Friday, April 27, 2012

.taco pie. {husband's choice}

This recipe is beyond fabulous!!! no joke. My wonderful friend Megan introduced a different adaptation of this recipe where she individually wrapped the taco meat in each crescent roll. Since I am lazy I just made it into a huge pie, it didn't look as great but it tasted perfect. Big hit with the man. Try it out for yourself and don't be afraid to hold back on the toppings. Enjoy!

Ingredients
1-2 pkg. crescent rolls (I used 1 but if you like extra crust 2 would probably be best)
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix (1¼ oz.)
1 lb. ground beef
½ cup chopped onion
½ cup salsa or chopped tomatoes
1 cup shredded lettuce
1 cup sharp cheddar, shredded (4oz.)
sour cream, optional

Preparation Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a pie pan with crescent rolls. In a medium skillet, cook beef and onions until beef is browned and onions are tender. Drain off fat and stir in taco mix. Cook while stirring until bubbly, then pour into pie crust and top with cheese. Then top with the remaining crescent rolls. Bake uncovered in oven for 30-35 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes, and then top with cheddar cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes/salsa. Cut into squares and serve with sour cream. Enjoy!

Thursday, April 5, 2012

.crockpot beef stew.

Call me special but I am one of those people who grew up never having or making stew. My friend Alison told me how easy it was and boy was she right. Not only was this one of the best meals but it took almost no time to make thanks to the most amazing invention called the crockpot! I also cheated and used a seasoning packet for beef stew, if you do this no need to add the other spices listed below. We ate this meal over rice the first day and with a yummy crusty bread the next and it was excellent both ways. Try it out for yourself and enjoy!



Ingredients
2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 onion, chopped
1 1/2 cups beef broth
3 potatoes, diced (I used butternut squash, SOOO good)
4 carrots, sliced (I used baby carrots)
1 stalk celery, chopped (I omited)
*not in recipe but I added diced tomatoes.

Preparation
Place meat in slow cooker. In a small bowl mix together the flour, salt, and pepper; pour over meat, and stir to coat meat with flour mixture. Stir in the garlic, bay leaf, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, onion, beef broth, potatoes, carrots, and celery.
Cover, and cook on Low setting for 10 to 12 hours, or on High setting for 4 to 6 hours and enjoy!