Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Day #27 & #28 - Tater Tot Casserole

Tater Tot Casserole

1 Lb Ground Beef (80/20 or better)
6-7 Slices of Bacon or Bacon Bits
3 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Small Chopped Onion
6 oz Chopped Green Onion
16 oz Sour Cream
2 Cans of Cream of Chicken Soup (or Mushroom or Celery ... or mix them up)
Garlic (Powder or Fresh)
2 Lb Tater Tots
Can of Corn (drained)

Grease pan(s).  Pre-bake half the tater tots for 15 minutes at 425 degrees. Keep the remaining half of the tater tots in the freezer for the second night.

Brown beef and onion, adding salt & pepper to taste.  Drain grease.

Into beef mixture, add garlic, dash of pepper if desired, cream of chicken soup, and green onions.  Can add vegetables, such as peas, corn, or green beans if desired.  I added a can of corn (drained).

Put half this mixture into the freezer and save it for the second night.

Stir half the sour cream into the beef mixture, and save the rest for the second night.  (In other words, don't freeze the sour cream.)

Pour half of the remaining the beef mixture over half of the baked tater tots, and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle 1/4 of the cheese on top, some of the bacon, and the green onions.  Add the rest of the tater tots, the rest of the beef mixture, then another 1/4 of the cheese, and sprinkle with the rest of the bacon.

Save the remaining cheese for the second night.

Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.

Side Dish:

Rolls


Day #29 - Taco Soup

Taco Soup

1 Lb Ground Beef (browned & drained)
1 Can Black Beans (drained & rinsed)
1 Can Yellow Corn (do not drain)
1 Can Rotel
1/2 Pack Ranch Dressing
1 Pack Taco Seasoning
1-1/2 Cups Water

Add all ingredients to crock pot and let simmer until hot. Recipe can be doubled.

Side Dish:

Nacho Chips

Day #30 - Meatloaf

Meatloaf Recipe

1 Lb Ground Beef (at least 80/20, but 93/7 preferred)
1 Stack of Saltine Crackers (crushed)
1 Can Tomato Sauce
2 Eggs
1 Big Squirt of Ketchup (about 1/4 - 1/3 cup)
Extra Ketchup for Topping
Italian Seasoning to Taste
Salt & Pepper to Taste
1 Cup Chopped Onions (optional)

Mix all ingredients either by hand or with a strong mixer, reserving the extra ketchup.  Put meat mixture into a greased loaf pan and press down.  Optional:  If you happen to have extra sliced ham and cheese, you can press a deep well into the meatloaf mixture, lay in the ham and cheese, then seal the meatloaf well (important, or the cheese will bubble out and make a mess).  Drizzle with extra ketchup.

Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, then remove foil and bake another 15-20 minutes until top starts to brown.

Side Dishes:

Macaroni (follow box instructions)
Au Gratin Potatoes (follow box instructions)
Dinner Rolls (see side dish recipes, or buy store-bought rolls)