MEXICAN PIZZA

http://butteryourbiscuit.com/mexican-pizza/

MEXICAN PIZZA
We all really liked this.  I have another one I have made in a springfoam pan (TACO BAKE).  We like that one as well, but this one was easier and faster clean up.  Put some cheese on the inside as well.  See recipe for changes.  Put sour cream and guac on top.  Yum!

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 packet taco seasoning (did 1 T)
• ¼ cup water
• 8 (6-inch) flour tortillas
• 1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
• 2 8 oz jar taco sauce (only used 8 oz)
• 1½ cup shredded cheddar cheese - just sprinkled
• 1½cup shredded pepper-jack cheese - just sprinkled
• 1 large diced tomatoes
• 1 can sliced olives
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• green onions sliced
• sour cream, optional
• guacamole, optional

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. In a large skillet heat the oil up on medium heat.
3. Fry each tortilla in the oil just until lightly browned and crispy, remove and set aside on paper towels
4. Meanwhile, cook the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain grease. Add taco seasoning and ½ cup taco sauce. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Stir and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
5. In a small pan on medium heat warm the refried beans
6. Place a single layer of the beans on the crispy tortillas, followed by a layer of the taco meat, Top with another tortilla. Spread 3-4 tablespoons of taco sauce, sprinkle some cheddar and jack cheese and top with a few tomatoes and olives.
7. Bakes in the oven for 10-12 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly
8. Remove from oven let set for 5 minutes top with green onions and slice

REFRIED BEANS COOKED

REFRIED BEANS
For our Christmas Ward Party 2016 is was mexican theme.  One thing I was asked to bring was refried beans.  This is how they asked us to cook them.  They turned out really good.

5 cans of refried beans spread out in a 9x13 container.

Put in oven for 1 hour at 350.

Sprinkle with 1/2 to 1 cup of shredded cheese.

TACO BELL CRUNCHWRAP SUPREME

TACO BELL CRUNCHWRAP SUPREME
We all really liked these.  Fun to make.  Kids can easily help (kinda like an assembly line).  We have made them twice once with beef and once with beans.  Would like to try chicken.  I like to do 1/2 of a tostada shell, it makes it easier to wrap.  Want to try the baja sauce.  Found a recipe on pinterest for it.  Still need to try it.  This would be fun to have with the missionaries or take to someone.

http://me.popsugar.com/food/Taco-Bell-Crunchwrap-Supreme-40822806

1 pound ground beef (refried beans good too)
1 packet taco seasoning mix
3/4 cup water
1 can nacho cheese (I have only used real cheese)
8 burrito-size flour tortillas
6 tostada shells (if you only use 1/2 - 3/4 it is easier to wap)
1 cup sour cream
2 cups lettuce, shredded
1 cup tomato, diced
1 cup Mexican cheese blend
Cooking spray (I used oil)
  
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the ground beef until cooked through. Drain excess grease, and stir in the taco seasoning mix and water. Cook according to the package directions. 

Warm the nacho cheese sauce in a microwave-safe bowl. Place the flour tortillas on a large plate and microwave for 20 seconds to warm them. 

Lay 1 flour tortilla on a flat surface. Spread 1/2 cup of taco meat in the center of the tortilla, about 6 inches across. Drizzle with nacho cheese sauce, and top with 1 tostada shell or crispy corn tortilla. Spread a thin layer of sour cream over the tostada shell, and top with lettuce, tomato, and shredded Mexican cheese. 

To fold the crunch wrap, start at the bottom of the flour tortilla and fold the edge up and over the center. Continue to work your way around, folding the tortilla up and over the center fillings. If there is an open spot left in the center, cut a piece from an extra flour tortilla and tuck it underneath so the fillings are completely covered. 

Spray a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray, and heat to a medium heat. Place the crunch wrap seam-side down, and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the tortilla is golden brown. Carefully flip the crunch wrap over, and cook the other side until it is golden brown. Serve immediately. 

BAJA SAUCE

place in a blender or food processor:
1/4 or a red bell pepper
1 small jalapeno seeded, chopped
2 T diced onion

Mix:
6 tsp above mixture
1/2 c mayo
1/2 c sour cream
1 T vinegar
1/4 tsp pepper, garlic powder & cumin

SIT OVERNIGHT - VERY IMPORTANT!

SEVEN LAYER DIP

SEVEN LAYER DIP
Easy to make.  I used guac dip instead of avocados.  My kids didn't really eat but I think it was because they weren't really hungry.

Layer in a 9x13:
2 can black beans refried beans
2 ripe avocados mixed with 1 tsp garlic powder
8 oz sour cream mixed with 1/4 c mayo and 1-2 T taco seasoning
shredded cheese (used mexican), tomatoes or 1/4 c Rotel, sliced olives and sliced green onions

CHICKEN QUESADILLA

CHICKEN QUESADILLA
These are very good!

16 flour tortillas
1 (16 oz) refried beans
1 pkg taco seasoning mix
1/2 pound chicken, shredded (I did cubed)
2 cups cheddar cheese (any kind would work)
1 cup salsa

Combine beans and taco seasoning in large frying pan.  Boil chicken in pot until it is no longer white, then shred it. on 1/2 tortilla layer beans, chicken and cheese. Fold in half and fry on medium heat in frying pan until cheese is melted.  Serve with salsa.

