Taco Casserole

This is a a great recipe to have with salsa and chips and is good change up from ordinary tacos. I got it from Pinterest!

Ingredients:

• about 2 cups of tortilla chips (additional for serving)
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil (or chili oil)
• 1 onion chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic minced
• 1 pound of ground beef or chicken
• 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning
• 1 can of black beans drained
• 1 cup of salsa
• 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

• Preheat oven on 350
• Line the bottom of a casserole dish with chips that are slightly broken( bite- sized)
• Heat oil in a large skillet and add sliced onions and saute until soft
• Add meat and then taco seasoning, cook and break up meat 
• Add beans and salsa to the mixture( I had to transfer the mixture into a large pot because I don't have a large enough skillet)
• Spread the mixture onto the dish covered with chips
• Sprinkle cheese on top and bake for about 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and gooey

Additional toppings: Sliced tomatoes, green or red pepper, olives, lettuce or whatever your heart desires!

Blueberry Delight

I got this recipe from my Mom's school friend and can't get enough of it! It's perfect for summer, but I could eat it all year round!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 stick melted butter
• 1 1/2 cup self-rising flour
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 block cream cheese
• 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 containers of Cool Whip
• 1 can of blueberry pie filling

Directions:

• Preheat oven on 350 degrees
• For crust, mix melted butter, self-rising flour, and pecans together
• Put mixture in glass casserole dish and spread out evenly with fingers( set out cream cheese to allow to soften a bit)
• Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes or until brown
• Set out and begin topping mixture
• For topping mix with electric mixer cream cheese (softened) and powdered sugar until smooth
• Add half a container of Cool Whip and mix
• Spread mix on crust evenly
• Pour blueberry filling on top of that and spread evenly
• Top with about 1 container of Cool Whip
• Sprinkle on fresh blueberries for a tasty decoration and refrigerate overnight or at least an hour and enjoy!!!

Sliced Potatoes

These are a great side dish to almost any meal and very addicting. My mom and me even taste be fore baking!(which is not recommended)

Ingredients:

• 3 russet potatoes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon season salt
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• more salt and pepper to taste and Parmesan cheese

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees
• Wash and dry potatoes
• Slice potatoes( thinly and evenly)
• Place in a large bowl and add the seasonings and mix together until well coated
• Place on a cooking tray with aluminum foil as flat and even as possible
• Sprinkle with desired amount of Parmesan and salt and pepper
• Bake for about 20 to 30 minutes or until golden brown

Serve with as a side dish for nearly any meal!

I got this recipe from my Memaw but added a little bit more seasonings to it.

Chocolate Pie

Who doesn't love a good ole chocolate pie? Especially from Grandma! This isn't my own grandma's recipe however it is still very good! Thank you Homesicktexan blogger!!

Ingredients for pie filling:

• 4 tablespoons of cocoa
• 3/4 cup of sugar
• 5 tablespoons of flour
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1 1/2 cups of milk
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 2 egg yolks, beaten slightly

Ingredients for meringue:

• 2 egg whites
• drop of lemon juice
• 4 tablespoons of sugar

You will also need a pie crust. You can make your own or just buy one at the store. I used the regular in this one, but the oreo crust is a very good choice also.

Directions:

• Separate egg whites and yolks of two eggs and set aside 
• Mix all but the vanilla and butter filling ingredients by whisking
• cook while stirring in a sauce pan on medium heat until very thick and bubbley or about 5 or 10 minutes ( resembles pudding)
• remove from heat and add vanilla and butter
• Meanwhile poke wholes in pie crust with fork and bake at 350 for about 10 minutes
• Now beat egg whites and lemon until fluffy with electric mixer
• then slowly add in the sugar while still beating until fluffy and whipped
• Pour chocolate filling onto pie crust and carefully and evenly top with meringue
• bake on 350 for about 10 minutes or until meringue is lightly browned

Enjoy hot or cold!

Bowtie Lasagna

This is a fast simple meal that resembles lasagna but without all the time and effort. But it still has all the taste! It's another recipe from The Pioneer Woman. (I love all her recipes if you can't tell)

 

Ingredients:

• 3 frozen beef patties( or 1 pound of ground chuck)
• 5 cups of bowtie noodles
• 3 cups of Spaghetti Sauce (1 jar of Bertolli Marinara)
• 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil
• 1 Teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
• 1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese 
• 1/2 cup of sour cream
• Parmesan cheese to taste

Directions:

• fry meat in pan while cooking noodles al dente
• after both meat and noodles are cooked, add both to large pan or pot on low heat 
• drizzle with the olive oil
• mix in spaghetti sauce 
• add seasonings, cheese, and sour cream
• old together to combine and let cheese melt and enjoy

Serve with Garlic bread, salad, or some veggies!

Chicken Spaghetti

Another recipe from The Pioneer Woman!!! It's a yummy creamy casserole that will leave you full, but wanting more at the same time!

Ingredients:

• about 3 chicken breasts (2 cups worth or more or less to your liking)
• 1 pound of spaghetti broken into 3 sections
• 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup ( cream of chicken will do)
• 2 to 3 cups of grated sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup of finely diced green pepper
• 1 small diced onion
• 2 cups of chicken broth (from pot)
• about a teaspoon of seasoned salt
• salt an pepper to taste

Directions:

• Wash chicken and place in large pot
• Cover with water and bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium- low  and simmer for about 30 minutes or until tender
• Remove chicken and let cool, once cooled tear up into bite sized pieces
• Scoop two cups of the broth from the pot and set aside for later
• Cook spaghetti in remaining broth but do not over cook because you will still be baking it later (cook aldente)
• Finely dice pepper and onion
• Place cooked spaghetti into large ixing bowl
• Add the shredded chicken, 2 cans of mushroom soup, green pepper, onion, and 2 cups of grated cheese
• Add seasoned salt and pepper
• Pour in 1 cup of chicken broth and stir well.Add more broth when and if needed. The mixture should be stirable and creamy not soupy
• Now pour mixture into large baking pan or casserole dish
• Top with 1/2 cup to 1 cup of remaining cheese
• Bake at 35 to 45 minutes (until bubbly) And Enjoy!

Suggestion: Serve with salad and garlic bread!

Easter Bark!

I found this recipe on Pinterest and it is perfect for Spring! The colors are bright and the taste is sweet!

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of white chocolate chips (12 oz)
• 3 cups of colored marshmellows
• sprinkles

Directions:

• line a 8 inch by 11 inch square pan with alumineum leaving extra around edges
• melt white chocolate chips in medium bowl in sections of 30 seconds stirring each time ( about 3 times)
• pour in marshmellows and stir, trying to coat nearly all of them
• pour mixture into pan, spreading evenly
• sprinkle the sprinkles
• put in freezer for about 20 minutes or until hardened
• cut into egg shapes with cookie cutter or cut with knife however you like!

                                                                         ENJOY!!!