Layered Mexican Bake

from Kraft

I found this recipe in their 500 calories or less dinners. I tried a few of them and this was the only one good enough to share.

3/4 lb. extra-lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 tsp. chili powder
1-1/4 cups TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Thick 'N Chunky Salsa
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen corn
3 high-fiber whole wheat tortillas (8 inch)
1/2 cup BREAKSTONE'S Reduced Fat or KNUDSEN Light Sour Cream
3/4 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese, divided
make it!
HEAT oven to 375ºF.

BROWN meat with onions and peppers in large skillet on medium-high heat. Stir in chili powder; cook 1 min. Add salsa and corn; mix well. Simmer 5 min.

SPREAD 1 cup meat sauce onto bottom of 8- or 9-inch square baking dish; top with layers of 1 tortilla, 1/2 cup meat sauce, sour cream and 1/4 cup cheese. Cover with 1 tortilla, 1 cup of remaining meat sauce and 1/4 cup of remaining cheese; top with remaining tortilla and meat sauce. Cover with foil.

BAKE 25 min. or until casserole is heated through. Top with remaining cheese; bake, uncovered, 5 min. or melted.

Pear Walnut Salad

1 medium bunch arugula or spinach

1 Bosc pear

1/4 c sherry or white wine vinegar

1/3 c olive oil

2 heaping tsp whole grain Dijon mustard

1 shallot, minced

pepper

3/4 c walnuts, halved and toasted

Toss all together and enjoy!!

Mango Chicken

Wish I had a photo, but trust me that this was delish. If you like mango salsa, then you'll love this!

2-3 T oil

3 mangoes

1 large red bell pepper (or 2 small ones)

1 garlic clove

1" ginger root (or use ground ginger)

1/2 c apple cider vinegar

1/4 c white cooking wine or water

bunch of cilantro, chopped

Saute garlic in oil till lightly browned. Add ginger and cook a little longer. Add mangoes, saute till mashable. Add red pepper. Saute till soft. Reduce heat. Add vinegar and cooking wine/water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Add cilantro at end. Serve over grilled chicken and rice.

Southwest Chicken and Sweet Potato Fries

Grilled Southwest Chicken
Not really a recipe, but I thought I would share I love this marinade for chicken. Just follow the directions on the back of the packet and grill or bake.

Oven-Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Supposedly sweet potatoes are better for you than regular potatoes, so I gave this recipe a try last night by Cat Cora. I don't even like sweet potatoes usually but these were good. You just have to get them crispy enough and eat them while they're hot.

Ingredients:Serves 4

1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes , peeled and cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. dried Italian herb seasoning
Preheat oven to 425°. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil coated with cooking spray.

Spread the sweet potato strips out onto the baking sheet in a single layer, coat with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and spices, turning them over to evenly coat on all sides with oil and spices.

Bake for 30 minutes, turning every 10 minutes with spatula. Serve warm.

Crock Pot Sweet Pork

This recipe is a family favorite...and come to find out (looking in the blog archives)it's a lot like Chelsea's Crock Pot Chicken Tacos, except using Pork

1 pork tenderloin

1 jar Pace Picante (24oz)(mild or medium)

1 cup brown sugar

We usually get our pork at Costco, they come in a 4 pack
While we're at Costco we also grab these tortillas

1) Put pork in crock pot

2) In another bowl mix brown sugar and Picante together

3) Pour mixture over pork

4) turn on high for 4-5 hours

5) Once done shred

We like to do ours Cafe Rio style. We will put the sweet pork in a big flour tortilla, add black beans, cilantro/lime rice, and cheese (we like jalepeno jack, but is good with any kind really). Then roll that sucker up and enjoy!!!

To make cilantro lime rice, just add chopped cilantro and lime juice once the rice is done cooking. Easy peasy!!!

Taco Soup

This recipe is SO easy because it is mostly canned! ;) And it makes a TON

1 lb ground beef

1 large onion chopped

1 can pinto beans (undrained)

1 can black beans (undrained)

1 can red beans (undrained)

1 can corn (undrained)

1 can tomato sauce (15 oz)

1 can Rotel spicy tomatoes

2 small cans chopped green chili

1 package taco seasoning mix

1 1/2 cup water

1 bag Fritos

Shredded cheddar cheese

Cook meat & onions in large pot, drain fat. Stir in everything except Fritos and cheese. Bring to boil and let simmer for 15 minutes uncovered. Serve in bowl and top with Frito's and cheese.

Funi Salad

I know this sounds a bit weird, but I promise....it is SO good!!

(i usually half the recipe and it still makes a lot)

2 small heads cabbage (1 purple and 1 green)

8 green onions

8 Tbs sesame seeds - toasted

8 Tbs sliced almonds - toasted

2 packages top ramen noodles - broken up a wee bit

1 bell pepper - chopped

Dressing:

4 Tbs sugar

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp salt

1 cup oil

6 Tbs rice vinegar

Pour dressing on right before serving