternately, until all ingredients are mixed but not over mixed. Using a medium size scoop fill a mini muffin tin 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 min. Be careful not to bake to long. Remove from oven. While still warm dip into melted butter and then roll into sugar-cinnamon mixture. Enjoy!

Enjoy the sweet treat.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cinnamon Rolls

Ok folks, another recipe from Pioneer Woman.

Thanks to some encouragement from a fellow blogger I decided to try my hand at making some cinnamon rolls. I was reading a post from Melanie over at There's no place like home.

She had made a ton of cinnamon rolls one day with her daughter. Well I was feeling sort of inspired you might say. She mentioned how simple this recipe was.

My middle son and his wife were in town this weekend so I used them as Guinea pigs so to say. Ha ha!

Ingredients:

2 cups milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup sugar

1 pkg Active Dry Yeast

4 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 Tablespoon salt

3/4 cup melted butter

1 cup sugar

cinnamon

For the dough, heat the milk, oil, and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat to just below boil. "scald" Let this cool to just warm and them add the yeast. Then let it set for a a minute or so.

Add 4 cups of flour. Stir until just combined, then cover with a tea towel, and sit aside in a warm place for 1 hour. After the hour, add the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and 1/2 cup of flour. Stir thoroughly to combine. Pre heat the oven to 375 degrees.

Roll out the dough on to a floured surface, and roll into a large rectangle. The dough should be very thin.

To make the filling, pour melted butter over the dough. Generously sprinkle enough cinnamon to completely cover all of the dough. Then sprinkle 1 cup of sugar all over the cinnamon.

Now roll up into a long roll as tight as you can. Some of the filling will ooze out but that's ok. Now cut into rolls about 1/2 inch thick.

Place rolls into a buttered baking be sure not to overcrowd. Now cover again with tea towel and let sit for 20 minutes.

Bake for 15 min. until golden brown.

I can remember when I was a little girl and watching my mom make cinnamon rolls. She would take a string and slide it under the log you formed and instead of slicing with a knife she would cut the dough with a string. I thought that was the neatest thing ever!

The icing:

1 bag of powered sugar

1/4 cup melted butter

1/2 cup of milk ( used a little less than that)

1/4 cup maple pancake syrup

Mix together and drizzle over rolls fresh out of the oven.

Thanks for stopping by.

Have a great week.

Spicy Pulled Pork with Soda

My middle son and his wife were in town this weekend. We were keeping busy with family time, shopping and my son's favorite sport, football!

I was trying to think of a special meal I could make for them.

Well...

I was watching Pioneer Woman this morning on The Food Network, and saw a recipe I had to try. As usual I had to change a few things. Not because I thought I knew better but because I was missing some ingredients. The results were quite surprising.

Wow! This is really good! It will knock your socks off.

Ingredients:

pork loin

1 medium onion

1 can medium Rotel

1 can soda any type (I used caffeine free Pepsi)

salt and pepper Season the pork and place in a large pan. Add onion (cut in one inch pieces) and then pour in the can of Rotel and soda. Cover and place in a 350 degree oven.

Bake for around 4 hours or until the meat is tender and pulls easily apart.

How easy is that!

This is not Pioneer Woman's recipe by the way, but what I was able to come up with since I didn't have the correct ingredients.

This was a great hit with everyone. I was so surprised how flavorful and moist it was!

I hope you all are having a great weekend!

Linked to:

The Bewitchin' Kitchen

The Shady Porch

Green Smoothie

Ok folks, here goes.

I've tried my first green smoothie.

This came from The Mediterranean Diet

Actually this is from Dr. Oz. If he says it's good or good for you, then it must be true. I mean, if you can't trust Dr. Oz then who can you trust!

And no one ever said it would taste good. Sort of like, "no pain no gain".

Ingredients:

spinach celery fresh ginger apples cucumbers parsley lime and lemon juice.

Oh my gosh! This is really bad!!!

I think part of the problem is that I really don't like celery. I like celery in a salad, but just a little. Also I've had cooked celery in soups and lots of other dishes.

Spinach isn't so bad. I eat it quite often in salads. Cucumber is ok too.

I know, I know, it's healthy.

Yum!

I guess it's a personal thing.

Maybe you all should check it out and let me know what you think. Also let me know if anyone of you guys have a suggestion or any good healthy recipe.

Thanks for stopping by.

Simple Smoothie

The year is drawing to a close.

I hope you all had a wonder Christmas. Since we have had so much rich foods for the holidays and so many fancy treats, how about a simple fruit smoothie.

This is one of our favorites. First you add some orange juice. Throw in a banana and a hand full of strawberries (or blue berries or both).

Next a small 8oz container of yogurt, and you have your self a yummy smoothie! You can add any flavor yogurt you have on hand.

If it gets too thick, and it will, you'll have to stop the blender and poke at it a few times.

How easy is that, and no sugar!

Now doesn't that look fantastic! It's so thick you have to spoon it out. Adding a couple of ice cubes helps it to get real thick.

If you want to get real adventurous, try a tablespoon of peanut butter. We have even put in a few leaves of fresh spinach. Crazy sounding but you really can't taste any difference.

Enjoy a healthy refreshment!

You deserve it.