Tag: family-friendly dinner

Recipes and Cooking

Mexican Casserole

Brandi C

Mexican Casserole

Mexican Casserole

Here is a simple Mexican Casserole that my family enjoys.  There is SO MUCH MORE than you can add (ie fresh ingredients) that would be yummy.

I will add, down at the bottom, would I do when food is more readily available.  For now, you do what you have to do to feed the people in your house!

Be safe.  Stay in.  Wash your hands!

Ingredients

2# ground beef

Seasoning

Chili powder

2 cans Rotel tomatoes and chilis

1 can cream of mushroom

1 can cream of chicken

Onion

Garlic

Colby/Jack Cheese

Fritos (chili cheese Fritos would be spectacular in this recipe)

Directions

Brown ground beef, onion, garlic, and seasoning.  Once cooked, drain if necessary.  Next, add chili powder.  Then add in soups and tomato/chilis with the liquid.  Stir well.

In greased 13×9 dish, layer crushed up tortilla chips, meat, cheese.  Repeat until all ingredients are used up.  End with cheese.  Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.

Additions

Cut up some fresh peppers and saute with onion, garlic, and beef.  You can also add in kidney beans, black beans, corn, cooked rice.  Ooh, or you could add a layer of rice so do chips, meat, rice, cheese.  That’d be good.  You could also a layer of refried beans!  Oh man, add in a can of nacho cheddar cheese soup.  Good grief.  So many options!

 

Recipes and Cooking

Roasted Ranch Potatoes with a Twist

Brandi C

Roasted Ranch Potatoes with a TwistRoasted Ranch Potatoes with a Twist

In our quest to eat better, I pulled this little Roasted Ranch Potato with a Twist concoction.  Now, I did not tell my family what I did.  Guess what?  They never noticed!  Score!

I will say I could sort of tell the difference because there was a little twang, occasionally.  So, I added parmesan, and that just was what I needed.  I will make this again!

Honestly, I have heard that parsnips can be a substitution for potatoes.  I would always go 1/2 radishes, parsnips, or turnips and 1/2 potatoes to ease my crew into better eating.

The addition of parmesan really took the dish to the next level, enhancing the flavor and giving it that perfect cheesy touch. The potatoes and turnips cooked up wonderfully crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with just the right amount of seasoning. Honestly, the combination of ranch and parmesan added a depth of flavor that was both savory and satisfying. I think next time I might experiment with adding a bit of garlic or onion powder to give it a little more kick. The family didn’t even notice the turnips mixed in with the potatoes, which made it a great sneaky way to introduce a healthier vegetable into their meals. Overall, this Roasted Ranch Potato with a Twist is definitely a keeper for any busy weeknight dinner!

Ingredients

Five potatoes washed and cubed

Seasoning

A packet of dry ranch

Olive oil

Parmesan

Three turnips washed and cubed

Directions

Wash and cube the potatoes and turnips—place in a large bowl.  Add a bit of olive oil, seasoning, and the ranch packet.

I cooked them at 350 for about 40 minutes.  At about 1/2 in the cooking process, I flipped them to try and brown both sides.  Next time, I may cook them in my big electric skillet.

Of course, I added parmesan cause, you know, parmesan.

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Recipes and Cooking

Fantastical Chicken Asparagus Casserole

Brandi C

Fantastical Chicken Asparagus Casserole

Fantastical Chicken Asparagus Casserole. This was one of those “made-up” meals. It was so freaking good! I love experimenting. There have been some fantastic creations that have come out of my kitchen. However, there have been some serious stinkers that I’m thankful the chickens will eat! I hate wasting food.

4-6 chicken breasts, boiled and shredded (I used a whole small chicken that I cooked in the crockpot, always saving the broth, of course)

1 bag of real bacon bits

1-2 bunches of fresh asparagus snapped and washed

1 container of fresh mushrooms

Seasoning

Roux

3 T. flour

3 T. butter

Melt in the pan. Remove pan from heat.

Add 1 1/2 c. heavy whipping cream and stir until well mixed.

Return to heat.

Add 1 1/2 c. mozzarella

Seasoning

Fantastical Chicken Asparagus Casserole

In a greased 13×9 pan, layer cooked shredded chicken. Top with asparagus spears. Add mushrooms and bacon bits. Sprinkle with seasoning.

Pour over roux sauce.

Cover and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Uncover and cook for 15 minutes.

Enjoy. Fantastical Chicken Asparagus Casserole was a great meal, and I’m so thankful that all my kids either love asparagus or tolerate it beautifully! I could do asparagus with a bit of butter and saute all day long. It is so good and so good for you.