Beef Taco Casserole

This is a new favorit of my family. Tried it for the first time on Sunday. So easy to make and takes no time at all. Your family is going to love this one.

This is what you will need...

1 pound ground beef

1 CanTomato Soup

1 Cup Pace Chunky Salsa

1/2 Cup Milk

1/2 Cup uncooked instant white rice

1/2 Cup slightly crushed tortilla chips

1/2 Cup shredded Cheddar Cheese

Brown the ground beef, and drain the off the grease.

Stir soup, salsa, milk, and rice into a skillet. Spoon beef mixture into casserole dish. Cover.

Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes or until hot. Stir.

Arrange chips around edge of casserole . Sprinkle with cheese.

You are going to absolutely love this! My kids had two helpings, and we had no leftovers. That is a hit in my book.

Easy Meat Loaf and Twice Baked Ranch Potatoes

This is a two for one recipe post. We will be making a super easy meat loaf recipe, and a twice baked potatoes as a side. You will really like how quick and easy this meal will all come together. First you need to bake some potatoes. I baked mine at 400 degrees for one hour. After they are done take the potatoes out of the oven and turn the oven to 350 degrees to get ready for the meat loaf.

Here are the five ingredients you will need to get started....

1 lb. Ground Beef

3/4 Cup Evaporated Milk

1 package Lipton Onion Soup Mix

20 Soda Crackers, crushed

1 egg

Now mix all the ingredients and put them in an oven safe dish. Keep the remaining evaporated milk. We will use it to make the twice baked potatoes.

Now you will make the topping with the following ingredients...

1/4 Cup Ketchup

2 TB. prepared mustard

3 TB. Brown Sugar

Now mix the three ingredients together and spread on top of the prepared meat. Cook at 350 degrees for one hour.

While the Meat Loaf is in the oven it is time to prepare our twice baked potatoes. This is what you will need...

The remaining Evaporated Milk

Butter

Packet of Ranch Salid Dressing Mix

Cheese

And of corse you will need the baked potatoes

First you need to cut your baked potatoes in half.

Now scrape the inside of the potatoes into a bowl. Keep the peals because you will be filling them back up.

This is the tricky part. It is impossible to tell you an exact measurement of ingredients in twice baked potatoes because it really depends on how many potatoes you use and the size of the ones you use. This is the order of ingredients I used.

First I put in some evaporated milk in and start to mix the potatoes with a hand mixer. I mix them until they are a creamy consistency pouring in evaporated milk as needed.

Next I add some softened butter. Mix again with the mixer and put in butter as needed. Just tast it along the way and that will help you decide how much butter is needed.

Now I add in some of the ranch packet. I used 2 TB of the packet, but like the butter just use tast to determine how much to use.

When your taste buds are happy with your mixture you have concocted it is time to fill the potato skins. I fill them so that they are just filled above the sides of the skins. You will have a few skins that can be discarded. I had 2 that were unused. Now top them with cheese! Now comes the "twice" in twice baked potatoes. The potatoes need to heat up for about 30 min.

I put them in with the meat loaf for the last 30 min of the meat loafs cooking time. I works out great that way because they both were done and ready to eat at the same time. So yummy!

I really like the combination of the meat loaf and potatoes. They complement each other very well. I also added a little side salad. This meal is very easy and your family will love it. I hope you like it! As always if you have any questions post them in the comments below. If you try it also tell me how it turns out.

Loco Moco (Hawaiian Soul Food)

If you have not had Loco Moco you are in for a treat. Loco Moco is classic Hawaiian soul food. This Dish consists of 4 components: a hamburger patty, rice, egg, and brown gravy. This is one of Brandon's favorit dishes he had in Hawaii on his LDS Mission. He loves Hawaiian food and has shared that love with our family. Our Kids absolutely love this. It may sound like a unlikely combination but it tastes amazing.

This is what you will need...

1 Pound Hamburger

1 Onion

Eggs

Rice: Use regular medium grain white rice (Sticky Rice).

Gravy: I sometimes make my own gravy, tonight I cheated and used Kroger Beef Gravy

This is the steps to prepare each part of this yummy Hawaiian dinner.

Burgers: 1. Gently mix the hamburger, grated onions and salt/pepper. Form either 2 big patties or 4 smaller size patties. 2. Heat frying pan until very hot. 3. Place hamburger patties on the pan/grill and let sear just until juices start appearing on the top. Flip over and cook for a couple more minutes. You will want the burger slightly charred but still tender on the inside. 4. Place burgers on the side.

Gravy: (I cheated and used Canned Beef Gravy) 1. Pour a little broth into the same pan and incorporate the yumyums, then pour in the rest of the broth. 2. Bring to a boil and let reduce for about 3-5 minutes or so, depending on taste, for a more potent gravy. 3. Turn down heat to a simmer. 4. Add couple dashes of worcestershire sauce. 5. In a seperate bowl, mix flour with some water. 6. Using a whisk, slowly whisk in the flour/water mixture until gravy is nicely thick & smooth. 7. Turn off heat and mix in the butter until well blended.

Eggs: Traditionally, the eggs should be sunny-side up. The secret to a good fried egg is to fry the egg slowly on low heat until it’s cooked… just don’t overcook it! It also helps to have the eggs thawed to room temperature before cooking them.

Assembly (bottom to top): Rice on bottom -> Burger -> Egg -> Gravy all over

It is so good! Brandon taught me that I should say it is ono! Ono (OH-no) is a Hawaiian word, meaning delicious. Trust me when I tell you that this is a recipe that you must try. I thought when Brandon explained it that it sounded strange, but then I tasted it and fell in love. My kids usually want a second helping. Do your family a big favor and take them to Hawaii for dinner tonight. Their plate will look just like this...

Let me know how you like it by posting in the comments below.