Southwest Enchilada Bake

This Southwest Enchilada Bake is a fantastic freezer pleaser!  I love freezer-friendly dishes to enjoy now...and later!  I made this dish about two weeks ago.  Since it makes two casseroles, we ate one for dinner and then froze the other.  We are going to eat the frozen one this week, as outlined in my meal plan.   Each casserole serves 8 and costs about $1.93 per serving.

To the right is an example of what it looks like before adding the cheese....

PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION
Ingredients:
30 - (6 inch) corn tortillas
3 lbs lean ground beef
2 onions, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans (15 oz each) black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
2 cans (10-3/4 oz each) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
2 cans (10-3/4 oz each) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
2 cans (10 oz each) diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained
2 cans (10 oz each) enchilada sauce
1/2 tsp. hot pepper sauce
4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

corn tortillas cut into eights 

Directions:
Cut tortillas into eighths; set aside.  In a dutch oven cook the beef, onions, jalapenos and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.  Stir in the black-eyed peas, soups, tomatoes, enchilada sauce and pepper sauce; heat through.

Spread 2-2/3 cups meat mixture into each of two greased 13 x 9 in baking dishes.  Top each with 2 cups cut tortillas.  Repeat layers. Top with remaining meat mixture; sprinkle with cheese.

Cool one casserole; cover and freeze for up to 3 months.  Cover and bake the remaining casserole at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is melted.  Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.

TO USE FROZEN CASSEROLE:  Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.  Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes.  Uncover; bake 10-15 minutes longer until cheese is melted.  Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.

Bake and enjoy!

Southwest Enchilada Bake

Tater Tot Bake

This has been one heck of the week, so what better foods to indulge in over the weekend than comfort foods?!  Am I right?
On Tuesday afternoon my iphone decided to crash.  JUST FABULOUS!  I hadn't really realized how much I depended on the thing until I no longer had my calender, camera or any contacts.  After HOURS of updating, unloading and re-loading itunes, more updates and a complete restore of my phone, it is once again in working order, minus all info that I had added after my last back-up in August.  :(  I lost so many fabulous pictures of some very delicious yummies I had cooked over the last few weeks, but just hadn't had a chance to blog.  At first I was devastated, but I guess this just just gives me an excuse to recreate the dishes again so that I can share them with all of you! 


Now to the recipe.....
PRINTABLE VERSION
Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground beef or ground pork sausage
1 small onion, chopped
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 pkg frozen veggies, thawed
1 (32 ounce) package tater tots, thawed
1 (8oz) pkg shredded cheddar cheese
salt to taste

Directions:
Saute onion in a large skillet until soft; add beef or sausage and cook until browned. Drain set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Spread soup and veggies in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Slowly add meat mixture, then top with tater tots and cheddar cheese and season with salt to taste.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 to 45 minutes, or until casserole is cooked through.

Tater Tot Bake

Chili Mac

ingredients:

1 pound ground beef

1 medium onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 (14.5 ounce) can Mexican or chili-styled stewed tomatoes, undrained

1/2 cup water

1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix

2 cups elbow macaroni or small shells, cooked and drained

2 cups mexican style shredded cheese, divided

directions:

1.  cook ground beef, onion and green pepper in large skillet over medium heat 5 minutes or until beef is no longer pink; pour off drippings.  add tomatoes, water and taco seasoning; simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2.  toss cooked pasta with meat mixture into an 11 x 7 inch baking dish.  sprinkle with 1 cup cheese; top with remaining meat mixture.  cover with foil; bake in preheated 375 degrees F oven 30 minutes.  uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheese.  return to oven 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. 

this recipe is quick and simple and the entire family will love it.  a much tastier version of the 'hamburger helper' chili mac i grew up eating!

Enjoy!

Chili Mac