DIY HARD TACOS

DIY HARD TACOS
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/11/how-to-make-hard-taco-shells-in-your-ovenplus-a-recipe-for-baked-tacos.html

I was kinda surprised this really worked. I had my doubts.  Everyone really liked them. I didn't love the meat mixture, but thought it was okay.  Scott and the kids really liked it.  I would definitely make these again. So much healthier and cheaper than buying boxed taco shells.

UPDATE: SEE BELOW FOR RECIPE TO USE LEFTOVERS

HOW TO MAKE HARD TACO SHELLS IN YOUR OVEN, PLUS . . . A RECIPE FOR BAKED TACOS!

This recipe has got to be one of the bigger successes I have had in the kitchen in a long time! Everyone in the family LOVED these!  Not a speck was leftover, which is always a sign that it really and truly was a HIT.

This dish has so many things going for it, that there wasn’t much chance it would be a FAIL, but one never knows with me. :-)

First of all….it’s TACOS!  I honestly don’t think I’ve ever met anyone that doesn’t like tacos in one form or another.

It’s quick and easy to make.

It’s got a “Make Your Own”aspect to it…which always makes me happy.

AND…it’s gluten-free!

Oh yeah…and it’s delicious.

Let’s start with the DIY portion of this dish…making the taco shells.

I can count on ONE HAND the number of times I have actually ever purchased hard taco shells from the store. I like the way one guy referred to them in a comment I read. He called themoverpriced preformed tortilla shapes. lol.  That pretty much sums it up right there. They are always a disappointment. Especially since crisp taco shells are my favorite.

So this tip for making crunchy taco shells in your oven was mind-blowing to me. Why oh why haven’t I known about this before now!  All the wasted years that have gone by! ;-)

Let’s not waste another minute!

How to Make Your Own Baked Taco Shells

by Eating Well

Working with 6 tortillas at a time, wrap in a barely damp cloth or paper towel and microwave on High until steamed, about 30 seconds. Lay the tortillas on a clean work surface and coat both sides with cooking spray. Then carefully drape each tortilla over two bars of the oven rack. Bake at 375°F until crispy, 7 to 10 minutes.

What??? That’s IT?? Ridiculously easy. The only thing that makes it even slightly difficult is having to do more than one batch. Of course, in hindsight, I could have definitely done another row of shells on the back of the oven rack. Oh well, next time…because there is definitely going to be a next time…and a next time…and a next time…

Now that we have our shells, we are ready to make Baked Tacos! Why I never thought of this before completely mystifies me. It makes perfect sense. I especially like how the cheese is nice and melty instead of cold like on a traditional taco.

I have posted my version of the recipe from Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures below…but you really just need to make taco meat/filling like you usually do, fill the shells and bake them casserole style! I decided to try a variation on Lynn’s recipe and we all liked it a lot! We might just have a new go-to way to eat tacos around here. (Just between you and me, I didn’t tell No. 3 son – aka The World’s Pickiest Eater – that there was refried beans in the taco meat…and he didn’t even notice. I think he ended up having six! lol. shhhhh)

Baked Tacos

Adapted from Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures

• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 can refried beans
• 15 ounce tomato sauce
• 1 pkg taco seasoning or 2 – 3 Tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning)
• 1 – 2 cups shredded cheese (I didn’t measure)
• 18-20 hard taco shells (I think I used 15, but I crammed them pretty full)
• Your favorite taco toppings.

Brown ground beef. Drain off any fat and add refried beans, tomato sauce, and seasoning.
Spoon mixture into taco shells.
Place filled shells into a 9×13 pan, standing up. Sprinkle with cheese.
Bake at 400 for 10-12 minutes or until heated through.

As you can see from the picture…I topped my taco with a Tomatillo Salsa that I purchased at a local restaurant called Loco Lizard Cantina. It is THE BEST green salsa! I really need to figure out how to make a homemade version of it. It was soooooooo good on the baked tacos! (If anyone has a good recipe…please share!)

FRITO DISH

Made this dish with the leftovers.  We all really liked it.  I had the Fritos scoops.  Crushed them with hands so they weren't so big.  Didn't add any extra salt or pepper.  Put one cheese in the mixture and 1 cup on top with Fritos.  Had with fresh cut up tomatoes, lettuce and guacamole. 

Ingredients

1 1/4 pounds ground beef
1 (16 oz.) can refried beans
1 (4 oz.) can mild green chiles, diced
2 cups cooked rice
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated, or Mexican cheese blend
2 cups Fritos (or corn chips of your choice), divided
1 cup salsa
1/4 cup water
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 (1.25 oz.) package taco seasoning
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350º.
2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown beef until cooked through and no longer pink.
3. Drain fat, reserving 1 tablespoon, and saute onions until softened and translucent. 6-8 minutes.
4. Season with salt and pepper and add taco seasoning. Return beef to pan, then add salsa, chiles and water.
5. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 5 minutes.
6. Remove from heat and stir in rice, cheddar cheese, and refried beans, and transfer mixture to a 9×13-inch baking dish.
7. Top with 1 cup Fritos and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until cheese is melted and dish is warmed through.
8. Remove from oven, top with remaining Fritos and serve hot.